OHSUN Banchan Deli & Cafe — Restaurant in Seattle

I find it appropriate to finally leave a review after now experiencing two separate sides of Ohsun:

1. Dine-In Lunch
2. After Hours Private Kids Cooking Class

Lunch: On the menu the day I came in, I ordered the Fall Bibimbap. The ingredients were so fresh and the flavor and textures reflected that. It was so flavorful and warm to the palette and matched the season… overall, it was unforgettable for me. I really loved it. I also like that this is a bowl of bibimbap that you’re not going to get anywhere else… I mean, you be the judge - The ingredients included (as described) Purple Rice, Curry Butternut Squash, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, blistered Walla Walla Sweet Onions, Thin Radish Kimchi, Spinach, Braised Lotus Root, and Perilla Ribbons. It was so unique and a refreshing departure from “typical” bibimbap.

My lunch rating: 5 stars - Food was delicious, high quality, hearty and generous. Service was warm, welcoming, friendly, and fast. Atmosphere was great, I took a corner bar stool near the window and people-watched, music was nice and not too loud, it felt roomy and comfortable. I also had a beer from the cooler and it was nice and cold.

Cooking Class: Sara, the owner, hosted a kids cooking class for my daughter’s 10th birthday with a few close friends and their kids. In total, we had 9 people. Sara had tables pulled together in an L-shape and she had a table in front of us where we could all view what she was doing. She began by telling us about her restaurant and what inspired ”Ohsun”, she also shared with us a bit of education and history around the food and ingredients we were about to cook. We had pre-planned a number of dishes based on my daughter’s birthday picks which made it extra special for her. We went over cleanliness and food safety and general safety since we would be using knives and hot cooking surfaces. As we progressed through the actual class, what stood out for me was Sara’s apparent passion for what she was doing. She was putting so much care into including everyone at the table and answering questions and helping the kids. We each had tasks and worked on prepping separate ingredients and we were encouraged to taste as we worked. Then we each combined our separate ingredients and took turns cooking. It was really a great time for everyone and it showed the most in the kids. This was a great birthday party idea and the kids talked about it the whole drive home and then for days later. If I’m lucky, Sara may have sparked a new passion in the kids. I’m certain they felt very empowered, cooking for the very first time. Tasting the food and appreciating everyone’s part in it was the cherry on top - seeing everyone take their bites and hearing a unanimous “Mmmmmmm!” It was so great!

Cooking Class rating:...

--Update-- I visited again recently, and felt the need to update my review.

While they don't serve traditional Korean food, their execution has improved drastically from when I first visited. Flavors were much more balanced, and the rice was perfect this time.

Braised Spicy Tofu - Nice option for vegan/vegetarian folks. It was good, but it was on the milder side to me, and I wished it had a bit more depth of flavor, or some textural component to keep it interesting beyond the first few bites.

Ohsun has really established itself as a community gathering place. I love the events they host, as well as the artists and small businesses they support. Highly recommend visiting and supporting this small business in this often-neglected neighborhood.

--Previous review-- Ohsun is not traditional Korean - which I thought worked for some things, but didn't for others.

Everyone was super friendly and went out of their way to make recommendations. We ordered the banchan plate and the so-tteok.

Banchan plate - picked chicken with tomato, radish, and potato salad sides. To me, the chicken lacked flavor. It was salty without much else going on - would have liked it to be spicier or sweeter, or something. It also didn't have any crispiness or charring that I'd expect from something that's been stir fried. The radishes were overly vinegar-y for my preference. The tomatoes didn't have much seasoning - just tasted like cherry tomatoes with vinegar. Potato salad was pretty good, though. However, the most disappointing part to me was how mushy the rice was. It did not taste/feel fresh at all.

So-tteok so-tteok - rice cakes and sausage skewer with gochujang glaze - I really enjoyed this one! Lightly charred, and well seasoned.

Overall, great service and ambiance, but food could use improvement. Will update my review if my experience next...

The aroma of Korean banchan (side dishes like kimchi, etc.) can tickle your nose from a block away in the old downtown Seattle neighborhood, Pioneer Square. These days the area is called NoDo (north of the dome - Kingdome, iconic Seattle sports arena that was imploded in March 2000). Urban loft industrial like interior fits right into the historic neighborhood; friendly & helpful staff, simple, straightforward, focused menu; fresh, healthy ingredients, well prepared & presented; not Korean fusion but not traditional either. This is not a Kbbq place. The usual Korean staples like stews, grilled meats, etc. are not on the menu. No waitstaff. Orders are taken at the counter and dirty dishes are self-bus. NO cash, which is a really big turn off for me. One bowl of bibimbop with a few add-ons, tax+tip was just under $30. The ingredients, some non-traditional (ie. brussel sprouts) were good quality; gochujang sauce was unique but flavorful; generous portion; appreciated the modern aluminium Korean utensils. I can imagine rent is steep but paying nearly $30 for an order of a contemporary take on bibimbop and risking your life to walk around in the high crime neighborhood (not Oh Sun's fault but the consequence of failed & incompetent local government policies) will make me think twice about returning. However, worth trying at least once. Oh Sun adds culinary class & culture to upgrade the...