Seattle Pop-Up Kraken Congee Finds A Permanent Home

Kraken Congee, the Seattle popup restaurant that was featured on the CNBC reality show Restaurant Startup, opened its permanent location in Pioneer Square on Monday, April 20.

Kraken Congee draws its inspiration from Filipino, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Thai cuisines, and highlights the ubiquitous nature of congee, or rice porridge.

The name was inspired by a "larger-than-life squid" that chefs Garrett Doherty and Shane Robinson once handled in the kitchen.

Chef and restaurateur Tim Love (Lonesome Dove Western Bistro, Woodshed Smokehouse, and White Elephant Saloon) is an investor in the restaurant.

Featured dishes from Kraken Congee include five spice duck confit pinch buns ( with pickled blueberry sauce, cucumber, red onion, and scallions); Katsu chicken liver with baby lettuce and Tonkatsu sauce;  nước chấm-marinated hanger steak with  shallot, blistered cherry tomato, cilantro, and toasted peanut; and the "Junk Boat," consisting of seasonal fish, seared scallop, Manila clams, Mediterranean mussels, octopus, Thai basil, lemongrass, and shallot.