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    Saimin Says

    4.5 (164 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

    Order Saimin Says Takeout or Delivery

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    SAIMIN SAYS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual

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    Recommended Reviews - Saimin Says

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    Combo Plate with Mochiko Chicken & Chicken Katsu.
    Joy L.

    I'll definitely be back-- the food here is really good, and it's great to have this spot available in Renton. The oxtail was incredibly tender, falling right off the bone, and the broth was so comforting and heart-warming. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place has limited seating, but there's plenty of parking right in front.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was very friendly, and they offer a wide variety of options. Highly recommend.

    Kalbi Shortribs hit the spot. This was yummy.
    Aliza C.

    SUCH a cute name! So glad we were able to give it a try on our recent WA trip. It's a quaint, no-frills spot tucked in an industrial/warehouse area. The mochiko chicken was crispy and juicy, and the kalbi was flavorful without being too sweet (huge plus). Mac salad was good. Portions were generous and food is cooked to order. Friendly service, ample parking, and they close kinda early so plan to come earlier in the day. Definitely worth the stop if you're craving Hawaiian comfort food!

    Hurricane Fries
    Kathy N.

    This place was great! This was a small eatery tucked into an unassuming business area. Great portion sizes at great prices. I got the combo plate of chicken katsu and garlic chicken. Chicken katsu was a little bland, which I think is normal honestly, so I wish they had tonkatsu sauce to eat with it. They do have other sauces like hot sauce and ketchup on the counter. Garlic chicken was juicy. We also got the kahlua loco moco, that was similarly great, a little salty. Hurricane fries were delicious. Crispy, fluffy, and well seasoned with what I think is spicy mayo and furikake. Overall paid about $42. Come with cash as card will have a 3.5% processing charge! Service was good. Lady at the front took our order promptly. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place itself is small. 1 table that fits 6 and about 5 tables that fit 2-3.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Saw lots of to-go orders. I would love to try their pancakes and other plate items next time. Would definitely come back!

    Menu at Saimin Says
    Peg C.

    Thank you, Yelpers, for steering me to Saimin Says! My hubs and I were going to Ikea around lunchtime on a Tuesday afternoon and knew we didn't want to eat there. So I jumped on Yelp and found this place. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place is small and tucked into a non-descript industrial-like strip mall. But what they don't have in ambiance, they make up for in the food.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My mochiko chicken was crispy and delicious. My hubs's shoyu chicken was savory and tasty. We both thought the tuna mac was some of the best macaroni salad we've ever had. We both ate half our lunches, sampled each other's lunches, and still had a decent amount to take home that later became part of our dinner. As the Hawaiians say, this place has 'ono grindz! Next time we have a shopping trip at Ikea, we will make sure to come back to Saimin Says.

    Fried Saimin
    Jennifer S.

    Finally tried Saimin Says after so many years! [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's located in a business park-ish looking building right across the street from IKEA.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] On a weekday, the parking was easy right in front. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is kind of small with a handful of tables.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The menu has a pretty wide selection of Hawaiian-style dishes. I wanted to try them all, it's so hard to choose! We got the fried saimin and garlic chicken plate - so good! Will definitely be back soon!

    Hawaiian Style Breakfast (L)
    D P.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Definitely a take-away place, as opposed to a sit-down place.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]They have seating but if you dine in, they still serve your meal in a take out container.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] All that aside the food was very good and the prices are fair.

    Garlic Chicken, Spam Katsu Musubi - IG @bougiefoodieboi
    Kyle W.

    I went here for a lunch and it was not busy inside. Most people come for pick up orders, but I opted to dine in. I got the garlic chicken rice and the spam katsu musubi, totaling close to $20. Food came out decently fast, about 10 minutes, and a powerful smell of garlic seeped to my nose, in a good way - I was excited to try the dish! The garlic chicken is a mochiko chicken with garlic, and it was quite flavorful. Just the garlic chicken dish itself filled me up, so it was good value. There's a good amount of rice and Mac salad, and it's not just any kind of Mac salad. It's Mac salad with tuna, adding a bit more flavor to it. The chicken itself is alright though - it's a bit dry and super salty. It helps with the rice but I wouldn't enjoy it in itself. The spam katsu musubi is a heartier take on the spam musubi. Instead of a teriyaki sauce, it's a katsu sauce so the flavor profile is a bit different. It's interesting and I enjoyed it but I would stick with the typical spam musubi next time. Overall, good food for decent prices. Recommend paying in cash as there is a hefty 3.5% surcharge for all card transactions. Unless you use something like Amex gold, it's worth it to just pay in cash.

    Craig F.

    I have been going here for many years. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The current location is much smaller than it used to be.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]They are very efficient with space but the seating is only for 20 or less dine in customers.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The customer is friendly. The menu selection is diverse and of course Spam Musubi. They serve breakfast and lunch only. If you are at Ikea shopping, this place is near by and is a great place to eat.

