BIZNOTE: Opening day for Grillbird Teriyaki

(WSB photos)

11:39 AM: The most-anticipated West Seattle restaurant opening of 2020 – so far – is today. Thanks to commenter MomOf3Boys for the tip; we’ve just been over to Grillbird Teriyaki at 6501 35th SW to verify that it’s opening at noon.

We first reported back in October that Matt Parker, a restaurant-industry veteran, planned to turn the ex-Pizza Hut into a teriyaki joint.

Though today’s start is at noon, hours will be 11 am-9 pm weekdays, noon-9 pm weekends. No paper menu when we stopped in, so this pic is the best we can do to share a menu with you for now.

1:31 PM: Updated the top photo (standalone sign wasn’t up earlier) and added a photo of proprietor Parker. They’re already busy, so give them some time and patience if you plan to try soon!

ADDED SATURDAY: An update from proprietor Matt Parker:

As we continue to fine tune our process, and in order to give our customers the best food and experience, we are closed for lunch this weekend, and opening at 5:00 pm to 9pm. Additionally we will be closed this Monday for Presidents Day and then be open Tuesday normal business hours.

At this time we will not be taking phone or online orders until we work out some of these normal supply and demand issues. Give us a few weeks and will be good to go on multiple ordering and delivery options, but for now we want to focus our attention on our in-store guests.

54 Replies to "BIZNOTE: Opening day for Grillbird Teriyaki"

  • quiz February 13, 2020 (11:43 am)

    Can’t wait to try it. Hope they have white meat chicken! 

    • K February 13, 2020 (12:55 pm)

      I second this!!

      • west sea February 13, 2020 (8:19 pm)

        I hope they have dark juicy meat!

  • WSOwl February 13, 2020 (12:08 pm)

    Great news I can’t wait to try it out!

  • YouDontGnomeMe February 13, 2020 (12:14 pm)

    So very excited for this! Not that I need takeout for dinner tonight (lots of leftovers at home), but I may have to stop by tonight out of pure excitement. 

  • Amy February 13, 2020 (12:19 pm)

    So excited! I’m walking there for dinner!

  • westsidechef February 13, 2020 (12:24 pm)

    I think the West Seattle Turkey should hang out there! 

  • Virginia Piper February 13, 2020 (12:41 pm)

    Yeah!!! Need to go for dinner! Finally, something in High Point!

  • Airwolf February 13, 2020 (12:54 pm)

    had to google “katsu”

  • Evan February 13, 2020 (1:00 pm)

    YESSS!!! This is perfect!!!!

  • sillygoose February 13, 2020 (1:17 pm)

     Welcome to West Seattle, love the outside of your business really adds a lot of class to this corner, looking forward to seeing the inside. 

    • momof3boys February 13, 2020 (1:52 pm)

      agreed!  Such a nice addition to that corner!!

  • EH February 13, 2020 (1:26 pm)

    YES! I am so dang excited! I can WALK here for dinner!!! Congrats on opening!!!

  • dhg February 13, 2020 (2:04 pm)

    And GLUTEN FREE Teriyaki!!!!

    • dsa February 14, 2020 (5:21 pm)

      Where does it say Gluten free?

      • WSB February 14, 2020 (6:06 pm)

        On the menu. The sauce is gluten-free.

  • monroe1200 February 13, 2020 (2:25 pm)

    Awesome to see this, and can’t wait to try it? That being said, why would they leave the original floor tiles from Pizza Hut in there??/ That is disgusting, I worked there, I know how gross those floors got. 

    • Bryan February 26, 2020 (7:26 pm)

      Tile work is expensive! Guessing the landlord didn’t throw a bunch of TI money at this lease. 

  • Chris K February 13, 2020 (2:48 pm)

    Cultural appropriation.  I will not be going here.

    • Anthony February 13, 2020 (9:55 pm)

      @Chris K – lol! You clearly have not lived here very long.

    • Maria February 14, 2020 (9:08 am)

      Thanks for the chuckle, Chris. I took that as a joke :)

    • wscommuter February 14, 2020 (10:17 am)

      How so?  Please explain your thinking.  

    • Richard O February 14, 2020 (2:18 pm)

      cultural appropriation  = culture

    • J February 14, 2020 (5:51 pm)

      Was thinking the same thing, Chris.

      • CMT February 15, 2020 (9:25 am)

        Can you please elaborate?  I don’t understand the comment either in seriousness or as a joke.

        • Suds February 22, 2020 (12:06 pm)

          Gotta be a joke.

  • Matt P February 13, 2020 (3:16 pm)

    Awesome, the 21 and 128 buses stop here!

  • Tracey February 13, 2020 (3:25 pm)

    Welcome to the neighborhood, Matt & Grillbird!  Looking forward to visiting you soon.  And huge thanks for GF Teriyaki!!!!!!!!

  • Mmmm February 13, 2020 (3:36 pm)

    Anything else free besides the gluten?

  • Sherry February 13, 2020 (3:41 pm)

    • WSB February 13, 2020 (3:52 pm)

      The menu photos are already linked in the story but thanks. Did not have a food photo. Interesting to see eggplant katsu as a vegetarian option as well as tofu teriyaki!

