An oil container behind downtown Tacoma’s Happy Teriyaki #4 caught fire Wednesday, resulting in severe damage to the popular downtown sushi and teriyaki restaurant known for its sushi burritos and poke bowls.
The restaurant at 2223 Pacific Ave. expects it will be closed about six months, but that estimate could change as damage is assessed.
Owner Tim Bartz, who operates three other Happy Teriyaki restaurants in the region, said the cause of the fire is still under investigation but that the blaze appears to have started outside.
“We have a big canister outside of old fryer oil,” Bartz said. “Somehow that caught on fire, and it’s right next to the building. It spread to the restaurant.”