Seattle’s Phinney Ridge neighborhood is known for being hip, family-friendly, a bit upscale and for its close proximity to Ballard and Green Lake. There are some wonderful restaurants to be found here, including a very promising new addition, Ginger & Scallion. If you’re not familiar with Hainanese chicken and rice, it’s time to introduce yourself to this timeless comfort food.
Hainanese chicken and rice is one of the national dishes of Malaysia and Singapore and was adapted from early Chinese immigrants from Hainan province in southern China. The dish consists of seasoned rice and poached chicken, served with chili sauce and cucumber garnishes. It’s a simple staple, but it’s absolutely phenomenal, and it’s a perfect dish to enjoy on a cool Seattle evening (which we experience often).
Ginger & Scallion is owned and operated by the owners of Ballard’s Secret Congee. The restaurant recently took over the former Raiz location, and business is already booming.
The small menu consists of a few appetizers (including an incredible cucumber salad and freshly made Mary’s Chips), several variations of their signature dish and a couple of daily dessert options, which are always made in-house. The drink menu consists of local beer, wine and several non-alcoholic beverages.
And what a signature dish it is. The poached chicken and rice comes in Classic Style (with white or dark meat), Drunken Style (with rice wine aged for 15 years), Curry Style and more. Most versions also come with a hot cup of flavorful broth to enjoy, and guests can add flavor with a variety of house-made sauces. While the chili sauce is exceptional, it comes as no surprise that the ginger and scallion sauce is irresistible. Try one sauce at a time, or go ahead and mix them all.
Ginger & Scallion is the only Seattle restaurant dedicated to Hainanese chicken, and as word gets out, it’s only going to become more popular. The space is small, so if you go on a crowded evening, be patient — it’s entirely worth the wait. The restaurant is currently open Thursday to Monday for dinner from 4 to 9 p.m.
For more information, visit www.instagram.com/ginger.scallion.
500 NW 65th St.
Seattle, WA 98117