Sawa Hibachi Steakhouse: A Culinary Circus Worth the Ticket Price! If you're looking for a dining experience that's part delicious meal, part family-friendly magic show, look no further than Sawa Hibachi Steakhouse in Youngstown! Seriously, it's like dinner and a Broadway show all rolled into one -- but with fewer awkward intermissions and more sizzling meats. First off, let's talk about the entertainment. The hibachi chefs are like culinary ninjas, flipping shrimp, tossing knives, and making onions erupt into volcanoes -- all while keeping your kids (and your inner child) giggling uncontrollably. It's the kind of show that makes you wonder if you should have brought your own popcorn. Now, onto the drinks! Their sake is so good, it might just make you want to do a happy dance in your seat (trust me, I did). And for only $18 a bottle, their wine is a steal! Who knew you could enjoy a fancy bottle without feeling like you needed to take out a small loan? And let's not forget the food. The filet mignon? Let's just say it's what dreams are made of. Tender, juicy, and cooked to perfection -- I might just start a petition for them to serve it as a breakfast option. Now, if you're feeling adventurous, don't miss out on the swordfish, which is a rare find in these parts! Just a heads up, though: there are no noodles with the fried rice, which is a bit of a bummer. But the vegetables and meats more than make up for it -- they're absolutely amazing! Pro tip: If you swing by on a Saturday at lunchtime, you can snag any hibachi meal with the full show for almost half price! I mean, who doesn't love getting a wild performance and a fantastic meal without breaking the bank? In summary, Sawa Hibachi Steakhouse is my go-to spot for a reason. With mouthwatering dishes, a show that'll have you laughing and clapping, and prices that won't make your wallet cry, it's the perfect place for a family outing or a fun date night. So grab your friends, family, or that person you've been trying to impress, and get ready for an unforgettable experience! Trust me, your taste buds will thank you, and your Instagram will be begging for a post! read more

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While the hibachi show was fine, the ala carte menu seemed extensive but poorly prepared. Clearly a Benihana clone, but one more step down on the authentic food measuring stick. The grilled unagi-yaki was fine, but a bit floppy and not well done as asked. The age-tofu was okay appetizer but the bonito flakes were dried out. The shrimp tempura was a heavy cloying batter a half inch thick on undercooked vegetables The udon soup was not a dashi, murin and soy sauce, but resembled something closer to Pho soup or maybe minestrone soup. Couldn't even start on that. They took three minutes to find a set of chopsticks, must be rarely requested? I left most of it uneaten and apologized profusely to the waiter that it wasn't well prepared and I couldn't finish it. To his credit, he offered to replace it with something else, but I just paid and left very disappointed. After 5 years in rural Japan and 20 years back in the states, among the five lowest restaurants I've encountered (outside of fastfood mall stores). Went to a convenience store and got a burrito instead for the night. read more

It was good but it seemed like some rolls didn't have crab , I ordered the Sawa roll and Youngstown roll . I would order again , size of the rolls are great ! read more

Sawa Steak House - S1. Sawa Roll S22. Youngtown Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Youngstown, Ohio

My father had heard good things about Sawa and we ended up giving it a go for his most recent birthday dinner. It was a busy night - actually the weekend before Valentine's day, so even more so than usual most likely - but we were able to be seated quickly by choosing to sit at a side table rather than a hibachi table. Our waiter wasn't the most enthusiastic I've ever experienced, he seemed a bit depressed and hopefully did not travel to Aokigahara in the time since our visit. I wasn't disappointed in his service at all, but he clearly did not have the flair of the chefs manning the hibachi grills. Speaking of which, the rest of the restaurant was bustling with commotion, and it was exceptionally loud - even for the typical decibel level of such places. It likely had a lot to do with the lack of carpeting and sound absorbent furniture, so it might be time to do some renovating in order to create a more welcoming atmosphere. The food itself wasn't bad at all, I enjoyed the variety of sushi rolls I tried - I went with the Philadelphia, Volcano, and Dragon - but if I'm being completely honest, they weren't quite up to par with my favorites. My parents both had hibachi dinners and they looked appetizing, but I'm not sure any of us were totally impressed in full. It wasn't a bad dinner, but it wasn't as great as we were hoping. Sawa definitely needs to step up their presentation and do a bit of remodeling if they are going to keep up with the competition. I wouldn't completely rule out another visit to Sawa, but it wouldn't be my first choice either. read more

Sawa Steak House - An up close and personal look at the Dragon Roll. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Youngstown, Ohio

Had a long hair in my food, called and they said "its not their problem" this doesn't look like a hair off a head either. read more

Sawa Steak House - The hair found in my food - Sushi Bars Near Me - Youngstown, Ohio

Overpriced for what you get. Low grade food and small amounts. Everything from the ginger dressing to yum yum sauce was bland.

