WaBa is a chain of teriyaki bowl restaurants in southern California. WaBa Grill is marketed as a "healthy" fast food option. While I am not so sure whether their food is really "healthy" to eat all the time it sure is delicious! Living in San Francisco I had never heard of a WaBa before, but I have always had a great affinity for teriyaki bowls. I first discovered WaBa a few years ago somewhere around Cornona, California on the way to the Coachella music festival. Long story short I was hungry on the drive there, saw their sign from the freeway, and decided to give it a try. Now WaBa is my Coachella tradition. Every year I always stop at one of their restaurants on the drive there and back. My favorite item to order is the thigh meat chicken teriyaki bowl with avocado added. For around $10 or so you can get a bowl of rice with your choice of beef, chicken breast, chicken thigh, or salmon teriyaki, for a few dollars extra they will add avocado. I absolutely love avocado and if you're anything like me you will want to add it to your order as well! They are very generous with their avocado and will give you a large amount of it on top of your teriyaki bowl if you choose to add it. While it may not be "healthy" in that it contains a lot of sodium and carbohydrates the teriyaki bowl with avocado added is a very filling and relatively nutritious alternative compared to your other choices of along the freeway dining such as McDonalds, Burger King, Carls Jr., and the like. Every time I have gone the avocado has been perfectly ripe and delicious and really adds to the teriyaki bowl. Last but not least their teriyaki sauce is the bomb! read more

Showed up at 11:00am on a Saturday, when they open. A note on the door said they wouldn't open until 11:30am. My family decided to wait. At 11:35am some other customers knocked at the door to get the employees to open up. Once they came to open the door they said, "We are all out of chicken today." I'll prepared and not customer focused, they lost our business. read more

Really good food the people are really nice many different things to choose from and I would come back again

My husband and I ate here for the first time today. We Will not be coming back! The cashier was rubbing her eyes and could not hardly keep them open to take our order. Most of the staff was grumpy. Our chicken was burnt and dried out. The veggies were over cooked and needed 3 sauce packets to choke it down. I make these bowls better at home! If you want a better bowl and you don't want to cook, I suggest going to Costco and buying the frozen ones. read more

WaBa Grill - Burnt, dry chicken! - Fast Food Near Me - Yucaipa, California

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I couldn't believe how good the food was the first time I ate there. I had no expectations, but it was sooooo good. Great for picky eaters as well. The food is so filling, but you don't fill as bad eating it cause it's so fresh & simple. Always a good choice, dine-in or take-out! read more

I think this place offers some decent quality teriyaki health food at a fair price! It's hit or miss here at this particular location in Yucaipa, CA... but most times when I've eaten here the meat has been fairly tender very flavorful best of all you can control the spice and add extra sauce or onions if you like! They are very accommodating staff, rest rooms are clean and the store is usually pretty clean since it's not overly busy most of the time that you go in there. read more

This spot used to be great now they give you small portions and it cost more poor customer service the manager was rude not sure if there is new owners but it was a great place a few years ago they used to pack on the rice and a Healthy portion of chicken now the owner or manager says they weight all the food and put in the bowl which only gives you half of the portion the bowl this is the only location that does this thus far that I knw of I won't be going there again read more

Excellent food! I eat a lot of fish and their salmon is so good that I crave it often. This is one of my family's favorite places to grab a quick bite to eat. Food is made to order so calling ahead is a good idea if you're in a hurry. read more

I remember this food being 3 times better. decent staff and pretty clean just a very bland underseasoned menu. even the Saba grill sauce tastes way different...almost like they used old stock idk. if I do give it another chance it will be because it's close and a nice walk along the way.... also next to a frugos in case you wanna eat healthy then cry over some sweet yogurt after :) read more

If I could give 1.5 stars, I would. Decent food, but the service and competency of the staff leaves much to be desired. Often times, their credit card payment system is down, forcing me to use cash. Why even bother having the MC/Visa logo on the doors when the POS system doesn't work? The staff has a deer in headlights look about them when trying to contemplate possible solutions to fix the problem. They just shrug and say oh well, do you have cash? And when I say no sauce, I just want no sauce. I don't want an inquisition as to why or fill out a survey. read more

Maybe I came on an off day but I've been sitting here for literally 25 minutes and I'm one of a few customers. Probably won't be back.

