My first experience at this restaurant made me wish I had bought the same items at the Thai place around the corner for approximately 1/10th the cost at Wild Ginger. A few months later, I was... More

My first experience at this restaurant made me wish I had bought the same items at the Thai place around the corner for approximately 1/10th the cost at Wild Ginger. A few months later, I was invited here again and was able to ascertain that they actually have a handful of yummy items and am wiser about squeezing the true value out of this place. There is one item that I find truly amazing: Young Mountain Lamb Satay. Forget about proper entrées, stick with a few orders of this! A couple of ginger martinis and some skewers of this heavenly lamb make a delectable mix. If you're feeling extravagant, I'd highly suggest the duck entrée that comes with fluffy buns. Bottom line -- The majority of this restaurant is hype, so go into the experience with low expectations and try out the items I mentioned above. Even better yet, pop down to the lounge in their basement and enjoy the satay and martinis with better atmosphere! Helpful hint: If you feel like replicating the lamb satay yourself, you'll find the recipe on the Wild Ginger web site!
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I have been in Seattle for 26 years and visited the restaurant about 5 times total - going back to the original location. I will not be back. As most people do, we look for experiences that exceed... More

I have been in Seattle for 26 years and visited the restaurant about 5 times total - going back to the original location. I will not be back. As most people do, we look for experiences that exceed our expectation and when that happens, we reciprocate by returning often. Even though I seem to see some glowing reviews - I have been dissapointed every single time I have visited Wild Ginger. I guess I have kept hoping to be wrong but for the money, which can be substantial, I will not invest more on that wish. As most know here in Seattle, there are so many restaurant choices that it doesn't make sense to just go to a particular place bacause it is hyped - it needs to actually deliver to earn it's place on the top spot list. The only area that has not been dissapointing has been the wine service. Sometimes a bit more gushing than I have the attention span for, it has been pretty consistent. To be specific here are the issues we have had: 1. Uncomfortable seating - lounge area particularly (seats were too low and reclining to be comfortable) Also too wide to allow 4 a side to fit comfortably and still converse without shouting. 2. Noise overall is a real issue. 3. Pushy and impatient service related to food item selection - the pricing and portion sizes are confusing and we felt pushed while making the decision. The result has been that we have over-ordered and hence over spent for what we expected. The food quality was just not that great to allow us to excuse the situation by saying "oh well we can have left-overs". 3. Inconsistent food quality - I have had hot and sour soup three different occasions and it was different every time. Same applies to my spouse and guests that have been with me. 4. Increasingly "young" staff at the front lines. I do not believe that the menu suggests "Arnies" level host and wait staff. 5. Restrooms were really a mess - just one of those distasteful things that influences the experience in a negative way. So as not to ramble further....we regret not feeling good about supporting a local business but all of the issues above suggests a lack of attention at the management level. Top restuarants do not let even the restroom escape their attention. Good luck to WG and in the event that someone in management sees this and actually acts on it I hope it is helpful.
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I've only eaten at Wild Ginger twice, and It's not likely that I'll go back willingly. The food was alright if not slow slow slow to come out of the kitchen. The service, however, was pretty... More

I've only eaten at Wild Ginger twice, and It's not likely that I'll go back willingly. The food was alright if not slow slow slow to come out of the kitchen. The service, however, was pretty great. The waiter never batted an eyelash when we ordered "the cheapest Chardonnay on your wine list, please." In fact, we had a fabulous conversation with the wine steward about New Zealand wines and learned that they produce screw top wines because there are no cork trees in New Zealand. We also learned that corks are not necessarily the way to go. ten percent of all bottles of wine go bad because of cork issues. People do love the ceremony of uncorking a bottle, though. My biggest complaint is that this place is an acoustic train wreck. Both times, the noise level was so loud I couldn't even carry on a conversation with the people I dined with. There are enough great Thai restaurants in this city that no one needs to settle for Wild Ginger.
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It takes an exceptionally bad experience for you to still hate a restaurant 14 years after the experience. I had that at the Wild Ginger. I aggressively encourage people to not go there. My... More