Every time I come here there always seems to be a problem with management. We got here to Sawa at 7 pm. Waited 40 minutes to be seated at a booth that was open. After we got seated we immediately ordered our food and waited another 40 minutes. My friend ordered a hibachi dinner and I ordered sushi. I waited over an hour and half for a youngstown roll. I wish i took a picture of the sushi roll because there wasn't even any crab meat in the sushi roll! After bringing it up to management attention, all the lady said was "at the end of the roll there's barely any meat" which of course I knew this but I had 5 sushi rolls with no crab meat. What was the point in waiting over 2 hrs to basically eat rice and seaweed paper! She claimed it wasnt fair to her because the cook already made the order. I have no problem waiting but if I'm going to be waiting I would expect my food to be what I ordered ! read more

Half the stuff we ordered only came out because we asked where it was, so we got our appetizers after our entree, our sides before and after our appetizers (in the case of multiple) and the food ended up coming up within the hour anyway. I liked the clear soup and the salad. That's it. The brown rice tasted like the char on the bottom of the skillet and the chicken and vegetables were completely smothered in sauce. Towards the end of our experience there was a birthday and while the sparkler and cake were nice, the disco ball confused me, and I couldn't even make out what the "speaker" was saying. All I heard was a caterwauling that quite frankly scared the crap out of me and lasted about 2 minutes. When I didn't leave a "satisfactory" tip due to the service, I was chased out of the place. read more

This place used to be good. Went here for my daughter's birthday. Sat waited 15 minutes before someone took our drink order. Waiter took our order for appetizer and then walked away. Came back and we said we're ready to order. We ordered a few sushi rolls as an app. We wanted to order hibachi. He said, don't worry, you guys have time. Should have cancelled our order completely. It was basically as if we were being ignored completely. Told the waiter we just wanted our check for the sushi. Waiter apologized, and said he doesn't run that part of the business. No one else came over to talk to us at all. So disappointing. Plenty of employees walking around and we were the only ones in the entire restaurant. My wife and I have gone to this place so many times over the years. It has just fell apart. I felt horrible that this is where we went for my daughters bday dinner. I will never go back. read more

First of all, I'm a big fan of Tokyo House down the road but have been to many hibachi restaurants and give them all credit where credit is due. With Tokyo House being closed at the time, I decided to try Sawa out. There was a little wait but I sat at the bar and had a drink along with a spicy roll while we waited. The sushi was just so-so in my opinion. I wouldn't turn it away but probably would go elsewhere if I wanted sushi. Once we were finally seated I was shocked by all the lights and noise. I swear it looked like a roller rink in the 70's and I'm pretty sure there was a disco ball! What kind of atmosphere is this? It looked like a circus! I prefer a traditional Japanese decor and setting. Something calming and relaxing. This is not that. I ordered the Swordfish and because they have a combo for everything else but the swordfish, I had to add Shrimp and Scallops for $7.95 if I wanted them. The dinner included two pieces of small shrimp, soup and salad. Soup was basic broth and salad had a less than stellar ginger dressing. I love ginger dressing but had a hard time eating this. When the food started to get made our cook started into his routine. Flipping knives around, making a heart out of rice and an onion volcano. This is all good and well but he looked like he hated his job. No enthusiasm at all. The only thing he seemed to care about was squirting sake into our mouths. I'll admit, that was a fun moment to watch. He also flipped your shrimp at you and if you caught it in your mouth, great! If not, too bad. I caught mine so go me. Honestly, I don't need all the show. I don't get that at Tokyo House but I do get good friendly conversation and a cook who genuinely cares about and remembers his patrons. The show is fine too but if you are going to be miserable doing it then why bother? Long story short, my swordfish was over cooked as was the shrimp and scallops. Speaking of, remember that $7.95? It got me 3 shrimp and 3 scallops. Pathetic portions. Maybe a cup and a half of rice and vegetables and that was all. Don't even get me started on the yum-yum sauce, pink sauce, shrimp sauce or whatever you choose to call it. It was awful!!! Simply awful!!! And without any type of sauce the food was all bland. I paid $17.95 for my meal plus the $7.95 to add the little amount of shrimp and scallops so about $26 bought me a a plate of small portioned over cooked food and a beached from all the lights and noise. In comparison at Tokyo House I can get a chicken and shrimp combo plus a shrimp appetizer for $13.25!!! And I get at least a dozen shrimp and an entire plate of rice and vegetables. Not to mention a cook who looks like he enjoys what he is doing. And I don't leave feeling like I'm about to have a seizure. Oh and the food tastes good! You don't even need the yum-yum sauce but you'll use it anyway because it's amazing unlike at Sawa. Just look at the picture I uploaded and tell me what you see is worth that price. Then look up Tokyo House and look at those portions and prices. At least I can say I tried it but I won't be making a return visit if this is what I can expect. read more

