Café Soleil

Love the family, the food, and the love put into each each and every handcrafted dish.

I had the tonkotsu ramen, takoyaki, and dragon roll.
Ramen: The broth was good, but the noodles were a bit too thick for me. I was also disappointed that there’s only one piece of meat in the bowl of ramen. Overall I give the ramen 3 stars.
Takoyaki: lacks flavor. Not much more to say about it. 1 star.
Dragon roll: it was no like your traditional dragon roll. The roll was flavorless and the actually unagi on top was also not the greatest. 2 stars.
The place looked good but disappointed me in the end. Despite the adequate service, it doesn’t justify giving this place more than 3 stars. It’s worth a visit, but don’t expect too much.

One day Unilocal will let us all be extremely nit picky and rate businesses with decimal points. If I could rate businesses that way, I would give them a 3.6 star rating. I bumped it up to 4 stars for a few reasons.
Japanese food has always held a special spot in my heart, it makes me weak in the knees and there’s something so comforting about traditional Japanese food. I love the fact that the dishes they make feel homemade without any frills. When I parked my car, a van pulled in next to me with an Oregon license plate and a Japanese family proceeded to enter the restaurant right after me. This was a great first sign! I had high expectations so the following might sound a little harsh but hey I still gave them 4 stars :)
My boyfriend and I ordered two appetizers, two lunch items and a dessert.
Let’s start on a good note…
The takoyaki was amazing. It was perfectly golden and the batter was cooked well — unlike some restaurants that undercooked the batter and leave a mushy mess. I don’t believe they make this traditionally but it was still delicious.
We also ordered the poke appetizer which had nice big chunks of fish. I almost think the fish should have been cut a bit smaller. However, for the price of $ 10.95 I expected a bigger portion or seaweed salad instead of the little pieces of wakame on top. I also though the pita (?) chips were out of place and I could have done without them.
I ordered a spicy (5 star level) miso ramen (extra $.50 surcharge) with gyoza (I think it was an extra $ 3 or $ 4 surcharge) The ramen is only available on certain days so I wanted to see what it was all about! First of all the gyoza is deep fried and crispy but kind of pricey for 3 pieces. They also forgot to make my ramen spicy and when I asked I was just given togarashi :(I’m a 5 star spice level kind of girl and it made me a bit disappointed tat they didn’t offer to fix it. I was hoping the egg would be soft boiled but my egg was hard boiled. The pork belly included was delicious and the broth was very flavorful. My boyfriend actually drank up all the broth when I was finished eating. Overall for a spicy ramen with 3 pieces of gyoza it was about $ 16 which is on the high end. I probably won’t order it again.
Boyfriend ordered the stewed hamburger steak with hayashi sauce on rice seemed happy with his order. I had a few bites and I’m a fan of the hayashi sauce, not so much of the stewed hamburger patty. The portion size was okay for a $ 13 lunch dish. He was still hungry after appetizers so he finished my ramen broth. My boyfriend does have a big appetite so I wouldn’t recommend this dish to someone who does as well.
We ended on a high note with the panna cotta; which I thought was beautifully presented. The panna cotta was creamy but light and the perfect amount of sweetness to end our meal. The blackberry sauce was tart and complemented the panna cotta.
I wouldn’t say the service is lacking here but they definitely cater more to the Japanese clientele, in my opinion. We weren’t even offered dessert menus (it’s written on a white board near the door) or asked if we were interested and the server dropped the check. I actually asked for the panna cotta after waiting for her to check if we had paid. It was an awkward experience but that’s okay. I also noticed that they moved a couple whom was in the middle of eating their meal to make space for the Japanese family that walked in after us. The restaurant is small so I don’t blame them!
I would come back and try more dishes! However for $ 55 (not including tip) for 2 small appetizers, 2 lunch dishes and a dessert it’s not the most affordable lunch for two.

There’s not a huge menu to select from but what they do make is really good. Serving sizes are generous for the price and quality of the food. I had the Seafood Ramen Noodles and the broth was delicious. My wife had the Bento box with fried chicken and tempura and sushi roll however the fried oysters was tempting.
Lunch prices were really reasonable — Dragon Roll for $ 10. A Seattle Roll for $ 6. Bento Boxes and Ramen noodles for $ 10. The place is not large and if you’re not early, be prepared to wait.

