Carolina S.

I looooved the treats here! obsessed with the "Hojicha Canele" and get out of town with that incredible, masterpiece, "PEANUT BUTTER SHOYU ICEBOX PIE"! I will have dreams about this pie for as long, as I live. Perfection. It was worth the uber ride over from downtown Seattle. I was on a visit from NY and this was op top of my list. It did not disappoint. I am so used to waiting in line for places in NY. That I was here bright and early on a Wednesday. It's now closed on Mondays and Tuesdays due to slow business. It's heartbreaking how the times are creating such a struggle for small businesses. Definitely feel like we could all do our part to support the delicious dreams. You order at the counter. They give you a number and you find a spot to sit at. There's also water pitchers to snag. I loved all the high ceilings, the simplicity of the space and I like being able to see in the kitchen. It felt like home. I am also obsessed with Japan right now. I ordered the Japanese breakfast with my treats and a cappuccino. I loved the plates for everything. There was some whimsical art on the plates. The shittakes were well seasoned. The omlette was savory and filing. Loved the toast with the homemade jam. Perfect way to start my day. Hope it gets the support it needs in the community because I would love to return on my next visit! So many things going viral that to be a regular means even more to small businesses.

Cindy L.

The place is super cute. There are both indoor and outdoor seating. Two of us ordered: 1. Japanese breakfast with extra miso soup and tamago 2. Porchetta sando Both are very yummy. The tamago is a must try! Different than the sweet more spongy ones, this one is more savory and close to steamed egg texture.

Albert T.

We visited The Wayland Mill, hoping to score some dessert after a tea tasting session nearby. Walking up to the restaurant at 11:45AM on a sunny Saturday morning, we were surprised to see a line of around twelve people outside the door and maybe six inside. The line was deceptively short - we thought it would take maybe 10-15 minutes max to get get our order in. Ten minutes later, the line was still the same length, minus one couple right in front of us who had given up due to the wait. In the end it took over 40 minutes before we got to the front. For less than 20 people in line. At a counter service place. The culprit? The cashier was missing for more than two thirds of our wait, taking multiple lengthy excursions, with one break lasting almost 15 minutes (yes, I timed it). We could see that the bottleneck in this establishment wasn't the kitchen nor the dine-in service or bussing. In fact, about a third of the indoor seats weren't even occupied, not to mention a completely empty outdoor dining area. Our first choice order, the Gohan Gooey Butter Cookie (I had just baked a gooey butter cake at home and wanted to compare) had the last piece taken by the party right ahead of us. Luckily our second and third choices were still in stock. Peanut Butter Shoyu Icebox Pie ($7.50) - The base starts with a somewhat crumbly mash of black sesame, Dutched cocoa and chocolate infused pie crust. It's nutty and chocolatey with an interesting savory and Oreo-like characteristic. It's pressed down well into crust format, so while crumbly upon eating, it stays together. The filling above is a light and creamy fluff that has an intense peanut flavor filled with soy umami. It's actually more savory and salty than it is sweet, which is very interesting in a dessert. The filling is then topped with an even lighter whip that gives a slight tang to cut through the richer custard underneath. Small pieces of candied peanuts are peppered in the cream. The melted sugar cements some of the peanuts together into larger chunks, but it never gets too sweet. (5/5) Yuzu Almond Cake ($7.50) - This cake starts with a really moist interior, almost like a quarter of the way to tres leches. It has almond frangipane actually baked inside with the rest of the cake batter, which really helps to accentuate the moistness and fluffiness, along with supercharging the almond flavors. The cake is topped with a fragrant citrus icing. It's not too sweet and has a distinct yuzu rind flavor. Then pieces of almond brittle are embedded atop. The brittle is salty and sticky. (4/5) I don't normally include service in my review ratings, but this place actively pissed me off. I am fine with waiting if the delay is due to seating or the kitchen is backed up. It's a totally different story when more than half of the seats, including both indoor and outdoor, are empty, but there's a large line out the door that never shrinks (it was still about the same length when we left). There is something seriously wrong with Wayland Mill's workflow. The food here is good, but there are plenty of places in Seattle that have food just as good without the issues. Bathrooms - Two unisex rooms

Carol L.

