Reviews - Marination
Reviews summary
This bustling eatery offers a unique blend of Korean, Mexican, and Hawaiian cuisines, perfect for a quick lunch or a post-workout bite. While some dishes, like the Kalua pork sliders and Kimchi fried rice, received mixed reviews, others, particularly the pork katsu sandwich and happy hour tater tots, were praised for their flavor and quality. The vibrant atmosphere attracts a crowd, especially during lunchtime, though seating is limited. While some diners expressed concerns about portion sizes, the overall experience remains positive, making this spot a popular choice for casual meals with a fusion twist.
Reviews from various users
Last update : 04.02.2026
Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Price per person: $10–20 Recommendation for vegetarians: Highly recommend Vegetarian offerings: Vegetarian menu or section, Clearly labelled vegetarian dishes
Love the food the taste in portion was just right. Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 4 Service: Dine in Meal type: Lunch Price per person: $10–20
I work often at the Amazon Meeting Center and of all the food businesses nearby, Marination is one of the best. Really tasty food at reasonable prices which is something almost unheard of in SLU. Service: Dine in Meal type: Dinner Price per person: $10–20 Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 4
Last update : 10.04.2025
Great place for simple but fulfilling takeout! Ordered Luau plate with pulled pork. I wish kimchi is included, but it's something you have to order extra
So good! I had the aloha sliders and a side of mac salad. The sliders were awesome! They had smoky, tender pork, a crunchy slaw, and their Nunya sauce on a soft, sweet Hawaiian roll. I added a drop of Sriracha to each bite and it was heavenly sucha great balance and contrast of flavors all coming together. I wonder if griddling the cut surface of the roll golden brownwould have taken things to the next level. The mac salad was creamy and cool, so satisfying. I would have preferred a bit morecrunchy veg in it, but it was the perfect accompaniment to the sliders.
It was so good Staff kinda friendly small place with lots of people who wants to eat here and now I know why You have to try this place It?s not healthy food but totally worth it when you want to have a cheat day I loved whatever we took here they havestreet table and chair So cool place Try it you would love it
I was happy to not find a line when I walked in at 12:30pm, but they were in the middle of preparing a very large order just before mine so I actually had to wait 10-15 minutes for my order. It's a very small place, so as people filed in after me thelobby filled up very quickly with everyone waiting for food as they got backed up. I'm glad I decided to take it to go, despitethere being no inside place to eat anyway. The chicken tacos were good, but I much preferred the tofu taco. I got a side of totsand found them to be more seasoned than I expected, although most of the seasoning was in a pile at the bottom of the bag. Iwill probably return again when I'm in the mood, and get more tofu tacos.
So good! I had the aloha sliders and a side of mac salad. The sliders were awesome! They had smoky, tender pork, a crunchy slaw, and their Nunya sauce on a soft, sweet Hawaiian roll. I added a drop of Sriracha to each bite and it was heavenly such a great balance and contrast of flavors all coming together. I wonder if griddling the cut surface of the roll golden brown would have taken things to the next level. The mac salad was creamy and cool, so satisfying. I would have preferred a bit more crunchy veg in it, but it was the perfect accompaniment to the sliders.
Last update : 04.11.2023
Last update : 24.08.2023
This restaurant is amazing and the staff is incredibly friendly! I highly recommend trying the Spicy Pork Torta.
For the price, the portion size was pretty small. The food I got was tasty, and I gotta give props for the cooks for having gluten options.Overall, I enjoyed my food, but I found the flavors quite basic. They simply don’t have the depth or that something special that I couldn’t easily make at home.
Great food, amazing location and friendly staff. The beer on tap was a little disappointing but certainly not bad by any means. Very clean and offering interesting decorations.Kid-friendliness: I'd be happy to bring my kids here to eat.
I had the taco salad with tofu . It was a bit disappointing, basically Cole slaw plus tofu.
I'd call this place a Korean Mexican Hawaiian fusion spot. The score would be much higher if only reviewing one item.4.5/5 I'd get the pork katsu sandwich and skip the rest (at least based on my selection from the menu). Super crunchy and deep fried, the meat is juicy and the pickled cabbage is a good balance. The sauce is also flavorful (Might have been spicy mayo?)2/5 Spam musubi was very salty didn't have the typical sweet sauce to cut the salty fatty spam.Surprised they say they're known for tacos and sliders, since they were just okay.3/5 Kalbi Tacos: not bad but the flavor profile was not very deep the protein quantity was lacking and not in every bite, overpowered by the veg.2/5 Pork sliders: same thing on very little meat, also kind of dry meat that wasn't very flavorful. Mostly bread, so the ratio was amiss.5/5 to the person manning the POS!Ambience wise it's definitely crowded during weekday lunch and there's only outside table seating (inside is bar/countertop type seating at the window). So overall not much more a quick grab and go style place.
Last update : 29.07.2023
The staff at this restaurant was very friendly and accommodating, despite the small size and high demand. After trying the food, I quickly understood why there were so many people eager to eat here. Although it may not be the healthiest option, it is definitely worth indulging in on a cheat day. I enjoyed everything we ordered, and the outdoor seating with street tables and chairs added to the cool vibe of the place. You should definitely give it a try - you'll love it.
I tried this restaurant for the first time and was pleasantly surprised. The tacos and sliders were delicious! I highly recommend trying them with their sauce.
The miso chicken was excellent, the kalbi was delicious, and the spam Hawaiian slider was very tasty. The happy hour tots were fantastic, and there was a generous amount of food for a reasonable price.
Last update : 03.04.2023
This restaurant is a great spot for a quick lunch in the area. I tried the tacos, lumpia, and tater tots. While I wasn't a fan of the tacos, the lumpia was delicious and the tater tots never disappoint. The line may be long around lunchtime, but it moves quickly. Overall, a tasty and efficient dining experience.