I love love their location in Capitol Hill, I don't usually hang out around Fremont and was happy to find out that they had another location within walking distance to our nightlife destination that evening. It's located tucked in an alley, but there's signs for it. The place looks a bit more run down than their other location, but that didn't really bother me as long as they have good food. The dumplings here didn't taste the same quality as the ones I'm used to in Capitol Hill at all, there's just something off about it. It was a bit more chewy and the sour cream was a weird texture. I'm not sure if it's because of the rush they get in the middle of the night when nothing else is opened, but Capitol Hill's location gets busy too and it's ALWAYS on point. I should have just went home and not cheated on my intermediate fasting diet. Even though it's hipster Russian dumplings, this is probably the closest Russian joint you'll find in Seattle. Their brand is pretty popular, my friend follow them all the way from Bellingham and that's how I found out about Russian dumplings. Great for late drunken night's craving. Tell me about your experience if you've been here or is going to after reading this review:) read more

Served meat dumplings to a vegetarian who specifically asked to confirm that the potato dumplings were vegetarian. When told about this, they shrugged, commented on how someone else had told them the same thing, and didn't seem to care. read more

you will not find a ruder staff on the planet than this place and the food SUCKS. I have NO idea how this place is in business?

Excellent dumplings! Ordered Dumpling Tzar delivery from the Fremont location for the first time since the world ended, and although I'm bummed they stopped serving bread it's nice that they took the time to explain in a note. These dumplings are so good you'll temporarily forget hunger even exists anymore! read more

Pel Meni Dumpling Tzar - I'm sad to not get the bread but I'm thrilled that they're being extra safe! - Russian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I've been to Russia and Ukraine and ate fabulous dumplings almost daily for 2 weeks - these are nothing like those authentic Slavic dumplings. A lot of water in the bottom of the bowl (ruined the sour creme), way too much vinegar (not even a nice vinegar), and the boiled dunpligings very tiny bite sized. The worst were the varnikis - breading was too heavy, and they were deep fried not pan fried - picture store bought frozen pizza rolls. And they were served with plain catchup and 1000 dressing for dipping. Order takers were not particularly friendly, and the place was completely empty during most of our visit (not surprised), but the good part - at least they were open on Tuesday unlike other establishments in the Fremont area. Finally, I will say the place was very clean, but I would not recommend or return. read more

Very small portion for the price. I bought three different kinds and brought them home and we were still very hungry after eating. The dumplings themselves are pretty average tasting although their curry sauce is good. I would not go back again for such a small portion for such a large price read more

Expensive and not authentic at all. The beer was flat, as well as small portions. It's hard to take these dumplings and Americanize them.

No. Don't do it. The pasta for the dumpling was awful. The salad was so salty, my dogs didn't want to eat it... and they eat raccoon poop. Shame on this place. read more

Great for a late snack after a night of drinking or to cure a case of the munchies . It's the first door when you enter the ally. Don't forget to take some of their hot sauces with your order!! Also, PSA: you can also have this delivered through UberEats. read more

Favorite late-night snack in Fremont - open until 2:30am! Love these dumplings. Make your mouth happy - split the combo w/a friend. Both the beef and potato dumplings are delish. Comes with good dark rye, which goes really well. Yay for friendly staff :) read more

Pel Meni Dumpling Tzar - So tasty! - Russian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Yum!!!!! Russian dumplings! Yay! Comfort food at it's finest! They have the very difficult choice of potato, beef, or a combo of both! If you've never had Russian dumplings before and are expecting something like chinese dumplings.... You're probably gonna be in for a rude awakening. The dough is thicker and the texture is very different, we have a dish in korea that has "dumplings" kind of like this but are just this kind of dough cooked with a veggie broth. I favor the beef, but I love meat! They serve it with a vinegary sauce and delicious sour cream with curry powder. Be careful not to burn yourself while digging in! They make their own dumplings up north in WA state so get out there and support your local small business! Yum! They also have punch cards, so keep eating! It's in the alleyway by Pie and Blubird so make sure to stop in and get your dumpling fix on! read more

