Cafe Koinonia

Came here for their bulgogi sandwich, kept coming back for their husky swirled yogurt!
–1 STAR because their much hyped bulgogi sandwich was not as good as everyone made it out to be. Maybe it’s because Seattle has a lack of really good Korean restaurants to compare their bulgogi with or maybe it’s because I have just been spoiled by my mom’s bulgogi. Whatever it may be, the bulgogi sandwich lacked something that I just can’t put a finger on.
Still…their redeeming factor is their yogurt! It is by far the best yogurt around here… probably even better than Pinkberry (yes, I said it). Try swirling both their original and husky flavor with almond toppings!

Their bulgogi subs are as good as it gets! This interesting mix of half-​froyo, half-​sandwich place makes it pretty unique. Fro-​yo is good quality but it’s not pay per ounce so it’s pretty pricey (about 3.99 for a small).
Décor and cleanliness are the only reason I dock it 2 stars.
Because this is a Christian café, they’ll play Christian music which can be soothing/​relaxing.
If you’re in the area, the bulgogi subs (its the only place I know that sells it) are reason enough to hit this place up.

Oh boy. There’s a restaurant here, but it’s even farther west than Condon Hall. But don’t let that deter you from coming here, because you’d be seriously missing out on a lot of the stuff they have to offer. It does appear to be a Korean mom and pop shop, but there’s a lot more to it than that. These guys know what they’re doing, and their creations are original and enjoyable. If you’re around Condon or one of the dorms or just happen to be nearby, you owe it to yourself to check this place out.
The first thing that caught my attention was the frozen yogurt. They don’t have bubble tea, so their frozen yogurt will have to do! Frozen yogurt just comes from a machine, so I thought it shouldn’t take very long, but it took them several minutes to get the machine working or something. Either way, I got a large Husky (blueberry-​flavored) frozen yogurt for my wait, and it was very refreshing for a hot day. So that’s one plus for them, but keep in mind that the wait may take a while.
Then, for a meal, I ordered a bulgogi sandwich. This also seemed to take forever, but it was really just amazing. The stuff they can cook up is just to die for! I don’t know whom to credit for the idea of putting bulgogi barbecued meat in a sandwich, but it’s incredibly delicious. There’s a lot of melted cheese in there so that every single bite is yummy. I was blown away by it, and I think I can forgive their taking so long. They also have classical music playing and a lot of other stuff for sale, which gives the place a somewhat comforting feeling. Definitely a place to visit if you can.

I take the bus from right next to this place and never thought much of it from the exterior. but recently I decided to investigate and see if it was a diamond in the rough– it is! keep in mind my 4-​star rating is for the froyo and friendly service alone. I haven’t tried/can’t speak for the other food.
let’s just say I love my froyo and I’ve frequented the usual– menchies, yogurtland, red mango, zoeyogurt… those places definitely deliver on the aesthetic/​atmosphere end, and in terms of variety of flavors. but café koinonia’s original tart flavor is the best I’ve had in seattle, and that’s enough for me! bonus: I feel like it’s more socially acceptable going here solo for froyo. it’s definitely more of a group activity at any other place around here.

The Bulgogi Sandwich was the best of its kind. I lived in the U-​District for a summer when I was interning in Seattle and I visited here a few times towards the end of my stay. I only wish I had started visiting earlier.
Pros: The café is run by a mom and pop korean duo. They are very nice and unassuming. The selection of food is okay, but what’s really great about this place was the froyo. As an avid froyo eater, I found Café Koinonia’s froyo the freshest and most delicious froyo I have ever had. I’m usually quite picky, but Koinonia’s blueberry froyo really might be the best froyo of all time. Also, as another reviewer said, the bulgogi sandwich is something special. It’s probably the best sandwich they offer. The tart is literally the best original tart I have ever had while the blueberry was the freshest I’ve ever eaten (you could quite literally see/​taste the blueberries mixed within the yogurt).
Cons: The other sandwiches are not amazing. Do not expect amazing flavors from their other foods. The restaurant is very relaxing and is a great spot to study or hang out, but the food isn’t the best. As for the froyo, there are only two flavors, tart and blueberry and it is not self serve, so selection wise the store is limited.
However, if you ever want to taste the best in class for froyo, or just snack on a good sandwich, visit Café Koinonia next time you’re in the U-​District

I have lived a block away from this place for a year, so of course I had to try it immediately after seeing the good reviews on here. It’s a very very tiny and unassuming little shop from the outside. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the food. I ordered a husky frozen yogurt and a bulgogi sandwich. The frozen yogurt was very cute and tasty (blueberry flavored) although the owner actually forgot to give me the yogurt after taking my order.
I was expecting great things from the sandwich because it definitely sounded like a brilliant combination to me. I was only slightly disappointed. The flavor of the meat was actually quite good, and the price was very reasonable. However, the bread wasn’t great and the flavor of the meat was a bit too sweet for my taste. Also, the meat didn’t have that nice char that comes from cooking on a hot plate normally, so that was a bit disappointing as well. My fiancé ordered a cold sandwich, and it was very disappointing in terms of quality and flavor.

