Happy Teriyaki - Seattle

Update: It's ok. It used to be pretty good but now it just has as a depressing air about it. Portions are smaller, flavors are not as bright. Price is still fair, especially for downtown. Maybe I've just caught them on a bad day for the last 4 visits. Happy Teriyaki also offers curry, ramen and bibimbap. But it's their teriyaki that stands out. In fact, I'd avoid anything else. Just stick to what they do well and you'll be happy.

The meats can be a bit overcooked and dry, but the staff are always friendly and efficient. The volume is pretty large so I typically get two lunches out of the one order. Chicken katsu isn't true katsu, but more like the regular teriyaki chicken strips with some batter and deep fried. Tasty, but not authentic.

I had a Spicy Chicken and Beef Combo, which comes with rice and grilled veggies. The dish was served very hot, which was nice. The rice was well done and the portions were fine. I prefer the normal terriyaki salad to these grilled veggies (mostly cabbage), but I can understand how others would disagree. The beef seemed like it might have been boiled. Or maybe it has just been sitting on the hotplate for too long. It was bland and tough. The spicy chicken was just ok, and seemed like they just sloshed some siracha on after it was cooked. I'll stick with Okinawa in the future.

This small restaurant efficiently manages long lines of customers and serves the best yakisoba I've found in the area. They also offer a wide variety of sauces to enhance the flavor of their dishes, although the food is delicious enough to enjoy without any additional sauce.

During my first lunch purchase from this restaurant via the Ritual app, I wasn’t kept waiting long for pickup. I ordered the prawn teriyaki, and while the portion was on the smaller side, it was still satisfying. The food was delicious, and I’m already looking forward to returning soon!