Eastside's Favorite Dumpling Chain Opens Issaquah Ramen Shop

Seattleites can't get enough of Dough Zone Dumpling House, which now has three Eastside locations and a fourth on the way in Issaquah; thanks to a Twitter tipster for spotting the upcoming location of that one at the former home of Szechuan Chef:

@EaterSeattle Issaquah sign at former Szechuan Chef reads, "Coming Soon: Dough Zone Dumpling House"! 1580 NW Gilman Blvd.

— Seattle_JC (@Seattle_JC) July 11, 2016

On its Facebook page, Dough Zone promises more details about that expansion soon. In the meantime, Issaquah dumpling devotees are the first to get a crack at the company's latest concept, house-made noodle restaurant Ramen Bushi-Do. Eater announced its existence in February, when it was originally slated for April. But its soft launch began late last month and continues through July 31 with limited hours and capacity.

The menu includes small plates like karaage (crunchy fried chicken), mini spinach towers (small columns of cooked spinach chilled and dressed), and, basically required for a sibling to Dough Zone, chicken potstickers. There are a couple of desserts, too: creme brulee and green tea ice cream.

The ramen section has a variety of styles like curry tsukemen (cold, thick wheat noodles to dip in a pot of bubbling sauce), tonkotsu ramen with cloudy pork bone broth and thin noodles, miso ramen, shoyu (soy) ramen, and shio (salt) ramen. For an additional cost, you can customize your bowl with add-ons like sweet corn, garlic, fermented bamboo shoots, or even an extra half-portion of noodles. There's also an unusual mazeman bowl with spinach noodles, "sweet secret house sauce," and fresh seasonal fruit — and Yelpers are loving it. The Zoomeboshi blog also took a highly favorable first look at the restaurant's food and background.

5625 221st Pl SE, Ste 120, Issaquah, (425) 391-9999, Facebook. Starting August 1, open daily 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4:30 to 9 p.m.