Seattle Spotlight: Marination Ma Kai

Marination Ma Kai is a highly regarded Seattle restaurant known for its unique blend of Hawaiian and Korean fusion cuisine, served in a memorable waterfront location.¹

Here is a detailed look at the restaurant:

Uniqueness and History

The Story of “Everyday Aloha”

Marination’s journey began with a food truck named “Big Blue” in June 2009, started by owners Kamala and Roz after the 2008 market crash.2 Their concept was to combine the flavors of Aloha with Korean spices to create a unique cuisine.3 This commitment to delivering “Everyday Aloha” helped the business grow from a single food truck into a restaurant “ohana” (family) with multiple locations.

Marination Ma Kai’s Location

The Marination Ma Kai location, which took over a former fish and chips shack, is considered one of the most unique dining spots in Seattle.4 Situated on Alki Beach in West Seattle, it offers a stunning, unobstructed panorama of the city skyline, including the Space Needle, the Olympic Mountains, and Elliott Bay.5 This “million dollar view” can be enjoyed from both its indoor and outdoor waterfront patio seating.6 It is also conveniently located right by the West Seattle Water Taxi dock.7

Highlight Menu Items

The menu is a creative fusion of Asian and Pacific flavors.⁸ Signature items and popular customer favorites include:

• Aloha Pork Sliders: A signature item featuring marinated, slow-cooked shredded pork on a soft Hawaiian-style roll, topped with signature slaw and the restaurant’s famous creamy, sweet, and spicy Nunya sauce.⁹ These sliders are often described as “impossible to eat just one.”

   

• Tacos: A staple of the original food truck, featuring Hawaiian-Korean preparations of meats like bulgogi or spicy fish, topped with Korean slaw and Miso-ginger sauce.
• Kimchi Rice: A hearty dish featuring kalbi beef, a fried egg, seaweed, and the robust fermented spice of kimchi blended with rice.
• Loco Moco: A Hawaiian island breakfast staple, available during weekend brunch, as are other items like malasadas (a Portuguese doughnut) and Portuguese sausage musubi.¹⁰

   

• Ma Kai Exclusives: The waterfront location also offers unique menu items like Pork Katsu Sandwich, Hawaiian Shave Ice, and award-winning Fish n’ Chips.¹¹

   

Customer Feedback and Recognition

Marination Ma Kai has received significant acclaim and positive customer feedback:

• It has been voted among the Top 100 restaurants in Seattle by Seattle Met magazine and has earned a Readers’ Choice honor from Seattle Magazine.¹²

   

• Their Fish n’ Chips are particularly renowned, having won “Best in Seattle” twice.¹³

   

• The overall customer experience is often highlighted, combining “excellent food” with the festive, beach-like “Mahalo vibe” and the unparalleled Seattle views.¹⁴

   

Significant Events

While the restaurant is a daily destination, its history has seen several milestones and community engagement:

• 2009: The launch of the food truck “Big Blue” established the brand and its cuisine, paving the way for the brick-and-mortar location.¹⁵

   

• The opening of the Ma Kai location provided an expanded menu that included a full bar and was noted for serving a custom “Marination”-branded brown ale developed in collaboration with Big Al Brewing.¹⁶

   

• The restaurant has been a consistent participant in the local culinary scene and community, including hosting events and fundraising nights, such as a 20% giveback day for Holy Rosary in 2015.¹⁷

   

Location and Contact Information