I always knew about this spot as a cafe, serving coffee and pastries in the daytime, but never thought they'd have a full dinner service in the evenings! I came by on a weeknight, and it was busy! Luckily we were able to get seated, but when we left, there were people waiting for tables. They see to serve Japanese western fusion small plates. We ordered the char siu porchetta, which was a large swirled piece of pork belly, with a spicy mustard sauce that we put on the side. We also ordered the meatloaf. They were both pleasant, with flavors I wasn't necessarily used to, but enjoyed. Definitely some unique flavors going on here. My favorite part has to be dessert. I begged to get two of the three items on the menu because they just sounded too delicious. I got the Tokyo Banana Tiramisu and the Rice Panna Cotta with Rhubarb and they were both phenomenal. Packed with flavor but not too sweet, and unique Asian flavors that I loved. Overall, I'm not sure I would eat dinner here again, but i would definitely come have some coffee or drinks, and a pastry (or two!)

Christine B.

I brought out of town guests here for my first visit. We waited in line. It was long but with good company, it flew by. You order at the counter and then sit with drinks and sweets. They bring out the main dishes to your table. They have an indoor dining room and once it warms up they have lots of space for outdoor dining. Everything I tasted was delicious. I'm still thinking about the shiitake mushrooms in my dish. It was worth the wait and hype. If you go on the weekend, I would just try to go when you have time to wait and won't be stressed in the line.

Vicki S.

Today 5/3/26 was a hot summer Sunday. I'm glad their outdoor patio at Wayland Mill was mostly shady to get relief from the hot sun we aren't used to and to also enjoy the refreshing cool fresh breeze. This is my first time eating here. I've visited Saint Bread many times and that is where Wayland gets their bread and they are also part of the Saint Bread ownership group. The food we tried today was very good-- Japanese fusion-- Asparagus galette, Saint Paul Sando (Egg Sandwich), seasoned fries with a side of curry dipping sauce, iced Americano, hot Americano, IPA (not pictured), and a basque-style cider. Everything tasted delicious! Our service was great, ambiance was nice. I would totally eat here again. *Special tip: Walk to the center of the building towards the back of the building for some outstanding panoramic views of Lake Union and the Space Needle in the distance! :-)

Jennifer H.

I was excited to check out this newish cafe that I had heard rave reviews about. My friend and I stopped here on a Friday afternoon and had no problem getting a table. The pastry case looked very tempting, but I was in the mood for something savory. So I ordered the 3 dish option that comes with miso soup, pickled veg, and rice. It was presented very thoughtfully. The flavors were perfect and I really liked the butter in the rice! It was so soft and fluffy. I also had the seasoned fries which were so good. I highly recommend getting them and sharing! They were so crispy! Anyways, I can't wait to try this place again, especially for their sandwiches and hojicha drinks.

Hanna K.

Came by on a weekend afternoon and about half the tables were filled. It's a chic spot where you order at the counter and they bring your food and drinks to your table. Parking was super easy on the side of the buliding. I ordered the Japanese-American breakfast, hojicha cannele, peanut butter icebox pie, and a hot hojicha. The breakfast portions were a bit small - the mushrooms were somewhere between ok to good and the bread and jam weren't mindblowing, but the egg's texture was fantastic and was seasoned super well. The cannele didn't really taste too strongly of hojicha but was a solid cannele, and the slice of pie was probably my favorite thing that I got - wonderful umami flavor, really yummy crust. I had an odd experience with ordering though - when I first tried to order the desserts, I was told that all desserts were out, so were just got food. But after 10-15min, another party came in and I saw that they had a cannele, so when I went up to ask about it, they suddenly had a few canneles and pies. Even if they reserve a portion of their dessert for the dinner service, I wish I'd been told that more desserts would become available if I waited 15min, because I had been considering leaving and coming back another time to try to pastries. Overall, felt a little pricey relative to the portion sizes, but the concept is unique and there are some hits for sure!

Vinh M.