    Spam Saimin $9.95 mini loco moco $14.95 extra gravy $1.95
    Aulani A.

    I wasn't happy with this. The Prices are crazy, food is mediocre. The hamburger pattie was cute and small and tasted like ketchup. Not for me!

    Shoyu Chicken &Kalbi Combo
    K K.

    Wow! Food was excellent. What stole the show for me was the macaroni salad with tuna in it. Kalbi was awesome, good sweetness, and char to it. The soy chicken was also amazing. Super homemade taste, chicken fell off the bone. The garlic chicken was also very tasty and tender. Good chunky pieces. All it is, is their Mochiko chicken dip and garlic sauce, bomb! The Katsu cutlet was OK. The gravy was good, but if I ever go back to this place when I visit Seattle, I'll try their regular Katsu. I'm sure they have a bomb Katsu sauce. The service was great and they were very helpful in suggesting the top items. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It is a little hole in the wall, seating is limited, but it looks like it's more of a takeout restaurant.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Khoa N.

    Stopped by Saiman Says for a quick bite, and overall, it was a solid experience. I tried the mochiko chicken and garlic chicken. The mochiko was decent, though nothing that stood out too much. As for the garlic chicken, I appreciated that it wasn't overly sweet (a big plus), but I wish it had more bold, garlicky flavor. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The spot seems like a classic mom-and-pop shop with a laid-back vibe, which I love supporting.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] While it didn't completely wow me, the food was decent, and I'd definitely give it another shot to try some other items on the menu. Hopefully next time I can find something that has a tad bit more flavor.

    Garlic Chicken
    Wendy K.

    Have been to the Kent location with my brother and dad years ago. When brother told me they were in Renton now and they had been to make sure and check them out. My sister in law is from Hawaii so I trust her judgment on Hawaiian places. Her favorite dish is the Garlic Chicken which is their mochiko chicken but amped up. Was tasty with chopped bits of jalapeños. Chicken was tender inside and crispy outside. Dad got the katsu curry chicken was also cooked perfectly. Each came with a generous scoop of rice and mac salad. I'm not usually a fan of mac salads but theirs had great flavor with the added tuna. Friendly staff, not a large space but welcoming. It was nice to see they had a steady stream of customers dining in and for take out around 1:30 on a Saturday. They're not open on Sundays just an fyi it's why it took me so long to give them a try. Located amongst a bunch of businesses can almost be easily overlooked if you don't they're there but parking easily available. Looking forward to trying the rest of the menu. They have another restaurant as will inside that I'd like to try some items off of as well.

    malasadas
    Rachel B.

    I wanted some spam musubi. This place has multiple options for spam musubi, and I ordered 2 different types (katsu and original) but received spicy, regular, and katsu. The regular spam musubi and the spicy spam musubi were well seasoned. I liked the spicy spam. The katsu was okay, but I'd recommend sticking with the original. I also snagged some malasadas that they had for sale that day. I regretted buying them almost immediately because they didn't look like they would be fresh, but they tasted awesome! Very dense, very tasty, a little on the oily side. They reminded me of elephant ears from the fair. Prices are affordable.

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    Review Insights

    2 years ago

    Absolutely fantastic. Best mac salad I have ever had - the kahlua pork was so tender and flavorful. This is a must visit spot!

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Only place I'll eat musubi. Family is very welcoming, takes pride in menu and polite.

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Delicious food! Great customer service! Went there for lunch and was not dissapointed!

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    3 years ago

    They have the best mochiko chicken on their menu. Service is friendly too! So ono!

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Local food fix. Mochiko chicken and Kalbi combo. Woth the drive to Renton..near Ikea.

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    3 years ago

    Been there twice. Food is reasonably priced and tastes great. Like a little bit of Hawaii in Kent/Renton.

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    4 years ago

    A clean hole in the wall Hawaiian joint that truly knocks or out of the park with tasty and traditional island dishes.

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    The Spam Musubi is so good! Saimin Says quickly became one of my favorite lunch places.

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Great service , and its with ALOHA. They should add laulau on there menu. But all in all my go to spot when I'm craving dat island grindz

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    4 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Best place for Hawaiian food! Always fast and friendly! I love their shoyu chicken, beef short ribs, saimin, Mac salad and popcorn chicken!

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Mac salad and gravy goes well together, service was great and the atmosphere of the place itself is pretty laid back.

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Best Musubi in town. I am a regular and the staff are always so friendly and put in the extra effort to make you feel special.

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    6 years ago

    This is a good place if you are craving flavors from the islands. Family owned and run, you can tell they put the love into their dishes.