It takes an exceptionally bad experience for you to still hate a restaurant 14 years after the experience. I had that at the Wild Ginger. I aggressively encourage people to not go there. My wife and I went to dinner before the Seattle Symphony back in 1992. We were pretty poor and that was our big splurge. While we were ordering, our waiter asked us "What vegetable would you like with that?". We didn't realized the entrées came with vegetables and my wife said very clearly and loudly "Oh, I didn't realize it came with vegetables". The waiter heard and said something to affirm our understanding that he was asking about vegetables with the entrée. We both ordered and when our orders came we had two entrée sized plates of vegetables. The bill came and sure enough, we were charged for entrées AND two vegetables. The bill took all of our available cash for the evening. The waiter very clearly heard us and mislead us hoping to get a bigger tip. That is easily the sleaziest experience I have ever had. I told the manager about this who hemmed and hawed and offered to cut the vegetable cost from the bill but failed to understand the key point: his waiter lied and misled us. Oh, and by the way, the food was singularly OK. Not worth the prices, even aside from the deceitful waitstaff.
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I used to really like the atmosphere and food at the old wild ginger location. However, I really dislike the new wild ginger. The food is blah as the quality has gone down hill. The flavours are... More

I used to really like the atmosphere and food at the old wild ginger location. However, I really dislike the new wild ginger. The food is blah as the quality has gone down hill. The flavours are poor, the balance of hot-sweet-sour-salty is all whacked out, and it's really greasy. The space and atmosphere is sterile and corporate. Heck, I'd even go eat over in Bellevue before I ate here again. :)
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I've eaten at Wild Ginger at least twice a year since around the time it opened so may years ago. Somebody is always having a birthday there or celebrating their latest achievement of average... More

I've eaten at Wild Ginger at least twice a year since around the time it opened so may years ago. Somebody is always having a birthday there or celebrating their latest achievement of average consistency and I keep accepting invitations to meet and eat at the FAMOUS WILD GINGER! And every time it's the same food. Those overcooked green beens with soy sauce...weeeeee! And some sad seafood or other meat with goo sauce. For CHRIST'S SAKE people. Update the menu or add the Golden Arches to your logo.
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There was a time back in the 90's when I used to love Wild Ginger. Before I moved to Seattle I'd go everytime I visited town and loved their interesting takes on Asian dishes. Since then the menu... More

There was a time back in the 90's when I used to love Wild Ginger. Before I moved to Seattle I'd go everytime I visited town and loved their interesting takes on Asian dishes. Since then the menu hasn't changed a bit in a decade, the new location is so loud its often hard to hold a conversation, and the food is often disappointing. Having said that its still pretty solid, I haven't had anything that was actually bad here ever, and the 7-flavor beef is still a favorite of mine.
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I always enjoy Wild Ginger, but rarely think of going there. This time was no exception. The food was very good; I liked the summer rolls and the little fried Vietnamese egg rolls that come with... More

I always enjoy Wild Ginger, but rarely think of going there. This time was no exception. The food was very good; I liked the summer rolls and the little fried Vietnamese egg rolls that come with lettuce, sprouts, and tangy sauce. Enjoyed the lamb bambu, the peking-style duck, the noodle dish on the 25 for 25 menu and the chunky coconut sorbet (hey, I eat a lot). I was reminded that WG is popular with the power crowd in Seattle: Gary Lock was there, and a lot of the big firms take potential employees there for interview lunches and dinners. Maybe that's why it's not on my radar... I'm running with the PB&J set these days.
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I just returned from lunch at Wild Ginger and oh my was it good! As long as I've lived and worked in Seattle, I'm somewhat ashamed to say that today was my first time eating here! It was fabulous... More

I just returned from lunch at Wild Ginger and oh my was it good! As long as I've lived and worked in Seattle, I'm somewhat ashamed to say that today was my first time eating here! It was fabulous and I will go back. I had the Wun Tun Mein, which is a soup with egg noodles, scallions and tiny dungeness crab stuffed dumplings. Two of my diningn partners had the duck and the other had the pork - I tried both and they were excellent. We also had a pot of jasmine green tea and we all shared a scoop of mango gelatto and a scoop of coconut gelatto afterward. Heaven!
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A few times I've found myself downtown on a tight evening schedule. WG doesn't open for dinner until 5:30 or 6, I think, but you can eat very well from their reasonably extensive satay menu in the... More

A few times I've found myself downtown on a tight evening schedule. WG doesn't open for dinner until 5:30 or 6, I think, but you can eat very well from their reasonably extensive satay menu in the bar. You'll be served quickly, too. So siddown, have a beer, relax and eat!
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