Sawa Steak House - I paid $26 for this?!?! Over cooked, small portioned and bland! And the yum yum sauce sucks! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Youngstown, Ohio

Absolutely horrible experience. Went on a Saturday and expected to wait. Waited 2.5 hours before we got a chef.. chef came out, not friendly at all. No shirt on under his chefs coat. Didn't do any of the traditional hibachi things, zero entertainment value. Ordered double rice, did not receive double rice. Brought this up to the waitress when we received our check. Manager came out, told me the chef said he did give me the extra rice I ordered. I told her he did not. A few moments later, the chef came over to our table still full of people and started yelling at me while standing in front of me. Yelling that he gave me what I ordered and the extra food (tons of rice, filet mignon and a lobster tail)that he cooked, which he ended up throwing onto a tray behind him, was for a to go order that he was not supposed to be cooking and not for me. Absolutely terrible experience and service especially for the price you pay to eat at these restaurants. Will not go back. I will take my family and my money elsewhere. read more

My wife and I went here last night; We were craving some good sushi. So this review is for the sushi only, we did not have the hibachi. We had the clear soup, a side of hibachi noodles, vegetable tempura, the SAWA Roll, the sweetheart roll, and the lobster roll. I have to say that the sushi was OK at best. The Sawa and lobster rolls tasted a bit fishy. The sweetheart roll, which had tuna in it, was...I don't know the word...gooey, maybe. The tuna didn't have a good consistency, it was very, very soft. Just like there is no good pizza in southern California...there is no good sushi in NE Ohio. I may have to try Cleveland or Pittsburgh, but those are a long way to go for sushi. On the good side, our waiter was really nice. And even though we didn't have the hibachi, we were right next to the hibachi tables, and I need to know....are the chefs-tossing-shrimp-into-guests'-mouths and the onion- volcano still necessary?? It's 2011 man. Come on. Letter grade: C- read more

Although the food is always fantastic, the wait staff is consistently unfriendly. They're short, unpleasant, and really have no care for your experience. Beyond that, silverware is always placed on the table top, which I find to be uncouth. They are more often than not understaffed so the wait time at dinner is always extensive even though there are obvious open seats. HOWEVER, the highlights of this place are the hibachi chefs. They are the friendliest people in the restaurant. If you want good food but trash wait service, head to Sawa in Boardman. read more

terrible service and dead bug in salad with no discount, so never going again. 100% not recommended read more

Sawa Steak House - bug - Sushi Bars Near Me - Youngstown, Ohio

I am thoroughly annoyed with the service provided here this evening. This used to be a great place. don't get me wrong, the food is still great- but customer service through their janky take out window is horrid. 10 orders lined up on the bar, no one to check out the people in the vestibule. It's not like it's cheap to even order take out here. Just disappointed greatly with the lack of attention to their customers when we are accustomed to A+ service and food. read more

I love this place but they have the smallest sushi rolls. The hibachi is fair but is better than most local competitors. read more

Sawa Steak House - This is some of the smaller rolls received at Sawa. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Youngstown, Ohio

This place has gone downhill. Probably my last time eating here. Dining room was frigid, and so was my waitress. Restaurant had a "smell" to it and just isn't a good experience any Update: tried this place today for lunch. It was very good. And that "smell" mentioned previously was gone. Glad to see improvements. read more

