Rainier Teriyaki

"Despite the tragic death of its owner, Rainier Teriyaki stands proudly as a beloved pillar of its community. Co-owner Hansoo Kim was killed in January 2023 during a robbery and — after a couple of months — the restaurant reopened at the insistence of Hansoo’s younger brother, Eunsoo Kim. Today, Rainier Teriyaki continues to thrive and the Kim family still serves its community with a smile. The restaurant is often filled with regulars who are greeted by their first names. Portions are generous and prices honest—a hallmark of a beloved neighborhood teriyaki spot. Rainier separates itself with a made from scratch sauce that’s perfectly sweet, and every teriyaki order comes with extra teriyaki sauce and sambal chili to boot." - Joey Carreon

"Somehow, the world has collectively forgotten that teriyaki was invented in Seattle. Not us, though. After you remind everyone of this crucial fact, send them straight to Rainier Teriyaki—the gold standard. At this Mt. Baker counter, the chicken has a perfect smoky char and the sauce caramelizes around the juicy edges of every bite. But it’s the little things that make us love the restaurant even more. There's a fresh iceberg salad packed separately to avoid soggyness, ginger-specked gyoza with golden-blistered skin, and ramekins of extra salad dressing and teriyaki sauce given that you never need to ask for. Grabbing takeout is ridiculously fast without any drop in quality. But the straightforward counter-service setup with a few tables is comfortable for dining in, too, and lets you focus on the important job at hand—eating as much teriyaki as possible. Food Rundown photo credit: Nate Watters Chicken Teriyaki & Gyoza Mariah Carey has The Emancipation Of Mimi—Rainier Teriyaki has this. It’s a combo plate of all the things they do best. And while adding in the gyoza does mean less teriyaki than you would usually get, it's worth it. photo credit: Nate Watters Chicken Katsu Yes, the chicken teriyaki is the restaurant’s primary stunner, but they also know how to whip up a great chicken katsu. It has a featherlight breading that stays crisp even on a bed of hot rice. Chicken Breast Teriyaki This dish is tender and delicious, and makes us feel bad we ever referred to chicken breast as thighs’ “boring younger sister.”" - Kayla Sager-Riley