Babirusa

Nice, intimate setting but visited by a big group such as mine? Game over! We took over the whole bar table, ordered almost everything on the menu because it can be done by my unpredictable, crazy friends. We’re all foodie addicts and drink like fish. Well, not myself in particular but my friends do drink as if it’s their last day on earth. haha
A good friend of mine is a regular here and she loves this place. This is why we came here to end our night out on a happy note.
One hour of sitting, happy times!
Great food from fried pork belly in lots of cumin, adobo pork with grits, manila clams, some congee? Cheese plates? What??? So good!
The bartender couldn’t get a break from our high demands as we kept him going. In the end… he was a happy camper and so WE were also.
That was super fun! Great food, great crowd.
Eastlake side, you ROCK!

My husband and I came here by mistake actually thinking it was a different restaurant. The ambiance of this place looked cute so we decided to stay. What followed was one of the best culinary experiences either of us have ever had (dead serious). Their menu was only written on a chalkboard above the kitchen and to be honest, I’d forgotten my glasses that day so I couldn’t really read the menu. So we told our server our budget for food and told him our preferences (my husband doesn’t like pickles or olives) and told him to have the kitchen send out whatever they felt like. Every single dish brew our minds… except the gnocchi that was mediocre. I couldn’t recommend this restaurant, the staff, or letting the kitchen decide your meal more. Do it. Really.

Food is fairly good at affordable prices. Staff are extremely friendly and welcoming. Wine is decent. So, why the three star? The music! It is horrendous. Have been to Babirusa twice – both times I couldn’t wait to leave because the music was so awful. Like being trapped inside a garage with a teenage boy, uh, garage band. Worst selections I’ve heard in a long time. Drove me out. Bad enough that I won’t be going back. Also, no happy hour prices on wine or food.

Came in late for a quick drink and a bite. Menu is changing constantly, which is great — but also a little confusing when the server is not super interested in telling us what was actually served, as everything seemed to be sold out. We ended up eating tacos and they were amazing. Our order got mixed up, and they forgot half of it, but it was still on the check. Food is just great, drinks were great (custom and STRONG), service was quick, at least. We’ll probably not be going back, but we did enjoy our time there.

I love Babirusa!!! I was contemplating writing this review since I think this is one of Eastlake’s biggest secrets.
Babirusa is a hidden gem, and easy to pass up since it’s right next to its big brother, Blind Pig Bistro. It’s a small bar, with a pretty substantial drink menu, and the food menu is limited, and ever-​changing. Check out the blackboards for the food menu above the kitchen and for the beer on draught, the menu is by the bar. Also take note of the music selections on the same draught beer menu, it’s just like their food menu, ever-​changing and very diverse.
The staff are über cool. Definitely ask them for recommendations or have them whip up some delicious cocktail for you, you won’t be disappointed.
On our most recent visit, we had pork collar, shrimp and grits, Mac and cheese, pork cracklings, and beet salad. The selections were phenomenal, and the stand out dish (at least for me) was the pork collar, it was served with Brussels sprouts and squash. Of course, I’m sure my next venture into Babirusa will feature another knock out dish!

OUTSTANDING. Best restaurant I ate at in Seattle (in this price range). Tiny place by the owners of the Blind Pig next door — we sat at the bar and everyone working there was super friendly and helpful. Delicious and super flavorful burger cooked perfectly. Delicious fries. Reasonably priced. Can’t wait to come back to Seattle and have more :)

Great eclectic small plates. Food is dynamic in taste and presentation. Definitely will return

I love this place! I’m so glad it’s in my neighborhood. Delicious black cod tacos! Amazing cocktails. We just moved here from New York and this place reminds me of yummy little places we would go to in Brooklyn. Please support this business!

The food is amazing. Everything we’ve had at Blind Pig Bistro and here has been exceptional. I suggest going with one other person and splitting 3 – 4 plates.
I’d come back often even if I didn’t live in East Lake!

This place is awesome. If you like a cozy place with good cocktails and delicious but approachable food, Babirusa is for you. Prices are very reasonable. Staff is great.

