Ludi's Restaurant — Restaurant in Seattle

Ludi's: A Seattle Gem Worth the Wait

TL;DR: Eat here. Every. Chance. You. Get.

(I would have made this review shorter but it would have been a disservice to the experience)

First Impressions

You've likely read the rave reviews of Ludi's; here's why they're warranted:

Let's start with the line out front to eat. While relatively short and fast-moving, that's usually an instant disqualifier for me... I really don't like lines. And had we let that be an impediment, we would have missed out on one of our favorite experiences in Seattle.

Warm Welcome

From the moment we got to the front of the line, our hostess beamed genuine warmth and cordiality. She offered us a place to put our luggage which we were traveling with and made sure we were happy with our seating - not in a perfunctory, policy-driven way, it genuinely mattered to them.

The level of care and attention from that moment on just continued to wildly exceed our expectations, especially as this restaurant is perpetually full.

Efficiency and Service

Being able to order before being seated meant our food was ready in almost no time. You have to appreciate how efficient and streamlined their operation is.

The restaurant is a family-run affair and it shows. Several people checked in on us, not just to ask if everything was okay but to ask specifically if we needed ice or to answer esoteric questions about Filipino sweet sausage.

The Food

When the food arrived it looked, mostly, like typical diner fare, but that's where the similarities ended.

I had the cheddar cheese omelette and a side of sausage (what I always order from diners) and my partner had the pancakes. In short, it was easily the best omelette I'd ever had, owing largely to the deliciousness of the cheddar and flavorful sausage and potatoes.

Personal Touch

As we sat there gushing to each other about the meal and service we'd received, a kindly elderly gentleman came over to once again check on us. It was one of the owners, Gregorio Rosas. Another owner turned out to be his daughter and the aforementioned hostess who welcomed us in and sat us.

He asked us where we were from and immediately got very excited when we said New York. You see, he had just recently been there. He had been a feature on Good Day New York. He shared with us the remarkable story of his humble beginnings as an orphan and naming the restaurant in honor of his foster mother Ludi.

He told us of his efforts to help others who had similarly difficult starts in life and hearing him speak you feel the importance of paying it forward and trying to make a difference in the lives of others.

He was warm, friendly, exuberant and clearly loved by everyone there.

And as he sat with us, after our meal was done, conversing about the journey that was his life, I expected their need to get ready for the next customer to take precedent, but that was never the case.

The Ludi's Experience

Looking around at the photos on the wall, you get a very clear sense of how well regarded (loved) the restaurant is by its patrons and why its reputation is deserved.

I marveled once again at how important it seemed to them to make everyone there feel like they weren't just customers but friends. As we left, I couldn't help but profoundly appreciate the effort they go through to make a space that feels accessible to all their patrons, regardless of ethnicity or place of origin. A rarity in Seattle not to be underappreciated.

So, in the opposite of short, if you find yourself in Seattle and you have the opportunity to visit this great location, I personally cannot recommend it enough. Ludi's offers not just a meal, but an experience - one of warmth, exceptional service, delicious food, and a genuine connection that's hard to find in...

I Used To Go To The Old Location Quite Frequently Randomly Or On Purpose If I Was In The Area even If Wasn't I would Crave There Lumpias.. Honestly How You Feel When Walking In, It's Like Your Part Of The Family Great Customer Service (Hospitality) In The Heart Of Downtown All Walks Of Life Came To Ludi's. When They Told Me They Were Shutting down I was sad I even was There for the last Days Before Closing..

Fast Forward June 2024 I heard they reopened and was excited not only they reopened but they were just up the street from where they originated which was convenient if you're ever downtown Seattle..

I tried to go there in the afternoon and was Sad it was Closed Although I Didn't Realize It Was A Holiday but looked at the Times They Were Open And It Closed At 3 pm Smh So I knew if I wanted to get some I would have to come early

Fast Forward to June 18th I was Up Early and It Was My Birthday So I Told My Love Let's Go Back To Ludi's We Go And The First Thing I Noticed It Looked Really Nice Inside. More Modern Then The Previous Location With Nice Decor You Had To Pay Before You Choose Your Seat I Already Knew What I Wanted Of Course I Got The Corn Beef Salong With A Side Of Lumpias And She Ordered Pancakes When we Got Served I Took A Cool Video Because It Looked Delicious Then I Wazed At The Owner As He Was A Familiar Face And Told him Nht Only That I'm Happy He's Back In Business But I told Him it Also it Was My Birthday Plus My First Time At The New Establishment...

He said Why Didn't You Tell Me.. Yesterday was The One Year Anniversary For Our Reopening Hold On I'll Be Right Back

He came Back With a All White Involope with 4 Hershey Kisses on top by the looks of it I thought it was Birthday Card of some sort..

We Leave And My Love One Is insisting me to opening it so I do and I was shocked 😳 10 crispy $5.00 bills was Inside wich added up to $50 and I paid $50 For My Meal.. So He Gave It Back

That just goes to show how much they not only Love What They Do But They Truly Care about...

This must be one of the highlights of our trip in Seattle. My college kid and I wanted to come and have breakfast last Thursday but was discouraged by the long queue outside despite the cold.

Hence, my husband and I decided to return on a Friday morning at 7 am - when they officially open to the public - to make sure that we would at least find a seat. Not surprisingly, there was already a bit of a queue - but only because they have a system whereby you immediately order and pay upon entering, then a seat will be found after - which we thought was pretty clever.

I ordered the bacon and eggs with the bacon extra crispy (which they obligingly did for me). I especially liked the over-medium eggs done just the way I like it. Husband had the roasted corned beef silog which he enjoyed with the diced tomatoes. We also had the ube pancakes which are only available from Friday-Sunday. I had coffee and calamansi juice and hot chocolate - all absolutely delicious.

The servers were all very attentive, constantly refilling our coffee and water. More importantly, you get a sense of how everything was done with such thoughtfulness, attention to detail and meticulous care to resemble what it’s like when a Filipino family cares for you. It was like a slice of home for us, especially with Air Supply blasting in the speakers - how Pinoy can you possibly get.

The owner, Tito Greg, is clearly the light of the place. He visited each table and stayed with us for quite a bit, sharing stories about his humble beginnings (the epitome of the so-called American dream), the kindnesses of strangers that enabled him to build this place filled with love, and the many miracles that kept him going each day. I am not surprised why this is a place where people keep coming back for more; not only is the food delicious and done with loving care, the people evidently love what they do, and they embrace their customers as long lost family. What a treasure...