Zayda Buddy’s Pizza & Bar

The new manager made the wise decision to allow the Russian tap cleaner to talk her into replacing the beer lines and faucets when their wasn’t a thing wrong with the old equipment. Guess she never heard the old saying if it ain’t broken don’t fix it… well so it goes then the place closes a couple months later… money well spent :-P
Between you and i the lines weren’t replaced… just the faucets… hehe heh tricky Russian tap cleaners are as shady as automotive repairmen
Going to miss this place

I am sad to see Zayda’s go, but the vikes must play on. The PUB AT PIPER’S CREEK is willing to take our purple tribe in for the rest of the season. No midwest food, but there is plenty of seating, and lots of big screens. Join me there, on 105^th & GREENWOOD. SKOL Vikes!

OK, so I grew up in Minnesota and went to school in Duluth, so one sign caught my eye when I walked by one day: Leinenkugel’s. I knew we had to stop in after lunch and see if the rumor was true, if Leinenkugel’s was really available for consumption at this bar/​Minnesota style pizza hotspot.
I wish Leinenkugel’s had more of a presence in the PCN.
A. There is no such thing as Minnesota style pizza.
B. There are Homer Hanky’s hung on the wall and I had to explain to my husband what they were. I was unaware that there were people in this world who do not know what a Homer Hanky is.
C. They serve Leinenkugel’s. Not all flavors but a good selection. I was so happy to see Berry Weiss in the fridge and priced at only $ 5/​bottle, I was in heaven! No Sunset Wheat though which was a total bummer.
D. They serve cheese curds but at $ 10.50/basket, I nearly fell on the floor. Perhaps I’ll give these a go when I’m feeling like paying a lot of money for a very basic fried food one day. My husband recommends that I check a few restaurants in Minnesota to see what the going rate for a basket of cheese curds is, reminding me that we’ve lived outside of the US of A for many years.
Zayda is best described as being a sports bar; a place to get hammered and then eat greasy food that you’ll regret eating the next day. It’s a place I’d go to drink but not necessarily a place I’d go to eat. It has the feel of a pole barn bar in northern Minnesota. Go ahead, Google pole bar and then visual a bar inside of the building with space heaters in the corners and everyone drinking bottled beer. There is a plethora of Minnesota and other midwestern states sports memorabilia on the walls. Oddly enough, it felt like I was in Minnesota when I was at Zayda and it was a warm fuzzy feeling.

I have never been to Minnesota, but I had a blast here. I accompanied a Vikings fan friend of mine to watch the game here. Had a good ol’ grilled cheese and a few beers. The place was packed but I loved the communal feel– everyone was totally cool with sharing tables and being all Midwest friendly. I’ll be back!

A MINNESOTA BAR IN SEATTLE complete with Duluth News Tribune on the wall and hot dish on the menu? It felt like home.

Delicious cheese curds, great atmosphere & everything we tried on the menu was absolutely great! Will definitely return

Me and the man came here on Saturday for some grub. We ordered the Space Case and Minnemosa, but really good! The Space Case was especially strong but still delicious. We ordered the chili and cheese tots and the infamous cheese curds. We were thoroughly impressed with the tots compared to the curds. So good and so filling! Really great place to watch sport and transport to Minnesota! Even saw some Vikings fans catching the game. Pretty neat place for food and drinks. No weekend HH though only M-​F from 3 – 6 pm and Sunday-​Thursday from 10 pm– close.
We will definitely be back for more tots!

My partner loves the poutine! So delicious. I had the cheese curds and I melted in in my seat. So good.

Great little space in Ballard! Reminds me of the bar from How I Met Your Mother. The cheese curds were an awesome little snack before I dove into the delicious Tuna Melt. I would love to try their pizza next as it looked like a great choice.

I love this place! It’s one I the few places that I can get good red beer. The food is fantastic! And every server I have ever had has been so nice!
Their wings are some of the best I have had in seattle!

The food and vibe here is a weird ultra-​stereotype of the Midwest, about as authentic to Minnesota as «The Dukes of Hazzard» was to daily life in the rural South. You could look at the menu and think «this is comfort food,» but a few bites in and you’re going to be able to feel your arteries hardening.

Miss Minnesota?! Love the Vikings? This is your place. Food doesn’t shy away from being purely Midwest, white bread and all. Overall, the food, drinks and service is good. The price was a little pricey given the quantity, but not to the level of being ridiculous. They’ve got plenty of TVs — all seats seemed to have a view of sports.

