West Seattle, Washington
21 Sunday
We reported a week ago that In Pizza We Crust was awaiting its final inspection – and now it’s announced a grand-opening date. Proprietor Stephanie Tran tells WSB her wood-fired pizza restaurant will open Wednesday, September 24, at 11 am. We first told you a year and a half ago about the longtime food truck purveyor’s plan for the ex-Swinery space at 3207 California SW. Stephanie says the hours will be 11 am-10 pm daily except Sundays noon-8 pm, Mondays closed: “Once we’ve been open a bit we may adjust the hours based on the community.”
MONDAY REPORT: Thanks to Todd for the tip. If you’re thinking about pizza for dinner, Pagliacci isn’t available as an option, unless you head off-peninsula. The West Seattle restaurant is closed through Wednesday, according to the Pagliacci website, for the installation of new ovens. (We have an inquiry out to see if the new ovens will increase capacity or otherwise affect operations.)
TUESDAY UPDATE: Pagliacci’s COO Jeff Woodruff, a West Seattleite, replied:
West Seattle will be our 7th store to transition to the new ovens. The closure lasts 3 days so we’ll be back open for lunch on Thursday the 11th.
Cooking hand-tossed pizza directly on stone is fundamental to what we do and for 46 years we’ve used a basic gas-fired stone deck oven to accomplish this. While the quality meets our expectations, these ovens are not easy to use.
In recent years we’ve discovered a conveyor stone deck oven that it easier for our team to use, produces a more consistent bake at a faster pace and utilizes less gas. It’s been a big investment but one that benefits both our employees and our customers.
(WSB file photo)
30 food and drink purveyors, all in one place! Your one chance this year to savor the lineup is the Taste of West Seattle, a benefit for the West Seattle Food Bank, now just under three weeks away – Thursday, September 25, at The Hall @ Fauntleroy (9131 California SW). It’s usually a sellout, so now’s the best time to buy your ticket, and in case you need some help deciding, the WSFB has provided the full list of participants, including notes about who’s new to the Taste this year:
Taste of West Seattle: 20 Days Away!
The Taste of West Seattle is just under three weeks out, and tickets are going fast! General Admission ($75) and VIP ($125) are both still available. VIP guests enjoy early entry at 5:30 pm, exclusive seating lounges, and a special WSFB supporter gift. (General-admission entry time is 6 pm) Guests will experience live music from local legend Jim Page, plus raffles and games with prizes from neighborhood businesses — all while sampling from an incredible lineup of local vendors and voting for your favorite across 5 categories. Every ticket supports the West Seattle Food Bank’s vital work to keep our neighbors fed, clothed, and housed. 21+ only. bit.ly/TasteofWS2025
A Butter Place
Birdhouse
Cactus
Darby Wine
Dolcetta Artisan Sweets
Elliott Bay Brewing Company
Falafel Salam
Ghostfish Brewing Company
Keautious Bakin and Kakin – new to the Taste
Ku Mana’s – new to the Taste
La La’s Lemonade – new to the Taste
The Locöl Kitchen and Bar
Mama Row’s Caramel Cakes – new to the Taste
Margie’s Café at the Center for Active Living
Mission Cantina
Molly Moon’s Ice Cream – new to the Taste
Mom’s Micro Gardens – new to the Taste
The Neighborhood – new to the Taste
Nola’s Events
NW Texas BBQ
Papa Tony’s Hot Sauce
Peninsula Soul Food – new to the Taste
The Roll Pod – new to the Taste
Ringa
Spruce Hill Winery – new to the Taste
T2 Cellar
Three 9 Lounge – new to the Taste
Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes
Viscon Cellars
West Seattle Grounds
12 years after Panda Express first considered Westwood Village, and two years after they got serious about it, the fast-American-Chinese-food chain is finally hours away from opening. We heard tonight from their PR team and it seems both this banner …
… and the Thursday grand-opening announcement are correct. The company says the WWV Panda Express is soft-opening tomorrow (Wednesday, September 3) and having the gala grand opening on Thursday (ribbon-cutting, T-shirts for the first 88 in line, music from the Japanese taiko-drum band Inochi Taiko). Ongoing hours will be 10:30 am to 10 pm.
P.S. If you’re not a frequent WWV visitor and don’t know this offhand – PE is just north of the QFC, on the east side of the center, where Pet Pros used to be.
1 PM: As reported here yesterday, the new Wendy’s in White Center was expected to open today. And a texter reports it’s indeed open, saying they’ve got “Frosties in hand.” If you missed earlier coverage, it’s at 16th SW/SW 102nd.