Amazing froyo. I was comparing to red mango and after having a great experience at red mango, I thought that it would be difficult to beat the quality here.
I must say I was blown away by the creaminess of the frozen yogurt. It was creamier and softer than what red mango had to offer. I found out that their husky flavor is made with fresh blueberries. Comparing frozen yogurt with power flavoring to real fruit has no comparison. I will be sure to come back here when I can!

Cute little place with super-​friendly owners. I’ve stopped by on various occasions for coffee, breakfast, lunch, and frozen yogurt. Their coffee is actually quite good, and they make it really fast! The frozen yogurt is some of the best I’ve had– the blueberry flavor (the husky) is delicious, and you can get it swirled with vanilla as well. They have a good variety of fruit toppings and are very reasonably priced.
Solid, off the beaten path choice for U-​District.

I love Café Koinonia. I used to treat my younger sister here for lunch when she was still attending UW. I love getting froyo here since I find their froyos very comparable to Pink Berry. They had green tea froyo awhile back (which I dearly miss) and at one point he was experimenting with coffee flavored froyo but that didn’t last long. I tend to stick with the tart froyo here.
They have a small but good selection of toppings which include nuts, fruit, mochi and cereal.
If you’re not in the mood for froyo, check out their sandwiches! My favorite sandwich here is their bulgoki sandwich, which is very flavorful and juicy. Proceed eating this delicious with plenty of napkins and a fork.

This is my go to place if I am craving frozen yogurt. The one served here is the perfect balance of sweet, creamy and tart. They also have a blueberry flavor called Husky. So cute!
If I am feeling super indulgent I get a small (8oz) with strawberries, mochi and oreos. Other days I am fine sticking with strawberries and mango.
Try their Bulgolgi sandwich when you get the chance. It’s cooked on the spot and so tasty. Be warned though, it can get messy. I took it to go and they gave me a fork with it for obvious reasons :]
The couple that run this place are super sweet and friendly. When I take my yogurt to go, they actually give me a dome lid and make the extra effort to tape it to the cup so it doesn’t pop off and have everything spill over.
One star off though for the radio station they play here. It would be a nice place to study but the Christian Radio station playing the entire time can get a bit distracting.

It’s a very cute café next to the dry cleaners by Roosevelt. I watched it go up and was amused at its location. Years later, I go there twice in rapid succession. Pew pew!
The first time is for coffee but I decide to get their swirl froyo instead. I’m told it will be a few minutes because they need to start their machine up? I’m only guessing. But it was nice that the froyo was slightly delayed rather than say they wouldn’t sell it until a certain time.
The froyo was delightful! Cool, creamy, a little tart. I enjoyed it for $ 5!
The next time I went there was for their bulgogi sandwich. It was packaged very carefully in a box with utensils and a pickle spear. The sandwich settled a bit as I walked 10mins back to work, obviously. It’s probably much better to eat immediately. But I was sated and the flavors were very interesting. I was skeptical of the bulgogi + cheese factor, but it was alright. Kind like an Asian Philly cheesesteak. The tofu sandwich seems more up my alley though.
I haven’t gone there recently since the weather has cooled and I’m lazy when it’s cold. But when it’s warm again, I’ll get that froyo and tofu sandwich. :)

My favorites:
The husky or plain with mango and raspberries frozen yogurt
Ham and swiss sandwich
Café D’Arte coffee drinks
Good Earth Teas (original sweet & spicy)
I never liked frozen yogurt before I tried it here and now I make sure to stop by once a week. It really is as good as everyone here claims.

This little café is just a couple of blocks from my office. Going here made for a very nice stroll on a warm afternoon work-​day. They offer yogurt and sandwiches and other odds and ends that I haven’t tried yet. The sandwiches seemed to have good prices, and I intend to come back to try one. Now, truly, I would not have looked at this place and thought «best frozen yogurt ever» but there you go. I highly recommend the swirl. It’s regular and blueberry (which they call «Husky») flavored yogurt. The combination is yummy yummy. Red Mango yogurt will do in a pinch, but if you can get to this place… Do so.
If you’re using a debit card, they will charge a .50 cent fee if you debit less than $ 5.00, but I find that a small bag of chips along with my three-​topping small swirl bumps me over that minimum.