I'm only given a one because second chef was awesome or I would give a negive five!! We had a birthday party of 17. Split party between 2 chefs. Normal except after waiting a half hour to .even get drink orders taken. First salad was full of water. Table next to us was pouring water out of salad in a bowl. Then soup tasted like warm water. No taste whatsoever. Now I was sitting next to my husband and was told we were one separate sides of table for serving so written as 2 separate bills. Now when chef finally started. The 3 people next to me ordered just chicken and rice. I didn't get my hibachi, but, did get my appetizer sushi. So thought maybe did put me with my husband's order. In mean time one of people told them 3 times no shrimp, I can't have shrimp even near me. Reason being she is allergic to shrimp. Went over order with chef over and over. In mean time nobody else got thier appetizer sushi even after half of party was already done eating meal. Then the simple chicken fried rice came out and other side was getting thier orders. I still didn't have mine nor had anybody else gotten sushi. Told them second guy who was awesome and we tipped separate. Finished everyone's and most were done with dinner BEFORE SUISHI EVER CAME OUT! Said forget it they didn't want it now. Then manager got smart with niece who isn't one to get smart with since by this time was over 2 hours waiting. Then bring checks so since couldn't understand to put my husband and I together and my check came back with first guy who never gave me my order and was given woman allergic to shrimp shrimp. I wanted to wait for my husband check to make sure I wasn't charged for me twice. They still couldn't figure out how to do my order or put orders together I waited, we all waited for 20 minutes to even get bills paid. Came back after and still 2 bills. Now I am ticked off. I just grab both approved copies and walk out with rest of party. My husband was still talking to someone and manager tells him you didn't pay. He says I'm getting my wife. I walk back in with both approved slips. Says oh ok. Oh it's just needed signed one slip. No that was lie because I didn't sign either slip . Don't accuse me stealing and when I say get other slip. Then they couldn't find it. After not only did I have the 2 different approved slips. My cc already showed both paid. read more

Worst experience I have in a restaurant in a long time. Waiting over an hour for food and never got served. Meanwhile all the tables around are getting food. Even people that came in after us. Had 2 different waiters with one being very rude with no people skills or ability to speak English. Also that waiter basically tossed the salad and soup on the table and took it away without asking if I was done. Place was also dirty, table was sticky. Walked out before even getting food. Place is a joke and needs to be out of business. We were actually concerned they were doing something bad to our food. They were laughing and pointing to our table. I never give bad reviews but this is one that is needed. read more

I am a quarter Japanese and I love eating Asian cuisine. We went to Sawa's twice in the past week. Friday for habachi and Wednesday for the regular menu. Habachi was great. I had the lobster/filet and my husband had chicken/steak. It was very good and the chef was quite entertaining. All in all a good meal but When we went back on Wednesday it was a fantastic meal. We started with appetizers of sashimi and shrimp tempura. Portion was huge. We could've easily made it our meal and it was delicious. He ordered chicken tempura dinner and I ordered sukiyaki for our entrees (see photo). Yum! The sukiyaki was basically a beef vegetables udon soup and not sukiyaki which was my only disappointment. We had so much leftover we ate it for dinner tonight. read more

Sawa Steak House - Beautiful sashimi dinner - Sushi Bars Near Me - Youngstown, Ohio

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I took my brother and his family to eat here they'd never been to a hibachi steakhouse. I currently live in North Carolina and the restaurants down here give you an amazing show! I requested for the best chef and the waitress assured me that we were receiving the best chef! We ordered our food the house soup was not the clear broth with spring onions and mushrooms as others steak houses offer, our salad came with some kind of dressing we were not given an opinion whenever ordering to choose what dressing we preferred. The chef came out did a 30 sec utensils dance one short flame and then on to over cooking our food! read more

If I could give no stars I would. This was my first time here and definitely my last. First I will start with the drinks we ordered. The first round was fine, the second round one of the drinks tasted completely different then the first one. It wasn't the same thing, it was disgusting. When it was brought to the servers attention all she said was "oh a different person made it, so it's not going to taste the same." It shouldn't taste like a completely different drink though. Next the sushi. We ordered 3 rolls. A spicy crab with cream cheese, an eel and avocado and the Sawa roll. I have never had sushi that tasted as fishy as this did. The eel and avocado had no avocado in it which was disappointing. The Sawa roll was falling apart, very hard to pick up with chopsticks. Now the hibachi part. I will never return because of the hibachi. We were seated at a table with 2 other people, and then the 4 of us girls. The show started out fine, it took a turn for the worse pretty quickly. I find it absolutely disgusting and inappropriate when the chef is tossing food at you, or trying to shoot sake into your mouth to tell you to "open your sexy mouth." This was only said to certain females at the table. Not once but MULTIPLE times. When he started making the rice. Normally I get they form the rice into a heart and it beats. Yeah, not the case. Our chef formed the rice into the shape of a penis, and then squirted yum yum sauce out at the very top as if the penis was ejaculating. This was absolutely disgusting and beyond unprofessional. The food was mediocre at best. The chicken was tough, very hard to chew. The rice and hibachi veggies had no flavor whatsoever. I also have never seen pink yum yum sauce. It was not very yum yum. By far the worst hibachi experience I've had anywhere. read more

such poor service never going back. charged 8 dollars for gratitude and expected more of a tip after that. NO WAY! took 4 hours can't believe that. i should've left after the first hour. took 40 min just to talk to someone to seat us. then another 2 hours to seat us and then 2 hours to get a chef all for 10 minutes of eating. SAVE YOUR MOMEY. hit up mizu across the street. read more

