SEAReview
photo credit: Brooke Fitts
Ludi's Restaurant
Included In
When Ludi’s closed in 2019 after 17 years in business, they got a more heartfelt send-off than some people's great-grandma. Customers cried, homages were written, and out-of-towners rushed to eat there one last time. All for good reason—the food kicked ass. The thought that this Filipino diner would no longer supply Seattle with bright purple pancakes was devastating.
Four years later, Ludi’s returned. So did the ube pancakes. Inside their new updated location (just a couple of blocks from the old Downtown space) you can pile into a booth among the same family-run diner surroundings—a sizzling griddle is the morning soundtrack, breakfast is served all day, and the food is as comforting as ever.
photo credit: Brooke Fitts
photo credit: Brooke Fitts
Come here intending to share a bunch of stuff. The ube pancakes—only available Friday-Sunday—are a must. These bouncy rice flour flapjacks are smothered in a coconutty ube glaze that maple syrup should be afraid of. If you want a little of everything, order the combo-silog. It’s a plate full of peppery longanisa, foot-long lumpia, a pounded pork chop, and garlic rice that we could eat fistfuls of on its own. The always-changing specials board is worth a peek too, where dishes like crispy kare kare, loaded omelets, and sisigsilog become last-minute add-ons.
Even though you can count on Ludi’s for a consistently great meal, strategy is key. On weekends, waits can be long, so coming on a weekday right when they open at 7am is a safe bet. Because even on a Thursday, by 7:30, a line already forms underneath the iconic yellow and blue sign. But if we're going to set an alarm, brave potential early morning frost, and deal with Downtown one-way streets for anything, it’s going to be Ludi’s.
Food Rundown
photo credit: Brooke Fitts
Ube Pancakes
photo credit: Brooke Fitts
Beef Lumpia
Chicken Fried Steak
photo credit: Brooke Fitts
Combo-Silog
photo credit: Brooke Fitts
Sisigsilog
photo credit: Brooke Fitts