3:05 PM: We finally got someone over to verify and grab a couple photos:
No permanent signage outside so far but lots of banners and balloons. Here’s what the franchisee’s spokesperson told us last week the hours would be, once they opened:
Pick-Up Window:
Sunday–Thursday: 6:30 AM – 1:00 AM
Friday & Saturday: 6:30 AM – 2:00 AM
Dining Room: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM (All days)
When Il Nido, the restaurant at the landmark Alki Homestead/Fir Lodge, announced they had to close temporarily for emergency repairs, the proprietors said they hoped to reopen Tuesday, September 2 – and they’re announcing today that it will indeed happen on schedule:
Il Nido is happy to announce that we’ll be re-opening for dinner service on Tuesday, September 2nd at 4 pm! We have completed our repairs and are now in the process of getting the space back in order and preparing to welcome our guests once again. Although this interruption was unexpected, our staff and community came together to help us overcome this challenge.
The outpouring of support from our guest community was nothing short of remarkable. For example, when we announced our closure, so many of you immediately reached out to buy gift cards. Your generosity truly made our reopening possible and touched us deeply.
We want to give special thanks to:
· Our faithful guests for their incredible support during our closure, especially those who purchased gift cards, sent us supportive messages, or stopped by to see us in person.
· The West Seattle Community for rallying behind us and reminding us what it means to be part of something bigger. West Seattle … Best Seattle!
· Petr and his crew who rebuilt our floor.
· The entire Il Nido staff, ‘The Crows’.
· Our Fir Lodge owners: Matt Schilling and the Schilling Family.
· Scott Grigg for helping me paint parking stripes and varnishing tables.
· Eddia A. from Bee’s Plumbing.
· Bill from AutoChlore.
· Rich Barrientos & Travis Chikamura from Electrical Systems Solutions.We truly cannot wait to welcome everyone back for dinner — you are the heart of Il Nido, and we are deeply grateful for each of you.
Cameron Williams & Chef Katie Gallego
Owners & Partners
Il Nido Restaurant
If you’re relatively new to West Seattle, you might not know about the Alki Homestead/Fir Lodge’s extensive history, including the years of uncertainty over whether it could be saved and restored following a catastrophic fire that closed it for a decade – our coverage is archived here (newest to oldest).
Thanks to the readers who tipped us about that new “LEASED” sign in The Junction (including the person who sent the photo). Permit filings indicate Dave’s Hot Chicken, an international chain with one Seattle location so far, seeks to add its second in the heart of “downtown West Seattle.” According to permit records with the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections, a new Dave’s restaurant is intended for part of the former Haymaker Restaurant space at 4706 California Ave SW. The Haymaker closed in May of 2024 after five years in business. Preliminary permit records show the space would be divided between Dave’s and another tenant. (This industry-publication article notes they try to limit their restaurants’ size.)
The menu is focused around fried chicken tenders with varying levels of spice, along with sides and shakes. The Seattle location, on Capitol Hill at 12th and Pike, is owned by the Keshap Group, a California-based franchisee listed on the Junction documentation too. The group had already announced plans for new locations this year in Redmond and Tacoma, with others in Puyallup and Federal Way next year, but hopes for a West Seattle location had not been previously announced.
Dave’s Hot Chicken was started by four friends as a street food vendor in the Los Angeles area in 2017. Celebrity investments followed a few years later; a majority share of the company was sold to a private-equity firm this past June. Dave’s has more than 300 franchise locations, mostly in the US, with some in Canada and Dubai.
(WSB/WCN photo, last week)
Just in from a spokesperson for the Wendy’s franchisee that’s about to open a White Center restaurant in the ex-KFC/A&W at 16th/102nd:
Opening Delay: The restaurant will not open this coming Friday due to final preparations.
New Target Opening: Aiming for Labor Day.
Exterior Work: Pennants will be installed Thursday, and most outside work will be completed—may appear as if it’s already open.
Two special events this week at Morgan Junction restaurant/bar The Neighborhood (6503 California SW) – first, tonight, through 9 pm, they have a pop-up with Crave. The Neighborhood is usually closed on Monday nights but is open tonight especially for the pop-up. (Free appetizers for diners with reservations – check here.) Then this Wednesday night, it’s the monthly dine-out benefit night, which they’ve been doing the last Wednesday of every month. This week the beneficiary is Alki Beach Academy, the day-care center in the path of light rail. The Neighborhood will donate 15 percent of all sales – in-store and online, food and beverage – that night (August 27) to ABA. And a side note in the announcement we received of the aforementioned events: “We have redone our menu, which will be launched tonight! Some restructuring was done, we added some things, and removed some others, so come on by and check it out!”
