…For all the good drinks, that is. Fu Kun Wu, a.k.a. Dr. Wu @ Thaiku, is a neat lounge that's made to look like a Chinese apothecary tucked away in the back of Thaiku Restaurant. It has its own... More

…For all the good drinks, that is. Fu Kun Wu, a.k.a. Dr. Wu @ Thaiku, is a neat lounge that's made to look like a Chinese apothecary tucked away in the back of Thaiku Restaurant. It has its own little entrance off 22nd Ave, easy-to-miss on purpose, to increase that mysterious factor (kinda cheesy but oh well). Inside it’s dimly lit with a small bar space and little round tables tucked away in corners, with teak drawers lining up the walls as decoration. The very Asian space kind of looks like the chief designer of Cost Plus went to town. Once seated it’s very cozy. They also have a narrower space downstairs with a few booths to spill out to when it’s really crowded - darker and smaller, the space reminiscent of an opium den. They have a variety of very interesting drinks made with herbal elixir. My favorite is Oolong teani – a sweet Oolong tea martini-like concoction with bits of crushed ice. If you’ve gotten hot from drinks at other bars, it’ll cool you down right away. Definitely have a couple of those. Their famous Yohito, which is a Mojito made with Yohimbe herb, is also very good (and big). You're only allowed one Yohito per night because Yohimbe in it is supposedly very potent. The drink named something flower (okay, maybe by then I was a bit drunk) is also delicious. Having the restaurant attached to it has its benefits – you can get very good bites, obviously. But the drinks are very good they can stand on their own. I’m glad I visited, and I’ll be back for more Oolong teani’s.
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Amazingly tasty fresh Thai food with a great happy hour. Try the Crying Tiger and yohimbe cocktail!

Amazingly tasty fresh Thai food with a great happy hour. Try the Crying Tiger and yohimbe cocktail!
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Great atmosphere, caring waitstaff, delicious food. What more could you ask for? Try the unusual cocktails for a thrill. Yohimbe drinks are not as potent as they warn you about, but definitely a new... More

Great atmosphere, caring waitstaff, delicious food. What more could you ask for? Try the unusual cocktails for a thrill. Yohimbe drinks are not as potent as they warn you about, but definitely a new experience in relaxation.
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This is my favorite Thai place in Seattle... Great Thai food... Great, and unique drinks... Great atmosphere... like an Indiana Jones-era back-alley apothecary. The decor will get most of the talk... More

This is my favorite Thai place in Seattle... Great Thai food... Great, and unique drinks... Great atmosphere... like an Indiana Jones-era back-alley apothecary. The decor will get most of the talk because it's so unique, but the food and drinks are really the star of the show. Every time we go, it seems like the bill is less than I'm expecting... (though it's not cheap, esp. if you get the great drinks.)
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This is not your typical Thai restaurant. From the funky drinks in the bar to the not so kitschy design, Thaiku delivers ambiance and tasty food. There is not one specific item to try, everything... More

This is not your typical Thai restaurant. From the funky drinks in the bar to the not so kitschy design, Thaiku delivers ambiance and tasty food. There is not one specific item to try, everything I have ever tried on the menu has been fantastic. If you want a quiet night, avoid the weekends there, it can get pretty crowded.
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I've been a fan of these guys ever since they first set up shop in Fremont. They got kicked out of their Fremont location when Susie Burke cashed in, but they moved down to Ballard and have made the... More

I've been a fan of these guys ever since they first set up shop in Fremont. They got kicked out of their Fremont location when Susie Burke cashed in, but they moved down to Ballard and have made the most of their new digs. In addition to serving up excellent Thai food (the noodle bowls are a particular strength), they also have a great little bar/lounge tucked in a back room with great ambiance and some killer specialty drinks. Located an easy walk from some great local music venues (Sunset Tavern and Tactor Tavern in particular), Thaiku is a great place to start a night out in Ballard. Highly recommended.
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