Joule - Seattle

We LOVE joule. Make an extraordinary effort to come here at least twice a year now that we live over an hour away. I'd be mean if I didn't highly recommend the rice cakes!

Joule is a top-notch spot for Korean fusion cuisine that doesn 't disappoint. Despite the higher prices and smaller portions, the food is worth every penny. We tried a bit of everything, starting with the steak tartare and bone marrow appetizers. Both were exceptional, with the steak tartare boasting a perfect egg yolk and delightful pine nut crunch, while the bone marrow melted in our mouths. For mains, the green curry noodle and grilled octopus stole the show with their bold flavors and expert preparation. The kombu-cured mackerel was a simple yet standout dish, while that Short rib steak was pure melt-in-your-mouth perfection, especially paired with the gochujang sauce. The mussel had a delicious hint of Tom Yum flavor that added an extra layer of goodness. Although the portions are small, the quality of the food at Joule makes it a splurge worth indulging in for anyone craving high-end Korean fusion cuisine.

Hmmm. Wanted to love Joule, but ultimately I think it 's a little overhyped. Came for dinner on a Saturday night and my party of 4 tried: Spicy rice cake Beef tartare Smokey wok style mussels Smoked tofu Chinese broccoli Kombu cured mackerel Ube mocha cake The most delicious thing was actually the cake it was totally perfect. Non dessert standouts were the beef tartare and spicy rice cake. Everything else was good, but not amazing. They sounded awesome in theory, but the flavors just weren 't landing. Pacing was also kind of weird the 4 starters we got were all spread out so the four of us were hungrily attacking one dish at a time, then waiting another 15 mins for the next app (prob would have made more sense to pair 2 dishes at a time). The broccoli dish that we had purposefully ordered with the fish entree also arrived after we 'd finished the apps but long before the fish itself, so it was kind of sitting there (to be fair, the broccoli is on the menu as a starter). I can 't remember if we received the dishes arrive as they are ready spiel but it 's usually less noticeable. Anyway, incredible food would have made up for all of that, but I found it merely decent. Maybe an off night?

To start with Unique. You should look at the menu as something to share with the table. So bring friends to share more or with fewer people take home leftovers. We started with three kimchi's and then a bone marrow and toast. We had noodles lamb and steak. Each unique and you will not find anywhere else. Parking in the area is a challenge so you might just want to park in the paid lot across from Fremont Beer Garden. But if you have a beer do not fill up on beer and pretzels or you won't have room for dinner.l The restaurant seems small and is mostly kitchen. The staff is excellent.

I recently had the Veganuary Sunday Supper at Joule and it was one of the best meals I've ever had. Although I am vegan, my three non-vegan friends who came with me also enjoyed the experience, as none of us had been to Joule before. The manager, Brandi, spent a lot of time talking to us and the chefs, Cera and Carter, explained each course to us. I tried the Oh Mai, Oh My! mocktail which tasted just like a mai tai and was delicious. My friend tried the mocktail pairings and was only disappointed by half of them. The eggplant unagi onigiri and housemade cashew cheese on toast with crunchy chickpeas were highlights of the meal for me. The portions were surprisingly large for a multi-course meal. Unfortunately, one of my friends could not eat cilantro, but Brandi quickly substituted a delicious vegan option for her. The green curry noodle bowl with tofu katsu was juicy and flavorful, and the dessert - banana toffee canelle topped with caramelized bananas and black sesame coconut whip - was a highlight for all of us. Brandi also mentioned that there are several vegan options on the regular menu, such as scallion pancake, smoked tofu, cabbage salad, and spicy rice cake. Overall, it was a delightful experience and I will definitely be back for another vegan meal in the future.