When last we checked in with Panda Express regarding their yet-to-open Westwood Village restaurant, they were hoping for an early August opening, barring construction delays. That’s come and gone, so we asked about their revised timeline. A company spokesperson replied, “Our opening date keeps shifting … The newest Seattle location now has a tentative opening date sometime the week of Sept. 8.” It’s been in the works for almost two years.
Il Nido, the restaurant that operates in the landmark Alki Homestead/Fir Lodge building at 2717 61st SW, has just announced a temporary closure for emergency repairs. Here’s the announcement they sent us to share with you:
Dear Il Nido guests: We are closing Tuesday, August 26th to Monday, September 1st for emergency repairs to our kitchen floor. Please pardon this inconvenience, it is always our pleasure to welcome guests, but this is an unavoidable occurrence. We are hoping to reopen on Tuesday, September 2nd.
If you would like to help us reopen Il Nido by purchasing a Gift Card online, we would love your support! Your purchase will cover costs for labor, food, and beverages as we finish repairs. Once we reopen, redeem your Gift Card for dinner with us. Despite being busy, our margins are slim and this closure is financially challenging. We aim to complete repairs quickly without borrowing money. Many Seattle restaurants have closed recently, highlighting industry challenges. The Il Nido team values being part of the West Seattle community and wants to keep welcoming you to the historic Fir Lodge cabin.
Cameron Williams & Chef Katie Gallego
Il Nido Restaurant at the Alki Homestead
Owners-Partners
(The hard-hat crows are a reference to the restaurant’s logo, which includes a crow; “Il Nido” is Italian for “the nest.”)
(Added: WSB/WCN photo, today)
As we first reported in June, the former KFC/A&W at 16th/102nd in White Center is becoming a Wendy’s. A spokesperson for the franchisee just sent word of the opening date. From the announcement:
The new Wendy’s location, situated on the corner of 16th Avenue and SW 102nd Street, is scheduled to open on Friday, August 29, bringing Wendy’s signature “Fresh, Famous Food” to even more guests in the community.
The new restaurant is designed with the modern customer in mind, featuring:
-Digital ordering kiosks
-Dedicated mobile and delivery pick-up points
=An enhanced pick-up window experience …In addition to serving great food, Wendy’s proudly supports the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption®, which works to dramatically increase the number of adoptions of children waiting in North America’s foster -care system.
Dave Thomas was the founder of Wendy’s, which started in 1969. The franchisee that will operate the White Center restaurant, WTC Ventures, has more than 90 other Wendy’s, including the one in Burien.
If you’ve passed by Indofusion (4719 California SW) in The Junction and noticed the doors appear open … the restaurant is partly open now, full opening planned later this week. We last checked in on the new restaurant/bar in April (it’s owned by the Virk family, which also operates Maharaja Cuisine of India a bit further north). The kitchen is operating right now and serving food for takeout (Toast) and delivery (Uber Eats now, GrubHub and DoorDash “soon”). But you can’t dine in, yet. They’ll open the doors so “folks can come in, look around, and check out the place” starting around 2 pm Wednesday (August 6). Then they’ll fully open starting at 10:30 am Friday (August 8). Hours for starters, as of Friday, will begin at 10:30 am seven days a week, closing at 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays, midnight Sundays through Thursdays. Dine-in (or drink=in) is 21+ only. You can check out the menu online through the aforementioned services; we also took photos of the paper menu currently posted out front – see them here and here.
Two local businesses are inviting you to upcoming anniversary celebrations:
DINNER PARTY FOR MIOPOSTO ADMIRAL’S TENTH: Mioposto in Admiral (2139 California SW; WSB sponsor) has hit a milestone, 10 years in business, and invites you to celebrate next Tuesday night:
Join us at Mioposto Admiral on Tuesday, August 5th from 6-9 pm for food and drink specials and live music from Shaun Crawford from 6-8 pm! You may have seen Shaun gracing the stage with local acts RUB, Stephanie Anne Johnson, Bearaxe, Acid Tongue, and many more. Now you can catch him solo and vibe to his unique mix of soul, indie, and southern charm. Come bask in the sun, raise a glass, and help us celebrate 10 great years.
The restaurant opened a decade ago in a space that had previously housed a longtime antique shop.
