While I'm not completely certain what makes the perfect spicy teriyaki dish, I'm most definitely sure I know what doesn't. In the last 4 years of searching for that perfect dish, I've found that the chicken is often too rubbery, rice is too mushy, sauce is bland, lacking veggies, and I usually feel sick to my stomach after clearing the dish, which results in a food comatose. A few months ago, my friend Tal picked me up from work to grab a bite somewhere new in University District, before hanging up the phone he spoke three words, "Don't disappoint me." I wouldn't consider myself a people pleaser, but if I'm going to recommend somewhere new to try, it damn well better be good. After a long search on Yelp, I found the restaurant with the highest rating and greatest number of reviews.
I finally decided on Teriyaki 1st, a supposedly small, three table restaurant, tucked away in the corner of a run down shopping center on 51st and University Way. Most reviewers claimed that they need to eat here once a week or they can become irate, and some will even come back to this little hole after moving away, just to get their fix. Additionally, the most frequently recommended dish was the spicy chicken teriyaki. I was sold. We excitedly entered the petite restaurant and ordered the spicy chicken. I also noticed on the side wall that we could add broccoli and onions for a nominal fee, perfect!
When they brought out our dishes, I began salivating. The chicken was nicely seared, crunchy, juicy and well seasoned. The broccoli was crisp and delectable and the sauteed onions were perfect. These extras helped to add a second dimension to this simple dish, something I had been searching for for so long. The rice was soft and fluffy and the lettuce was, well, lettuce. What was even better, immediately after finishing my plate and the subsequent hours that followed in the lab, I felt great. Since then, I've visited this little joint a number of times, even twice in one week. Everyone I've brought with me has also been pleasantly surprised. If you're in the area and looking for a great chicken teriyaki dish, I highly recommend this place.
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