MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, Wash. — Looking to fill up on delicious food for less than $20? Head to Mountlake Terrace!
Baguus Little Asia specializes in Pan-Asian cuisine for happy hour prices, all day long.
Husband and wife Takao Kikuchi and Yuko Abe were inspired to try the concept after running Dragonfish in downtown Seattle for 20 years.
"We had a very, very successful happy hour at Dragonfish, it was voted number one in the city,” Kikuchi said. “So, we talked about opening the new restaurant and said, 'Why don't we just open up a happy hour up here?'"
Prices start at $3.95 and top out at $15 (for a hearty Teriyaki Copper River Salmon Rice Bowl.)
There’s also a self-serve beer and wine bar wall where customers can pour their own drinks.
As for the name? It’s pronounced “buh-GOOSE,” a word the couple first heard during a trip to Malaysia.
"We played golf and one hole, I just happened to hit a great shot. Doesn't happen very often. And the caddy said, 'baguus!'" Kikuchi said. "Baguus means great, nice, fun. We loved the sound - baguus."
Abe creates recipes using flavors from throughout Southeast Asia. The menu includes Dragonfish's famous noodles, green onion pancakes, Vietnamese bar eggs and the fan-favorite Thai chicken pizza.
"We take lots of our recipe ideas and ingredients ideas from our traveling experiences, because we love travel,” she said. "Our latest visit [to Malaysia] a couple of months ago, we actually took a cooking lesson."
She also draws inspiration from her childhood in Japan, where food education was required in school.
"Don't get me wrong, I love french fries,” she said, laughing. "But we appreciate where the food is coming from, how the food was made and who made it, too."
Baguus isn't just food service. It's a way to share the cultures they love with their community - and that's something special.
"It's very satisfying,” Abe said, tearing up.
Kikuchi hugged her and added, “So many people say, 'This is awesome, this is so great!' I'm glad, these are my wife's recipes!”
Baguus Little Asia is open for dinner Tuesday – Saturday. It’s located at 23511 56th Ave. West in Mountlake Terrace.
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