If I could give this place 0 stars I would. The staff is RUDE, slow and always gets my order wrong. How hard can it be to make a bowl without rice?? read more

went in today june 28 at one thirty or so and proceeded to order i wanted a waba plate and a chicken plate which no kidding i had to repeat it 5 times for some reason the girl would forget before she could react and punch it in so shes on drugs or needs to be anywho i got my order in alas while sipping my 3.00 soda i watch the unkempt looking frumpy shump who was playing chef for the moment while wearing only one plastic glove touch food and kitchen buttons and her face yes really her greasy face and too make it more magic she had a mask on her neck all scrunchied around her sweaty head pedestal but not covering her mouth or nose i guess it was a neck mask so i watched her finish making the meals and her buds pack it up call me up where i quietly ask for a refund when the gal at the register asked gordon hamsey to come talk to me and explain that she has asthma and cant wear a mask well dont cook others food i explained if you cant wear a mask she looked at me like i was the crazy one and went back to her little heat up space to contaminate some more plates all while speaking in low subversive tones about me i suppose but whatever i got my money back and wont go back ever again if you know yucaipa you know this woman shes everywhere feeling prideful about her level of fitness for everything i cant stand her why do u have a mask on your neck but not wear it ? no excuse shes lazy and dosent mind getting people sick cuz she has asthma well why no gloves lunger? see no excuse laaaazzzzeeeeey prideful arrogance stop making people sick please. read more

This store has a funny smell. Maybe something to do with the plumbing. Food is pretty good.

This Waba has to be the worst in the franchise! Why are they always out of white chicken meat? It's been a year now that it's hit & miss. When I did eat there the employees act like they really don't care about your business. I now go to the Waba in San Bernardino or Highland. They always have white chicken meat. Maybe a better business person will buy this store & make it better. BTW any market in town has white chicken meat ALWAYS!! read more

I went here with wife & 4 children. The soda manning was acting up, the carbonation was out. All of our drinks tasted bad. Before leaving I asked the cook, whom I figured was "management. " I ask for a refund on drinks only due to problem with no carbonation &was told no because 1 of my kids had gone in to change her drink & get a bag. She only exchanged her drink because it tasted bad. I wasn't given the refund which upset me. The "management" said he seen her enter 4 times. Lying bs! Won't be returning here folks! read more

I've been to this Waba grill a few times & I have always received good service. I was there last night & the young man working the counter, & making the food was very friendly. In fact he went up to everyone, and asked how they were. I live in Hemet & prefer driving out to Yucaipa for Waba. I also love that they have the Waba sauce available, you don't have to keep asking for more like here in Hemet. read more

I haven't been in a while but stopped by to pick up lunch, now I know why I don't come as often as I use to. I received a steak bowl with a sad amount of meat plus most of the meat was hard and not event tender I also paid extra for avocado that wasn't even ripe. read more

Went to place an order an (I beleive) Destiny took my order. What a sweet heart. She was so kind an patient an a big help. When I went in to pick up my order, the place was so clean. Also was very kind to let my newly potty trained son use the restroom. ( he was in tears cause he thought he was gonna have an accident) she allowed us to use their restroom. What great service. Great job guys. Many thanks! read more

Terrible service and food. The food took over 15 mins, I ordered the salmon and tasted like dirty socks. salmon is supposed to be fresh and moist this was anything but that. The cook and servers were all talking and laughing not caring that they had customers. Terrible wont be going back. read more

Stopped coming to this location during lunch time. Customer service is horrible! They burnt my food a few times and when I pointed it out, the two young ladies didn't seem to care. I drive out to the one in Redlands, much better service and they welcome you as soon as you walk in. read more

In addition to the food's quality being poor the customer service is absolutely TERRIBLE!! I've tried going several times in hopes that it was a fluke and sadly it is not. I've tried to call the owner to express my thoughts and she hasn't bothered to return my call. Don't bother with this place. read more