One of my favorite places to eat in all of Seattle. In order to truly appreciate this place, you have to go more than once. What really separates Babirusa from most, if not all, restaurants in Seattle is the ever changing menu. Seriously, it changes nightly and sometimes hourly. They have chalk board menu with just the simplest explanation of their food. But it’s the complexity of flavors that go into the simplest of ingredients that makes me love this place.
Every night is a different experience. But I will say, I’m upset most nights I’m here (I’ll explain why in a second). While there may be some things you can count on being a staple (Fish & Chips, Burger with pesto, Fried potatoes with Aioli, Olives in pesto, a beet dish, a pork dish… all delicious and not standard fare), it’s the rotating menu that constantly amazes me. Chef Charles and crew (Kenny & Aaron notably), are constantly using new ingredients and flavors that makes their menu stand out nightly. Every dish is good. Most dishes are amazing. And at least once a night, I’ll have something that is truly inspired. And that the part that really upsets me… I will never have that dish again. And all I want is THAT dish again!
These are dishes that most other restaurants would use as staples of their menu. But this was just something these guys concocted in the back while discussing it the night before over a shift beer. It’s fantastic yet infuriating. Which is why I keep going back. I can’t get enough.
I still remember some of these meals. Listed as: Pig ear, kimchi, peanuts. Reality: Thinly sliced, breaded, fried pig ear that had the texture of a crispy noodle with the flavor of perfectly cooked pork. Used as a noodle for a homemade (Kenny’s mom’s recipe) kimchi Pad Thai. it was incredible! I’ve never had anything like it. Or listed as: Octopus, beans, harissa. Reality: Perfectly braised baby octopus thinly cut on top of garbanzo beans covered in this incredible harissa marinara sauce. Mind blown! Listed as: chocolate. Reality: A chocolate ganache covered in olive oil and sea salt and topped with a slice of torched piece of glassy orange sugary glaze… orgasmic. This dish has literally won over debates with friends on best desert in town.
Now… with all that said, this would only be apart of the reason I go here. The incredible heart and nature of Rene’ who owns the place with Chef Charles and runs front of house is the reason I would almost call this place home. Since initially stepping into the place, Rene’ has always made me feel welcome and apart of the Blind Pig/​Babirusa family. I bring every friend from Seattle and out of town here first. No questions asked. The sincerity in service that these men bring will win you over as a customer for life.
Finally, if you are into cocktails, there couldn’t be a better place to grab one. The helm of the cocktail menu is currently being run by none other than Ben Perri (long time Zig Zag bartender). Ben is a true bartender and incredibly good at his job. On top of that, he’s an incredibly nice person. You can seriously ask these guys for any cocktail of any era and they will make it perfectly. It’s a great semi-​intimate setting where you can take a couple of friends or a date and they’ll all be impressed with your lore of local eateries.
If you haven’t been here… you have to go immediately.

Super cute, chic cocktail bar with fun drinks and friendly bartenders. I haven’t yet tried the food here but the menu looks really good. I have eaten at sister’s restaurant Bling Pig (which is next door) several times and it is amazing, so I assume the food at Babirusa will be the same.

Babirusa! Been here at least 10 times now. Drinks are great, food is amazing. The rotating Menu always seems to have something new and interesting. I haven’t had a single underwhelming experience at Babirusa. The staff seems to love what they’re doing there.
Chocolate desert item — (mouse/​brownie/​custard/​crisp combo of some sort) is up there with the best desserts I’ve ever had.
Burger — is so juicy with the chili sauce.
Octopus — crazy good.
Kalimari — sauteed with spicy farro was amazing
Steak — with a fried egg and potato hash — super delicious and filling late night dinner for a small plate
Delicious veggie items, salads, and appetizers.
I try to get something different every time and am always impressed. I could go on and on… drop in, get some things to share and enjoy this gem.
+Great friendly service — I always ask about the new stuff on the menu.
+Plays good music
+Nice atmosphere for such a small spot

Came here on a Friday night. Place was busy but not too crowded. Menu is composed only small plates on the back chalkboard. Babirusa is ideal for those who like to order many dishes as they also keep fair prices.
5 stars for the ribs. I generally hesitate on pork ribs but these were delicious with lots of flavor.
I didn’t come with an appetite but gazed upon the many dishes around me and all looked and smelled very tasty.
They also have a full bar. Bonus points for the Super Tuscan on the current menu. It’s delicious.

