All the Teriyaki in Seattle #3: Nikko Teriyaki

I’m going to every teriyaki shop in Seattle. Join me!
Stop 3: Nikko Teriyaki in West Seattle
4710 42nd Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98116
My Teriyaki Map: maps.app.goo.gl/YCr8A2ZomhMKy...
An ongoing list of my favorites so far:
All the Teriyaki in Seattle #3: Nikko Teriyaki
• All the Teriyaki in Se...
#alltheteriyaki

[@hawkandchick1182]

Ah man, this series is taking me back to high school so much! It confused me so much when I left Seattle and discovered that ”teriyaki” was not a restaurant genre anywhere else in the country.

[@notbob9865]

Love the moment of clarity when nit picking the salad, so relatable lmao

[@brandonawds]

Growing up in west seattle this was the spot we’d all pull up to after class in middle school! I always swing by when i go back to visit my parents and its nice to see its the same lady working there for all these years

[@chrisroberts6121]

Been going to Nikko's since I was a kid, fantastic place!

[@corb555]

I was nervous waiting to see how our home team did. Love that place and it is busy ALL DAY. Very friendly too. I drive past 2 other places to get teriyaki from here.

[@magicjuand]

teriyaki in seattle has been at a point of competitive parity for ages. it's been around for so long that everyone has very strong expectations about what you get. the worst that can happen is that the chicken has been sitting for too long and dries out. but it's hard to overcook chicken thighs, so it's not too bad of a concern. that's why you mainly just go to the one closest to you. it'll never be like pizza in NYC where there are certain local legends that everyone flocks to. it's honestly kind of nice. all teriyaki places kind of join into one singular tradition, like they are franchises of an unnamed chain restaurant owned by no one.

[@JKenjiLopezMain]

the idea of going out of your way for a specific slice in NY is pretty new/for tourists. You went to your local shop, just like with teriyaki because it was all pretty good. It’s only since the crappy dollar slices started putting better shops out of business that we’ve reached this era where you can get bad pizza easily in NY.

[@magicjuand]

@@JKenjiLopezMain ok maybe nyc pizza was a bad example, i've only ever been to nyc as a visitor whereas seattle i know very well. but i do think there is a distinctive difference here in terms of local relationships with these foods, and maybe it's the complete lack of tourist appeal. teriyaki shops feel like they are shielded off from changes in the city, ungentrifiable. and i don't even think this locals-only vibe is even fair or good for teriyaki places. i know it's been tough for them in recent years. but it does give them a certain quality which is rather uncommon these days.

[@MostSimpleUserName]

@@magicjuand Very good point. Even as a longtime resident, you can easily miss teriyaki as a 'thing' we do in the way that pizza is so strongly linked to NY.

[@JKenjiLopezMain]

That is a good observation. I’d say Grillbirdnin west Seattle is “gentrified” teriyaki but the bill of them do feel very old school still.

[@BrotherCheng]

@@MostSimpleUserNameYeah I think teriyaki is one of those things that you either eat frequently or not at all as a Seattleite. I will admit I moved here a while ago now and still barely ate any teriyaki in Seattle (it's time to change that though!). Feels like it's the kind of thing that's there, you will see the stores all the time, but at the same time it keeps a low profile and isn't something that people talk about much (until this series lol).

[@MostSimpleUserName]

This series is an amazing representation of Seattle's teriyaki scene. Can't wait for you to end up trying Yoshino Teriyaki in First Hill. Not even really my favorite, but it was a staple at my old high school mostly for its quirky owner, Yoshino (whose name I'm pretty sure isn't Yoshino and who I'm pretty sure isn't even Japanese). But it's another interesting representation of how just going to your nearest Teriyaki spot can make a place thrive since its business model is effectively being a 2 minute walk from an all boys school and an owner who has a memorable personality every time a student walks in.

[@DesertFly3]

Still crazy to me that one of the most influential people in modern cooking lives very near me and goes to local teriyaki places! (Which are great, and I am shocked to learn are a local invention. They seem so universal!)

[@MrPootzen]

I moved to West Seattle recently and told myself I wouldn't go to Nikko's until you reviewed it. Happy to see it covered so soon (and that it's good!)

[@shadowfox30]

Grew up in Seattle and now live out of state. Was shocked when I first learned this style of teriyaki was a regional thing and not everywhere. Learned to cook it myself after missing teriyaki for so long. Luckily I make it back to the PNW every couple years and my first stop when I leave SeaTac is whatever teriyaki joint is the closest.

[@SeattleGari]

Love Nikko and go there often, agree on the salad, though even warm I still like it.

