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    Zulu's Board Game Cafe

    4.6 (205 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Zulu's Board Game Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    ZULU'S BOARD GAME CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Zulu's Board Game Cafe

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    Ranger salad
    Marcus S.

    Came here with a group of friends for some bites, drinks and of course play some board games! I'm still new to the wide world of board games and if you're like me, when you walk in besides the front order counter, you'll find walls filled with games for purchase and playing daunting. Luckily the folks here are ready to help you make a selection. Similar to Mox, you try out games get suggestions and buy of course if you enjoy them. You can also bring your own games if you wish. There is a fair number of tables to play on both inside and out. I just started with a few beers, but my friends ate, one of whom had a chickpea salad which she gave a thumbs up. I got an order of fries which were standard, but what was cool is they have various sauces to dip them beyond the usual ketchup, including hot sauces. You place an order, and a server will bring it to your table. The games we played while we hung out were "Hues and Clues" and "Exploding Kittens". It was fun time here and this makes for a great group activity, would come back to Zulu.

    The Shire room
    David P.

    After years of going to Mox while visiting Bellevue, my friends finally decided to drive us up to Zulu's since it's open a little later (Mox closes at 10PM, Zulu's closes at 11PM on some weekdays). What an awesome set-up! From the start, it really feels like you're walking into a medieval tavern. You enter a board game shop set-up with a welcoming bar and the smell of fried food. Tables are open seating and you can order on a QR code for speedy delivery. They have an "open play" board game selection at the back with some classics rated by complexity. We brought our own board game, found a spot within 10 minutes while it was packed, and got drinks pretty quickly. They were even nice enough to give us a complimentary drink for tapping out one of their kegs. The beer selection has reasonable variety and is very reasonably priced at $8-9/drink. I didn't get any food here, but my friends seemed to enjoy the burger and fries they ordered. Lot of fun and definitely a great offering for the community. Would love to come back if I'm in the area. The only downside is having to look for street parking.

    Overflow parking right across Main St.
    Quinn N.

    + Numerous board games to choose from on their bookshelves in the back. We played Wrong Party and Azul. Kathleen smoked us in Azul. - They don't really have healthy food options. Mostly junk food. + Order from your phone via QR code. Some of their menu items having amusing names. + Soda machine. Easy ice water refills. + 4 single restrooms. - Limited parking. - Very crowded. We arrived at night and barely managed to get a table. . I paid $26 for my unhealthy meal, which was a lil expensive, but they're probably also accounting for the gaming presence and the availability of board games.

    One of the multiple rooms.
    Amber S.

    Absolutely one of our favorite places. Tons of board games to play (and purchase). Fantastic atmosphere and good food. We come here once a week for dnd. Fosters great community in our area.

    Three kobolds in a trenchcoat
    Lily D.

    Zulu's is my favorite board game cafe in the greater Seattle area. The shop is cozy, with plenty of tables and seating and a wide variety of board games to choose from. Their food options are also actually delicious! Tater tots are very crispy and hold up well even after a few hours of gaming. Sauces are fantastic, I loved the spicy mana sauce. The vegetarian impossible meatball sandwich was fantastic and I will probably be getting it again. Would love if they opened more locations south ;)

    Kaleb A.

    I've been here a couple times, every visit has been a good experience. Good collection, chill staff, and nice atmosphere.

    Champion Poutine
    Vanessa L.

    Love this place! Tried this place for the first time on a Friday night for a friend's birthday and we had a blast. Love the ambiance, it is a bunch of fellow nerds playing to their hearts content. Although when we arrived at around 7 pm on a Friday night, it was PACKED. It is def recommended to reserve a table ahead of time if you want to game with friends. You can reserve a time frame as well. The food was so good. Although, was disappointed in the poutine as it was super salty and the cheese wasnt really melted and was in chunks. Everyone else has noted though that they loved the chicken strips and fries. Especially the chicken tendies, it was so so crispy. Not overly breaded whatsoever. Everyone loved the side dip that came with the fries. Very unique was the consensus. Note: parking is difficult on a Saturday or Friday night. They have limited parking spots around the building, but it is mostly side parking. My friend did note there is a parking garage somewhere nearby that is free, but there are lots where you do have to pay. There is a store inside here as well. They have such a huge selection of board games, my friends and I spent about 30 minutes just browsing and thinking on what game to bring home. Overall, will definitely come back! Good food with a good time!

    Chicken sandwich 3.5/5 (waaay too much paprika) & Sweet Potato Waffle Fries 5/5
    Kayleigh W.