Pel Meni Dumpling Tzar - Beef du - Russian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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My best friend raved about this place and so my disappointment may just be that I came in with higher expectations than I should have had. The dumplings tasted decent, but taste is just a small factor among the long list of factors that I assess when reviewing restaurants. Among such factors include overall service, ambiance, interior design, etc. Pel'Meni Dumpling Tzar scores low on overall service, interior design, and ambiance and medium on taste. The atmosphere here is almost too casual, borderline unsanitary feeling. The tables were sticky and there were fruit flies trying to land in my food. The location is right in the alleyway nearby all the dumpsters, which is perhaps an ironically fitting location for a "dump"ling restaurant. It's self-serve and self-clean up. The portion sizes were small. I recommend this place for people who are looking for a quick, light decently tasting and ethnically diverse lunch to-go. read more

Pel Meni Dumpling Tzar - delicious dumplings - Russian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Seriously SO good. I love the beef ones and the potato ones. I could live off of these little dumplings. Price is a little high for how much you get. read more

Perhaps I've ruined myself a bit by trying Vostok Dumpling House first, because those dumplings were more heavily seasoned and flavorful, with more sauce, and for cheaper. Pel'Meni is much more homestyle, dumplings made rustically in uneven shapes with only just enough sauce/seasoning powder to have a bit on each dumpling. Where it turned from rustic to plain falling a bit short for me was the fact that, after these dumplings were boiled, water was allowed to run into the bottom of my bowl, so now not only is there not much in the way of sauce, there's some water further diluting the taste of everything. Bread was a rather skimpy half of what looked typical store-bought sliced bread. Sour cream was a nice touch, but not enough. Granted, it looked pretty, the portion was just okay for the price, the seating area outside was nice, and the people were friendly. The food just fell short. Fresh and homemade, yes, but that doesn't give a pass on flavor. If you like this place, I certainly don't blame you, but do try Vostok before you decide it's the best you can get. read more

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5 stars for the most delishious dumplings EVER!!! I tasted them at Bumbershoot and now I am completely hooked. It costs about $7 for either beef dumplings, potato dumplings, or a combo and rye bread. I can't even begin to describe how melt in your mouth scrumptious these dumplings are! The dumplings are sprinkled with curry powder, hot sauce, and vinegar, however I actually prefer the plain dumplings as I find them already "perfect" before they add the sauce. From now on I need to remember to ask for them plain. Oh sooooo good! Open late! read more

Great service and delicious food! We had the pelmeni which was amazing. Perfectly done. We will be making this a usual stop read more

Pel Meni Dumpling Tzar - Pelmeni - Russian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Who knew that Russian dumplings were a thing? Open late, this spot is just around the corner from your standard gyro, but if you're feeling ambitious, you may want your late night snacks to be more original than that. Be careful of the dumplings, they come out more like Chinese soup dumplings, full of boiling hot water, ready to burn your tongue and leave you wishing you had taste buds left to take in the Seattle coffee. One order will leave you wanting more, but you may not be craving Russian any more... read more

I dig this place. Fun food options. Never did i know what Russian rumblings were until I found the Tzar food truck at a street fair. Went tonight for a date night and found they have more options!!! New dumplings, desserts, fries and salads. Pumped to go back and try their new options. Woop woop!!! read more

This was my first time having Russian dumplings so I was really excited to try Pel Meni! Unfortunately, I was disappointed to find the restaurant didn't live up to the Yelp hype, to me at least. I ordered the classic, which was pretty good but a little too spice-heavy; the vinegar and chili oil saved it but I couldn't eat too many because the overall flavor was a lot. My boyfriend and I also tried the Razorback, and were surprised and bummer after finding the bacon relish was so sweet. I'm sure these could be delicious if the restaurant tweaked its recipes here and there. read more

Dumplings were just okay(and overpriced in my opinion), but I ordered them gluten free and dairy free and was given regular sour cream... not the dairy free kind. I called to let them know so they would be more careful in the future, but was told there was no way they made that mistake. If you have dairy issues like me, it's pretty clear when you've accidentally ingested dairy, so I know they gave me the real stuff. Just a warning for anyone that goes... maybe ask for no sour cream just to be safe. read more

The traditional dumplings are really yummy. I liked the beef dumplings better than the potato dumplings, but you can ask for a combo order and try both. The dumplings are tiny, but a bowl of them is really filling. Also the staff was nice. I'll be back! read more

