Tigerly Ox Shutters Wallingford Location Wednesday

Tigerly Ox is closing its original Wallingford restaurant, a neighborhood favorite that opened the summer of 2015. The tough news comes less than a year after the launch of a slightly larger second location in the Central District.

Wednesday, February 15 will be the final day of business for the fast-casual Vietnamese spot at 4405 Wallingford Ave N ”due to complicated issues with re-negotiating our lease,” according to a Facebook post.

At Tigerly Ox, owners John and Jodie Tran use family recipes for their take on Vietnamese food that’s meant to be convenient but still tasty, hearty, and healthy. The menu features four entrees (banh mi, vermicelli noodles, jasmine rice, and fresh salad) that can be customized with proteins, toppings (called “fillings,” here), and spreads. Takeout is a major focus, though the Central District restaurant also serves dessert, beer, and wine for diners who choose to pull up one of about 20 chairs.

Despite the setback, the company said it still plans to expand into additional neighborhoods, a goal revealed last spring as the Trans prepared their Central District addition. South Lake Union and Downtown are specifically mentioned in the Facebook post as future growth areas.