    I've visited twice - once on a Wednesday around 6pm and Monday around 7pm. Both times we easily found a place to sit. There are lots of options. The food comes out at a reasonable pace. The food is a bit inconsistent. Fries were hot and crispy on the Wednesday and luke warm on the Monday. The poutine gravy is tasty. The bread pudding bites are very good, but a lot for 2 people. I wasn't a fan of the chicken sandwich or the burger. It's a fun place to try out games and have an app or dessert, but I don't think I'll get a meal here again.

    Salad with chicken and tater tot nachos
    Sarah J.

    Do you love games, good food, and fun vibes? Then this place is for you! Whether you're here on a date or a friends or family day out this is a great place to stop for some food and fun. They have great staff members who are friendly, kind, and helpful. The food is pretty good too. I love the uniqueness of this place. They have a great variety of games - you're bound to find a game you like or have played before. We got the chicken strips which were so crispy and delicious! The tater tot nachos were okay, a little tasteless and the cheese was a little bland. The salad with chicken on top was good however the dressing was on the lighter side which made the salad a bit dry. We spent a few hours here and played a few games, chatted and had a blast. I would definitely come here again!

    Jessica A.

    My boyfriend said this was the highlight of our first day in Seattle and we even came back again later. It's a very warm and cute gaming shop. We ordered the hot chocolate and the bread pudding. Both were sweet but delicious. My boyfriend is into MTG and got a few with his brother and his friend to play the second day we came back. They have a calendar full of events and plenty of board games to purchase. Their collection of items is a bit smaller compared to Mox. The rooms are themed and if this was in our local area, we would definitely come back more often. The staff is very friendly and felt like they actually enjoyed working there. It felt more welcoming and patient compared to Mox. Parking- Right in front of the building but otherwise street parking around the area.

    Inside
    Crissey Y.

    This was an interesting new concept for us! We were looking for something to do with friends when we stumbled upon this place. The door to the place was really small, single brown door. We weren't sure that we were in the right place until we went in. Once inside, it's like you're transformed to a magical world. The staff were extra friendly and explained how things worked. We came around 1 pm on a Friday and found tables right away. There were a lot of demo board games to play for free. We spent our mother daughter day here with our teenagers and had a lot of laughs playing 3-4 games. You can order drinks at the counter and bring them to your table. Food wasn't served until after 4 pm. It was fairly quiet and we were able to talk and catch up. We truly enjoyed this concept and surely made some wonderful memories. We're already talking about spreading the word to our family and friends.

    Shield of sauces!
    Elisabeth P.

    What a neat find for a foodie nerd! One of my co-workers suggested it for an office party and we had a blast. They accommodated our large party in one of the back rooms and we played board games and nommed for a whole afternoon! They have MTG, HP, DnD and LOTR decorations and themed items all about the rooms. The building itself has a little bit of a stone castle look to it making it even more perfect and ultra nerdy. Lots of board games to choose from and cards and dice and things to buy. The menu was definitely more than I expected for a board game place. The sauce shield is quite formidable and I wish I had been able to try them with the fries but they aren't gluten free and I have an allergy. They were able to modify a couple things on the menu and I enjoyed the burger I had. The root beer on tap was ultra delicious! Can't wait to return with my nerdy pals for more games, snackas, and fun!

    Maul burger, French fries, and WorldFire sauce

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    3 months ago

    Parking is difficult. We could not so we had to skip, sadly. A shame, because thee u had several vegetarian options.

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    8 months ago

    Love Zulu's the food is good but the old menu was better imo. The owners are friendly.

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    1 year ago

    Great assistance in picking through a selection of dice, cards, and stocking stuffers during Xmas time.

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    2 years ago

    Fun place. Go there if you like games and want a fun experience. Don't plan on a meal though.

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    2 years ago

    I've done a lot of purchases with them online and has always been a positive experience. Quick shipping, great prices, never had an issue.

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    Page 1 of 6

    Ask the Community - Zulu's Board Game Cafe

    Do you have to order food and drink when coming in? I've been to mox and you can just go to try and buy games while there, is purchase necessary?

    You do not have to order food and drinks when coming to Zulus. You are welcome to just demo or buy a game.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Zulu's Board Game Cafe

    It's got a lot more of a mom and pop feel than a place like Mox, but don't let that fool you.

    Mentioned in 9 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    Sidekick Coffee

    4.4
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    I stopped by on a Saturday morning, and it was quite busy. Parking was easy nearby. I opted to…read moreorder from their walk-up window instead of going inside. They had a large selection of baked goods and pastries. Their cinnamon roll seemed popular, as it was already sold out. I ordered the chocolate chip cookie, banana bread, and carrot cake. The chocolate chip cookie was excellent. It had a nice texture with the right amount of chocolate and salt on top. The banana bread was good, but it was a bit dry for my preference. The carrot cake was tasty with just the right amount of frosting.