So I'm a server I understand that stuff gets stressful but I have NEVER had a worst experience in a restaurant. The service was beyond horrible there were people in front of the signs so when we went to the bathroom we didn't see a sign so when we were told no bathroom it was in the rudest way possible, don't know how the green haired girl still has a job. Sorry but if you want pels go to the other location, so much better!! read more

Hmmmm this was quite terrible. I had beef dumplings and they had very little flavor and very little beef. It was late and food options were getting slim. Next time I'll just go to the 7-11 down the street and get one of those gross taquito roller thingies. They taste better and they have more meat (ok I'm sure it's meat and sawdust or some other filler, but still). Plus, I could go on a mini shopping spree at 7-11 for what I spent on these dumb-plings (sorry). read more

Apparently most of the staff have quit. So much for enlightened management. Why the environment became toxic I don't know. Disappointing. You may say that this is irrelevant in a restaurant review. That's your prerogative. I can't frequent a business that doesn't treat its people well. read more

Love this place! When I found out there was a Russian Dumpling place like this in seattle I was THRILLED! Cheap eats, filling, and so tasty!! One of my friends and I's go-to meet up Spots for sure! read more

I can't tell you how special Pel Meni is to me! Like others who went to WWU in Bellingham, they were a staple in my drunk college nights and hungover afternoons, as well as a hearty snack somewhere in between. This is the original SEATTLE location, tucked away in an alley near the Lenin statue in Fremont. The atmosphere is homey and quiet, a nice reprieve from the sometimes bustling Fremont streets. I brought my girlfriend along during my last visit to Seattle to show her all my favorite places and some classic touristy spots, so of course Pel Meni was on the list. I keep things simple and always order the classic beef dumplings (and add extra chili sauce, since it's to die for). My lady is vegan and while it's not very well advertised, they DO have vegan dumplings! It's a $1.50 upcharge, just fyi, but that makes sense as vegan ingredients can be more labor intensive / expensive. They even have vegan sour cream! Needless to say, everything was delicious, and my girlfriend couldn't stop talking about the dumplings throughout the rest of the trip and even when we got home. So glad I was able to share a piece of my college days with her and enjoy such a classically delicious, warming meal at the same time. read more

Okay food at an okay price. This seems like it'd be much more enjoyable if consumed in the wee hours while intoxicated. I tried the mac and cheese and traditional dumplings. I was fairly disappointed in the mac and cheese dumplings and found them to be bland. The traditional with sour cream, butter, vinegar was a much tastier option. My vegetarian partner was very unhappy after accidentally eating part of a meat dumpling that was mixed in with the order. The two combos also only came with one slice of bread for some reason. read more

GOD AWFUL!!! DISGUSTING! Where to begin? The staff there is absolutely indifferent, arrogant. The girl behind the counter barely went through the motions and was quite the masterpiece with tattoos covering her entire body, green hair, and nearly every body part pierced. Yuck !! But, that wasn't the only thing that was yuck, the food was absolutely disgusting! Since I've traveled to Russia numerous times, I know what good pelmeni is all about. This is garbage!!! This was far from it! My pelmeni came cold and barely had any taste. I ordered it with cheese on top and it looked as if they broke open a Kraft Mac N' Cheese pack and just unloaded it over the dumplings. However, I would've been happy had this been the only thing wrong. The next day, both my mother and I got very sick. I looked up their King County food safety rating and there is no record of them whatsoever. I cringe to think how they rate! Disgusting place in all aspects, stay away, WAY, WAY AWAY!!! read more

Good cheap hot meal at the odd hours where nothing else is open! A hidden jewel in Fremont. Bonus if the sun is out and you're friendly and respectful, it's a great spot to toke up and soak up some rays. Beef potato or combo it's served with a dollop of sour cream and a fresh piece of rye bread. So simple. So satisfying! read more

