Teriyaki Madness is bringing Seattle-style teriyaki to Fresno for the first time on Friday, Dec. 19. Photo by Teriyaki Madness

Teriyaki Madness, a Seattle-style teriyaki chain, will be opening its first Fresno location on Friday, Dec. 19, with an opportunity to win free food for a year.

Denver-based Teriyaki Madness was founded in 2003 and is a fast-casual, Japanese-inspired concept that is focused on made-to-order meals.

Seattle-style teriyaki first came on the map in 1976 with the opening of Toshi’s Teriyaki Grill. It’s now known as a Seattle comfort food characterized by fresh meat marinated in a sweet soy-ginger blend, grilled over an open flame and finished with a drizzle of teriyaki sauce.

The Fresno Teriyaki Madness restaurant at 6451 N. Riverside Drive in the Marketplace at El Paseo is owned by Shogy Ahmed, who owns another Teriyaki Madness location in Visalia. The Fresno restaurant will be its 26th California location and nearly 200th across the country where they operate in 40 states.

“Fresno deserved something different, something that doesn’t cut corners,” Ahmed said. “We can’t wait to welcome guests into our shop. Everything we serve here is built on real ingredients, all cooked to order with undeniably high-quality sauces. You can taste the difference, and honestly, once people see the portion sizes, they’ll realize it’s game over for boring meals.”

The restaurant will be offering several promotions to celebrate the opening. The first five customers receive free Teriyaki Madness meals for a year, while the next 20 receive free meals for a month. From Dec. 19 through Dec. 21, the restaurant will offer $6 chicken teriyaki bowls. 

Teriyaki Madness is best known for their customizable teriyaki bowls, which includes proteins such as chicken, steak, salmon and tofu. It is served with rice or Yakisoba noodles and fresh vegetables.

The Fresno location will offer dine-in service, curbside pickup and catering, as well as participation in the company’s MAD Rewards loyalty program.

“Fresno’s about to experience teriyaki the way it was meant to be,” said Jodi Boyce, chief marketing officer of Teriyaki Madness. “We’re not just serving bowls — we’re serving mood-lifting, sauce-drenched scrumptiousness that people can build exactly the way they want. Our shops are built for families, neighbors and anyone who believes meals should be memorable, a little messy and absolutely worth craving again the next day.”

The restaurant will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Additional information is available at teriyakimadness.com.