Back in December, my hubby and were going to attend a performance at the Paramount Theater in downtown Seattle. Rather than drive downtown, park, and find a place to eat we chose something in Ballard where I work. My husband is sometimes hard when it comes to making a decision on where to eat, so I picked Zayda Buddy’s because I knew he’d be happy if he noshed on their food.
It was pretty quiet that night — maybe 2 other tables — but unlike some restaurants were service actually suffers when it’s quiet, our friendly waitress gave us attentive service. I had one of their bloody Mary’s which was the bomb dot com. Hubby had a beer — can’t remember which one.
We pretty much snacked at Zayda’s and I can’t remember what I had for dinner that night, aside from the green bean casserole as an appy. It was legit — not as legit as when I make it, but for restaurant made it was great. I think my hubby had a behemoth of a burger, to which he enjoyed.
Zayda’s is a fun and funky bar with a menu that offers a little bit of something for everyone!

A little slice on Minnesota right here in Seattle WA. Cheese curds are the real thing. Poutine is on point. Tater Tot casserole, you know you’re the right place. All the great Leinenkugels available. TV’s showing MN sports teams whenever possible and on a Friday night = Star Trek: The Next Generation.
I had the Green Olive burger the last visit and it was everything it was supposed to be, GREEN OLIVES. I could not handle the oliveness but if you’re looking for the next best thing to the original from Anchor Bar in Superior WI, that was it.

Great beer selection, super amazing pizza to go, very loud and busy.
We got the mac and cheese and while I, personally, don’t remember eating it, my man says it was weird and had too much random stuff in it. I trust him.
I’d eat the pizza every day.

The pizza is great, best I have had so far in Seattle. Loved the cheese curds which made me homesick for Wisconsin. The staff is very friendly and helpful. I would definitely recommend it.

Kim S. You suck. Also maybe your egotistical bullshit is made up. As far as you know the ‘waitresses’ or ‘bartenders’ were complimenting you. Get the fuck over yourself. This place is awesome and there is no other Seattle place that is so open and friendly.
I came to Zaydas with a hangover. Now I’m good

How I heard of this place: I first heard of Zayda Buddy’s when a friend told me I had to try it… specifically for their tater tot casserole. It didn’t happen on this visit, but the menu was just too enticing to limit myself.
Type of cuisine: Claiming to be, «Ballard’s only Minnesota-​style pizzeria! Our thin crust pizzas are made with 100% Wisconsin mozzerella cheese and fresh California tomatoes. We proudly boast a righteous selection of Midwest beers including Old Milwaukee, Blatz, Leinenkugels, Grain Belt Premium and more! Zayda Buddy’s is a full scratch bar — ALL our drinks are made fresh — no pre-​mixes. Try our amazing Klement’s brand bratwurst and natural casing hot dogs from Wisconsin, and our totally awesome tater tot hotdish.»
Ambiance: A bit of the 1950s meets a 2010-​Ballard pub. Framed pictures of drawn or printed birds line the walls, as do photographs of the owner from the 1920s, 30s and 40s. Exposed brick walls also host neon signs boasting the brands of a plethora of ales available at the bar, the area to the left as you enter the establishment. Seating at booths ranging in size from spots for two to spots for up to eight (cozily), on hard, wooden pews with black, leather, padded head rests. Wooden tables, thick and hefty, hold the heavy (in more ways than one) foods at your table.
What I ordered: Being out for a walk and brunch, I was waiting for the establishment to open in order that I might sample one of their limited breakfast options — namely a breakfast pizza, dough topped with scrambled eggs, bacon, cheese, onions, olives and tater tots! But when my dining companion decided to order off of the regular/​lunch menu, I couldn’t help but pick up my own copy to see what my other options might include. He opted for the Deep-​Fried Pepperjack Burger ($ 9.99), a ½ pound hamburger patty coated with Zayda’s special peppercorn seasoned breading, deep fried till it’s got a righteously crisp seasoning on the outside & juicy burger on the inside And… topped with pepper jack cheese & brown gravy. Lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickle and condiments are all served on the side. A side of tater tots (for an additional $ 2) and a small bowl of Caesar salad (additional $ 2), with crispy, buttery croutons and grated Parmesan cheese, were also requested. Turning my attention to the burgers, the neon arrows all pointed me to the Stuffed Burger ($ 9.99), a ½ pound hamburger patty stuffed with bleu cheese & bacon bits topped with lettuce, onion & tomato. And to do it right, Zayda adds even more bleu cheese & crispy bacon on top. With a side of tater tots, and all of that deep-​fried goodness, I was more than satisfied for the rest of the day!
What I loved: The tater tots were my favorite of all aspects of this meal. The Caesar salad not unlike what you could make at home with a store-​bought creamy Caesar dressing gave us the greens we wanted, but little more. The deep-​fried burger had the most amazing flavor — with the peppercorn seasoned breading and the crispy texture. The salty bacon and pungent, creamy bleu-​cheese were delicious amidst the one-​inch thick burger patty. But the tots. The tater tots, fried to crispy perfection, lightly salted, well-​peppered and not at all greasy are worth returning for… as is the tater tot casserole.
Why I loved it: The food is heavy, hearty, filling and full of flavor. The staff friendly and the space like your second home. Office space up a ladder from the kitchen and into a loft make for amusement as diners every so often see people stand up, heads touching the ceiling and calling down to the staff below. Television sets well prepared for Super Bowl Sunday and other sporting events, with which to enjoy a plethora of gluttonous foods.
Cost: Average ($ 7.99 — $ 9.99 for burgers and small entrees)