This cafe and restaurant in North Lake Union was something I have been eyeing for a while now even though I only heard of it in passing a couple times. It's a small distance from Gas Works Park if you're driving, and back-angle parking is on the side of the building where this place is located. Otherwise, expect parking to be difficult as you're near dense residential areas. The bestie and I came here around 12pm on an unusually warm Sunday noon. Waiting in line was pretty confusing for us at first. At first, we weren't sure where the line started as there wasn't always staff up front giving us correspondence of any sort until after about 10 minutes of waiting in a line we weren't sure about, including the people directly in front of us. When staff finally did greet us, we were quoted a 35-45 minute wait with at least six parties of various sizes ahead of us, with a choice to get texted once a spot open us which I opted in. This wait ended up being about 20 minutes instead, and I heard later it was because most parties ahead of us actually gave up waiting... this kept being the thing and lines kept stretching out until about 1pm, when dine-in seating wasn't packed to the brim. Interior is clean overall with a ton of noise coming from the kitchen preparing food, and also patrons talking as well. There's a nice wooden feeling inside because of the walls and even the tables. Menu items consist of two prominent set meals, plates, baked goods, and many options for tea and coffee. Bestie and I both got their Japanese-American breakfast, though I got it with a side of seared marinated shiitake mushrooms and he got his with a teriyaki-glazed Canadian style bacon instead. He also got a London fog which I drank with him. The breakfast plate is a lot smaller than I imagined for $20 before tax. Besides the shiitake mushrooms, it comes with a tamago omelet and a shokupan toast with housemade jam. Mushrooms in general are not my favorite thing to have, and that started to be the case the more I ate. Initial thought for them was that the flavor masks that aftertaste of mushrooms I don't enjoy, and even has a smoky tone to it that I actually wanted more of. Tamago omelet had a much harder texture to it than what I expected, even though the aonori (a seaweed with a strong ocean taste) enhanced the taste so much. My bestie's Canadian style bacon was definitely the beter choice of the two choice sides as it had a much smokier taste and carried a savory flavor profile that separated it from the rest of the dish. The toast with jam was very standard for both of us. Overall though, we almost wished one of us got the sansai "three things" meal instead so we had more variety. London fog was standard, but came in piping hot. Nothing special about it but was refreshing and fits the brunch vibe here very well. The meal we had here wasn't anything too special but it was great to give it a try. We weren't too full from everything we had here but it works since other eateries and cafes are not too far via driving. Not likely I'd come back here, I'm not wanting to wait in a line where even those in front of me aren't sure what they're waiting for.

Arielle M.

TLDR: very strong flavors (eg miso in miso caramel syrup and ginger in the porchetta sandwich). Came for breakfast on a Monday morning - wasn't very busy. Lots of seating and even standing room to enjoy a drink and go. I got a Hojicha latte with the miso caramel. Strong miso flavor at the end of the drink. Right amount of sweetness , for me, overall. Not a strong caramel flavor. The porchetta sandwich came with sautéed Chinese broccoli on a green onion focaccia. Overall, focaccia I could eat all day. The pork and the vegetables had a good textures dichotomy. However, there was a strong ginger flavor that overtook my taste buds, which made me not enjoy the sandwich in the end. I felt like I was chewing on full pieces of ginger. The Hojicha canelé was a perfect treat. Crunchy on the outside and spongey on the inside with the earthy and subtly sweet Hojicha was divine ! I would comeback just for those. Japanese breakfast quick overview: couldn't guess the jam flavor - slightly tart, great fluff and flavor on the tamago. Sweet mushrooms to bring together the sour jam and salty egg.

Luba K.

This gem of a place is easy to miss, but please do not skip it. I was thrilled to finally visit as a longtime fan of Saint Bread, their sister restaurant, and knowing their standards, my expectations were high. From the moment we walked in, I was struck by how vast, open, and light the space is. It feels airy and inviting, making it an ideal spot to work for a while or meet up with friends without feeling cramped or rushed. It was pleasantly calm when we arrived, and I later learned it was because they were not offering the full menu that day, with the owner essentially running the entire operation solo. That alone made the experience even more impressive. We ordered one of every pastry to truly get the full experience, and wow. Every single item was thoughtful, delicious, and unexpectedly unique in its flavor profile. Nothing felt generic, in the best way. On top of the incredible food, chatting with the owner added such a personal and memorable touch to the visit. You can feel the care and intention behind this place, and I genuinely hope to see this new business thrive. I will absolutely be back to try their full menu next time. Top favorites:

Angela V.

Casual chic. This place is a unique, Japanese-inspired brunch place. Everything is a simple, beautiful creation. Food was okay, ambience was bright and modern, and service was attentive and full of smiles. We got the Sansei "three things", Japanese-American breakfast, and the Porchetta Sando. All great, but wasn't quite full afterwards. The tamago omelette was so creamy and delicious, the toast was "meh" and the "bacon" was a tad dry. The sando was packed with flavor though! It had such bold flavors and was our favorite. Coffee was good and pastries were yummy. Food was just okay, but I would like to come back and try more pastries and some other menu items.

Kelcie Lei A.

Solid place for coffee, desserts/baked goods, and breakfast. Sandwich was okay to me. Star of the show was the peanut butter icebox pie! Need to try. When I was there during late breakfast, a lot of their dessert items were sold out. Service was great; my server was very kind, thorough, and accommodating. For the ambiance, there was Japanese pop (?) music playing in the background. Not too loud, so everyone can converse. Nice decorated and large windows so light can come through. Outdoor seating available.