All the Teriyaki in Seattle, #13: Shodai Teriyaki in the Central District

I’m eating at every teriyaki joint in Seattle. Join me!
Stop 13: Shodai Teriyaki
1123 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Seattle, WA 98122
My Teriyaki Map: www.google.com...
An ongoing list of my favorites so far:
All the Teriyaki in Seattle #3: Nikko Teriyaki
• All the Teriyaki in Se...
All the Teriyaki in Seattle #5: Rainier Teriyaki
• All the Teriyaki in Se...
All the Teriyaki in Seattle #11: I Love Teriyaki
• All the Teriyaki in Se...
#alltheteriyaki

[@kenma2287]

The soda loophole, love it

[@ploog1206]

Saying it as "all the Teriyaki" reminds me a bit of Ron Swanson. "I'm concerned what you heard was, 'I'm trying a lot of Teriyaki'. What I said was 'I'm trying *all* the Teriyaki in Seattle'"

[@SBEdits]

REAL

[@ktspree13]

💯💯💯💯💯

[@zestysams]

Man, I was a UPS driver in Seattle for 6 years, but live in Tucson now. Being a teriyaki enthusiast, I would try and stop wherever I could around town for lunch and ended up hitting a solid majority which is being made apparent by this series. With so many restaurants having been shuttered by the pandemic, I'm pleasantly surprised to see how many of my beloved teriyaki spots have held out. Thank you for the drip-fed memory lane trip, Kenji!

[@FormulaMeme]

Hey i noticed your comment. I just moved to Tucson to attend the U of A from the greater Seattle area. Are there any teriyaki places in Tucson that are good? These videos have been therapeutic for me too

[@zestysams]

@@FormulaMeme Tucson has some decent Japanese spots but none that do good teriyaki, at least in my findings. Your best bet is some of the Hawaiian joints that've been popping up, my recommendation being Solid Grindz.

[@squirrel_plays_fof4318]

He isn't kidding, all means all

[@b11nk]

Justice for Kenji's daughter, we can't let this man get away with the soda loophole!!

[@torsloke]

She’s keeping Tabs on his diet soda consumption.

[@DrewCarrollidk]

I don't even eat meat and I'm watching every one of these.

[@magicjuand]

i wonder if you'd consider going to an ethiopian restaurant or doing a tour, it's a little known and underrated aspect of seattle that there is a considerable ethiopian population and a lot of great ethiopian food. it's really fun food, you eat with your hands using injera which is like a kind of sourdough crepe made often made with teff flour. also great for vegetarian dishes, which could be a nice break after all that teriyaki chicken. i always go with a veggie combo which gives you a good variety and you can find one at almost every ethiopian place.

[@Opolopso]

there's sooo much good ethiopian food in seattle, esp in the central district

[@JKenjiLopezMain]

Oh, I love Ethiopian, and I’m really delighted that there’s so much good Ethiopian in Seattle. It’s true, it doesn’t get highlighted as much as some of Seattle’s other popular cuisines.

[@Hpsin22]

We've got a lot of good options in our neighborhood. Agelgil, across from fats, is good, and I know folks that swear by Wonder down on S Jackson. Definitely interested in seeing that take next!

[@SK-iq8wv]

I can’t articulate why I love watching Kenji try all the teriyaki joints that are literally an entire country away from me, but I do. I also made gyoza last night because I was experiencing an irrational level of jealousy, so there’s that. 😂

[@themodernshoe2466]

I think I like it because it's wholesome. There are 0 stakes, if it's good, nice, if it's bad, that's ok. And it's not some intense attention grabby Instagram food story where you're barraged with images and sounds. Also Kenji has a good attitude

[@YetAnotherWittyUserName]

@@themodernshoe2466Agreed. It also doesn't hurt that he gets into all the little details as to why he likes or dislikes something. "Oh, this chicken was only cut up before being served, so it stays juicy and the edges don't dry out."