I usually love WaBa Grill but not tonight (04/04/20). The workers were friendly but this is not to get anyone in trouble but there was a sharp thick piece of plastic in my bowl. I'm glad I was the one to bite it cause I was sharing it with my 2 year old and she could have choked. I don't know where the fault is, if it was in the prepped chicken or whatever but just wanted to write this so you guys are aware and a little more cautious. Not angry, just please inspect things more carefully. read more

Ordered a chicken bowl with brown rice and veg, drove off, stopped and opened my bag to discover salmon.. wow, you guys had ONE job. This place SUCKS. read more

Not the best Waba location around, but the quality has improved slightly over the last few months. Veggies tend to be over steamed, and the meat tends to not taste as fresh. This location is not as clean as the others. I'll drive the extra 15 min and go to the Mountain Grove location. You never know what you're going to get with the Yucaipa location. read more

DO NOT GO HERE! I REPEAT DO NOT DO HERE! I was absolutely astonished when I went here for dinner one night. I went in around 8:30 PM and there were 3 people working. One girl was cleaning the grill, there was a guy on the register and another girl cleaning in the back. The girl that was cleaning in the back was wearing bike shorts and a tank top, extremely un-professional. Once I ordered the guy behind the cash register began preparing my meal. He had helped one person in front of me and then he took my order. He never once washed his hands after being at the register. Then the girl cleaning in the back came to the front and began helping prepare food as well. She never took the gloves off that she had been cleaning with. I just stood there in horror watching them both prepare my food. They also continuously touched their face and other parts of their body while preparing food and never washing their hands. Now the next issue that arouse was the fact that they were filling their sauces right there on the counter were people pick up their food. No big deal, except the fact that everything had its lid off and was touching the counter. While they were working I could have easily dropped something into those open sauces. I have visited many different WaBa locations and I will definitely not ever go back to this location. I only wish the health department was out at 8:30 PM checking places out. I can't believe the management, owner and the franchise would allow such filth. Until this place gets a new owner or new management I will not return. read more

Foods great. Veggies are undercooked sometimes though I Always ask for more veggies than rice, that never happens but really my only problem is ATTITUDE ATTITUDE ATTITUDE. MOST UNFRIENDLY CASHIERS. ignore you there will be three people there all working in the back and you will be ignored. Always the same chick at the register who is rude too. I ordered to go thinking it would cut the wait time but still had to wait to be acknowledged. Then was rung up by the same rude girl who always rings me up. Almost makes me not want to come back. Just buy the teriyaki sauce and make the rest yourself. read more

I've had Waba Grill before in Indio, Ontario and this one in Yucaipa 3 times. I have to say there is a huge disconnect from the others I have visited. The employees here seem very annoyed with even taking an order. The food at this location doesn't taste as good as the other Waba's. I wouldn't come back to this location based solely on the employees. read more

I love Waba and their fresh healthy food. Unfortunately a Waba Grill with good customer service is hard to come by. I have been to this location at least 20 times in the past 12 months. The service and quality of the food and how it's prepared has never been above average and it has been rarely average. My last 3 visits there has always been a note on the front door that they will be opening 30 min late and they even leave you waiting past the revised open time. This time when they let me in and I attempted to order a chicken veggie bowl. They had just put the water to start boiling and I was told it would be at least a 15 min wait for veggies. Please don't post on your door you open at 10am anymore if you have a track record of opening at 10:30am or later. I was always reluctant to give this location another try and I think this time it solidified it for me. read more

The food is good but the servers are rude and immature. I have tolerated it because the food is good but tonight the young girl who took my order may have changed my mind. There was a wait...maybe four people ahead of me that already ordered and as she called the orders out every couple of minutes, there was one more person ahead of me. the wait had already been 6-7 minutes but mind you....the food is pre-cooked! she called out the person before me and in the mean time two other people walked in and one of them got their food before me. she had put my rice in the bowl 5 minutes earlier but left it sitting on the counter and when she gave that person their food I asked Where is my food. she stopped and turned to tell me we are making it now with an attitude. it took 12 minutes to put rice in a bowl, grab a piece of chicken, cut it, and throw it on the rice and serve it to me! Now I thought that maybe they were making fresh chicken but NO it was luke warm chicken and luke warm rice. I am not sure that I would go back. they need to hire older more professional employees. Also, when you walk in the employees are in the back playing games on cell phones and texting so you stand and wait for them to take your order when there is no one in front of you in line. they are always goofing around...if it were my business I would not have my employees playing around all day. The server did not use gloves to scoop out my rice...she opens the lid, reaches in and grabs a spoon that sits in the rice, scoops out the rice, and throws the spoon back in. she then fixed her hair and did the same thing for the next customer. read more