Place seemed fun, food was pretty good, but waitress managed to forget our coffee’s twice and service was really slow. They were busy, but they had 3 wait staff on, so for such a small joint, it seems like they could handle it. The orders were also messed up for 2 of us.
Overall, a great place to watch sports, but not sure they’re wait staff is on top of things. Either way, I would probably give them another chance…

This is pretty much your standard dive bar for a pretty nice area. I love the décor with the wood paneling and comic books! The outdoor area in the back is small but really pleasant to sit in on a sunny day. The tables are a bit rickety, so watch your beers on them.
Service was pretty good; the guy at the bar was pretty friendly and after our initial order at the bar also came by to see if we wanted more beers. He also brought the check out for us.
Since we dropped in for drinks so I can’t comment on the food, but tater tot Tuesday sounds amazing.

Alright Zayda Buddy’s…if you were a person, you would be one of the first friends I made when I moved to Seattle from Minneapolis.
I appreciate how at ease this place is. Everyone always has a great attitude and is warm (Minnesota nice!) and we love watching the Vikings and Wild games here to gather with our Minnesota peeps. Ciprian — the bartender who hails from MN as well, is always a warm friendly face and always takes time to chat about MN and other happenings. Thumbs up to her — she may not remember our names but her acknowledgement every time is incredibly welcoming!
Their pizza is THE BOMB. It’s flakey and thin crust really hits the spot for me. Every pizza they have is great but my personal favorites are the Kimchi ZZam and the Taco Pizza. yum yum yum.
They have free tots on Tuesdays. Douse it in aardvark and you have yourself a lovely partner to an ice cold refreshing drink.
I can’t come here all the time because I would weight 300 lbs if I ate their food regularly, but I sure appreciate the chill and welcome atmosphere!
p. s. Don’t be naïve and think that you can show up 15 minutes early to a Vikings game and get a seat. I once drank a bloody mary while using their gum ball machines as a table because I didn’t get there early enough.

Sooo I’m not sure where the connection is between Minnesota and tater tots, but Zayda Buddy’s makes one. Am I upset about this? Only when I’ve eaten too many.
They also have fried. cheese. curds. These are dipped in marinara sauce, or, if your ateries aren’t full already, you can dip them in Velveeta cheese sauce. Not that I’ve ever done that before.ahem.
They have drinks that taste like Kool-​Aid, massive Bloody Mary’s, thin crust pizzas. waffle and egg sandwiches on the weekend, and if you’d like some sports with your cholesterol, you will have several large TVs to stare at.
I’ve never seen a single vegetable here, although I suspect they may have salads available. My crew is too busy drinking the cheese to investigate this for me.
The staff is nice and helpful and wont judge any kind of cheese drinking going on around our table. Last night we hollered at each other about sexual lubricant in mixed company there.* So Zayda Buddy’s is a legit spot for tater tots, melted cheese and an rousing good time.
*I promise I am a healthy and dignified adult %84 percent of the time.