
Marination Ma Kai
A laid-back Hawaiian-Korean fusion restaurant with stunning waterfront views of the Seattle skyline.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Marination Ma Kai

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A laid-back Hawaiian-Korean fusion restaurant with stunning waterfront views of the Seattle skyline.
"Amazing views, great food, and an excellent drink menu - a must-visit spot!"
Happy Hour Deals
Visit during happy hour for excellent savings on both food and drinks.
Scenic Water Taxi Ride
Take the water taxi from downtown Seattle for a picturesque journey to the restaurant.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Hawaiian-Korean Fusion
Price
Mid-range
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Breathtaking Waterfront Views
Savor Hawaiian-Korean fusion cuisine with stunning panoramic views of the Seattle skyline.

Unique Hawaiian-Korean Fusion
Experience creative dishes like spam sliders, miso ginger chicken tacos, and kimchi fried rice.

Beachside Patio Ambiance
Relax on the beachside patio with tropical cocktails, local beers, and the sound of the water.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Happy Hour Deals
Visit during happy hour for excellent savings on both food and drinks.
Scenic Water Taxi Ride
Take the water taxi from downtown Seattle for a picturesque journey to the restaurant.
Parking & Arrival
Arrive early or consider alternative transport; parking can be difficult on busy days.
Tips
from all over the internet
Happy Hour Deals
Visit during happy hour for excellent savings on both food and drinks.
Scenic Water Taxi Ride
Take the water taxi from downtown Seattle for a picturesque journey to the restaurant.
Parking & Arrival
Arrive early or consider alternative transport; parking can be difficult on busy days.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Marination Ma Kai offers a fantastic dining experience with its breathtaking views and unique Hawaiian-Korean fusion cuisine. Diners consistently praise the stunning Seattle skyline vistas and the casual, beachside atmosphere, making it a perfect spot for relaxation. While many dishes receive accolades, some find the food good but not exceptional, and portions can be small for the price.
"This place was great. Love the crispy fish and chips and plenty of great outdoor seating with great views. This was one of the better fish and chips places I’ve been to in Seattle. I really enjoyed how crispy the fish was. The kimchi sauce was interesting, but my daughter loved it. There’s tons of outdoor sitting with great views as you’re sitting right up to the water. The service is OK, and the places nice and somewhat clean. I’d totally come back for the fish and chips. Seems like a great place for you too guests from out of town"
Timothy Williams
"We always make a point to stop at Marination Ma Kai whenever we visit friends in Seattle. It’s the perfect spot if you’re out walking your dog or just want a casual bite with a view. The cocktail window makes grabbing a quick drink easy, the food comes out fast, and the outdoor seating usually doesn’t have too long of a wait. The waterfront views alone are worth five stars, but paired with the food and drinks, the experience is even better. No complaints at all… and the lychee margarita is an absolute must try!"
Jennifer Mai
"Firstly, the views alone from this restaurant are breathtaking. The service is fast and friendly. The food tasted just like I had remembered from living on Oahu as a child. It was the perfect walk down memory lane."
C Greene
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Marination Ma Kai is known for its unique Hawaiian-Korean fusion cuisine and its stunning waterfront views of the Seattle skyline.
Yes, the water taxi from downtown Seattle conveniently drops you off right in front of the restaurant.
Popular dishes include spam sliders, kimchi fried rice, fish and chips, and various tacos.
Yes, Marination Ma Kai has a spacious beachside patio with ample seating and umbrellas.
Yes, many patrons bring their well-behaved dogs to enjoy the patio.
They have a tropical-themed cocktail menu, local beers on tap, and refreshing shaved ice.
Yes, it's considered family-friendly, with a great view to keep kids occupied and kid-friendly food options.
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Marination Ma Kai is like a choose-your-own-adventure game, but for inexpensive Hawaiian street food on a beachside patio. Spam sliders and tacos with proteins like miso ginger chicken and “sexy tofu” (our favorite) come in packs of four for $13, or you can go for something heartier like $10 spicy kimchi fried rice with an over-easy egg, or the panko-crusted fish sandwich with pickles and miso slaw ($12.25—spring for it). No matter what, add a pint of mac salad for $5.50 and compensate with free office drip coffee the next day.
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The Seattle patio that rivals all others, Marination Ma Kai offers the most stunning view of the city skyline, which looks like it’s playing with sparklers when the sun sets over Elliott Bay. Kick back with a Ma Kai—an even boozier version of a Mai Tai poured in a glass or over shaved ice—while enjoying some rays. (Umbrellas and wind guards keep patrons comfortable.) In addition to a lengthy, tropical-themed cocktail menu, there’s a wide selection of local beers on tap, including Stoup, co-owned by Ma Kai’s former Cicerone.
