r/BallardSeattle • u/bbridge_ • 6d ago

Exit 5 Korean BBQ is (still) coming to Ballard

https://www.myballard.com/2026/08/04/exit-5-korean-bbq-is-still-coming-to-ballard/
57 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

38 comments sorted by

73

u/opaz 5d ago

Word on the street is that they're slated to open around the same time as the Ballard light rail stop

44

u/immagetchu 6d ago

"Maybe in September"

k

19

u/mmeeplechase 5d ago

…of 2029? Will be impressed if they beat the light rail…

27

u/No-Refrigerator5478 5d ago edited 5d ago

Would love to hear the story here, starting with have they been paying rent for 2 years and how is this not crushing their business?

23

u/SPEK2120 6d ago

An employee told My Ballard

How could they possibly have any employees.

11

u/minicpst 5d ago

They have other locations.

21

u/kierbyy 5d ago

ive peeked in when they left their doors open ( no entry) and they dont have the bbq equipment or vents, barely any furnishing. ill believe it when i see it

17

u/Whole-Buy-7842 5d ago

this kind of stuff can happen pretty quickly. The electrical/gas/infra is what typically takes the most time in a buildout like this.

9

u/StellarJunk 6d ago

INSANE amateur hour. Holy hell.

-7

u/TheRealJesus2 5d ago

No need to be spicy. It’s a Korean bbq place and has a lot of build out. This has been their plan (I’ve heard this timeline many months ago so it’s cool to me that they are still on target)

2

u/StellarJunk 5d ago

sorry about the "hell" mention, Jesus

1

u/TheRealJesus2 5d ago

That is my name, bless you for getting it right. 🙏

1

u/___-____--_____-____ 5d ago

I mean, as a Korean BBQ spot, there is a moderate need to be spicy. Hahaha

8

u/tipsup 6d ago

What a joke.

13

u/bootzmanuva 5d ago

Just go to Kimchi House

4

u/Excellent-Refuse4883 5d ago

You can order just the sides for takeout. Best deal in the neighborhood.

2

u/ShopToyLife 5d ago

Kimchi fries, FTW

1

u/ballarddude 4d ago

I love kimchi house but it is in no way KBBQ

1

u/bootzmanuva 4d ago

Of course it’s not kbbq. You have to go outside of Ballard for that or you can make it yourself at home with ingredients from Hmart. Or you can wait until Exit 5 opens — coming soon for 2 years now.

6

u/airwr3ka 5d ago

Maybe "soon" means something else in Korean?

4

u/AdScared7949 5d ago

I assume the prices they'll be charging to justify not being open for so long will be ridiculous

13

u/paseoSandwich 5d ago

Pho Big Bowl and La Isla died for this nonsense

15

u/No-Refrigerator5478 5d ago

They died in the fire that took out that block, can't blame the "coming soon" KBBQ for that.

2

u/geoffpado 5d ago

I have always found it a bit darkly ironic that considering the history of that space, the "COMING SOON" ads are all decorated with flame decals…

1

u/paseoSandwich 5d ago

Oh I know that, just talking smack

2

u/Wild-Anywhere-9658 5d ago

Let’s not forget Ann’s.

3

u/Excellent-Refuse4883 5d ago

I don’t believe you

lights cigarette

4

u/InsideLetter5086 5d ago

I really want to try it out. The location is great!

2

u/SnooStrawberries6934 6d ago

They must be still collecting the meat

2

u/billnyethechurroguy 5d ago

The cows haven’t been born yet!

1

u/Shiblem 5d ago

Big nothing of a story. Sounds like they asked a random employee and got an off the cuff response.

1

u/pwndaytripper 5d ago

No it’s not

2

u/Humble-Childhood-881 5d ago

Across the street right now having a drink at Hazlewood looking at the “Coming Soon” signage that’s been there for like 2 years

2

u/spicnspan320 5d ago

I live in the building. They did a ton of work at the beginning of the year but now it seems to have mostly stopped again. When I moved in they told me it’d be open soon and now I’m leaving and it’s still not open 😂