Paju

Paju Is a Korean Restaurant Serving Some of Seattle’s Best Steak | Eater Seattle

"After moving in 2024 from a ramshackle Queen Anne space to a swankier, bigger spot in South Lake Union, this stately, muted Korean restaurant feels like the kind of place you’d take a client or your girlfriend’s parents. It basically operates as a steakhouse: the dry-aged steak—New York or rib-eye—is the star, with crackling edges and juicy, tender meat, and the creamy, spicy aioli adds another dimension even if it seems sacrilegious. The other scene-stealer is the fried rice, theatrically black from squid ink and topped with a smoked quail egg, with kimchi and bacon making it a sticky, smoky, umami treat. The octopus is a great complement to a meaty entree, charred over an open flame and paired with a creamy yuzu sauce and delicate, salty roe. Note that lunch is a different affair here—with no steak and no fried rice—so to get the full experience, go for dinner." - Harry Cheadle