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The best view of Downtown comes at an affordable price: the brightly colored Adirondack chairs outside this Korean-Hawaiian fish shack offer a panoramic view of the entire Downtown area. Inside, you’ll find tacos filled with Korean beef or “sexy tofu,” Spam slider sandwiches, and a classic fish-and-chips—served with kimchi tartar sauce. For dessert, the Hawaiian shaved ice makes it the perfect place to begin or end a beach walk on Alki—and to order more drinks through the sliding cocktail window on the side of the patio.
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Marination Ma Kai is a community-minded eatery that started with a food truck serving Hawaiian-Korean fusion cuisine. Working to bring “everyday aloha” to the public, the beach-side restaurant on Alki offers some of the area’s most stunning panoramas of the city skyline framed by mountains and the Puget Sound. Patrons continue to be entranced by the combination of incredible views, lively staff, and, of course, the beloved dishes.
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Along with its two sister restaurants, Super Six and Marination on 6th & Virginia, Marination Ma Kai is the result of a classic Seattle food truck Cinderella story, where one mobile food operation gave birth to a whole slew of delicious restaurants. Visit Ma Kai on Alki Beach in West Seattle for Hawaiian-Korean fusion fare, plus stunning views of the city across the water (we recommend going at sunset).
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In West Seattle, Marination Ma Kai brings the delectable flavors and happy vibes of Hawaii to a stunning beachside setting (near Alki). The venue's Hawaiian-Korean cuisine "melts delicate heat and the flavors of aloha together in [diners'] mouths," while the expansive patio offers to-die-for skyline and water views. As the owners put it, "it started with a truck, some exquisite marinades and a lotta love," and now, more than one million tacos and five years later, Marination has expanded to three separate venues and "one big aloha family." Loyal fans rave about the Kimchi Fried Rice Bowl, spicy pork tacos, award-winning Pork Katsu Sandwich, the boozy shave ice bowls, hibiscus-tinged cocktails, the special tangy "NUNYA" sauce and so much more.
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Right on the dock is a Hawaiian/Korean fusion cafe, Marination Ma Kai, which has a fabulous patio where you can get terrific mai tais and eat marvelous cheap "street food" like Kalbi sliders, Loco Moco, Spam musubi and other Hawaiian dishes, as well as great fish tacos, etc. The view - back across the bay to the downtown skyline - is the best in town, and again, if you want to walk off the carbs (or booze) there's a level pathway where you can walk, or rent bikes from a rental stand next door to the cafe, or even kayak, that runs around Duwamish Head to Alki Beach, where you can view passing ferries, the Olympic mountains, and see our own wee Statue of Liberty. Walking map - https://goo.gl/maps/46dCZzy2GQgPSNrf9
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What started as a food truck has morphed into a successful mini-chain of local eateries for the folks at Marination Mobile, but Ma Kai is their shining star: a laid-back restaurant perched on West Seattle’s shore with an unparalleled view of the city skyline. The menu is Hawaiian with a Korean influence—tacos are a popular choice, though the fish and chips (only available at this location) are stellar. Kids may enjoy the salty Spam musubi, the perfect precursor to the sugary Hawaiian shave ice for dessert.
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Every city has a great spot for burgers, pizza, pasta, and sushi, but not every city has incredible Hawaiian fusion food with the prettiest views in the entire city. Marination Ma Kai is one of our go-to Seattle restaurants for delicious Hawaiian-Korean eats and a view that never gets old. Bring your out-of-towner friends and family to this West Seattle favorite and order as much as your appetite will allow from the kimchi fried rice to the panko-crusted fish & chips to the pork katsu sandwich.
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If you’re coming from downtown, there’s no better capsule of Seattle than a trip on the West Seattle water taxi for kalbi beef tacos or kalua pork sliders. The cheerful Korean-Hawaiian flavors that defined Seattle’s earliest food truck scene now hold down Marination’s most memorable brick-and-mortar, a former fish and chips shack by the water taxi station. The waterside location inspires an extra dash of Hawaii on the menu, like plate lunches and shave ice.
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Located in West Seattle near Alki Beach, Marination Ma Kai offers a magnificent beachside setting with a view of Elliott Bay and the city skyline from a spacious patio. It sits close to the pedestrian water taxi, which means you can easily reach it after exploring Downtown Seattle. The menu is focused on Hawaiian-Korean fare with some of the most raved-about dishes, including the spicy pork tacos, spam sliders, and the kimchi fried rice bowl.
