By Jackie Varriano / The Seattle Times
BOTHELL — Raise your hand if you lost power for a bit last month. Raise your other hand if you found yourself searching for something that could warm you right through to your bones, offsetting the chill that came with the bomb cyclone.
Considering we’re staring down the barrel of a cold, wet winter, it seems right to keep doling out soup recommendations.
If you’ve had your fill of Fremont’s piping-hot ramen scene, head to Bothell for even more steaming bowls of soup. Here are three great options spotlighting traditional Thai, Korean and Mexican flavors.
Stone Korean Restaurant
24032 Bothell Everett Highway, #400, Bothell; 425-408-1462, stonekoreanrestaurant.com
This local Korean chainlet first opened in Redmond in 2011. The owners, Diana and Kang Choi, have since added outposts in Seattle, Bellevue and Bothell.
Like any fabulous Korean restaurant, there’s a multitude of soups and stews on the menu, but the specialty at Stone is the soft tofu soup ($20). There are 10 varieties available, with proteins like pork, fish roe, beef or shellfish as well as versions with kimchi and extra vegetables. The soup is customized based on spice level and comes with a side of rice and at least a half-dozen accompanying banchan dishes.
I ordered the kimchi beef, which arrived still vigorously bubbling in a sleek stone pot. The soup was so comforting, the soft tofu like velvety soft curds. I loved the spicy, tangy kimchi, and while the beef was thin and tender, it was an added bonus I could’ve done without. The banchan featured a delicious array of greatest hits — kimchi cucumbers, pickled daikon, soy-glazed potatoes, sesame-oiled broccoli and more kimchi — and the chicken wings ($17) were crunchy and juicy. (Ask for a side of ssamjang!)
90° Bangkok Cafe and Bar
1427 228th St. SE, Bothell; 425-481-6800, 90bangkok.com
It was a scramble to get a seat during one recent lunch at this busy Thai cafe, located in the Canyon Park Shopping Center.
I was lured to 90° Bangkok by the drunken tom yum soup with chicken ($15); bobbing with mushrooms, tomatoes and onions in a rich and spicy coconut milk broth with a kick of lime, there’s also a bounty of aromatics in the broth — sprigs of cilantro, curls of lemongrass and chunks of galangal help create depth. (I also ordered a side of rice ($2.50) because I can never have enough rice.)
If spicy coconut soup isn’t your thing, try the wonton soup ($15) with shrimp and pork wontons in a clear, savory broth. The noodle add-on for three bucks is a must. Also lovely are the fried spring rolls ($10) — crunchy little cigars filled with bean thread noodles, cabbage and carrots.
Pasion Tequila
19103 Bothell Way NE, Bothell; 425-488-1308, pasion-tequila.com
This family-owned Mexican restaurant has a massive menu, but it’s hard to look past the Levanta Muertos. Translating to “raise the dead,” a bowl of this soup ($17) is the size of a small cauldron. The massive square bowl arrives brimming with rice, tons of tender shredded chicken, avocado and strips of tortilla chips in a spicy, lime-heavy broth. You can sub prawns for $20. Either way, ask for a few extra wedges of lime.
Pasion also serves tortilla soup ($14.50) — also with a very generous portion of shredded chicken, avocado, crema and what seems like a full cup of shredded Jack cheese. Did I mention there are warm chips by the basket and chunky, medium-spice salsa? Let your heart guide you as to whether you need that second basket.
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