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    6 years ago

    Love this place. I'm so happy they moved closer to me! Easy to find, right by ikea. Try the kahlua moco. It's my favorite.

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Good food a little pricey portions are okay not to small not big just enough to get you through to the next meal

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    5 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    5 years ago

    It was so yummy I just got the spam katsu musubi with a side of katsu sauce. I'm definitely going to be back to try more!!

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    Page 4 of 5

    Ask the Community - Saimin Says

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    Renton Bistro

    Renton Bistro

    4.0
    (557 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    Came here on a weekday around 5:30pm, and was not busy initially - around 6pm, that's when the…read moredinner crowd started filling in. We were seated quickly. The place inside is small- but do not let the exterior fool you, it serves delicious food! I've been here a couple times and it does not disappoint. If you were to come on a weekend, there will be a wait for sure. There is outside seating when the weather is nicer. This time around, I had ordered the pork chops rice plate. The protein is flavorful and the nice char on the chops give is a good crunch flavor. Also at our table was the banh xeo- it is huge! But filling, and you won't stop eating it because it is yummy! We did request some rice paper on the side to make it into a spring roll. The banh beo was not ordered this time, but have ordered it in the past, and is a MUST!

    This is a fairly small restaurant right behind safeway with a limited number of seating. I came…read morewith a party of 5 during around 6pm and needed to wait 1 hour for seats since they needed to push some tables together. The waiter was kind enough to let us sit at a table meant for 4 people since we were hungry though! We heard the banh xeo was really good here, so everyone ordered it at the table! It was huge!!! We really liked it! One small thing I noticed was the shrimp was not deveined which was w little gross -- I wish I didn't notice it. Other than that, the cleanliness of the restaurant is what you'd expect at a typical vietnamese restaurant.

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    Ambiance
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    Shrimp, pork, chicken noodle soup
    Shrimp, pork, chicken noodle soup
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    Dough Zone Dumpling House - Renton

    Dough Zone Dumpling House - Renton

    4.0
    (435 reviews)
    3.8 mi
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    I went to this dumpling house expecting good dumplings. Spoiler - the dumplings were good. I've…read morebeen to dough zone a couple of times and ordered various dumplings, and never been disappointed by anything. You really can't go wrong with any of the dumplings here. Xiao long bao are my (and many peoples) favorite, but they're all good. Service is always friendly and fast, and I've never struggled to find a spot to sit by myself or in a small group. Come get your dumpling fix!

    Very clean- smooth clean aesthetic Extremely attentive and…read morefriendly service- absolutely top notch customer care- friendly very helpful explained everything- multiple people checked in on us and made sure everything was excellent- 5 star customer service for sure! Christian G and another blonde haired individual were top notch! Pork xiao long BAO dumplings very soupy- flavorful served hot- love the ginger is shredded so when you add vinegar and soy it really mixes making it so much easier to taste- Pork and crab xiao BAO - you can taste the seafood for sure! Definitely didn't skip the seafood on this- personal preference for the pork but my partner did point out that it does seem to be imitation crab hence the strong flavor Cucumber salad- hint of spice on the back end but delicious fresh sweet flavor Chicken and vegetables pan fried won ton soft chicken filled with a delightful tangy slightly spicey jdipping sauce! The little fried decor is edible Cold noodles with sesame - delicious! Cold flavorful- cucumbers on top and very refreshing while still comfort food quality to it Beef steamed dumplings - loads of beef- did not skimp! Flavorful and hot- everything you want in your beef dumpling! Pan fried beef cakes the beef is delightful the dough does remind me a lot of a hot pocket- but comfort food for sure Sour cold plum juice - Smokey cranberry- was what the wait staff told us and they were spot on- nice Smokey flavor!

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    Dough Zone Dumpling House - Renton
    Beef Pancake Roll (1) 酱香牛肉卷饼 (不辣)
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    Steamed Pork Buns. Excellent!

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    Triumph Valley

    Triumph Valley

    3.9
    (520 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    A triumph itself in Renton, Triumph Valley has boasted versatility throughout the years since it's…read moreopening. From ramen, to hot pot, large parties and of course a traditional menu. But for those in the know, Triumph Valley is really known for their dim sum menu! Off the beaten path, you have to take State Highway 167, as its just south of the large IKEA store. But definitely a culinary landmark if you are a constant diner of Chinese cuisine, and dim sum afficianado. There are only three dim sum, or dumpling lunch providers in or around the City of Renton (technically two). This is one of them, and if you are not early, it can get really crowded, especially on weekends. But the staff bravely soldiers-on with their dilligent service. The restaurant's ambiance takes advantage of its interior with strategic lighting in their dining hall. Very utilitarian, while trying to ensure a little bit of style. They also modernize the experience with electronic waiting and ordering system on portable touch screens. It actually helps the service. No paper. As for me, my focus is on the dim sum. All of my favorites are there. And, as diner of one, it was hard not to want to order everything. So, I ordered the "basics" of a dim sum lunch. One order of Shiu Mai, one order of Har Gow, and one order steamed BBQ Pork. It was pretty much all you need along with an order of tea, as well as a Diet Coke to wash it all down. There were other traditional dim sum selections, but I knew my tummy (and wallet) wouldn't absorb it all - as much as I would have liked. Steamed beancurd sheets, beef meatballs, steamed sticky rice in banana leaves... chicken feet, it was all there. The best way is to make a plan, and invite lots of freinds to make sure you can try EVERYTHING! Yes, there are other menu items, like I said, but for Dim Sum dining in Renton, this is the place!!!! See you at Triumph Valley.

