I'm a driver for work (in Wisconsin) and have been trying out the hibachi steak lunches at various establishments, this is the first one I don't feel like finishing at all but should since it cost a good bit.
It was 20$ for hibachi steak lunch (a couple bucks more on average) and it didn't include soup like all the others do. And the only soup they had to buy as a side was miso soup, no clear soup/onion soup that usually comes with an hibachi lunch.
As far as the food goes...
The rice that came with it was fairly dry and/or not steamed enough or something, it just wasn't appetizing. My riding partner had ordered the vegetable fried rice, he didn't think the rice was dry or undercooked though. Might've been different batches or a different way of cooking it, or the sauce in the veggies mixed in with his raising the moisture content, idk. Just wasn't good.
Another thing about the rice, on the menu it shows a picture of the rice/steak/veggies for hibachi steak. The rice is in a clump, indicating more moisture and the clump was a third of the portion size total. In reality it's not a clump and it's half of the dish. A quarter being steak and a quarter being veggie. Proportion sizes are off compared to the pics.
The steak was okay, but it wasn't nearly as tasty as all the other places I've tried. That and it (along with the mixed veggies) were mixed up with a sauce that was too sweet for me and really took away from the flavor of the steak veggie mix.
They also don't have noodles as an option instead of rice. That I didn't like either. I like leftovers and rice makes a bad leftover, dries easily (and their was rice was pretty dry from the start).
As far as the atmosphere goes, it's like a fast food joint. Bright lighting, annoying energetic pop music playing, the kinda dining room/kitchen/counter set up you would see at any fast food place.
There are no nice dining seats, no artwork, no tranquil music, no nice architectural elements you would see in a regular Japanese joint that makes you want to stay and enjoy the meal/experience.
They have "hibachi dishes" without the show or the ambiance that every Japanese joint offers, but the price is there, with less options.
As far as service goes, no complaints at all but there's not much to be judged on. I called, they answered (which is a good thing), I placed my order and picked it up. The cashier was friendly on the phone and in person.
This is the Panda Express of Japanese food/hibachi steak lunches. It's fast food but not cheaper or any faster than ordering from a regular Japanese steakhouse/restaurant, and it's lower in quality.
They rely on limited menu choices, sugar over flavor, and the ambiance is now where near as tranquil as a regular hibachi joint.
The ONLY thing they have going for them is that they are open all day. Almost every single Japanese hibachi joint in Wisconsin (from mke to Janesville to Appleton to Green Bay to Sheboygan back to MKE) they almost all are open like 10-2 for lunch and 4:30 to close for dinner.
I was craving hibachi for hours and this was the only one open between 2:30 and 4, which is when I was able to take a lunch on my route.
So if you're craving Japanese food (especially a hibachi steak lunch), you're probably best going somewhere else if you can at the time, otherwise I guess this is the (only) place to go! read more