[@elynnelim]

Love Nikkos. My favorite was their spicy chicken teriyaki. Everytime I take my dog to the vet next door I have to get their teriyaki.. 😂

[@rellify3]

Wow didn't think you'd hit my local place so soon! Glad you liked it

[@scttcmrn]

Their kitchen exhaust fan shoots succulent, smokey grilled chicken aromas straight up into the parking lot of Jefferson Square (the little mall area he mentioned) and the surrounding area. I walk by here almost every day and it is so hard to resist the urge to indulge in some of that sweet juicy perfectly charred chicken ughhh I want some now

[@caseyfeskens]

So happy to see this series. Moving from Oregon to Tacoma in the 90s was an interesting cultural change and the pervasive Teriyaki of the Puget Sound was definitely part of that. So many good places, and it truly is a regional cuisine there. And yeah...wilted salad is just part of the experience, or warm cabbage.

[@triggerdog18]

This was my favorite place to go to in high school. We'd go all the time for lunch. Their katsu is fantastic

[@graves47]

Love that place, glad you like it!

[@maestrodiogenesbillionaire870]

0:45 across the sound in Bremerton there’s a place called Happy Teriyaki. I have gotten the breast meat here and they do it right. They add thyme to it unlike the thigh meat. The texture is not dry and nor that why the next morning.

[@woodardchuckleson3090]

This is a pretty fun little series.

[@adamwesterman8358]

YESSSS west seattle represent! Love this place and also Grillbird, which I imagine will make your list :)

[@CitadelX3]

While no longer in Seattle proper, Toshi's in Mill Creek is original Teriyaki shop that opened in 1976. Would be interested to see your take

[@JeremyMagic]

New favorite KZbin series

[@Katarjana]

Love this location and I have never went without a line. haha But it's always quick, well cooked, tastes good, and correct orders. Happy to hear it got high marks from you!

[@Darkenesis]

I love this series, and it also kills me, because Teriyaki just like... doesn't exist where I live in Philly. There's a Sarku Japan in a mall like half an hour away, but that's it. 😩 Living vicariously over here.

[@chirwub]

nobody does spicy teriyaki like nikkos! my fav spot in seattle

[@markriffey8899]

I am so old, I remember being able to pick up a generous portion of chicken Terriyaki on pill hill for $5.99.

[@tonyjolley832]

I used to go to that one sometimes when we lived in West Seattle a few years ago. I seem to remember it being pretty good.

[@smcgloth]

Kenji makes me miss Seattle

[@julianmichael2791]

Looks pretty damn good, generous portions

[@abbylynn8872]

I'm loving the teriyaki tour❤

[@badboybrianwwu]

I worked in West Seattle for about 10 years and Nikko was a regular lunch spot for my office. I can confirm they’re always busy during lunch.

[@AGhoreyshi]

Glad you made it to Nikko so early on in your quest! If you ever go again, the spicy chicken teriyaki there is my favorite and worth a try

[@PetRawk]

+1 on the spicy chicken

[@kraptastic333]

Thanks for the mcDLT reference. Challenging to have a wilty salad... Your vids are solid. Cheers from the seattle suburbs

[@jamminj8822]

Love Love Love Nikko!!! I can't say it's the best... but nice memories with my kids having good food there in that tiny restaurant. Sadly I remember reading that light rail will replace that whole complex... someone please tell me I'm wrong.

[@AgenSchmitz]

West Seattle representing!!!!

[@Phoenixz33]

I should move to Seattle...

[@yourvinylplug]

Jesus christ the voices in this video sound like someone was right next to me in my headphones

[@rockinmel1]

The most local shop to me - it's solid teriyaki, although their ability to service the number of customers they get at dinnertime without "forgetting" people is questionable.

[@Justin-wc4vt]

They have one in Kent too, used to go there a lot. So good! Try Bento World on 3rd & Lenora

[@CrossXhunteR]

Do you have a chicken teriyaki recipe published anywhere, or one that you have trust in from someone else?

[@JKenjiLopezMain]

In my book, The Wok I have a teriyaki sauce recipe that you can use with chicken.

[@BusterBladeify]

justonecookbook is also a great resource for any Japanese recipes, I've used it personally lots and seen Kenji reference it several times, in his miso soup video for example.

[@gamecockanon1542]

@@JKenjiLopezMainI have this book and don’t see it ???

[@dillopaintball]

I also had trouble finding it in The Wok. I believe he briefly discusses making a teriyaki sauce in the Broiled Miso Salmon video

[@JKenjiLopezMain]

Oh it might have been cut. Or maybe it was in my first book! I’ll publish it some time!

[@jackmjelinek]

I sure hope you can give Yoshinos a try. Its on Boren and Madison, a staple of all of us who went to O'Dea. The "O'dea half and half" will forever be my favorite teriyaki in Seattle.

[@edwardrowlands1971]

Hi Kenji! Is there any chance you could make a video cooking your "ideal" teriyaki on your main channel? Been loving the miniseries so far and would love to see your own take on teriyaki!

[@ryonmerrick3112]

goddamn that chicken looks INCREDIBLE

[@joycestone7826]

Wow, all my meals for my next trip to Seattle are figured out!

