BIZNOTE: Last day for Lee’s Asian Restaurant

That’s a pan holding eight orders of Seven Flavor Beef from Lee’s Asian Restaurant in The Junction. Today, as reported here last month, is Lee’s last day; Keith Bacon (producer of the All Ways West Seattle podcast) and husband Corianton Hale are major fans of Lee’s, and sent the photo after stocking up on their favorite menu item to get some into the freezer for the future. After 20 years, Lee’s is closing – two weeks after neighbor Kamei shuttered – as their building will be torn down soon for mixed-use redevelopment (plans filed with the city say work could start within weeks).

Mark Schletty March 31, 2022 (1:29 pm)

Saddest day in a very long time. Irreplaceable. I hope the development forcing them out knows about bad karma for hurting a whole community. Please, Lee’s, find a new place near here. We will follow you.

Paul March 31, 2022 (1:34 pm)

Dear Lee’s Asian – our family will miss you dearly! You are such a part of The Junction. Thank you for all of the wonderful food and memories over the years. We hope you will consider re-opening in another space soon…we will be there to support you! All the best.

KWest Seattle March 31, 2022 (1:46 pm)

We got our final Lee’s fix last night. My husband questioned what reason we have left to stay in WS now. I think he was kidding, but…please find a new location and bring it all back!!!

mightymoh March 31, 2022 (1:51 pm)

Our family loves this place and will miss it. We hope we may have a chance to support them again at a new location at some point. The development is necessary even if the displacement is unfortunate. Seattle has only so many options to add density and housing, and this squat little building was obviously not going to last forever.

AF12 March 31, 2022 (2:26 pm)

We miss you! Your food was always consistently fantastic from day one. Hope to see you back in our West Seattle neighborhood.

onion March 31, 2022 (2:31 pm)

With all the competition in West Seattle among pizza joints, Thai/Vietnamese places, Mexican and TexMex vendors, and a number of other cuisines, there ought to be a great opportunity for a quality, focused Chinese restaurant. I hope Lees returns and fills this void — and if not I hope someone with great Chinese food chops seizes the opportunity.

K to the F March 31, 2022 (3:32 pm)

Tried calling a couple nights ago to get our final fix but they never answered. So long, Lee’s. You’ll be missed but please consider releasing your recipes here on the blog or have someone help you write a book. :)

Mike March 31, 2022 (3:32 pm)

Gonna miss both Lee’s and Kamei. Replacing them with another big box ain’t gonna help West Seattle. Too bad.

Michael March 31, 2022 (3:59 pm)

We’d forgotten the closing date but picked up from Lee’s last week knowing it was coming. They’ll be missed. Lee’s seems to have stayed busy with takeout only so here’s hoping they find a new space to keep that going.

ACG March 31, 2022 (4:02 pm)

Please find a new spot in West Seattle and reopen!! You will be missed. Thank you for all the good food.

2 Much Whine March 31, 2022 (4:06 pm)

This makes me so happy! Not because they are leaving, only because every single comment is about how much Lee’s will be missed! In the past when a restaurant closed there were ALWAYS comments that someone thought their prices were too high, their food was mediocre, they treated their staff poorly, there were too many restaurants in the area with that kind of food, the atmosphere was too loud, someone saw a bug once, they served Merlot, and on and on with so many negative comments. Lee’s hasn’t gotten one negative comment because they served great food at reasonable prices. Lee’s has been part of our lives for many years and will be missed.

WSCurmudgeon March 31, 2022 (4:19 pm)

The Moving Finger writes: and, having writ,
Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line,
Nor all thy Tears wash out a Word of it

Omar Khayyam
Tr: Edward Fitzgerald

anonyme March 31, 2022 (4:21 pm)

I don’t often get emotional over things like this, but Lee’s closing makes me deeply sad. Besides having great food at reasonable prices, I liked going to Lee’s because they treated older people with respect – not contempt like some other places in the Junction. West Seattle has lost its hometown/small-town feeling. I agree with KWest Seattle; I’m actually questioning if I even want to stay in West Seattle anymore. Thank you, Lee’s, for being a valued member of our community. You will be sorely missed.

InSouthDelridge March 31, 2022 (5:02 pm)

Many thanks for the delicious food over the years. Oh, and we’d welcome Lee’s.2 down here in South Delridge/White Center with open arms.