  • waikikigirl February 13, 2020 (4:44 pm)

    Their sign kind of reminds me of the Partridge Family…I said “kind of” and we’ll try them after a few weeks, let them break theirselves in! 

  • Susan February 13, 2020 (5:33 pm)

    Welcome to the neighborhood! I just enjoyed the chicken and greens –  Un-freaking-believably amazing. Order the greens on the side because you will immediately want more. Trust me.

  • onion February 13, 2020 (5:37 pm)

    “The most-anticipated West Seattle restaurant opening of 2020 – so far”Really?? I look forward to giving them a try, and hope they meet or even exceed everyone’s expectations and are successful. But seriously, I hope there are a lot more enticing openings in West Seattle this year. We deserve a lot more restaurant love, IMO, which is not intended disrespectfully toward any of the great eateries we already have.

    • WSB February 13, 2020 (6:43 pm)

      Objectively judging by comments and other buzz, yes, really. So far. But that’s not just because of the food – also the location.

  • AJ February 13, 2020 (6:32 pm)

    Ooh, Hawaiian-style mac salad as a side option! Now I’m extra excited to try this place.

  • Food on Foot February 13, 2020 (7:12 pm)

    Thank you for coming to the neighborhood!  We can’t wait to try the restaurant- thank you for having plant based options.  So excited to have Grillbird and Nos Nos within walking distance!

    • Andros February 15, 2020 (5:26 pm)

      Hats off. And yes, Nos Nos is now my go to for coffee as well. 

  • HP Neighbors February 13, 2020 (7:31 pm)

    We had the chicken teriyaki and the eggplant katsu for dinner. Very tasty! Thanks, Matt!

  • Lola February 14, 2020 (8:44 am)

    My son brought it home for dinner. It was very good.  We had the Chicken & Steak.  It was very good.  I liked the salad with the dressing. 

  • John February 14, 2020 (10:58 am)

    Stopped by on walk back from Highpoint Library, looked at the menu, wasn’t busy, owner told me they were open til 9,  told him I would stop by later…returned at 7:30 to sign on door “SOLD OUT”. Congratulations to an overwhelming opening day.Will try again.

  • Mike February 14, 2020 (11:03 am)

    Any transparency or thoughtfulness around ingredient sourcing? Our family tries to steer toward meat and produce that is raised responsibly, seasonably, and sustainably. Makes for tastier meals and aligns with our ethics of eating. 

  • still open? February 14, 2020 (2:25 pm)

    I drove by today around noon and it looked like people couldn’t get in, the doors were locked. Was yesterday just a test run?

  • momosmom February 14, 2020 (3:31 pm)

    They probably weren’t expecting “us” to be so excited and happy to have their restaurant in the neighborhood and need to order more of everything so let’s all give them our patience to figure out what is needed to feed us hungry teriyaki monsters! :>)

  • WSB February 15, 2020 (1:14 pm)

    Added above – an update from proprietor Matt.

  • Wendell February 15, 2020 (8:04 pm)

    Does cultural appropriation mean only Japanese folks can make Teriyaki?  Sounds like I need to warm over some old haggis and turnips for dinner.

  • Mr. Chicken February 15, 2020 (11:40 pm)

    I hope they offer a bone-in chicken option. That’s actually the authentic way to prepare teriyaki. If not then it’s not worth anyone’s time. Eating the chicken bone is the best part.

  • West Coast Nomad February 18, 2020 (11:47 pm)

    Also understand and appreciate your point, Chris. I have Asian friends who owned a fish and chips place—but they were from England. And Caucasian friends who opened a delicious restaurant that served African  food—after they had lived in Africa for years. Nice if there’s at least a connection…  But it seems many equate teriyaki with being like burgers or pizza, with no cultural connection left. This kind of topic would make an interesting story in and of itself,  but not sure that kind of thing would be on the blog. 

  • Gebus February 19, 2020 (7:10 pm)

    I ate here today and it was really good so I left a Yelp review which I never bother doing. Had the chicken and pork and the chicken was juicy and charred and the pork was sooo good but not traditional teriyaki style, more like a soft pulled pork that at first seemed weird but after a few bites I loved it.
    The teriyaki culturally appropriate Nimbyrods of West Seattle will not like it so please do us all a favor and stay home. More for me!
    But seriously go support this place, owner was super nice and I want this place to succeed. I’m going back tomorrow for the chicken and steak!

  • Sdog February 20, 2020 (3:20 pm)

    Tried it today, was just ok nothing special as I was hoping for.  Got the tofu teriyaki, there was actually more broccoli than tofu and not a single broccoli floweret just thick hard stem chunks :(  I really wanted to love this place but won’t be going outta my way to give another chance.

  • Suds February 22, 2020 (12:13 pm)

    Because I’m of polish-French-English-Dutch descent (even though I’ve never been to any of those countries), but I’ve visited and immensely enjoyed my time in Japan, I’m not allowed to open a teriyaki restaurant if I wanted to without being accused of cultural appropriation? What kind of logic is that? I couldn’t open a poutine shack? Or frankfurter hut? Or gyros lodge? Even if I made damn fine gyros? 

Sorry, comment time is over.