As one of my favorite businesses in Seattle, the allure of Fremont Bowl is simple: delicious bowls of Japanese comfort food served in a no frills, unpretentious environment. There are no bells and whistles here, just excellent service, fair prices, and fantastic food.
There are only a handful of tables, which is really meant for solo diners and two people at best. There is a handful of takeout patrons at any given time, but that's only because of the wait. It's far more enticing to sit in and experience the magic that exists in every bowl.
Water is self-serve and thankfully presented in a filtered water tank that spits out cold, delicious water. A majority of the bowls are between $13-16 each, which in today's foodflation economy seems expected. The good news is that the portion is substantial in every bowl.
My go-to is their chirashi, which is roughly $19 but features a nice array of fish cuts that include salmon, chopped fatty tuna, masago, fresh water eel, shrimp with albacore and another dose of tuna. The unagi don is their most expensive bowl at nearly $21, but the broiled unagi with the eel sauce that is dynamite. The textures, the sweetness, and the size is all on point.
And due to its status as a teriyaki city, I think the chicken teri don is an excellent alternative to all the seafood. The teriyaki hits all the right flavor notes, with just enough sweetness with the tenderness of the chicken meat. Add in another $1 and it's a spicy version.
I so wish there was something like this in my neck of the woods. If I lived in Seattle, this would be a weekly destination. I'm already looking forward to my next visit(s). read more