Community Grocery and Deli

Came here off recommendations from guys at our hotel. Got a good Philly cheesesteak and a Chicken Caesar. Both were good and will definitely return.

The best places are always the ones that look sketchy. I walked by this place so many times on my lunch break but I never had an urge to go inside. I always crave good teriyaki but all the ones in downtown just plain suck so I gave this place a shot. I’m very glad I did! It’s like a teriyaki spot/​mini mart. It looks very outdated, I felt like it was 1993 in there but the food is really good. There is usually a line at lunch hour inside but the wait time isn’t too long. The teriyaki is the best in the area for lunch in my opinion. The korean ladies that work there are very nice and everyone knows that korean ran teriyaki places are always the best.

I thought I would give this place a little Unilocal love thinking it would need it, but I can see it’s already loved. It is definitely tucked in and inconspicuous, just a little «mart» more than a grocery. But they have a nice lunch counter and when you see asian people serving asian dishes, it does tend to give you confidence sorry for the politically incorrect stereotyping profiling.
But yes, definitely go get something to eat. Nice selection of choices including sandwiches, I had the delicious chicken teriyaki over rice. Boy that rice was was so special it made me forget how good the chicken was.
Anyway stop by if you’re hungry, it’s worth it. And I did appreciate getting chatted up by the lovely asian lady at the counter. Kamsahamnida?

I remember seeing this place while walking around in Seattle and thinking, «Wow, that’s a random area to have a grocery store!» It’s tucked away in a parking lot (not underground).
I wasn’t sure what to expect here after reading the reviews… Maybe a cozy greasy spoon restaurant or something. That apparently served 5 star teriyaki chicken (it was not; at least my meat-​eating family said it wasn’t.)
So it really is part corner store, part restaurant. There is seating and it’s very very casual. Seems like a place you’d stumble into in the morning, after a heavy night of drinking and a morning hangover.
There was nice staff, but the food was a little underwhelming based on the raving reviews. We ordered the chicken teriyaki and chicken fried rice. Please note I am a pescetarian and sort of picked at the chicken fried rice (avoiding the chicken).
My family found the food mediocre. Honestly, by the looks of it anyway, I think the sushi restaurants in Vancouver do chicken teriyaki a hell of a lot better. I didn’t see any crispy skin!
The portions were pretty equivalent to the price; dishes are about 7 – 10 dollars each which I found a little pricey.

I enjoy the food as I have been here many times before. Today the food was still good but the experience was awful. Employee Primrose does not know her boundaries and overstepped them repeatedly. Would not give me what I asked for and then made me wait longer than I have ever waited for teriyaki in my life. First time I have seen her and hopefully the last. Other than her good Teriyaki place

Fantastic! Great food and you can pick up necessary items for much cheaper than the neighboring pricey hotels if you’re visiting the city.

A little on the slow end but the teriyaki was great. I got the Spicy Chicken Teriyaki and my boyfriend got the normal Chicken Teriyaki. Spicy was a little too spicy, but it was my fault that I didn’t have any dairy to kill the spice. My boyfriend didn’t like the presentation of the food, since the chicken was piled on top of the rice (he apparently likes them separate), but I won’t discount the chef for that. I work around the corner from here and will definitely be coming back!

Tasty tasty teriyaki! We came here on the recommendation of the hotel staff across the way, after we told them that we used to live in Seattle and wanted good (not expensive, not touristy, not pretentious) teriyaki. It was exactly what we wanted — solid food, cooked to order, good quality meat, excellent teriyaki sauce. What more could you ask for?

This is a good corner store, it’s much cheaper than my local corner store and the hotel minibar. It’s right near The W Hotel, so stop by if you wish! The store closes around 9. So buy something, there’s no 24 hour store in this area.

This is one of the easiest to miss, easiest to avoid, hole in the wall gems. As you walk up to Seneca & 5^th you see a parking garage and a shady looking cobbler who sells phone cards. Community Grocery & Deli is hidden right under the carport. The entrance is very easy to miss and looking through the glass door they have generic food pictures to the side and steep upward steps. It’s just a place you probably wouldn’t stop by.
During lunch they always have a sandwich board outside to come in and get some teriyaki. I’m not a big teriyaki so it never really got me in. Except one day I was having this big craving for it. Not wanting to walk out of my way I decided to stop in. The inside looks like what you expect, pretty old and dull. I ordered the teriyaki lunch special which came with a side salad. The lady who took my order was very nice. They cooked up my order fresh, so it took about 10 – 15 minutes. But when I took my first bite, my god! It is the best teriyaki I have eaten. The salad was also very delicious. They give you tons of rice and a side of extra teriyaki sauce. My twice a year craving for teriyaki is now about a once a month craving, and I always come here!

