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photo credit: Nate Watters
E-Jae Pak Mor
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That soggy mason jar salad withering in the fridge can live to see another day. Head to E-Jae Pak Mor in the International District for delicious Thai specialties you won't see elsewhere in Seattle. And with polka-dotted walls, a refreshingly inoffensive neon sign, and tables that fit you, a friend, and an unhinged amount of dishes, this is a great spot to spend a lunch hour.
Initially, you might come into this counter spot ready to order the namesake pak mor. And that's not a bad move. From 11am to 8pm (a.k.a. their operating hours), these paper-thin dumplings are promoted on the restaurant’s TV screens like celebrities—and the steamed rice flour wraps are so delicate that when swaddled around ground pork and herbs, it looks like the dumplings are having a wet t-shirt contest. But what really makes these dumplings worth trying at all is the minty green side sauce you'll douse them in. Without this zesty savior, the meat trends dry.
photo credit: Nate Watters
photo credit: Nate Watters
photo credit: Nate Watters
photo credit: Nate Watters
However, the other dishes here steal the show, and can slay a few close-ups of their own. Their khao mun gai is absolutely perfect, complete with poached chicken cuddled up next to a scoop of gingery soul-restoring rice. And the unironically named “super tender beef stew,” braised in a sweet soy sauce, walks the walk—no flagrant overuse of adjectives to satisfy a word count here. To round out an already great lineup, the guay tiew gaeng, their version of khao soi, has a rich, silky curry broth that only gets more comforting when topped with rice noodles and a squeeze of lime.
E-Jae Pak Mor is a no-brainer for an early lunch, group lunch, day-off lunch, or simply for finding peace by way of stewed meat. Most importantly, there are no mason jar salads.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Nate Watters
Pak Mor Yuan
photo credit: Nate Watters
Khao Mun Gai
photo credit: Nate Watters
Super Tender Beef Stew
photo credit: Nate Watters
Sweet Pink Milk
Guay Tiew Gaeng