[@bL4KcfYREz]

looks great. teriyaki plus Kirkland does a cucumber salad with theirs and I love it. are they unique or does anywhere else do that?

[@khuoh]

I like the salad when it’s a bit wilted. 😂

[@timliddy1]

Wait, is that the star at the heart of our solar system shining on that teriyaki? Def the best stop so far whether the lettuce is wilted or not!

[@jb6859]

Try New Teriyaki & Wok just a few blocks away. It doesn't have the line out the door because it's not in Alaska Junction but it was my favorite when living in West Seattle.

[@zjohnson9809]

Kami's Teriyaki in Marysville, Wa. Try it! So good!

[@kentonbolte931]

I went through a Teriyaki tasting phase. The original Toshi's in Mill Creek is still my favorite.

[@jamiecallahan1911]

I love Seattle Teriyaki. Do you have a recipe for, or have you ever tried to recreate, that Teriyaki shop salad dressing?

[@davidmoore2699]

I'd be interested to see you review Teriking (718 Taylor Ave N) and Yummy Terriyaki (622 1st Ave N). both in LQA

[@averagezing]

Kenji, I'm trying to go out to eat more with friends (in seattle) when I haven't before, so thank you for continuing this channel! Especially as students on a budget, I love that you're mentioning price, too. Nitpicky talk is good when you're going to this many different places! Also, for $15, I do tend to hope for plates if sitting inside; I don't blame them for not doing that post-pandemic, but $15+ I do have that as a hope at least.

[@browngnome]

Keep going please!

[@nicholasmunoz3117]

Do you plan on coming up to try the OG spot in Mill Creek?

[@babybump]

Try Yaks on fourth in Sodo or I love teriyaki in Fremont

[@mm-mn3hg]

I think if they just used two smaller containers (ie half that clamshell), the difference in the plastic use would be negligible. Honestly, just making the salad optional would be the least wasteful route. I imagine plenty of people dont eat it even when it's fresh, much less slimy and wilted.

[@tonyjolley832]

Please go to Sunny Teriyaki on Emerson near Fisherman's Terminal and get the spicy chicken. It's my favorite.

[@Quilly1]

If you ever extend your tour to Portland, come to Du's Grill on Sandy. It is two to three times better than the second-best teriyaki I've ever had, whatever that is

[@blondeenotsomuch]

So is disposable cheaper than reusable? Some places charge an up fee for To go, and say it is ore expensive.

[@jhtv5757]

I've been told that lots of Teryaki spots in Seattle and its vicinity are actually ran by Korean families. Can you see some of the influence in the flavors of the food?

[@dero90]

You think Kenji is getting tired of having the same thing multiple times a week or is it just that good?

[@user-zr9hu3tf1y]

I just think he's a man on a mission

[@arthshaha]

How can I avoid my teriyaki sauce burning when cooking it with my chicken?

[@JKenjiLopezMain]

Don’t cook it with the chicken. Teriyaki sauce gets brushed on at the very end.

[@johnrpizzaguy]

No hard No, I don’t go to Hawaiian BBQ restaurants for takeout because they always put the hot food with the cold macaroni salad either next to or sometimes even on top (YUCK) so bottom line is I want everything cold in a separate container.

[@Jauny78]

3/3 now you have to stick with wearing patagonia as you try out new teriyaki places!

[@SecretCollage]

I love that you're reviewing commoner food.

[@rockinmel1]

Because it's affordable for the people doesn't mean it's not special. In Seattle you'd be surprised who you see in line for teriyaki chicken.

[@jrisner6535]

Seperate container is awkward, all together better

[@rv003yt]

for 16 they can afford another container

[@mrfroopy]

There has to be a solution to the plastic packaging issue. The earth simply cannot take buying something and 15 min later throwing out the packaging. There had to be a solution.

[@legaryd]

Why why why doesn’t chicken teriyaki exist outside of Seattle?!?

[@genjii931]

It does in some places. Teriyaki Madness is in Las Vegas, but I don't know if it's related to the one in Seattle. It's very good, FYI.

[@embodythejotun]

It does, idk where you're looking...

[@legaryd]

@@embodythejotun anywhere outside the west coast. Certainly it’s like 0% on the East coast besides a terrible entree at a sushi restaurant.

[@JKenjiLopezMain]

The teriyaki madness chain is unrelated to the Seattle spots.

[@JKenjiLopezMain]

It exists but not commmonly. It was invented in Seattle so makes sense that this city is its epicenter and highest concentration.

[@dapjpshha]

You deserve un-wilted salad in separate packing because since you uploaded this video, Taylor Swift likely took 20 flights on her private jet just for the heck of it.

[@Nuds1223]

My mom was traveling nurse and would pick up teriyaki for us as a treat some times. Nikko was one of her preferred ones. I would also recommend Sunny teriyaki in ballard and Teriyaki time at 145th and Greenwood.

[@cheef825]

Theres a lot frustrating about Seattle but the chicken teriyaki is something i miss desperately every time i move away 🥲