Well worth the trip. Quite good for the price, and more convenient than other good places that are farther out of the way. Not the absolute best teriyaki I’ve had, but it’s real chicken cooked well, good rice, and they don’t smother it in teriyaki sauce — they put the extra sauce to the side. It hits the spot.
I haven’t gotten through the rest of their menu yet, but as for the shop itself. Yep, it’s basically a corner convenience shop. Lottery, alcohol, drinks, chips, candy, and other bare minimum essentials. There’s an indoor seating area, but it’s an awkward set-​up, since the tables are in the middle of the ‘store’. But the people are friendly, and it’s a no-​stress, laid-​back place.
One thing I really like about this place is the hours. They’re often open late, which is great for a quick dinner. Don’t expect them to be open on Sundays, though. Update: I’m disappointed to learn that their kitchen closes at 6:30 (not sure if that’s every day or just during the week, though). It’s too bad, I’ll have to take them off my much-​needed list of late dinner options.

The big draw seems to be their teriyaki — but their other daily specials are quite good, too. It’s really more like a corner convenience store with a restaurant than a grocery or deli. Either way, if you’re hungry for a meal or just want to pick up a quick snack, a personal hygiene item, a pack of cigarettes, or a bottle of wine, this place is worth a visit.

A great little teriyaki place that truly is hidden. Yes it does look like a gas station and yes there are really odd random pictures of puppies and horses haphazardly taped to the wall, but this is truly a bang for your buck type of place.
But enough about the teriyaki. The true jewel in this establishment is the yakisoba. Normally I don’t like yakisoba at all, it just tastes too sour (but that may just have been because the last place I had yakisoba at was next to an irish dive bar). Here? It is zesty with just the right amount of tang.
If you have any misgivings about yakisoba, DO NOT judge it until you’ve tried it here!

Best tofu terriyaki I’ve ever had. Well marinated and cooked, the rice is delicious, and the salad is decent. Throw in the $ 7 price and it’s a downtown lunch dream!
The ambience of the place isn’t awesome– it’s kind of like eating in the aisle of a gas station, but I kind of like it that way– I know that I can show up in a business suit or sweatpants, get treated the same way (great), and eat good food.
Looks sketchy but is well worth it. Get your food to go and explore one of the many hidden rooftop decks in the downtown financial district.

Tried for the first time today, saw that it was only a block away from work and a person has to establish their lunch staples. Teriyaki is always one of those staples.
I got the special with chicken and a spring roll, both had good flavor. Portion was good, I am contentedly full but not stuff and ready to fall asleep. My socks weren’t blown off but it was respectable and has earned another visit at which time I will try the spicy teriyaki chicken.
If the status of my socks changes I will be back on to up the star count, but hey 4 stars is quality.

I love this place! It is the best teriyaki downtown! Community Deli has the best rice of any teriyaki restaurant I have ever been to. Of course there’s the standard side salad with watered down ranch dressing, but you don’t buy teriyaki for the side salad! Community Deli gives you a generous amount of chicken in their standard chicken teriyaki, which is what I always get.

I had a sandwich here a while ago and was not impressed, but I came across the Unilocal review page and all these 5-​star raves so I had to go try the chicken teriyaki. It was really good. And reasonably priced, which, downtown, is uncommon. I’m a little sad to see that my 4-​star rating is actually bringing down their average, but when you only have 4 reviews you take what you can get I guess. Avoid the sandwiches; stick with the Asian menu.

Back for the chicken katsu. (Funny how it reminds me of the teriyaki thread, lol)… which was satisfying. Crescent-​eye shaped rice mound with lined up katsu pieces, and the IB lettuce to cleanse the meal, haha. ;) Good stuff.
Also humbling and nice noticing the elder korean gentleman going around and making sure tables are clean & tidy. Gives you that warm & fuzzy feeling inside, if you get my drift.

If you have been searching for the good teriyaki downtown, your search will end here.
Hands down, the BEST teriyaki chicken in town. Slightly charred chicken over perfectly cooked rice and a little extra teri sauce thrown in the bag for free… nom nom nom. Three things I like about them: 1) they sell their teriyaki chicken and beef in a half size — sometimes I’m just not that hungry; 2) they offer a brown rice option (for an extra charge), and 3) they also make a teriyaki chicken breast or tofu. Options, people! They have sandwiches and other Asian food — yakisoba, beef with broccoli, etc.
The inside is wont for ambiance, but who cares? Most people get it to go. For me, I like to enjoy it at the rooftop of the Rainier building on a sunny day.