[@ricismokes6154]

Would love an episode of your cooking show where you show how you repurpose the chicken and rice from these places. You’ve encouraged me to go on a mini teriyaki tour of my own. I’ve been trying out the local spots in my area, instead of just going to my usual spot. I’ve def had mixed results but it is nice to try new things. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@themostselfishman]

Hahaha, I love this whole series and subplots. Also, love the shoutout to grocery outlet! So many great finds there.

[@user-zr9hu3tf1y]

dude every time I see one I have always written it off as some worthless place not worth thinking about. Then I heard Kenji say "it's one of my favorite places to shop" and now Im planning a trip to the one near me, cause wtf, what an endorsement lol

[@themostselfishman]

@@user-zr9hu3tf1y So true! Many things won't seem that interesting but there are some real gems every time.

[@user-zr9hu3tf1y]

@@themostselfishman alright interesting. Ive never been to one, Im curious to see what one in the suburbs of Los Angeles is like lol

[@PaulDekkerHere]

Love the creative soda loophole! 😂

[@sethmiller7925]

Man I'd really love a review of the bike set up sometime. Seems like I notice something new and cool about it each time.

[@joeymcmanus3333]

The anticipation for the toshiyos review is killing me

[@MichaelQuann]

Best series on KZbin

[@Astric24]

Love vicariously eating through Kenji on my lunch breaks this Ramadan thank you

[@opolisk]

The soda arc continues

[@AliMoeeny]

let's see how it flys with "this is part of my job to drink soda" :D

[@lisakepinski4299]

Thanks for the inspiration, Kenji. I made chicken teriyaki for our lunch today. Never made it before and I very rarely eat animals. It was delicious. One can only watch this delightful series so much before the subconscious message takes over “eat chicken teriyaki”. I will make with crispy tofu or tofu puffs next time for comparison.

[@jdolbeer]

Just a heads up - you pronounced it like "Easel", a thing you paint on, and it's "E-Zell," rhymes with Dell.

[@fignuts14]

Had to pause and scroll the comments immediately. lol "Eh-Zell" not "easel".

[@majesticpbjcat7707]

Yeah I was thinking the exact same thing 😂

[@jessicacarver3104]

Their spicy katsu chicken is amazing! Having it for lunch today now

[@thelionofgod]

Loving the series, Kenji. Really hope you'll give us a few different variations of your own homemade chicken teriyaki at the end to round things off.

[@squadforlife4654]

Conspiracy theory: Kenji is going to open his own teriyaki popup

[@nic2819]

I drive by this place all the time on my way to Teryaki Bowl from the earlier episode and wondered if it’d be worth trying, thanks for reviewing them back to back.

[@drtomsen2796]

Thanks for the Pepsi review as someone who can’t get Pepsi in his local supermarket, this really helps identyfying whether or not I should take the risk and go to another supermarket to get it. Please continue to talk about the texture and flavour of more sodas so I can finally try other supermarkets and sodas, it helps a lot.

[@trpars4323]

It’s a cool loophole until the kid does the old uno reverse and soda is now an experiment for science class. Maybe that’s just my daughter…

[@elsieshipman7649]

Shodai gyoza are the bomb, so pleased to be validated on that point. You don't dare miss Choice Deli & Grocery on 8th in Ballard though! Best teriyaki in Seattle. Looking forward to that video dropping

[@NineteenEightyFive]

Part of my job 😂 enjoying this series!

[@jpalarchio]

Love this series but I'm really hoping by episode 100 that we get a video of Kenji's version of Teriyaki at home.

[@ognimimerkki]

Love these!

[@AtrusOfMyst]

I prefer chicken on top of my rice. But understand why one would want it separated. Good stuff.

