E-Jae Pak Mor

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

Getting these special dumplings is part of the experience, and worth a try. But the dry filling and loose wraps make the pak mor not as enjoyable to eat as the TV screens might make it seem. You’ll want to save room for the other (better) dishes, so stick with a small order.

photo credit: Nate Watters

Khao Mun Gai

This delicious poached chicken is served with broth for sipping, a spicy soybean sauce, and some herby-gingery rice that tastes like it's been using a crock of chicken noodle soup as a jacuzzi. We could eat this rice all day.

photo credit: Nate Watters

Super Tender Beef Stew

Realistically, the name of this dish tells you exactly what you need to know. This hearty stew is loaded with chunks of soy sauce-braised beef that fall apart as soon as you look at it, and is served with sticky rice and bok choy to soak up all the drippings.

photo credit: Nate Watters

Sweet Pink Milk

Snake fruit syrup gives this iced milk drink its neon pink color and strawberry-like flavor. It’s refreshing, creamy, and so sweet that it’s pretty much a dessert.

Guay Tiew Gaeng

Here they take khao soi, an already perfect angel baby of a dish, and make it even better with the use of rice noodles that soak up the slightly spicy, soupy curry like a water-expanding sea creature toy. Order it.