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One of the best views for outdoor dining in West Seattle can be enjoyed at Marination Ma Kai, credit: Marination Ma Kai. Marination Ma Kai is a Hawaiian term that means “toward or by the sea” and it offers just that, located in the Seacrest Boathouse that overlooks the city skyline. Easily accessed by water taxi from the downtown waterfront, it launched over a decade ago to bring ‘Everyday Aloha’ to the Pacific Northwest.
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Bright orange umbrellas and aqua-blue tables send a sign of the sunny waterside locale and bright flavors you can expect at this fun West Seattle eatery. Originally started as a food truck, Marination brings a unique fusion of Hawaiian-Korean cuisine to the PNW, now available in four different locations. Marination ma kai, just off Alki beach, is our pick for a quick, counter-service refuel after a beachfront walk.
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Welcome aboard the flavor train headed straight to Marination Ma Kai, a delightful Hawaiian eatery on the Seattle waterfront. Tucked away with panoramic views of the city skyline, this watering hole blesses your palate with Polynesian fusion magic that’s impossible to resist. Let the crowd-pleasers like their kimchi fried rice or tangy, tender Kalbi Lūʻau Plate sweep you off your feet and straight into paradise.
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Marination Ma Kai welcomes all of it’s customers with big Aloha and the tastiest islander food you can find. You’ll find a wide range of culinary recipes including tacos, pork sandwiches, salads, and desserts with a Hawaiian and Korean twist. Marination also has a number of brick and mortar locations as well as food trucks around Seattle in case you’re ever craving a taste of Hawaii.
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Marination Ma Kai started out as a food truck selling Korean-Hawaiian cuisine, and today they have expanded to offer plenty of locations to choose from. But if you’re looking for one of the best restaurants in Seattle with a view, be sure to visit their West Seattle location on Harbor Avenue. You will be able to enjoy your meal while looking out over the city skyline and Elliot Bay.
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Last but not least, this waterfront oasis featured in the New York Times’ 36-hour guide definitely rates as one of the best outdoor dining spots in Seattle. Daytrippers fresh off the water taxi join locals for the unique fusion of Hawaiian and Korean cuisine. Eater calls it “a great spot for outdoor dining in the city,” thanks to an unfussy patio with picnic tables and umbrellas.
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Before hopping the water taxi back to Seattle, grab a snack or a beer at Marination Ma Kai. Finish the night back in Capitol Hill—dancing at Q and drinks at the bustling Quinn’s Pub will have you up late. To return to Capitol Hill from the water taxi pier, take an eastbound Route 12 bus from the intersection of Marion St. and 1st Ave. Disembark at E Madison St. and Broadway.
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This eclectic neighborhood boasts a diverse range of dining options, from the famous Bakery Nouveau with its mouth-watering pastries and artisanal bread to the popular Hawaiian-Korean fusion spot, Marination Ma Kai. The restaurants, cafes, and food trucks in West Seattle offer a culinary experience like no other, blending international flavors with local ingredients.
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The Marination Ma Kai offers a beautiful view of the Seattle skyline and the surrounding neighborhood. The patio is perfect for grabbing a bite to eat as well, especially if you’re interested in catching a few drinks during Seattle’s famous sunsets. Marination Ma Kai also has tacos and cocktails on their menu to make your experience that much better.
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Marination Ma Kai is a Hawaiian-Korean restaurant with the most marvelous food. If you’re looking for a more affordable Seattle restaurant for a date that still dazzles your senses, Marination Ma Kai is a worthy choice. Their menu includes foods like tacos and specialized sandwiches with toppings like pork cutlet, kimchi, and Kalbi beef.
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You might be familiar with Marination’s big, blue food truck, which became popular for its melt-in-your-mouth Hawaiian-Korean cuisine. Marination Ma Kai is their brick-and-mortar restaurant in West Seattle. Sit on the patio for a great view of the Seattle skyline, and try their popular tacos or fish and chips with miso-infused tartar.
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Seattle isn’t known for its balmy weather, but a visit to Marination Ma Kai will give you a taste of the tropical. Come to West Seattle’s Alki Beach and feast on the most delicious Hawaiian-Korean cuisine while taking in the spectacular Seattle skyline. This is the place where locals go to chow down, and tourists simply can’t miss.