Neighbor March 31, 2022 (5:28 pm)

If that is 8 orders of 9-flavor beef that was ordered today all I can say is “not cool”. My wife and I just called in an order for it (which is our favorite too) at 5pm today and were told it wasn’t available. If someone “stocked up” at the expense of other loyal customers that is pretty crappy (read our major disappointment). If it isn’t the 9-flavor, or was from a previous day, then I retract my statement…

WSB March 31, 2022 (10:38 pm)

No, Keith emailed me (including the photo) on Wednesday afternoon. I held the pic till we could confirm today that today was the last day and not yesterday – when a business says ‘closing as of (date)” sometimes they mean (date) is the last day of operations, sometimes they mean it’s the first day of closure, so we verified late this morning that they were still open before running with it.

JPWS March 31, 2022 (5:29 pm)

Dear LEES ASIAN family…Been going to LEES for the past 20 delicious yrs!!So loved to be greeted by your familiar faces!! Im so saddened that you have been taken away from the WS Community…We have loss so many cherished places…and you are a HUGE one. Know that you ALL will be so missed by so many…take good care and let us know if you are going to relocate. PLEASE!! :(

dobro March 31, 2022 (5:53 pm)

Chiming in with another lament…we’ve enjoyed Lee’s for their entire time in WS and their food, friendly attitude, food, hospitality for dining in, food, great take out service, food, reasonable prices and quality ingredients, and, of course, their fabulous food, will really, really be missed. They were our number one take out option (especially after the also lamented Kokorus Greek went away). We wish them the best of luck in whatever they choose to do, but it would be wonderful if they found a way to return. Many thanks, Lee’s!!!

Jissy March 31, 2022 (6:55 pm)

NNNNOOOOOOOOOO!!!! So sad, wanted to go one last time and missed it, same with Kamei. Would be amazing if those 2 restaurants joined forces and shared a space similar to Lil Woody’s and whatever is now next door in White Center. Sigh, I didn’t eat there near enough. Good on you, Keith… smart man.

JasonG March 31, 2022 (7:20 pm)

Gonna miss this spot! We were lucky enough to get a few orders today of some of their finest (pad kee mao, 7 flavor beef, garlic green beans). I was their first call of the day, at 11am, but they couldn’t make any food until the afternoon due to some broken kitchen fans/hoods… they weren’t sure they’d be able to open today at all, but they made it happen and happily called me, then welcomed me in as their “first customer on the last day.” Such a gem. Really hope they reopen in a new location!

I love beer March 31, 2022 (7:43 pm)

The line in Lee’s is about 25 strong now, about 3 hours from order to pickup, IF there’s food left! Oh we’ll miss this place though, it’s worth the wait!

star 55 March 31, 2022 (10:03 pm)

Please relocate in the WS community.

Be mama March 31, 2022 (10:40 pm)

What’s up with Copper Coin? They’ve had a “temporarily closed” sign for a couple weeks now. Seems like they’ve really struggled since the pandemic (and they used to be so busy!)

PJK April 1, 2022 (7:27 am)

I’m also SAD to see Lee’s closing. My mom’s been gone 11 years this month but whenever she needed a pick me up, I’d say “let’s go to Lee’s Asian and get dinner”!! I also hope they find a new location soon, after a well-deserved rest!!

Scott April 1, 2022 (7:44 am)

Thank you Lee’s Asian for feeding us such amazing food over the years. Their 7 flavor beef was the bomb. It took us years to try other menu items besides it and those never failed to deliver. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors, even if it’s drinking pina coladas on a beach somewhere. If we get to vote, make it Alki Beach. LOL #missingrestaurant

Mellow Kitty April 1, 2022 (9:18 am)

Man, this bites. All of the charm of West Seattle is slowly being replaced by “house-o-matic” mixed use buildings. Just what the city needs – new apartments people can’t afford in a monotonous, souless landscape. I used to be able to see trees outside of my window, now all I see is the flat, lifeless, grey wall of the new(ish) mixed use building nextdoor.

Rich April 1, 2022 (10:10 am)

I used to eat the 9-flavor beef at Shallots Asian Bistro… and was heartbroken when I lost it. Once, Chef Lee even made it for me while they were closed mid day, because it was my birthday and it was my favorite and my wife begged him. I’ve never met him, but remember that so fondly. Now, I’m truly gutted. I had no idea that this was available all this time…. and now I’ve lost it all over again.

Kathy April 1, 2022 (10:48 am)

Lee’s if you are ready to come back there is plenty of space available in Alki, including the site of our last Chinese restaurant, the Golden Sun (between Cactus and Sunfish). You would do a fantastic takeout business there and there’s plenty of room for dining in and outdoor dining, too.

Missing Lees April 1, 2022 (4:26 pm)

Lees – you will be SO missed. Been going for 20 years when I was in my teens, and now it’s been an absolute favorite of my wife and I’s. So sad you’re shutting down, and wish you all the best in whatever you all choose to do! If by chance you choose to open something else anywhere, please let us know! Your food IS the best!!

Sorry, comment time is over.