Was not expecting this, we got 2 small pork belly slices for $ 7… The only euro thing about this place was its price. It was bland with no flavor… There could have been 3 slices… Or thicker cuts…
Literally a store brought pound of pork belly is like $ 5 and you can literally marinate it yourself. And have 15 slices-​20 slices.
The oyster were really good! Perfection.
My pouting frys, tasted like chili frys.
And cream Crocketts were really thick and slimey, I was not expecting that, almost taste like cheap powdered potatoes. The consistency may not be agreeable to the untrained tounge.
I’m so sad I wanted to love this place…
These portions for 2 people only filled us up half way.
We should of got the regular entrees, but I mean we ordered 4 apps, maybe we should have ordered 8 apps and paid $ 80, no thank you

Great udon.
Fresh rich fish stock, noodles very firm, tempura accompaniment fabulous.
Limited seating… but if you are here for the food rather than atmosphere* **you will be pleased. Roughly $ 10+ for simple quality meal. Chef/​owner present and engaged. I will be back.

Café Soleil is one of my FAVORITE lunching spots. A little hole in the wall in Mukilteo, the fusion of Japanese and European flavors is out of this world and the desserts are phenomenal. The chef is friendly and is always checking to make sure you’re enjoying your meal. Soleil also offers daily specials that typically include their bento box or ramen, choices and varieties are always circulating daily.
The grilled salted salmon is one of my favorites, I think he uses sushi-​grade salmon and the portion is very good. The curry ramen is also a favorite, definitely worth going when they have it.
Finally, the desserts are absolutely incredible. I cannot stress it enough, everything is homemade and constructed beautifully. Whether it’s the panacotta sundae (with green tea ice cream and seasonal berries) or their green tea crème brûlée, dessert is NEVER disappointing here. Highly, highly recommend! Food is awesome and the owners are very warm and welcoming.

This is one of my favorite restaurants I’ve been to. It’s a really small place but with a cool vibe and the family that runs it is very nice. It’s a fusion of Japanese and western European food. I’ve been impressed by everything I’ve tried here. Dinner specials are a good deal, desserts are excellent too, and the appetizers def legit too.

This place has definitely improved over the years. One of my favorites for lunch! Their prices are on the high-​end though for lunch, so hopefully they don’t increase them anytime soon.

Validating other reviews on Unilocal. Thought we’d give this place a try because of the reviews and because it was located near our hotel. Very impressive restaurant. The place is pretty small, so get there early. We ordered a Bento Box, Ahi Tuna Poke Salad, and Ramen. The ramen was huge and delicious. Plenty of food… you could almost share with a meal. My daughter ordered a beef and rice dish that she wasn’t too fond of. I’m not sure what it was called, but the cut of meat was rather fatty. Although we didn’t order sushi, other patrons did. From a distance, it looked delicious too! Wish we could have returned to try other options listed on the menu.

Magic Unilocal review #900!
Euro Japanese… what is that you may ask… all I can say is… DAMN GOOD EATS!
A nice mix between traditional Japanese flavors with a nice twist from the norm. We really enjoy eating here, and yes it’s well worth the visit from Shoreline to make the trek up here.
Standards to try are anything curry, ramen when they have it in season, and please do save some room for the desserts! Yes, desserts! The Panna Cotta sundae is NOT to be missed! A very nice portion that can and should be shared amongst your party, it tops things off, just right. Be adventurous and try the daily special, they serve of some of the BEST fresh fish and man the fried oysters are out of this world.
A very nice small home-​spun feel here, I like to watch the kitchen, they seem to work together well in a tight space, service is always spot on, if you are in a über rush, go down the street to McD’s, otherwise, order a few apps, a few adult beverages, sit back and enjoy.

Excellent food. I got the takoyaki/​tempura udon/​shrimp dumpling/​philly roll/​sake sampler/​and green tea crème brûlée and let me tell you it was PHENOMINAL! Also got a peach jelly sparkling sake so yummy… The takoyaki is to die for… A must try restaurant! But the service is great and everyone is so kind! Yum yum yum! Please try the green tea crème brûlée…

So thankful for authentic, delicious food in my neighborhood! The bento boxes are fresh and perfectly sized. I can’t get enough of the ramen (I’ve tried shoyu, miso and butter ramen, love the butter but they’re all great!). Daily specials and take-​out are offered.

