Big Chicken
Reporting: Mia Green, Staff Writer
Address: 15515 Westminster Way N, Shoreline, WA 98133
Distance from campus: 14 min walk, 3 min bike ride, 14 min bus, 2 min drive
Price Range: $8-11 for a sandwich
Early Tuesday afternoon, I began the 15-minute walk from my apartment on campus to Shaquille O’Neil’s critically-acclaimed franchised restaurant, Big Chicken. The fast food shop located just off Highway 99 is known for their curious menu items including “The Pit Boss,” a chicken sandwich with cheese curds under a layer of American cheese and barbecue sauce. Sensing a bit of a gimmick, I wanted to see for myself if there was any substance to what this restaurant had to offer.
I went around 3 p.m. and was surprised to find the place nearly empty. The staff serving me were incredibly friendly and the establishment itself offered clean bathrooms and free Wi-Fi although I wouldn’t recommend it as a go-to study spot due to the loud hyperpop style music. Unfortunately, being lactose intolerant meant that I had surprisingly few choices but eventually landed on the “Uncle Jerome’s Nashville Hot Sandwich,” a side of fries, and a lemonade, which all ended up being about $19.
Quite honestly, I was unimpressed by the food. The fries and lemonade were standard but the sandwich was a disappointment: Dry but simultaneously super oily, probably due to the sauce that doused the sandwich. I have certainly had drier, oilier pieces of chicken but for almost $20, I expected more out of the meal. Overall, Big Chicken seems to be another celebrity cash-grab with mediocre food and a steep price tag. Personally, I can’t say I would go again.
Bongos Cafe
Reviewer: Chester Anderson, Staff Artist
Address: 6501 Aurora Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
Distance to Campus: ~36 min by bus
Price Range: $11-23
Just on the edge of Green Lake is Bongos, a Caribbean restaurant with a lively atmosphere. As you walk across the patio and through the door, upbeat Latin American music greets you, with a burlap coffee bag-lined ceiling and rows of vintage décor along the walls illuminated warmly by strings of little circular bulb lights spanning each corner. I ordered the Desi Plate: citrus-braised pork that falls apart beautifully in your mouth, braised onions with just the right amount of bite, flavorful rice cooked to perfection, and refreshingly crispy mango slaw topped with jalapeños and pickled banana peppers to tie it all together. Each plate comes topped with a fried plantain, and the crispy fried crust on it is simply divine.
El Cubano
Reporting: SM Castillo, Managing Editor
Address: 19920 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133
Distance from campus: 6 min drive, 23 min bus ride, 55 min walk, 20 min e-scooter (how SM got there)
Price range: $12.50-$19.00 for an entree
El Cubano is a delight and a refreshing one at that. Many restaurants around Shoreline want you in and out in a snap, but El Cubano, while a mostly take-out establishment, was welcoming to me for the hour I spent there before they closed at 7 p.m. They serve “Sandwiches, Platos/Plates, Salads & Sides,” and coffee, as their menu puts it. I got a “Classic Cubano” sandwich for 14 dollars which came to $18.25. The cubano was freshly made; made perfectly juicy with pickles, mustard, and swiss cheese; and I couldn’t even finish the sandwich starting with an empty stomach. It did make good leftovers in the air fryer the next day.
El Cubano is an affordable and very tasty food option along Aurora Avenue; I’m going back soon to try dessert and, maybe, a plato too. If you want to hit El Cubano on a slow day and have room to dine-in with a friend or two: go in the fall, winter, or spring. The cashier told me they have many more customers in the summer, especially tourists from New York and Florida in search of a good Cubano.
North Star Diner
Reporting: Xander Siqveland, Editor-In-Chief
Address: 8580 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98103
Distance from campus: 1 hour 19 min walk, 22 min bike ride, 19 min bus, 10 min drive
Price Range: $9-23
I came to the North Star Diner with my Managing Editor and a mutual friend, on the night the print release of the Ebbtide was due to be sent in. And decided on the diner at the reccomendation of my entourage. When you enter the building, but before you’ve even sat down, the restaurant trumpets its vibe right at you—glittery gold and sequined lounge benches, galaxy-printed chinese architecture, and rugs that haven’t seen the light of day since the early 90s.
Yes, a place with an architectural style that I won’t soon forget, but that’s not all that was memorable. I have never had fried food that managed to be perfectly crunchy on the outside while still retaining that golden ratio of juiciness on the inside until my night at North Star Diner. The Schezuan Chicken Sandy was worth the $20 that I spent on it and was quite filling; I probably ate more than I should’ve—a common sentiment when eating good food. The coffee was also big enough that my Managing Editor was almost drowning in the massive mug. The pickles that came with the sandwiches were also excellent. All in all, a fantastic eatery that I highly reccomend.
Taqueria El Sabor
Reporting: Bryce Moerti, Staff Photographer
Address: 15221 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133
Distance from campus: 17 min walk, 5 min bike ride, 17 min bus, 2 min drive
Price Range: $10-20
Right along Aurora Avenue North and N 155th Street, Taqueria El Sabor is a homey, cheap and amazing restaurant—just a hop and skip away from campus. The Taqueria is your go-to place for Mexican dishes, like chile relleno, quesadillas and nachos, all within an affordable price range-the average price of the dishes are around $12-15, depending on what you order. I tried their steak quesadillas and fries for a combined price of $15.48. The portions themselves are a bit too much for my taste, but it’s sufficient enough to keep you full for a long time. Service is quite fast as well, ensuring that you don’t have to wait too long for your food. Accompanied with a cozy interior inspired by Mexican architecture, this is a must-try place for those looking for a hefty and flavourful meal.
Xiaolongbao House
Reporting: Sophia Cruise, Staff Writer
Address: 14725 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133
Distance from campus: 7 min drive, 17 min bus, 32 min walk
Price range: $10-25
Xiaolongbao House serves plenty of delicious Chinese dishes with generous portions for decent prices. I got the beef noodle soup, which was filled to the brim with perfectly cooked noodles, tender beef, and a flavorful beef bone broth with a slight pepper taste. My favorite part about the soup was the abundance of noodles, easily allowing customers to either take home leftovers or share with a friend. The atmosphere was pleasantly calm, and of course tea was made readily available at each table for free. The large menu also offers other familiar Chinese dishes like dumplings, fried rice, and pork fried buns, allowing customers to try something new every time they visit.