[@jerimiah593]

Excitedly waiting for Toshios 😊

[@davidnakamura5684]

I'm really enjoying your teriyaki series. I'm wondering if your restaurant list include Manna Teriyaki or Nasai Teriyaki both on Lake City Way. And while I understand keeping your review to Seattle, the man who I read originated teriyaki in Seattle now has his teriyaki business in Mill Creek. I think it would be interesting to see how the original compares to all of the others.

[@whysitthat3515]

Random question, but do you ever have trouble filming inside of restaurants and other establishments? I’m sure it depends on the place

[@Seb2323]

Please keep letting us know how each restaurant's soda tastes! Everyone knows that's a crucial part of the Teriyaki experience and, without them, the series would feel incomplete.

[@dagvilledelavigo]

Powell Barnett Park, aka Acid Trip Park, is nearby. It may not necessarily qualify as "beautiful" but it's not NOT beautiful. One time in 1993 or 1994 we were sitting there skipping class and consuming a marijuana cigarette when a car rolled up with ALL THREE of the Garfield High School security guards inside. Pam rolled down her window and yelled at us - "What are you all doing here? Get back to school!" We stared at them for a second, and then someone yelled back - "What are YOU ALL doing here? Who's doing security at the school?" She quickly rolled up her window and drove away without another word and they never mentioned it to anyone. THAT was beautiful. Shout out to all Bulldogs.

[@Unch0sen1]

Holy shit I can’t believe you went to Shodai I used to get the chicken dinner for myself and the burger for my wife. Great stuff!

[@algaeadmirer]

Sam Smith Park is just up the street for future teriyaki picnics. This place was near where we lived for a few years and is just ok.

[@user-zr9hu3tf1y]

Lol "teriyaki picnic" sounds like some kind of vintage Seattle tradition or something (as someone who knows nothing about Seattle)

[@JKenjiLopezMain]

Sam smith is a mile and a half from this location.

[@algaeadmirer]

@@JKenjiLopezMainI always think of it as close since I used to walk to it when I lived in the neighborhood. Powell Barnett is closer but it's small and not as picturesque

[@davidbenatar6935]

🎶grocery outlet bargain market. you never know what you're gonna get. 🎶 if you know you know

[@ewrooney]

Kenji with the big brain soda tech. Lol

[@HireMichaelEverson]

I have to say, the Ray-Bans mic is a lot better than the GoPro mic.

[@Im49th]

I'm just here for the soda at this point

[@timthompsondp]

Hot damn. Kenji is only gonna eat teriyaki for lunch for the next 7 months. Here for it.

[@cadkoger]

It’s a good thing he’s doing all this biking. All that rice and sweet sauce.

[@alfredovitenteiii3612]

Thankfully, it looks like he doesn’t eat it all. In another video he shows what he does with the leftovers.

[@user-zr9hu3tf1y]

​@@alfredovitenteiii3612didnt he say in the first video that he brings it home for his family a lot of the time too

[@JacobLeemovingfwd]

Powell Barnett park is just down past Cherry!

[@headygz]

kenji doin the lords work

[@TheTeddyWG]

1 soda a week is pretty extreme... 1 per day seems more reasonable 🙃

[@squerry]

Nice bike! I love the handlebar mitts. Rad?

[@Spherical3]

I hope Kenji tries a spot east of the lake again. There's GOT to be something better than Toshi's out there.

[@genjii931]

Well, Nasai is available everywhere. My favorite of all-time was in downtown Bellevue, but it didn't survive the pandemic. I'm still heartbroken over that even though I don't live in the PNW anymore. I still wonder what happened to the family that ran it; they were lovely.

[@ktchpmn]

Do you have a good receipe for the salad dressing that comes with teriyaki? I'm in Seattle but I never get enough with my orders!

[@j.p2115]

Been loving the series! Will you eventually post your version of a Seattle style teriyaki sauce?

[@NeiltheDeal]

A little off topic, but you should try Renton Bistro. Vietnamese food is good there.

[@peraltarockets]

Cabbage is a 👍 from me.

