OHSUN Banchan Deli & Cafe
Korean restaurant · Pioneer Square ·
Korean comfort food, gluten-free & vegan options, wine & cocktails
Korean comfort food, gluten-free & vegan options, wine & cocktails
"A small Korean restaurant from former food blogger and cookbook author Sara Upshaw that has pivoted to a catering and private-chef operation, with the storefront now closed." - Harry Cheadle
"Pioneer Square’s Ohsun Banchan Deli and Cafe is going through a “pivot” of its own, announced owner Sarah Upshaw on Instagram: Ohsun began life as a pop-up operated by Upshaw, who had previously written a cookbook and run a blog about Korean food; in 2022, she opened her brick-and-mortar, but it is now closing while Upshaw pivots to catering and private chef work. “It’s no secret that running a restaurant is incredibly difficult, and our Pioneer Square neighborhood still hasn’t bounced back,” Upshaw wrote, adding there will be a “fundraising event to help with the transition” on October 18 for anyone who wants to say goodbye." - Harry Cheadle
"For a cozy Korean lunch in the neighborhood, Ohsun is a great choice. The restaurant has a menu of hot entrees as well as a deli case full of banchan you could also build a meal around, like apple cucumber potato salad, spicy squid, or, our favorite, marinated eggs. The eggs are jammy in the middle and tamari-soaked on the outside, and are well worth including in a banchan-based trio—or added alongside gochujang-y bibimbap with bulgogi and greens. If it's blustery outside and only something soup-adjacent will do, order their spicy potato stew "Sara's Way," which essentially means the addition of rice and chili oil drizzled directly into the bowl. It's hard to imagine a better midday spot to slow down for an hour in the neighborhood. And heads-up, the entire menu is gluten-free." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley
"Ohsun’s atmosphere is unmistakably nostalgic, featuring an inviting street-level space that embraces customers with soft, natural light and a menu full of simple Korean dishes. The cafe is named after Oh Sun Pak, owner Sara Upshaw’s grandmother, and it is a reflection of the love they shared through food, Upshaw says. Korean staples like bibimbap and japchae can be found on the menu along with a ginger chicken soup that’s comforting to the core. Another favorite is Ohusun’s banchan meal which includes rice, three housemade banchan, and a choice of protein. There’s also a fridge full of grab-and-go banchan to be enjoyed at home (or at a Mariner’s game)." - Joey Carreon
"This gluten-free Pioneer Square counter spot has some hot entrees and a deli case full of banchan you could also build a meal around, like apple cucumber potato salad, spicy squid, or, our favorite, marinated eggs. The eggs are jammy in the middle and tamari-soaked on the outside, and are well worth including in a banchan-based trio—or added alongside gochujang-y bibimbap. And if there’s an atmospheric river in the forecast and only something soupy will do, order the spicy potato stew "Sara's Way," which means the addition of rice and chili oil. It's hard to imagine a better lunch around Downtown." - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley, carlo mantuano, gabe guarente
