Ruzhen Mongolian Grill

Excerpt describing the restaurant's role within the U-District:

Disregarding the restaurant’s obvious geographical ties to the U-District, one will immediately observe this connection. Like many Applebee’s which gather local artifacts to give each store a local feel, Ruzhen contains artifacts connected to the UW. On the wall above each table in the private room they have placed old black-and-white photographs that vary in subject matter but all revolve around the university; from the old football team, a sorority, and the graduating class. The left wall of the viewing room is completely covered with flyers and posters of recent or upcoming events sponsored by the UW or taking place within the U-District. There must be close to a hundred posters up at any given time and it seems they feel it is important enough to keep up to date.

This close tie to the university and the interests of its population leaves a good impression with those who visit Ruzhen. Many are attracted to come in for the first time by the unique operations of the restaurant as a Chinese grill. These people are easily distinguishable from the regulars, newcomers often are unsure about what they’d like to toss in their bowl and by the time they are done they’ve only just barely filled it. Those that are familiar with the restaurant tend to know the exact contents of what they plan to put together all the way to 5/8 spoonful of vinegar. These people can be most easily spotted by the carefully constructed tower of food protruding from the tops of their bowls. These people can easily squeeze out two full dinners from these bowls and at $8 a bowl; this fits a college student’s budget quite nicely.