The workers are always so rude. I come back for the food, but I am definitely backing off after today. Three people working and they all act like I'm not waiting in line to order. The girl proceeds to oil a pan while I wait in line. She runs to the back and who knows what the other two employees are doing. No apology. Just so done with this place. read more

I haven't enjoyed coming here because customer service has been terrible. But i chose to come back for the first time in a while and finally encountered a good worker. She made quite a few bowls all on her own and got them out and my order to me right away I love it! Keep up the good work destiny! read more

Food was fresh and didn't take very long to get. Got the waba bowl.they give a gym discount which is always nice. read more

The food is good and the service is Horrible I went there today and In would never go back again, they definitely need a whole new crew starting from the cook, customers are definitely not their priority read more

This location is like a B rate store.. Service sucks and they don't even offer all the condiments that other locations offer.. I'm a big fan of waba grill just not this location.. Went there anyway today taking a chance and I have should of known better.. I got a simple chicken bowl with onions.. Got home and opened the bowl to find 75% shredded chicken and 25% rice.. No onions.. No sauce and hard rice. I guess all I'm missing is the tortillas?! This is upsetting considering most of the restaurants around here are all fast food. This was like a healthier option.. I'd eat a burger before I go back here. So if your in town skip this place! read more

My son had eaten their food, a couple of years ago, when it was worth eating. So, for his birthday lunch, he picked up two orders, and brought them to my house, where I paid him the $19.30 cost. A 5 minute trip, from the restaurant. We ate, immediately. It was stone cold! He'd ordered beef and chicken. The beef never made it into the box. The chicken strips were dry, and more than charred. The brown rice was okay. The half a cup of greens were okay. The other depression, in the box, contained a slice of orange. This less than sumptuous fare, if at least warm, would have been worth -maybe- $5.50. $9.65, NEver! My son told me to save the receipt, in case we got sick. Yes, it was that bad. Imagine coming to Yelp, just now, and reading about maggots in the food, and the "funny plumbing smell" in the store. My son also mentioned how detached the employees attitudes were. We won't be back. I am saving that receipt, though, "just in case". read more

I usually have waba about twice a week. I was working in Yucaipa so decided to go to the local waba. Pretty bad expierence the food was not good at all the chicken was shredded and cold first time that's ever happen. Took longer than 20 min to get the meal. The girls were chit chatting about tanning instead of working on lunch rush hour. Not to mention I payed $27 for 2 meals with a side of salmon was not worth the money at all. Hope management is willing to correct this read more

I love Waba Grill. Healthy, tasty meal for an affordable price. It makes me feel less guilty about eating out when in a bind. I love the fresh veggies, the option for brown rice and the chicken is awesome. I also love the Wasabi, can't get enough of it. I've never encountered an issue with the younger staff here. They have always been polite and friendly. read more

The food is alright definitely could be better but the service sucks . The guy behind the counter has a personality like a bucket of sh@t. Very short with us and acted like we owe him something... not impressed read more

First of all I love Waba grill and their the food is great. I always come and eat here with no problem. However, today this franchise had horrible customer service. The cook behind burnt me food and served me the burnt salmon with 15 minutes late. Also they suppose to put rice and veggies together. They put in the plate half size. I have paid for a full size bowl and i had a burnt salmon with half veggie and rice. The salmon i had was half size. Even i told the the worker about this. She had a bad attitude and not willing to help me. She gave me another plate of rice after. The experience i had today was HORRIBLE and did not expected. Their customer service is HORRIBLE. I am not going to have their food again! read more