From arrival to the end of our meal it was a horrible time. I don't mind paying good money for great service and food but you won't get it here. We had a 5:30 reservation and after contacting an employee twice, we were seated at a table (cook tops were not available) at 5:45. Our waiter was just OK, but the food was AWFUL. The stir fried shrimp were ice cold and chewy. The meals might have been prepared to order but I am doubtful. I will NEVER step foot in this restaurant again. read more

Very disappointed. I've been to Japanese Hibachis in different parts of the country and it's always a dining "experience" and while you pay more than you would for the average dinner out, you usually leave stuffed (and I usually have leftovers). And you definitely leave entertained. Not the case here. We went as a group for my birthday and the food tasted at best- ok, but the cooking part of the experience was BORING! There was no showmanship, no interaction, nothing. It was like: here's the raw food, here's the raw food on the grill, let the grill cook it, plop it on your plate and there ya go. Some family said they had previously gone there and the experience was awesome. But after our night, I'd never choose to go back. Portions were a lot smaller than I expected, too. However, the reason it gets a 2-star from me instead of 1: they do have a fun little birthday candle flower that is lit on some fried ice cream. Pleasing to the eye for sure, but the taste of the dessert is not that great. The fried dough is too doughy to even cut through. But it looks pretty. read more

The main dining room and bathrooms need a deep clean. Our booth had dirty/stained walls. There was also a strange smell, couldn't identify. The sushi was okay, couldn't get past the dated and mismatched interior and smell. read more

I understand long wait times because of COVID but cutting portions to about 1/3 is crazy when the hibachi meals cost $20+.

Food is fantastic ! Show is also very good ! Service was a little slow and we literally had to point out to server she needed to smile and be curtious. However, the food made up for service read more

Walked out and went to izumi. We sat at a table for about 10 to 15 minutes and no server came.

This is my favorite habatchi restaurant in this area. The food is amazing, staff at the bar is always friendly, and the owners are on site and go out of their way to make your experience great. I get the chicken habatchi and god is it good, the taste is truly unforgettable and the yum yum sauce is the perfect topper! I'd highly recommend this place to anyone looking for great Japanese food. read more

The food is amazing The service is nice and the atmosphere is just amazing Just every time I go the hibachi chefs look like they just want to get this over with and ruins the experience a bit read more

Slow slow slow. Ordered soup and fried rice. Simple right. Well no shrimp over cooked. And got soup same time as meal. Was able to finish a California roll and still wait to get food. Pay attention to the people who are not at habuci we pay to. But it seems like if we don't pay extra for experience we get forgotten about. This is second time this has happened here and will be last. Too much competition in town for this bad of service read more

Really Zero stars not one positive thing I can say The environment is dirty, over priced, poor service , Food tasted rancid, it was so loud from the chefs yelling and getting the clients liquored up w Saki You cldnt have a conversation. read more

I love this place but food hasn't been what it used to be. The cook was nice but he didn't season some of the food. It was bland unless you add yum yum sauce. The vegetables weren't cooked long enough. The broccoli was so tough I pushed it to the side. This is the second time that we weren't happy with service or food. Third time is a charm. Hope it gets better. read more

Food was good service was horrible waiter basically threatened me for a tip he was already gonna get and tryna make sure I don't leave without tipping him won't ever see me again. read more

This place rocks everything is perfect here. The bartender is perfect. He has waited on me at least 59 tines and he is exceptional. Great place to spend your birthday. Fun fir kids read more

Absolute shit service. Steak was cold for the lunch special. Order did not have steak and chicken like asked for. Water was atrocious, tasted the lead pipes in the drink. Terrible experience. read more

We arrived at 7:17 and we waited two hours before our food was ready and made. And once they came to our hibachi stand they had to leave to get something. Two stars because of the food. read more

3 stars only for the food, the service was terrible and our waiter acted like we were a bother, drinks came after dinner... no one wants a much ultra for dessert. read more

LOVE the food, but the service is so crappy. my dog could do a better job at serving then most of the waiters here. we got seated at 6:21 and someone didnt come to the table until 6:37 and thats because i asked someone what was up. i continue to come here because of the food but oh my lanta.. the service. read more