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website | neighborhood: West Seattle ( get directions) | cuisine: Hawaiian-Korean | price point: $$. If I had to pick one restaurant to take out o towners, it would probably be Marination Mai Kai. It easily has one of the best views in Seattle, with a huge outdoor patio and an envious view of the Puget Sound and Seattle skyline.
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Marination can be credited with bringing a little of the aloha spirit to Seattle. When owners Kamala Saxton and Roz Edison opened their West Seattle Ma Kai outpost, they paired Marination’s Korean-Hawaiian menu with the best view of Seattle. From their large Alki Beach outdoor patio, you can see the entire Seattle skyline.
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The taxi docks near the Marination Mai Kai restaurant, where you can enjoy views of the Seattle Skyline across Puget Sound, while indulging in Hawaiian-Korean food. From here it's a 20 minute walk up to the Alki Beach Pier, then another 20 minutes to the bustling restaurant strip along Alki Avenue SW on Alki Beach.
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For a more relaxed vibe with killer city views, I always recommend Marination Ma Kai. This Hawaiian-Korean fusion spot on Alki Beach serves up some of my favorite casual eats, like kalua pork tacos and kimchi fried rice. On a sunny day, sitting outside with one of their spicy chicken sandwiches is tough to beat.
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Head to West Seattle for amazing Hawaiian-Korean food with a gorgeous view looking at Seattle. Easy to access from the water taxi if you are arriving in West Seattle from downtown. Order at the counter and find a seat at one of the picnic tables outside with picturesque views of downtown Seattle.
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (244 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.0/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.5/5)- Type of cuisine: Quick Bites, Bar- Address: 1660 Harbor Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98126-2028- Read more on Tripadvisor. You may also like: Most common restaurant cuisines in Seattle
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This West Seattle waterfront restaurant is a must-visit in its own right, but combined with the sweeping views of downtown it’s a perfect choice. Marination’s menu features Hawaiian-Korean cuisine plus cocktails on a lovely outdoor deck right on the water. Make sure you try the Spam Musubi!
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Just as the name suggests, Marination Ma Kai has one of the best marinated-pork sandwiches that you can find around. It is also value for money because it comes in a huge portion. The location is ace because it sits right above the water and you will be able to witness Seattle’s view.
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Marination Ma Kai is a super casual spot right on Alki Beach with a massive patio that stares directly at the Seattle skyline. The air smells of salty water and sweet kalua pig. Just take the water taxi from downtown—it drops you off right at their front door.
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This Hawaiian spot rivals Bongos for atmosphere with its amazing views of the Seattle skyline. We have come here a lot since moving to Seattle and have always enjoyed the food, especially since it reminds us of our favorite place in the world, Hawaii.
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Marination Ma Kai says aloha and 안녕하십니까 [Pronounced annyeonghasibnikka], it. brings Hawaiian-Korean cuisine to Seattleites for a truly unique experience. This restaurant serves Pacific fusion dishes such as spam sliders and spicy kimchi fried rice.
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This unique Hawaiian-Korean fusion spot is located right on Alki. It’s a perfect spot for some seriously delicious eats like tacos, sandwiches, and more. They have a sun drenched patio or you can just take your meal to go and enjoy it on the beach.
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For a more casual dining experience, Marination Ma Kai offers a delightful mix of Hawaiian and Korean cuisines. Its waterfront location makes it the perfect spot for enjoying a meal with stunning views of the Seattle skyline.
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You’ll love kimchi fried rice if you already like fried rice. You can find this popular dish at Marination Ma Kai, which serves many variations. Get it with kalbi beef, spicy pork, ginger miso chicken, and more.
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Hello Pork Katsu Sandwich from Marination Mai Kai featuring pork cutlet, panko crust, served on a Macrina ciabatta with red onion, mayo, house-made “BULLDOG” tonkatsu sauce and tangy slaw!
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Spam musubi sliders, kalua pork tacos, and other delicious Hawaiian-style eats are the draw at Marination Ma Kai, a friendly West Seattle eatery with picnic tables overlooking Elliott Bay.
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Columbia City (aslo West Seattle/Alki): Marination Ma Kai, 3714 S Hudson St, Seattle, WA 98118. Small happy hour menu featuring their signature spicy, tangy, sweet. and aloha-laden fare.
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If you work up an appetite, be sure to hit up Marination Ma Kai on the way back into the city. This Hawaiian Korean fusion restaurant serves up some affordable and tasty meals!
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1660 Harbor Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98126Phone: 206-328-8226 Visit Website. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Marination LLC (@curb_cuisine)
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This local favorite dishes up Hawaiian-Korean fusion and has a colorful patio with one of the most spectacular views in the city.
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