SWEET 16 FOR CHERRY CONSIGNMENT: Also in August, proprietor Nyla Bittermann is celebrating another year in business for Cherry Consignment – 16 in all!
That photo is from our visit to the shop on the north edge of The Junction, 4142 California SW, two years ago, when she was celebrating 14 years in business. Now it’s Cherry’s “Sweet 16” and the party’s on Saturday, August 9. Nyla’s invitation: “We’ll have all the fun things to ring in sixteen years, with snacks, sips, steals, and surprises. Thank you for making this happen – come let us celebrate you!”
A week and a half ago, we reported that the reason for the unexplained temporary closure of Gyro Heroes (4111 SW Admiral Way) was remodeling. Today they’re open again, and we stopped by for a photo. They told us they’ve done all the work they planned on, so they’re not expecting any more closures. Their hours are 11 am-9 pm daily.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Lucky Sushi is rolling toward North Delridge.
We discovered this thanks to a reader who texted about seeing that window sign somewhere on the east side of a mile-plus stretch. We’ve always loved a good mystery, so we set out to narrow it down. Within 24 hours we were talking by phone with proprietor Mikko Yamaguchi about the plan for the south space at 5216 Delridge Way SW [map].
He already runs Lucky Sushi at 5020 Rainier Avenue S., opened a half-year ago, and says he’s had many orders from West Seattle, so he says the expansion seems natural, observing that the sushi market here doesn’t seem maxed out. This is a relatively small space in a new live/work building, so he’ll offer takeout and delivery (no dine-in), focused on sushi and boba tea.
Yamaguchi expects to keep prices reasonable with relatively low operating costs (for example, he’ll be most of the labor), plus the pickup option will save you what he observes are ever-rising delivery fees. But, capitalizing on another recent trend, he plans to be open late, looking to start with hours noon to 11 pm, seven days a week. (He says all his previous restaurants have been open late, and that’s contributed to their success.)
This is sushi with another twist. He says the inspiration for the name “Lucky Sushi” comes from his background setting up sushi bars in small casinos/card rooms. He plans to have a wheel for customers to spin after orders of a certain level, and they’ll have a chance to “win” something – a discount on their current or future order, for example.
Also in keeping with the theme, the classic paw-up “lucky cat” will be part of the decor (see the photo above), which he says will overall be the “cutest” sushi shop you’ve ever seen.
Back to the food – he promises vegetarian and vegan options, which he says are popular at the Rainier Avenue location. But the most popular menu item at all his previous restaurants has been the “Chef’s Roll,” which he says includes shrimp tempura, crab, seared salmon, spicy mayo, green onion, and more.
Now, the big question – how soon will Lucky Sushi open? As with all new businesses, that depends in large part on inspections and permits. Yamaguchi is hoping for mid-September.
Perhaps the timeline will work out; he says he’s long been “lucky in life.”
SIDE NOTE: The space next door to the future Lucky Sushi is still available for lease; contact broker Susi Musi if you’re in the market (she’s also representing office and café spaces in the new Keystone development in South Delridge).
Thanks for the tips. After a “soft open” last night – described by reader Tina as “friendly, beachy vibes and food” – Seaside Grill opened today in the Alki spot abruptly vacated by Locust Cider back in December. It promises “sports, soups, sandwiches, spirits, salads,” with hours listed as 11 am-midnight Fridays and Saturdays, 11 am-10 pm Mondays through Thursdays and Sundays. (Friends who went tonight report the menu includes burgers too.) According to the online liquor license application, the team behind it includes the people who long operated Pegasus Pizza a short distance east (where Lotus on the Beach opened last year).
Several readers have asked if we know why Gyro Heroes in The Admiral District has been closed for a few days, with a sign in the window declaring that it’s just “temporarily” closed. When we went by the first time, no one was there to ask, but just now, we found crews at work, and learned that this is a remodeling closure – they’re redoing a lot of what’s inside, even the flooring. They hope to reopen within a week. The restaurant opened almost seven years ago in what had previously been a Baskin-Robbins.
That’s a Panda Express-provided image of what the chain calls its “Panda Home” interior concept, and that’s what they say you’ll find when their Westwood Village location opens. The image was part of a reply we received from a company spokesperson today, after our latest inquiry about their opening timeline. It’s going on two years since we first reported Panda Express was going into the former Pet Pros space, and that in turn was 10 years after a different Westwood Village proposal that was ultimately scrapped. The company spokesperson tells us today, regarding when they’ll open, “We’re currently looking at the first week of August (pending any construction delays of course). Once open, this location will employ nearly 40 people and boast the latest Panda Home design. Inside, customers will find a distinctly American Chinese design that bridges the East and the West with red lanterns, a moon gate portal and vibrant Chinatown signs.” The spokesperson notes that this is one of three stores they’re opening in Western Washington in the next few months; the other two are in Silverdale and Lake Stevens. The nearest one to West Seattle is in Burien.