Pel Meni Dumpling Tzar - Russian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I like places that feel like "finds" and this place is in an alley and in a shared space and has three menu items - so it definitely checks the idiosyncratic boxes. This is not a place to go for super-authentic pelmenyi. If you grew up on your grandma's or have lived in NY or Chicago and gone to russian places, you will not get the same thing here. HOWEVER, what you do get is a generous bowl full of delicious pelemyi with a little flavor exploration. They're very well prepared, tasty, the dumpling dough/wrapper is thin and still has a little resistance, the rye bread and pickles are great. Plus there's usually old punk playing over the PA. I didn't expect to taste my childhood and was very pleased with a different, but very good flavor and experience. The guy who runs the place was very attentive and appreciative. It's in a neat space with a tattoo parlor and a few other small businesses. As such there is some neat art on the walls. read more

Pel Meni Dumpling Tzar - Russian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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As an update to my previous review, now they charge you extra for an extra spoonful of sour cream and it no longer includes the bread that used to be part of every order. The prices keep going up and the serving size keeps going down. Unique and good food, but the value has consistently gone down since the early days, unfortunately. read more

Absolutely delicious dumplings. Ambiance at the restraint is 10/10 and the staff are super interesting people.

No wonder the restaurant was empty on a Sunday at 2pm... Customer service or do you mean the Douche that was running the stand? They couldn't be bothered with a conversation, let alone explain the menu. Unwelcoming, unfriendly, and unfortunate! The food was bad. Soggy almost gelatinous dumplings with zero flavor! Blah! Ordering a gluten free option and regular traditional, one beef, the other potato and both were gross. No to mention pretty sure that the ones that were supposed to be gluten free, weren't!!! The quality of ingredients that we were severed doesn't dictate the absurdly high prices. read more

First place I've seen serving pelmenis in Seattle. Tzar doesn't have any ambiance whatsoever; it is very simple and straight to the point. Cheap flatware, self-serve water, and you're your own busboy. You have the choice of Beef or Potato (or both!) and a couple options for sides (although one of them is a pickle). I ordered the combo and enjoyed both the beef and the potato dumplings very much. I would love to see this turn into a true restaurant with ambiance and a larger menu. read more

Yum! I checked out Pel'Meni's stand at Cap Hill's food cart gathering this past Saturday. The dumplings were delicious! My only complaint is that I wish the portions were bigger. The dumplings are placed in the plastic containers then tossed in a spicy oil with curry powder. Next, a dollop of sour cream goes on the side along with some bread. Nom. Nom. Nom. I just tried the beef ones, but am curious about the potato ones... read more

The signage is perfectly placed next to the Lenin statue, prompting you to head towards a "shady" alleyway in which the entrance to Tzar is located. It's a basement sort of place, but has nice seating. A record player (with lots of vinyl!) off to the side and I think the entrance to a hot yoga and tattoo shop is also "through" the restaurant.. a little weird, I know. They only have a couple options. Beef or potato. I had the combo so I could try both and both are good. They serve it in a bowl with dark bread and top it with sour cream and cumin and some other spices (unless, presumably, you ask them otherwise) I like the outdoor seating, in a sort of courtyard in the middle of the block. Small, with nice murals. The indoor area is also very nice. Good for more of a small bite or snack rather than a "meal" but I like this place and whenever I am around I would be glad to drop in again. read more

I've loved pelmeni since some of my Russian classmates gave me a taste from their lunchboxes. Date night stop one was at Dimpling Tzar, where we split a regular order of beef pelmeni with "traditional" toppings (butter, vinegar and sour cream I believe). They were just as good as the homemade varieties I have tried/made. That was the neat thing about this place; they provided a lot of spins on pelmeni, which is fun and all, but they also nailed the basics. Their house hot sauce was tangy and sweet and accompanied the other flavors well. We came back the next day for lunch. I wasn't really feeling the bread, I didn't know what to eat it with and most of it went into the trash. read more

Pel Meni Dumpling Tzar - Got 2/3 of the way through our dumplings before we remembered to take a pic - Russian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

D E L I C I O U S (did I spell it right? ) Highly recommend. I love pelmeni and was very surprised to see the variety this place offers! I had mixed pelmeni with meat and potatoes and even ordered the second portion read more

Always satisfied and happy! New dumpling kits are dope when you want to up the ante on sauces or garnishes at home. Good food. Good people.

Mediocre food. Terrible service. The ladies in the back were chit chatting more than they were prepping food. Took far longer than service expected. Although, very cool record collection to play! read more