I really can’t say enough good things about this place. It has everything that I could ask for in a café:
1. Location: Yeah, it’s a little out of the way for some people, but as a 3-​year resident of the dorms in South Campus, this place is probably the closest place for food. It was so close that this past spring quarter, I went there almost every friday afternoon on the way back from class to celebrate the end of the week.
2. Frozen Yogurt: undoubtedly the best frozen yogurt around the U-​district, and probably beyond those borders. It is just the right consistency and doesn’t melt too quickly. I remember the day I discovered mochi, the Husky swirl (blueberry and vanilla together), and then the Husky swirl with mochi. My world was blown.
3. Sandwiches: After hearing rave reviews from my friends, I gave the sandwiches a try. So far I’ve had the Chicken Brisket, which is served nice and hot; the Rueben, which I highly recommend for a meat-​and-​salt fix; and the roast beef; which had just the right amount of condiments.
4. The owners: as many reviewers have mentioned, this place is run by a nice Korean couple. But «nice» doesn’t really do them justice. There has been more than one occasion where my party has unknowingly stayed half an hour past the closing time. If you come with a big party, they actually give a mini serving of froyo to the last person that orders (as a courtesy for having to wait the longest). The last time I was there with people, I was the one that got it. But then at the end of our meal the husband presented all of our party (including me) with another mini serving, for «coming to my shop on such a hot day and ordering sandwiches.»
I’ve heard rumors that the couple are selling the place, and if they are true, then this place will be sorely missed. In the meantime, though, I will continue to get the most out of their delicious food, reasonable prices, and warm atmosphere.

We all know how hard it is for small businesses to stay alive in this economy. The turn-​over rates are especially high for places like these.
But I have my fingers crossed for Koinonia
Its a mom & pop shop and they offer free Wi-​fi and competitive prices. Frozen yogurt for a mere $ 2.50 for a small (8 oz) with no topping, 0.95/ per topping or $ 3.95 for 3 toppings. Pineapple, raspberry, mango, watermelon, cantaloupe –everything looks fresh.
They also offer various salads (avg price is $ 5), full/​half sandwiches, and a full coffee menu.
I was studying there the other day and a man from the Watertown hotel (down the street) came in with a proposition. Pay $ 10,000 and they will advertise the business name in their brochure.
Umm. How about not.
We Unilocalers will Unilocal for free =)

Their froyo is way better than Red Mango, they even have mochi, (score)!! I recommend the twist: blueberry and original. The nice man behind the counter will strategically pack the froyo+toppings and you can take it to-​go, for real, dome lid with spoon included. He weighs it, so there’s no need to worry about being cheated like those other rascal frozen yogurt shops do (we all have experienced the «hole»).
And yes, the Korean family that keeps the shop running are super sweet and know most of their customers by name. There is something genuine and endearing about mom n pops places that makes me want to spend my money there, and leave a nice tip.
If they would only turn down the God awful, Christian contemporary radio station they bump… Who says, Jesus is down with shitty Christian rock?

Good sandwiches, slightly off the beaten path. In addition to the usual turkey/​ham/​tuna-​type stuff, there are a few unusual sandwich options, all served with a dill pickle. On my first visit, I picked up a Reuben; pretty good, but not too heavy on the meat. My second order was the bulgogi sub; Faith Y.‘s description of this sandwich was dead on («Philly cheesesteak with an Asian twist»). It came with some grilled peppers and onions, and cheese. I was initially a bit dubious about the cheese, but I have to admit it worked. I also liked the bread, even though it had gotten a little soggy by the time I got around to eating the sandwich. I suppose that’s the price one pays for getting a delicious, moist bulgogi sub to go. (Well, that and about six bucks.)
In addition to sandwiches, Koinonia has a pretty standard espresso menu (Café D’Arte), frozen yogurt, some breakfast food (waffles and such), and various snack items. A worthy detour.
UPDATE: I’ve gotten around to trying the coffee. Standard stuff: no complaints, but I wouldn’t go out of my way for it unless I was picking up a sandwich anyway.

To lavish them with praise is an understatement. They were on the cutting edge early last year by being one of the first fro-​yo places near the U-​District. That’s right. BEFORE Citra, U-​Teriyaki, Yunnie and WOW all jumped on the frozen yogurt bandwagon.
They have the basic flavor and one «fun» one & true to the Husky spirit, they had a blackberry one for awhile that was a hit for it’s pale purple hue. Sandwiches are reasonably priced around $ 5 – 6 and they always wrap a little pickle with it, even if it’s a bagel. Try the bul-​go-​gi sandwich, it’s the traditional marinated Korean beef with onions — kind of like a Philly Cheese Steak — w/​an Asian twist!
Their pastries are from H-​Mart and their chairs have little coffee cups on them — now that’s adorable folks. A true hubby/​wife power team!

This place is so cute.
Cute? A place can be cute? Yes, a place can be cute. There are windows so the sun is always shining in. The décor of the café is simple yet elegant.
The owners are very kind. My roommates and I had «Froyo Fridays» where we would go there every Friday for a couple months. The male owner remembers who we are and treat us very well. He always has a smile on his face which brightens the room.
The frozen yogurt is to die for. It is fresh and not grainy. I always get green tea, while my roommates get original. Both are above satisfactory. They give you a lot of toppings as well.
I’ve never tried a sandwich or entrée there before, but I know one day I will. I always have my eye on the person sitting next to me munching on a sandwich!

The New York Salmon bagel was alright, but my friend’s tofu sandwich looked like the real winner.
Even the small size yogurt is pretty enormous, and judiciously sprinkled with fruit (blackberry and mango).
That, plus their frozen yogurt spelled a successful off-​campus springtime UW lunch break.