Do you know a Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, or Japanese restaurant in the International District, or within five miles of downtown, that has easy parking and access for a handicapped friend I will take to lunch on February 8 or 9, 2010?

HTTY

The Tamarind Tree. Very good upscale Vietnamese food, and very nice decor.

It is in the back of a strip mall at Jackson & 12th. There is a large parking lot and I believe there are no steps between the lot and the front door. There may well be a handicapped parking stall nearby.

Map: http://www.tamarindtreerestaurant.co...x.php?page=map

It is on the NW corner---enter the lot from Jackson St. just west of 12th. The sign is hard to see (understated) but Tamarind Tree is the large modern building toward the back on the right.

Their satays and rolls are all excellelnt, as are the salads. The Vietnamese crepes are my favorite and one is large enough for two to share. The only disappointing dish I've seen there was fried rice.

Tamarind Tree was the first restaurant that came to my mind as well. The parking lot can get a little busy. If you can make it an early lunch, I would highly recommend that in order to maximize your chance of getting parking.

I also like the Tamarind Tree (and their new venue in downtown--Long Provincial).

I have taken him to the Tamarind Tree previously. Handicapped parking is down an incline (which is a hill for him) and the bigger problem is fighting through the crowd for the inevitable visit to the bathroom.

What about something in a strip mall along Rainier Avenue?

Couple of places come to mind...

Pretty sure Ocean City has parking - under the building IIRC. Also House of Hong has its own lot (2 actually) and the Four Seas next door to HoH has its own lot. Sadly IMO HoH has gone downhill lately.

How fancy? You could park in the Uwajimaya lot and eat at the food court upstairs - should be reasonably easy access for someone with mobility troubles.

Or skip the ID and go to Siam on Lake Union (Fairview Ave. - one of the better Thai places in town IMO.) In the same area is our fave Japanese place in town, Hiroshi's; there's a handicapped spot in their lot too (on Eastlake at Roanoke.)

If Tamarind Tree doesn't work then Gardyloo has made excellent suggestions.

Thank you for the great ideas: We will ask him to choose between Siam on Lake Union and Hiroshi's, which is new to me and I would most like to sample.

HTTY

We had lunch at Hiroshi 's today. We got there early, found a parking spot, and were seated at the first table by the door, next to which is a space for storing a wheelchair.

For lunch we all had the same "special": miso soup, broiled snapper, spring rolls, sweet potato croquette, sashimi, salad and rice. It was delicious and, at $10.95 each a great value.

Thank you, again, for introducing us to this excellent restaurant.

HTTY

I'll add my thanks for the Hiroshi's recommendation(s). That's near my neighborhood, good to know, thank you!