Expensive and small portions.

Babirusa is the sort of place for which you need to calibrate your expectations. It’s a small plates place, but the menu doesn’t really lend itself to the usual mix-​and-​match-​and-​share strategy that people expect from small plates. For one thing, it’s a pretty short menu. For another, most of the plates are already well-​balanced — main dish and sides — so you don’t really need to combine multiple plates to get a balanced meal.
I prefer to think of it as an all-​night happy hour version of Blind Pig Bistro; come here for a cocktail, and a light meal to go with it. The portions are just about what you’d expect for happy hour — enough food to make you not hungry, but not so much that you won’t yourself make a sandwich later in the night. Most of the self-​contained plates are in the $ 12 ballpark, which seems reasonable for relatively upscale food in a happy hour setting.
I tried three dishes. The pig tail was the main event — fatty, tender, almost marrowey meat encased in crisp pig skin, served with some kind of beans and pureed potatoes, I think. Not a lot of food, but worth more than the $ 12 bucks it cost, considering it’s not something you come across everyday. I also slurped up one of the Fat Bastard oysters (delicious) and a couple of pieces of the patatas bravas with aioli (dangerously addictive fried potatoes — crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside).
The cocktail menu leans towards the classics, particularly those involving amari. That’s great news if you’ve got a bitter tooth, as I do. I tried the Ford ($ 10), an old cousin of the Martini. Orangey, herbal, and refreshing. They do also have a selection of beers and wines.

Went to Babirusa on Friday night because I couldn’t get a reservation for Blind Pig. It turned out to be a pleasant surprise!
The food was phenomenon. We asked for the beer bread (that I love from Blind Pig), tried the mac and cheese, trout salad, and pork collar steak.
The mac and cheese — OMG. I don’t even like mac and cheese, and don’t typically order it at places. But this mac and cheese totally transformed my view of this food item. It was so good. Definitely try it when you are there.
The pork collar steak with rice and beans reminds me of the cuban rice dish. The meat itself is extremely tender, and the rice and beans are so flavorful that I was tempted to lick my plate.
The trout salad was definitely unique. It’s not like anything I’ve tasted before, and it was delicious.
And to top it all of, the service was really good. The server was really nice when I asked for the bread, and was very courtenous and prompt with our water and orders.
I’m definitely coming back.

I had heard good things about Babirusa, but hardly ever venture out to Eastlake for dinner, so I was very excited to hear that they are open for lunch.
Immediately after sitting down, I spotted many dishes I was interested in listed on the chalkboard (menu) overhead… unfortunately, I was looking at the dinner menu… the lunch menu was much smaller and much less interesting.
The main lunch entrée options were between a brisket dish, burger, and fish and chips. I opted for the burger which came with aioli and fried potatoes on the side.
The burger was $ 12 plus tax and tip (Fish and Chips are also $ 12). The waiter did not ask me how I wanted it cooked, and it came out exactly how I like it — medium rare. The potatoes were fried to an appetizing shade of gold.
The entire meal was very heavy and very salty.
If/​when they change their lunch menu, I would definitely come back and try something else — but not before then.

Another Fine Swine
Ambience: 4
Food: 5
Drinks: 4
Value: 3
Tucked away in a non-​descript strip mall are the siblings, Blind Pig and its grown up (i.e. with alcohol) brethren, Babirusa, which, btw, is actually an amazing scary looking ‘pig-​deer’.
With the menu written in chalk on the wall, it’s definitely what’s fresh what’s novel type of place. All the dishes are good and interesting, from the beef heart bulgogi to the white fish, all high class plated and interesting tasting. The drinks are really good as well, they will definitely whip something up to suite your fancy: my ‘bartender’ special of Gin/​Cucumber smash was amazing.
Even though there is no happy hour, it’s well worth stopping by and trying their unique creations.

*Just what Eastlake needs, a hip little bar with small plates, inventive food and a great burger
*A bit spendy for a regular appearance, not Serafina or Cicchetti spendy but I do give them kudos for the $ 3 Old Germans
*Eggs were really the best thing we had, I felt like the octopus cake didnt pack enough flavor and the plaintains didnt really work with the chorizo but overall, service was great and friendly and they are trying hard