Tacoma’s South End has a fresh teriyaki obsession, and the line out the door is a dead giveaway. Mimi Teriyaki #2, the second spot from the team behind a popular Hilltop shop, is pulling in steady crowds with grill-to-order teriyaki, housemade sauces and sandwich spins on the classic Seattle-style plate. Early customers have been willing to wait it out for made-to-order meals and stacked options like the Katsu And Furious sandwich, which fans say justify the extra time.
Dae “David” Chang told the Tacoma News Tribune, “I really care about quality,” explaining that he grills raw, marinated chicken to order, which means most tickets take about 15 minutes. Chang and his wife, Sujin, previously ran Tori Sake & Grill in Burien before taking over the South End site, according to local coverage. That focus on fresh cooking and house sauces has become the backbone of their teriyaki playbook.
Menu That Balances Comfort With Craft
The menu leans into both bowls and sandwiches, with prices that stay in the value zone. Most plates and bowls land in the $13 to $20 range, while sandwiches such as the Katsu And Furious are listed at $8, or $11 with fries. For hungrier crews, the board features a two-protein “You Do You” plate and a four-protein “Please Don’t Fight” box meant for sharing, plus a $10 Little Boss Box kids meal. These items and prices appear on the restaurant’s online ordering page on Toast.
Why Tacoma Is Taking Notice
According to the Tacoma News Tribune, the Changs bought the business a few months before May and have already pulled in customers willing to drive up from Spanaway and Olympia after spotting the shop online. City of Tacoma records list Mimi Teriyaki #2 at 759 S. 64th St., confirming its South End home base. That combination of grill-to-order meats, housemade sauce and online buzz helps explain why the crowds have stuck around…