We noticed while traveling Alki Avenue a few days ago that the awning signage was up for Do Si Korean BBQ, taking over the space vacated by Duke’s. So we’ve been working to reach the new restaurant’s operators to find out how soon they plan to open. We talked briefly this afternoon with managing partner Brian Hoang, who tells WSB that some “mechanical work” remains before they can get all the permits they need, so he is now expecting to open “late July, early August.” Do Si KBBQ already has a location in Kent. As we first reported three months ago, the menu will be similar to what Do Si offers there, but with a bigger beverage selection because this location has a bigger bar. If you haven’t had KBBQ before, it’s centered on grilling your own meat at the table
The West Seattle Food Bank‘s Taste of West Seattle is three months away but there are three ways to become part of it now – including one, if you’re a food/beverage purveyor, with a deadline today! Here’s the announcement:
Now Signing Up Restaurants for the 2025 Taste of West Seattle!
Early Bird Perk Deadline: June 27 (today!)
West Seattle’s most beloved neighborhood food festival, The Taste of West Seattle, returns on Thursday, September 25, 2025 at The Hall at Fauntleroy — and restaurant sign-ups are now open!
This annual community event brings together hundreds of food lovers to celebrate the local flavors that make West Seattle shine — all while raising critical funds for the West Seattle Food Bank.
This year, restaurants that sign up by June 27 (today!) will receive a special early-bird perk:
– Placement on the official event poster
– Extra promotion in advance press, email campaigns, and social media“When local restaurants join The Taste of West Seattle, they’re not just showing off what makes their food special — they’re stepping up for their neighbors,” said Robbin Peterson, Development Director. “This event raises critical funds to help West Seattle families stay nourished, clothed, and housed. It’s a delicious way to do real good, right here at home.”
Why Participate?
-No booth fee to participate & you’ll get to meet hundreds of potential customers
-You like winning! “Best Taste” trophies will be awarded in 5 categories
-Your support directly fights hunger and homelessness in our communitySupport the Cause as a Community Sponsor
The Taste of West Seattle is also seeking community sponsors to help bring this beloved event to life. Sponsorships are a great way to show your company’s local pride, gain visibility, and make a direct impact on West Seattle families. Opportunities start at just $300, making it accessible to small businesses, teams, and organizations that want to give back. Email robbin@westseattlefoodbank.org or visit the WSFB website to learn more.
Tickets On Sale Now!
Tickets for the event are now available to the public here.
Rain (we’re supposed to eventually see some) or shine, the weekend’s almost here, and we have two Saturday food notes:
MOLLY MOON’S GRAND OPENING: As of mid-afternoon the signage wasn’t up yet, but rainbow bunting was hung over the windows and workers were behind the counter at West Seattle’s new Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream shop in the ex-Cupcake Royale spot on the northeast corner of California/Alaska. (Watching the live camera for a while, we’ve also seen people coming out with ice cream, so MAYBE a soft-open?) As announced earlier this month, they’re planning to officially open to the public after a 3 pm Saturday ribboncutting, with free scoops for kids 12 and under until 5 pm. This will be the second ice-cream shop to open in West Seattle in less than two months, after Ben & Jerry’s on Alki.
FREE PIZZA: To celebrate the summer solstice (which arrives at 7:42 pm tonight), Pagliacci is offering free slices (no age restriction for this giveaway) at its West Seattle restaurant (4449 California SW) and almost everywhere else in its citywide chain, 11 am-3 pm Saturday, limit two per person.
Two bits of chain news, thanks to reader tips:
DRUGSTORE DATE: While readers have reported local Rite Aid staff telling them about CVS takeover plans, the companies have refused to comment on plans for specific stores. There’s now a visible sign of change, though – the one above is up in the Rite Aid at 5217 California SW, saying its date for changing to CVS will be August 5.
ADDED 10:42 PM: Thanks to Shell for sending this sign photo from the Admiral Bartell:
EX-KFC TO BECOME WENDY’S: The ex-KFC/A&W at 10050 16th SW in White Center has had work under way for a while now, but no indication in online files or on site what it’s becoming.
Commenters now say Wendy’s, and we’ve found evidence of that – job listings. We’ll check with the company tomorrow.
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