[@ginnyweatherbee7941]

I love the loophole 😂😁

[@theodorebralla]

Sounded like BWV 140 on the piano 😉

[@jackrichards3720]

Hey Kenji, what do you do with all your leftovers? Have you just been eating teriyaki for dinner and lunch for days on end, have you had your family eat them, or do you give it to someone in need? Just curious

[@Gogogordy1]

Is Happy Teriyaki still around? I frequented their Lacey store back in the day (the day when I lived in WA) and they had locations in SeaTac and Tukwila then too. Just curious to see how that shop would rate with you?

[@fl3782]

munch with intense

[@captcurt18]

You should check out Grillbird in West Seattle.

[@normp3273]

At what temperature would you fry Gyoza?

[@drtomsen2796]

Reasonable is one of the best and worst critiques he ever dropped

[@user-zr9hu3tf1y]

id bet like 5 bucks that with the dumplings, rice, and slaw being that good, plus reasonable chicken, this place makes top 5 in the final ranking

[@drtomsen2796]

@@user-zr9hu3tf1y ok I would bet against that, sir

[@FightingIrishFan91]

I'd love Kenji to review a Seattle Teriyaki burger

[@ulrikbaltzer8020]

I don’t know what everyone is thinking but hasn’t all the teriyaki been kind of mid this far? Just one I can remember got an above average reception. The suspense is killing me anticipating when he strikes teriyaki gold.

[@Opolopso]

as someone who's love of Seattle teriyaki knows no bounds, the number of these places that genuinely amazes is pretty low, but even underwhelming teriyaki is pretty good

[@JKenjiLopezMain]

I specifically said I’m *not* ranking them as I don’t believe in ranking unquantifiable things. However if you look at the description I’ve kept an ongoing list of my favorites thus far.

[@benshew]

Their spicy chicken is delicious.

[@charlotteschoen4167]

Do Toshio’s on rainier next!

[@hankmt4819]

Mlk park - south like 200 yards dawg

[@gamecockanon1542]

Can we get a teriyaki recipe for all of us that don’t live in Seattle?!

[@etherdog]

I don't think you mentioned the price, but their website has the combo priced at $16.49. In 2017 the price was $8.99.

[@genjii931]

Yeah I'm ] gobsmacked at the the prices at these places now. I moved away in 2017.

[@welliamism]

5:00 you'll have to let us know if this "loophole" flies with her

[@svalbard01]

Where'd you get that jacket? It's cool.

[@JKenjiLopezMain]

I'm not sure! I've had it for ten years at least.

[@MCWilson]

Which episode of _It's Always Teriyaki in Seattle_ is your favorite?

[@MrWuggles]

Kenji you’re a brave man for biking on MLK best of luck

[@aqumuffins]

I’m glad you finally found some good dumps.

[@Topsecret888...]

Those dumplings are frozen straight from a grocery packets......how can they be called "fresh"? You should know that already. And the chicken looked heavily "under" charred........colors off.

[@mitchblahman13]

EASEL'S? Are we in the same Seattle?

[@JKenjiLopezMain]

Am I pronouncing it wrong? I think I’ve only ever seen a written.

[@fabricator.cap.hill.seattle]

@@JKenjiLopezMain The "zell" is pronounced like in gazelle, from what I've heard from anyone else.

[@majesticpbjcat7707]

It's most commonly pronounced like Eh-Zell's, but I've heard many say it like Ee-Zell's over the years.

[@jacobdunn6677]

Ohana teriyaki Lynnwood

[@ediba1267]

ATTEMPT #12 REQUESTING DU'S TERIYAKI

[@zaron551]

i still call it rainbow though i guess they don't use the rainbow anymore

[@tubulartuber]

Easels

[@divadmas]

Impressive you got 66 comments in four hours from around the country for seattle teriyaki joints. While these are interesting, and I get you've got a the me going here, I prefer targeted reviews in specific neighborhoods so I can check out reviews if I'm passing thru.