Salmon dish was awesome, the curry rice is very good and interesting take on curry. Very impressed.

Sushi was delicious! Definitely will be returning.

LOVED THE EDAMAME!!! Different from the traditional BUT A MUST HAVE!!! Cute little place. I ordered the shrimp tempura. The batter was perfect BUT what RUINED IT was the dipping sauce!!! It was NOT the traditional dipping sauce and was a REALLY HEAVY shoyu type of base so it made it difficult to eat and difficult to appreciate because IT REALLY WAS COOKED PERFECT but the sauce ruined it! The hubby enjoyed the baked chicken which was completely euro! It was served with two breaded fried prawns. I plan to return so i can try their ramen. I thought it was odd that they didn’t serve ramen daily! It was my main reason for going there, unfortunately they only serve it on Monday, Wednesday, & Saturday for LUNCH!!! I was a little uncomfortable with each table being so so very close to each other. The ladies butt was right next to our heads as she tried to maneuver into her seat! This was a little awkward! I can appreciate a good butt (though this was not one) however placing a piece of food n having it next to my ear was awkward!

Definitely worth it to drive to because I live over an hour away. But the food here is amazing and it has a distinct taste and definitely fresh. Spicy tuna roll and their curry rice hits the spot !
Excellent customer service. Very nice people.

Very delicious ramen. I have been looking for great ramen shop not far from Lynnwood and I have finally found one. Although, they only serve ramen on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturdays during lunch hours. The lady serving could smile to customers to make them feel more welcome. She wasn’t rude by any means. She was plenty nice.
They have those cute little metal buckets for putting your payment in, I thought that was unique.

We went to Café Soleil last night and ordered mostly sushi. (The dishes that walked by look good too!) I was pleasantly surprised. f I even told my husband that it was as good as some of the trendy places in Los Angeles. I would definitely go back given the opportunity.

I could eat their sautéed oysters all day long! The place is a little crammy for family with kids but good place to have jap/​euro style food. Service is just ok.

Work nearby, been here 10+ times.
it’s just awsome food.
Hayashi curry is good. regular curry is good. lunch special bento is usually great.
The fact i’ve been so many times probably indicates the greatness of this place more than what i can say about it.

A bit disappointed this time… I’m a Ramen fanatic and was expecting to have some REAL Japanese Ramen noodles here. There are 2 flavors today, Garlic Salt and Carbona, supposedly Tonkotsu flavor. My daughter had Garlic Salt and it was pretty good. Yes, it was a real ramen noodle with salt, but garlic added. I can take that.
I had Carbona. Well… I should’ve known. It tasted like carbonara pasta… That was a big disappointment. If I wanted carbonara pasta, I would’ve gone to an Italian restaurant.
Well, their sign reads, Euro Japanese. It’s not a traditional Japanese restaurant. So for that, I’d give 5 stars and will be back. If you want a real ramen noodle, go with garlic salt flavor.

