Hong Kong Bistro — Restaurant in Seattle

We were at a table by 8:00pm. After being seated for 30 minutes without so much as a glance by the staff, we put in our order -3 noodle dishes. We sat for another half and hour watching multiple parties get seated, finish their meals, and leave. When trying to get a waiter’s attention, they dismissed us and went to go do other things. It was a little busy, and as a former service worker, I get how that goes. What I don’t get is serving several (many larger) tables that were seated 30 minutes after us, without giving us more than a single glass of water. My two friends got their dishes before me at 9:00 and I finally got my second, and last, glass of water. By 9:30 my friends had finished eating and I still hadn’t gotten my dish so I had to flag down the waitress (yet again) who hadn’t made eye contact all evening. She said she was going to check but never returned. So I called another waitress and she did the same but let us know that they had missed my dish, though she knew what it was so clearly the order had been put through. At 10:00 we decided that I’d ask one last time (different waitress) and if it didn’t come by 10:15, we were going to get up and leave. Never before had I even consider walking out on a meal. Lo and behold, the noodles came at 10:12. They were bland and cold but at that point I would’ve eaten dirt. We had to flag someone down for the check too, at which point another different waitress apologized for forgetting my dish. I don’t what I was hoping for, maybe a small discount? Even just a free cup of tea or a single dumpling? Maybe, just maybe, a THIRD glass of water?? No, just an “lol sorry”. I and a lifelong tipper always leave one when I’m eating out, but I still regret giving those people the minuscule tip that I left, which was $1 for every second we interacted with the staff, so not a lot.

I don’t know what we did to deserve this, we sat there chatting and trying to enjoy ourselves and we were polite to the staff, though we weren’t given many chances to be. Again, these were 3 single noodle dishes, not Michelin Star, 5-course meals. The table next to us received at least a dozen separate dishes while we sat and watched helplessly. I cannot stress how awful of an experience it was to eat here. Sitting there helplessly as you watch everyone come in, sit down, and eat.

I ordered noodles, but what I got was an exercise in patience, futility, and the knowledge of why every place within a mile radius was full except this poor excuse for a restaurant....

Hong Kong Bistro is hands down one of my favorite spots in Seattle for late-night eats. If you’re craving comfort food after a long day (or night out), this place delivers every single time.

First of all, the fact that it’s open late is already a huge win, but what makes it even better is that the food is consistently fresh, flavorful, and satisfying no matter the hour. I’ve been here a few times, and every visit feels just as good as the first.

The menu is massive, so there’s something for everyone. On this visit, I ordered the beef chow fun, and it was spot on — smoky from the wok, perfectly chewy noodles, tender beef, and crisp veggies. It’s the kind of dish that just hits the spot late at night. My friend ordered the congee with preserved egg and pork, and it was warm, comforting, and felt like the kind of food you’d get in a home kitchen. We also shared an order of dim sum (the shrimp dumplings and BBQ pork buns), and I was honestly surprised at how good they were for such a late hour. Everything tasted fresh, not reheated or sitting around.

The portions are generous without being overwhelming, and the prices are really reasonable, especially given how much food you get. It’s hard to find places that serve this quality of food so late, and that’s what makes Hong Kong Bistro such a gem.

The service is always quick and friendly, even when the place is busy. Our food came out fast, and the servers made sure our tea was always full. The atmosphere is laid-back and casual — nothing too fancy, but exactly what you want when you’re looking for a comfortable, satisfying meal at midnight.

I also appreciate how authentic the food feels. This isn’t Americanized takeout-style Chinese food; it tastes like real Hong Kong comfort food, and that makes it stand out in Seattle’s food scene.

All in all, Hong Kong Bistro is the perfect late-night spot. Delicious food, quick service, generous portions, and fair prices — it checks every box. Whether you’re winding down after work, grabbing a bite with friends, or just craving something hearty and comforting late at night, this is the place to go. Definitely a 5-star experience and a place I’ll keep...

I've been here twice already and it has been a great food experience overall both times.

The food is delicious and the portions are very generous. The prices are $15+ (up to $25 for regular items), which may be typical for Seattle, but I can assure you that you get twice as much as at most places for the same price points. One dish would be enough to feed two people, and three dishes would feed two very hungry people and let them have leftovers to take home.

In particular, I recommend their stir-fried beef with bitter melon in black bean sauce. I've had several bitter melon dishes in my life, but this is the best I've ever had. The melon is still bitter but as an accent on the beefy and salty flavor in the rest of the dish. The flavors meld together perfectly and have a touch of wok-hei to round it off. Truly an amazing dish. I also got to try the squid variant on a different day, but it wasn't as well put together as the beef version. Maybe it's a different chef, or maybe it's the beef. I'm not sure. But I do recommend the beef and bitter melon for anyone who needs recs.

Of course, the other food is good as well. The fried chicken appetizer was hot and not that greasy, but came with a bed of rice anyway for those who need it. Their noodle dishes are kind of normal, but again, very large portions. I also recommend the Japanese-style tofu dish. I'm not sure what makes it Japanese style, but it comes with fried egg tofu, shrimp, chicken, duck, and bok-choy (or a mustardy variant), which isn't stated at all in the name of the dish...Also, they have dim sum, if you prefer to order a la carte.

Service-wise, I was told that this place is pretty traditional Hong Kong-ese: you will have to flag down waitstaff if you want anything, including water, including your first order. Otherwise, they will pass you by. Most staff speak Cantonese as well (in addition to English, of course).

Prices have been rising in recent years, so I do recommend going sooner rather than later. You won't regret it. In both cases, I split 3 dishes with my partner and ended up paying around $35 (with tip, tax) and had leftovers. Delicious and...