    Sidekick compares favorably with my top tier of coffee shops in the broader area, including Bequest…read morein Mill Creek, 5 Stones in Kirkland, and Diva Espresso in Kenmore. It does the three things I care about most in a coffee shop well: good coffee, a space you actually want to spend time in, and consistently good service. Food & Drink: The coffee is legitimately good--not great, but good. They pull a good espresso shot and are solid across the espresso drinks. "The Local" is my go-to--a latte lightly sweetened with maple syrup from Woodinville Whiskey. It adds enough sweetness to be interesting without overwhelming the coffee. They also have a good selection of milk options and some seasonal/unusual rotating items (Blueberry Pancake Cold Brew happened to be on the menu recently). They don't, however, have a wide variety of straight black coffee options. Both the quality and variety of the pastries are high, with a few gluten-free options as well. I particularly like the savory scones. They also carry some useful non-pastry items like yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, and string cheese. Pricing leans moderate to high, although that's pretty traditional for Woodinville. Ambiance & Service: This may be where Sidekick separates itself most. Lots of windows and natural light, plenty of room, and a good variety of seating with sofas, chairs, high tops, and tables. There is also substantial outdoor seating during the summer. It's a welcoming area. There is even a "walk-up" outdoor window for ordering. Noise level is moderate. You can comfortably work here, although I wouldn't try to take a call. Outlets are available along the exterior wall seating. Service has consistently been very good. The staff is friendly, welcoming, and does a good job with the drinks. It feels like a place that is well run rather than simply a nice space with good coffee. The biggest weakness is parking. There is street parking and some garage parking, but parking is problematic in general. Construction throughout 2025 and 2026 has made an already challenging situation noticeably worse. Final Thoughts: Four stars. Sidekick is my favorite coffee shop in Bothell/Woodinville and firmly in my top tier for the broader area. The combination of good espresso, high-quality pastries, very good service, and one of the better coffee shop spaces around makes it an easy place to want to return to, even if the parking makes it difficult. -AC

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    Vibe
    Practical magic iced latte
    Practical magic iced latte
    Cardamom roll

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    One Bite Cafe

    One Bite Cafe

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    Came in with an open mind and wanted to try the croffle from a friend's suggestion. I ordered the…read morestrawberry ice cream croffle but was disappointed by the dryness and artificial strawberry syrup. The ice cream was fine but the syrup ruined the flavor. Would have wished for a more natural syrup or just skip it altogether. Service was very quick, the croffle came out almost instantly. Plenty of seating, not very busy on a Thursday afternoon.

    We found One Bite Cafe when searching for new interesting food on the Eastside of Seattle and their…read morecroffles immediately caught our interest. The cafe is in a small outdoor shopping area with many other shops and restaurants sharing one big parking lot. It was not crowded when we arrived so we parked right in front of the cafe. The inside is big enough with a good amount of tables to sit down and enjoy the food and drink. Their menu has a variety of options with the croffles displayed right in front of you so you know what they look like. Their drink is decent but didn't impress us as much as the croffles. This was our first time trying croffles so it may not apply to everyone. They have both the sweet (with fruits) and salty (with meats) options and that fits us perfectly because we have different tastes. The croffles were crispy, not too sweet, and I think they would pair really well with a cup of tea or coffee for breakfast. In overall, I think it was a great experience. The fact that it is not crowded already makes it a good place for chilling during weekend morning where you can enjoy delicious food and drink.

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    Side seating area
    Side seating area
    Earl grey cake
    Earl grey cake
    Strawberry Galaxy-Ade

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    Daily Grind Bothell

    Daily Grind Bothell

    3.8
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    Came here a handful of weeks ago to meet a friend for coffee, and I'd say it's good enough to come…read moreback to. Friendly service which is always nice and so often not the norm these days. As I pondered over the menu they recommended their lavender oat matcha on their specialty drinks menu that I hadn't yet noticed, so I went with that. It was okay. I'd go with a coffee next time instead since I make a better matcha at home. I was disappointed to see a separate menu only after seating ourselves outside that advertised turkish coffee. I'd come in the back door from the parking garage (free 90(?) min parking directly behind them) so didn't even see this menu posted out front until it was too late. Next time... I also had a breakfast bagel with lebneh, kalamata olives, cucumber, tomato, hard boiled egg, cream cheese, and feta. It was decent. I like that there's seating inside and out front. I noticed that they're dog friendly as several people went in with their dogs and ordered them their own little cuppa (ahem... puppa). I'll bring my little bestie next time.