i surely do like this place. it’s like eating food cooked by mom (who is of course, the best cook in the world). the restaurant is family owned and everyone is welcoming and friendly. this is a very small space with maybe 5 tables and total seating of maybe 20 at the tables and 6 more at the bar. and in this case, seeing a bunch of japanese and japanese-​american customers does, truly, indicate the food here is authentic and pleasing.
café soleil specializes in yoshoku. this is the culinary style that blends western with japanese cuisine. oh, does that vaguely sound like «fusion»? you all know my negative opinion of (asian) fusion, but… this is not the weird forced asian fusion made up on someone’s ipad: oh, let’s put some truffle oil on laksa!!!
yoshoku to me, is a natural evolution of, literally, east meeting west, having taken many years to develop into today’s unique character. would you believe me if i said Tempura and Tonkastsu were influenced by the deep frying techniques of the Portuguese who were one of the first europeans allowed access into japan back in the 1500s? believe me or shut up.
you can expect to find all the yoshoku requirements here: omurice (ketchup rice), hayashi rice, kare (curry), hambagu, tonkstsu, with a fried egg on top of everything; as well as other commonly known japanese dishes like tempura (techincally yoshuku) and teriyaki.
the cooking style is yoshoku, but with a definite french influence. there are specials that smack of french cooking but with a definite japanese touch. some of the specials are hit and miss but you will not go wrong staying with the regular yoshoku menu.
in the winter, café soleil makes ramen, only for lunch on wed, thurs and sat. sometimes it will be miso ramen or shoyu ramen or on saturdays 2 ramens of their choice.
do not miss on this. winter could be over tomorrow if you know what i mean. cooking up the broth takes at least a full day. hot broth cooking away on the stove during a warm spring or summer day is murder, especially in a cozy little space as café soleil.
don’t be afraid. be brave. break away from the known teriyaki dishes and try the the yoshoku dishes mentioned above. i think you will find them more to your liking than you would think.

This place is awesome! Wish there was another one closer to where I live, but this place definitely worth the drive!
Love that it is a Japanese euro infused food, one of the thing I miss most about Japan. Their desserts are very good as well! Some reviews mentioned they have Ramen, I would have to come back to try that.
This restaurant is very small, so there might be a long wait depending on what time you go. Service can be a little slow especially when they are busy, but don’t worry because the food is totally worth it!

This place is fantastic! Great food made with love. Japanese euro infused food is very yummy! I love the ramen on Wednesdays and Saturdays for lunch only!

This place just keeps getting better, I left 1 year ago and Café’ Soleil is still making excellent Chef cook meals, Shinichi and Masumi Nakagawa will be celebrating their 5 years of doing 5 star service (With-​a-​Smile), if your driving by-​then stop on by.

Two flies in my water. Only saw them after I downed ¹⁄₃ of the water, hopefully I didn’t consume any flies. Gross. I showed the chef and waitress the flies in my water and they apologize, took away the water and brought new a new water and that was it. The least they can do is at least offer me free dessert or a small discount. This is flies! Worse than hair in my book (depends on the kind of hair of course). I understand they are small operation but this is quite unacceptable!

Good find in Mukilteo, thank you Unilocal!
I ordered the Café Soleil style poutine $ 6 (French fries topped with original curry sauce and melted mozzarella cheese.) I love poutine and love curry so I decided to get this. I wasn’t thinking well because in addition to the poutine I ordered the curry rice. Haha, I don’t what I was thinking. However, both orders were really good. I know my bf ordered some sushi as well.
The place is small, but it gives it somewhat of a home-​y feeling. The workers were very nice, and were social back to the customers who were at the bar.
I definitely want to go back when I’m craving some Japanese (well «euro-​japense» food) when I’m in the Mukilteo area.

A friend wanted to meet for lunch and suggested Café Soleil, and from it’s name alone, I wasn’t prepared for the Japanese menu and staff! We were greeted with «Irrashaimase!» and seated very quickly toward the back of the small restaurant where we could see some postcards from Kauai (a nice nostalgic moment for me since I just moved from Hawaii).
The restaurant’s atmosphere did feel Euro-​Japanese as other Unilocalers mentioned, with the walls and décor flamboyant and Euro-​influenced, with more subtle Japanese utensils and condiments on the table.
After looking through the lunch menu, I and my friend ordered the Gourmet Teriyaki Salmon and my boyfriend ordered the Stewed Hamburger Steak, all for $ 10.50 each. (Prices are different from their most updated online lunch menu.) Lastly we ordered the Dragon Roll to share.
First we were served Miso Soup which was delicious and just the right temperature, then came our meal served with salad and rice. The salad had almost an Italian-​style dressing with sliced watermelon on top. Something totally new to me and delicious too!
I tried all our food, and everything was great. The teriyaki salmon hit the spot, and all of us cleaned our plates, but felt adequately full. Even the wasabi for the sushi was as good as you can get in the US with just enough heat to burn some of your nostril hairs off if you eat a little too much! My kind of wasabi.
For some final observations, the waitstaff was attentive enough and parking was easy and free in the parking lot. I will definitely come here again!