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Clockwise from top left: Gifts from Uwajimaya, lion dance at a summer festival, Lady Konnyaku’s Japanese-mod clothing at MoMo
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INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT
S MAIN ST Kobe Terrace
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Hing Hay Park
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Uwajimaya
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GET HERE Bus from downtown to the ID on routes 7, 36, and 99, or take Link Light Rail (International District stop).
International District: Diversity Defined BY ANNE LARKIN
train station, Thai Curry Simple is a cashand lunch-only joint that slings out bowl after bowl of massaman and Panang curries and flaky roti drizzled with sweet condensed milk. Shilla, wedged in the food court of Asian grocery store Uwajimaya, serves up bowls of bibimbap, the famous Korean dish of rice, vegetables, and egg, in sizzling stone bowls. In addition to the killer eats, there’s wonderful shopping here, too. Housed in a 1932 Japantown variety store, Kobo showcases a thoughtful collection of Japanese and Northwest gifts—think hand-thrown pottery, delicate jewelry, and glossy art books. Next door, MoMo is a little shop filled to the brim with unique modern clothing and beautiful Japanese linens. A few blocks away, Wing Luke Museum has exhibits full of relics from the neighborhood’s past as well as myriad misty black-and-whites of long-ago locals. The downstairs gift shop features a wonderful array of books for young and old—everything from Korean children’s stories to Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, a bestselling historical fiction that centers on the very real Panama Hotel just a few blocks away.
Uwajimaya This 35,000-squarefoot Asian superstore offers everything from adorable chopsticks to live crabs to steaming bowls of ramen. Browse the veritable cornucopia of Asian cuisine in the food court, or peruse the shelves of manga, anime, and Japanese imports at the adjacent Kinokuniya bookstore. Hing Hay Park Situated at the corner of Maynard and King Streets, this park—whose name means “Park
for Pleasurable Gatherings”—is a meeting spot for the neighborhood, often populated with locals lunching under the pagoda or taking part in morning tai chi. Kobe Terrace Named for Seattle’s sister city, this little park is filled with flowering cherry trees in spring and includes both a 200-year-old stone lantern and a set of modern, undulating wooden steps that make for a perfect resting spot. On clear days, stop and look south—there’s a great view of Mount Rainier from here.
Hing Hay Park 423 Maynard Ave S • Jade Garden 424 Seventh Ave S; jadegardenseattle.com • Kobe Terrace 221 Sixth Ave S • Kobo 602-608 S Jackson St; koboseattle .com • Maneki 304 Sixth Ave S; manekirestaurant.com • Mike’s Noodle House 418 Maynard Ave S • MoMo 600 S Jackson St; momoseattle.com • HPanama Hotel 605 1/2 Main St; panamahotelseattle.com • Ping’s Dumpling House 508 S King St; pingsdumplinghouse.com • Shilla 517 S Weller St • Thai Curry Simple 406 Fifth Ave S; thaicurrysimple.com • HUwajimaya 600 Fifth Ave S; uwajimaya.com • HWing Luke Museum 719 S King St; wingluke.org HFor more on Visit Seattle International District partners, go to visitseattle.org/visitors/discover/neighborhoods/chinatown-international-district
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Visit Seattle summer/fall 2014
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: KYLE JOHNSON, DMITRY DENISENKOV, MALIA PEOPLES
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he International District—or simply the ID—is unique in its extraordinary diversity: It’s one of the only neighborhoods in the country where Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Filipino, and other Asian communities all mix in one lively place. The area started out as the home of immigrant Chinese workers in the late-19th century but has since grown to encompass many cultures. Consider this a mecca for Asian food. For Japanese, Maneki is the tried and true. It’s been serving sushi in an eternally packed space since it opened in 1904. The sushi is so good, Maneki was named to the James Beard Foundation’s list of America’s Classics. Jade Garden is the queen of dim sum— carts of steaming dumplings feed hundreds of happy visitors each weekend. Chilly day? Warm up at Mike’s Noodle House with beef brisket soup or a steaming bowl of congee with pork and preserved egg. There’s not much in the way of décor over at Ping’s Dumpling House, but the handmade xiao long bao (steamed soup dumplings) more than compensate. Across the street from the