    Coming inside, the service was great (thank you for the stickers)!!! We got our order taken and…read moregrabbed a table. We didn't have to wait long for the coffee and it tasted great! Just the thing I was looking for in an afternoon latte! Smooth and flavorful! The decor inside was nice and cozy. Great location, great service, great coffee!!!

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    Coffee shop bothell wa
    Coffee shop bothell wa
    Breakfast Sandwich
    Breakfast Sandwich
    Iced tea

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    Café Hagen

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    What a delectable meal after a 4 hour bus ride Came here…read moreafter dropping off our bags at the hotel, since it was just a 5 minute walk away. We came in around 1:45pmish and it wasn't crowded. They had an amazing selection of pastries, though I didn't try any. I got their Caramelized Banana Latte to satisfy my sweet tooth, and it wasn't too banana-flavored nor too sweet; the black sesame in it balanced it nicely. I also got the Urban Pesto, which was SO yum. I was little skeptical of the focaccia - sometimes I find it to be too puffy, and thus hard to eat the sandwich - but this had a lovely panini press on it that made it easy to eat. The in-house herby cheese in the sandwich made each bite just that much more delicious. The staff was also super nice and accommodating to my parents' requests and questions. Can't wait to come back to try their other food and bev options!

    After having lunch across the street, I decided to check out Cafe Hagen SLU (7/21/26). I had…read morevisited other Seattle locations on upper and lower Queen Anne. I appreciated that this location has both spacious indoor and outdoor seating. Despite being busy, this was not packed with ample seating still available and not cramped. Nice chill vibe with good music, healthy foliage and pleasant indoor decor, with a reasonable unidirectional service line. Tempting pastry case with savory and sweet choices, the usual bevs, as well as, cocktails. Vibrant place to visit solo or meetups with others. The 16oz iced mokka (mocha) I had was well crafted. Both counter folks were personable and welcoming. I was able to sit at a two top and remain cool during my brief visit on that hot Tuesday early afternoon. They've been an indie (Cafe Hagen/Freya) that has expanded to many locations: here in SLU, two on Queen Anne, downtown on 5th, at Dexter, the Waterfront, Freya in Pike Place Market and Nordic Museum in Ballard, plus sites over in Bellevue and Kirkland. Support local!

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    Interior
    Interior
    Delicious quiche
    Delicious quiche
    Iced pineberry latte

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    Noon Cafe

    Noon Cafe

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    Service was stellar. Staff was very friendly and welcoming. We went to Noon on a recommendation…read morefrom friends. Did not disappoint. Husband and I shared the Noon mixed grill and had the eggplant appetizer. Both were delicious. Great experience and quality food. Will definitely be going back.

    Noon Café is a family-owned Persian/Iranian eatery in a plaza called Totem Square with plenty of…read moreparking. Noon Café is a casual family diner offering traditional grilled kababs (aka kebab), appetizers, sandwiches, and pizzas - all Persian/Iranian style. The interior is basic, decorated with photos of Iranian landmarks (I assume). Currently, they have a memorial due to the ongoing war. (Peace to all...) Service is warm and friendly. Be sure to ask questions if the dish names are unfamiliar. The Food: Soltani, $32.99 - 4 Stars Soltani includes one skewer of Koobideh (ground beef) and one skew of Barg (flank steak). Both are well-seasoned with excellent flavor. We ordered the flank steak medium rare, but it was medium with no pink inside. The steak was tolerable, not as tender as it could have be. This dish was served with rice per the menu. After I saw another table has their kabab served with a bread, I asked the server. She said other than rice, there is a choice of Persian bread (flat bread with sesame) and salad. Curious that wasn't in the menu nor did she say it. Not a dealbreaker. Her reply did raise my eyebrow. Zaboon, $16.99 - 3 Stars Menu: Veal tongue, simmered and fried, tomato, pickles, parsley Based on the description, the texture completely threw me off. The meat is mushy to the point of spreadable. The flavor is light with minimum seasoning. I applied hot sauce liberally to the sandwich. Portion size is large. I ate only half. Fries, $6.99 - 3 Stars Menu: Golden and crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside Some pieces aren't crispy enough. Some pieces are too thick such that the inside has the potato gritty texture. The sauce is a house-created flavor. We like the sauce more than we like the fries. The food is closer to 3.5 Stars. I like the family vibe and am rounding up to 4 Stars for the overall rating.

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    Another view of front counter (4/23/23)
    Another view of front counter (4/23/23)
    Generous amount of fries for $6!
    Generous amount of fries for $6!
    Hummus

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    Hummus

    Zulu's Board Game Cafe - cafes - Updated August 2026

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