Friends, I have to say I think 2026 is going to be a great year for Fresno restaurants and eating well! The year has only just begun, and I already have a list forming in my phone of new places I am looking forward to trying. This week’s new find is Teriyaki Madness in Marketplace at El Paseo, ne ar Herndon and 99. Fresno’s Teriyaki Madness opened December 19 as the first location in the city. The next nearest location is in Visalia, and both Central Valley locations are owned by the same local franchisee, Shogy Ahmed. Teriyaki Madness was founded in Denver and is based on Seattle-style fast-casual teriyaki cuisine. Teriyaki is Japanese cuisine, so basically, a lot of geography and people with great taste have all come together to bring something delicious to the Fresno area. I am happy about it because I tried it, and it is fantastic. Teriyaki Madness’s menu is built around bowls, each with a protein (chicken, steak, tofu, or salmon), rice or yakisoba-style noodles, and fresh veggies. The protein is marinated in a ginger-soy sauce, grilled over an open flame, then tossed in the sauce of your choosing. You have a lot of power to customize your bowl. As my coworker observed, “This is like the Chipotle of teriyaki.” Here are a few things I especially liked about Teriyaki Madness: Customer service that is genuinely welcomingThe staff was super friendly and helpful, and they were happy to customize things as much as my coworkers and I wanted. They really wanted to make sure we got our meals exactly how we liked them. (Example: I like white meat chicken but a really spicy sauce. I could not find that exact combo in the online ordering system, but they showed me how to order it that way next time and made my bowl exactly how I wanted.) Bold, fresh flavors (and real grilled meat)The sauces and the food itself are incredible. Everything we tried was super fresh and bursting with flavor, and the textures were awesome, too. The meat is actually grilled. It is not made to look grilled with food dye. You can taste the slight char in the best way. Generous portions with reasonable pricesI ordered a regular (medium) bowl, and it was enough for two lunches. And honestly, reheating the leftovers the next day? Still just as good as day one – yum. They also offer junior and large sizes. Family meals that feel like a winThey offer family meals like a 4-bowl pack for $40. There are not many places where you can feed a family of four super hearty meals for $10 per person anymore (besides pizza or maybe In-N-Out). Teriyaki Madness is budget-friendly, but their food does not taste like a bargain. It tastes like quality. In addition to their bowls, they also offer sides like edamame, crab rangoon, potstickers and egg rolls, plus crispy marshmallow rice squares and chocolate chip cookies for dessert. Teriyaki Madness also offers reasonably priced catering, online ordering, curbside pickup, takeout, and dine-in service. They are open from 10 AM to 10 PM every day of the week. You can check out their full menu or place an order online here. If you love bold flavors and fresh, affordable food, you are going to really enjoy Teriyaki Madness. ...read more read less