    Came here on a Sunday after hiking right when they are open. Seated right away and ordered using…read moretheir tablet. Idk but it felt like while they are decent and priced w little higher, it tasted ok at best. I also acknowledge that they are the only one around unless you are willing to travel farther to CID or downsouth.

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    Triumph Valley
    Fried Lobster W/ Dry Garlic
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    Fortune Noodle House

    Fortune Noodle House

    3.9
    (361 reviews)
    4.1 mi
    $

    I'm always a little skeptic when a place does multiple cuisines. But this local restaurant does a…read moregood job. The best thing we ate were the salt and pepper calamari. It was tender and flavorful. You even got a bit of that wok char on it when they cooked it all together with the bell peppers. It was the most satisfying thing we ate. The chicken wings were flavorful as well but didn't love the coating. It was super crunchy but just a little too heavy on the coating for my preference. The pho was not anything I would go out of my way for. But it did its job. And for $13 for a combo pho, I was not mad at it all. Definitely packed with a lot of noodles if you appreciate that too. The broth was solid. The service was friendly. It's a small restaurant with a good amount of seating. Nothing fancy at all. But you don't hear for vibes. You come here for affordable eats that deliver on flavor. I definitely plan on coming back and trying their chow fun. If the calamari had the wok char, I can only hope their chow fun would too. I'll definitely update when I come back and try!

    We were seated as soon as we walked in and the hostess/waitress/owner? Was super friendly. She was…read morequick to get our drink and food orders in and engaged with our 1.5yr old, which was very sweet. The crab rangoons were to die for, my husband loved his noodle dish. My pad thai noodles were a little chewy and under cooked but the flavors were there. And our daughter ate everything we put in front of her and had no complaints. I'm glad we stumbled urine this place. It was very delicious!

    Photos
    Front
    Front
    Fried Egg Rolls with Chicken
    Fried Egg Rolls with Chicken
    Fortune Noodle House

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    Happy Autumn

    Happy Autumn

    4.5
    (90 reviews)
    4.5 mi

    I used to live in Renton and then a number of years ago, moved to Covington and discovered that the…read morefew Pho places in Covington ALL have a food handling rating of OK or worse. The last place I went to had clouds of fruit flies, the floor was sticky and the table looked like a science experiment (the Pho was good though, but ewww). But this isn't about Pho places in Covington. This is about Happy Autumn in Renton. I needed to be in Renton along 4th Ave and since I don't get to eat good Pho much anymore, I saw that Happy Autumn was along the route I'd be driving. My first impression. The food handling rating is EXCELLENT and the restaurant looked clean. The staff was delightful, professional, full of smiles, and had my order ready for pick-up right on time. I got the grilled chicken Pho to go, which is risky because 'to-go' meals can be skimped on since people don't tend to complain on meals to go from their house. I was NOT disappointed. They piled up all the goodies. Extra Sriracha, jalapenos, cilantro and basil. Lots of chicken and noodles and just a touch of sprouts (they are my least favorite Pho item). The broth was fragrant, flavorful and by the time I got home 45 minutes later, still hot. I put it all together and enjoyed some of the best Pho I've ever eaten locally. HIGHLY recommend.

    My friend said I should give this place and try and it was OK but I wouldn't return…read more As others reviewed, the best thing about this place is the service. Staff was nice, attentive and the tables and restaurant seemed very clean. We ordered pho, chicken summer rolls and a grilled chicken rice plate. The broth didn't have a lot of depth. It was fine but not enough to warrant a return. The grilled chicken was not exactly grilled. It tasted more like boiled chicken in a sauce and it was very sweet. I will keep looking for other pho restaurants to try. We have visited I Love Pho and Square Lotus in the Factoria area for probably 2 decades so need a change sometimes.

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    Happy Autumn
    Shrimp fresh roll
    Shrimp fresh roll
    ONL 05. CRAB RANGOON

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    ONL 05. CRAB RANGOON

    Saimin Says - hawaiian - Updated August 2026

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