As we follow Governor Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, mealtime might be the most exciting part of the day for many of us. It is fun to cook with your family. But it is also enjoyable to try the diverse food options that your favorite restaurants offer as take-out or delivery meals. Obviously, restaurant businesses are the most vulnerable under the COVID-19 outbreak. It is trending among people to support their local community by eating “out” at home. The City of Seattle has launched a special mapping service called “Support Seattle Small Businesses,” where you can find restaurants that offer takeout services near your house.
https://www.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=1499ec293fed4fc587e2c559099a7e64
If you wish to post your take-out food service, email to supportsmallbiz@seattle.gov.
On Facebook, a group called “Support the ID – Community United” was created by a few community advocates including Japanese American Citizen League (JACL) members just after the social-distancing measures began. As you know, there are many small Asian family-owned businesses in the International District (ID). In the group, you see many pictures of appetizing Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese take-out meals. At the same time, you will also find many heartwarming stories such as young volunteers delivering food to senior housing, restaurants donating food to local medical facilities, and a young community lawyer offering free remote consultations for small businesses. People do what they can to support each other while observing social-distancing orders.
Within the ID community, the most widely spread story is about the beloved dim sum restaurant Jade Garden. On March 26th, the restaurant’s owner shared with the group “Support the ID – Community United” that their storefront had suffered devastating damage from a shooting incident during the night. In just a few days, volunteers, including a local artist came to the store and helped the family that owns the restaurant cover the damaged glass wall with dim sum illustrations.
Uwajimaya’s Seattle store in the ID announced on April 2nd that it is offering free parking during the COVID-19 outbreak. “My hope by opening up the parking lot is that people will come down and support these (ID) businesses ― by getting takeout from our area restaurants ― most of which don’t have dedicated parking,” Denise Moriguchi, CEO of Uwajimaya, explained in the company’s press release.
To support the ID small business community, you can also donate at https://scidpda.org/cidbizrelief.
When looking at the Nikkei community, many Japanese-owned restaurants are spread across the Seattle region and not necessarily gathered in one neighborhood. But as part of the Japanese and JA community, we can support Japanese-owned restaurants by ordering takeout food.
Yoshimi Suzuki, founding principal of Megumi preschool, calls this ongaeshi, meaning “returning a favor.” Under the COVID-19 outbreak, Megumi preschool continues to provide childcare for medical and essential workers in our community. Yoshimi decided to order food from different Japanese restaurants every Friday evening for childcare staff to thank them. Children’s families also join in the take-out order. She first ordered from U:Don (1640 12th Ave, Seattle TEL: 206-466-1471). She says, “The owner, Mr. Kurachi, has been donating udon, ontama, and a lot of fried chicken to Megumi’s fundraising bazaar every year. This is just a way to return his support for us.”
How easy it is if we can show our appreciation to our community by enjoying good food at home.
Here are some delicious options!
*This is not a complete list of Japanese restaurants with takeout service. Please contact your neighborhood restaurant to find availability.
I Love Sushi on Lake Bellevue
23 Lake Bellevue Dr., Bellevue, WA 98005
TEL 425-455-9090
Hours: 11am – 7:30pm
http://ilovesushi.com
Shiro’s Sushi
2401 2nd Ave., Seattle, WA 98121
TEL 206-443-9844
Hours: 11am – 8pm
https://shiros.com/togo-menu/
Teinei
1256 Republican St., Seattle, WA 98109
TEL 206-420-4500
Hours: 11:30am – 2pm & 5pm – 9pm
https://teinei-seattle.com
Nishino Restaurant
3130 E. Madison St., Seattle, WA 98112
TEL：206-322-5800
Hours: Lunch Wed-Fri 11:30am – 1:30pm
Dinner Wed-Sun 4pm~8pm (M&Tu closed)
https://nishinorestaurant.com
Kamonegi Seattle
1054 N. 39th St., Seattle, WA 98103
TEL：206-632-0185
Hours: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 4pm-7pm (S&M Closed)
www.kamonegiseattle.com
Hannyatou Seattle
1060 N. 39th St., Seattle, WA 98103
TEL：206-294-4104
Hours: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 4pm-7pm (S&M Closed)
www.hannyatou.com
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka
103 Bellevue Way, Bellevue, WA 98004
TEL：425-462-0141
2626 NE. Village Ln., University Village, Seattle, WA 98105
TEL：206-524-4431
Hours: 11am – 8pm
https://santouka-usa.com
Sandwich House TRES
1502 145th Pl. SE., Bellevue, WA 98007
TEL：425-643-7333
Hours: 8am – 2pm
www.tressandwich.com
Tensushi Queen Anne
500 Mercer St., C-2 2B, Seattle, WA 98109
TEL：206-953-2440
Hours: 10am – 3am (over midnight)
www.facebook.com/TenSushiSeattle/
Tensushi#35
1207 S. Jackson St., Ste B106, Seattle, WA 98144
TEL：206-568-0404
Hours: 11am – 8:30pm
www.facebook.com/tensushi35/
Bento-ya Goemon
700 NW. Gilman Blvd., E-103A, Issaquah, WA 98027
TEL：425-677-7460
Hours: 11am – 2:30pm, 4pm – 7:30pm (Sun Closed)
www.bentoyagoemon.com
Modern Japanese Cuisine
6108 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98103
TEL：206-420-4088
Hours: Lunch 12pm – 2:30pm, Dinner 4:30pm – 8pm (M Closed)
www.modern-seattle.com
wa’z
411 Cedar St., Seattle, WA 98121
TEL：206 441-7119
Hours: 11:30am – 2pm, 4pm – 7pm
www.wazseattle.com
