Ton Kiang Barbeque Noodle House — Restaurant in Seattle

I have been to Ton Kiang several times in the past few years and it doesn’t disappoint. It’s a hole-in-the-wall and that adds to its charm especially places like this are dwindling in the area. The restaurant has a somewhat unkempt appearance but it should not turn you away. There are a few tables to sit at and while I’ve never had to wait for a seat, I would probably be ready for a wait. The prices here are great and the value is through the roof. Most recently I visited right as they opened on a Friday morning. I ended up getting the one meat and rice combo and chose the BBQ pork. It comes out to $7 after all is said and done and there is more than enough food for two meals. As an aside, they do take credit cards, but anything under $10 adds a credit card fee. As for the combo it came with two heaping scoops of white rice, a bed of cabbage and pieces of BBQ pork. The cabbage is likely cooked along side the meats because it is rich and flavorful. The cabbage has a good texture – not mushy but cooked through. The BBQ is what draws me here time and time again though. The pork is not the bright red you’ll see with supermarket Chinese BBQ pork but a dark red/brown. The brown comes from the caramelization they get on the pork skin – any bite of the brown, crispy pieces is a delight. The pork is meaty and rich is a great example of good Chinese BBQ. I will continue to visit and will direct anyone looking for good...

A couple quick observations. It's a small but ample area to operate out of. You step in from off the street right to the order counter. The person that greeted me was pleasant enough. I was warned that it's cash only, so I walked up with that in my hands. The lunch ordering system seemed simple enough. One choice of meat, two and more, with rice. I was told to try the duck, and I chose the chicken to accompany it. As I was seated, I noticed I was the least Asian looking of the patrons. I used my chopsticks as that seemed to have diverted watchful eyes.

The duck and chicken were fantastic! The staff were speaking loudly to each other in Mandarin as much as I could figure out, and then that would be interrupted by the chop-chop-chop of the butcher and her clever serving up the BBQ. I was laughing inside and quietly to myself. The duck and chicken were cut with the bones and all. So in order to get to the tastiness, you navigated through the bones.

As I rated, I liked it, but I didn't quite love it - if that...

They're not clear about their prices. I got the 3 meat lunch special and they jacked up their price by a few dollars, on the fly, presumably because I spoke in English. Be careful if it's the women taking the orders. Overall, their meats are good and the lunch special was a good portion for the price, that's why it gets 3 stars. But fleecing paying customers is such a 20th century practice. It's universally understood that I get to choose where I spend my money. I won't be supporting this business often, or possibly at all, in the future, I'll have to see.

Update: their response to the price hike was due to tax. I had no idea Seattle's sales tax was 20% - 30%. That being the case, I will be more conservative with my spending, and spend my money...