Ukai Hibachi Grill & Sushi Bar

We went here NYE and were really dissapointed with the Hibatchi chef. The food was fine but a big part of the fun at a Hibatchi restaurant is the show. The chef didn't do any of the typical things. No onion tower, no fancy egg cracking, no big flames, no shrimp throwing. He literally just cooked in front of us. Sad meal service.

I wasted 2 of my birthdays here, as I tried to give them a second chance. I don't have much details of the first one spent here, but here are the details from my second one:

When we arrived, there was a bunch of spilt food underneath our table. Which wasn't a good start to the night.

Second of all (and maybe most important), what hibachi place DOES NOT have any yum-yum sauce?! Their sauce (which was like a horseradish/ginger one) can't even compare to traditional yum-yum sauce.

Their fried rice was dry because they don't put in any butter or margarine like they do at other hibachi places that I've been to. I guess this makes it a bit healthier, but no one comes to hibachi to be healthy (maybe they do try to be healthier without the yum-yum sauce too?). But, they charge an EXTRA $3 to actually get the fried rice, which would be fine if it actually tasted like hibachi!

For birthdays, they give you a dressed up pineapple with whipped cream and chocolate drizzle. I know this from my first birthday here. It was a nice treat then. However, on my second birthday here, the server was way too quick to leave our table before we could even bring it up. But, she literally looked at my ID for me to get a beer (while taking other people's orders) which they could've made the realization that it was my actual birthday if they actually looked at my DOB. So when we finally got the chance to bring it up, they said that they had already closed up the part of the kitchen that makes those treats, even though it was still within their open business hours. So that was a bummer.

They also did not have the beer that I had ordered from their menu so I had to get an alternative beer.

The other half of our table got asked what they wanted for desert as I guess if you get the more expensive hibachi plates, it comes included, which wasn't clear to us from looking at the menu. Looking back at it, they have two sections: "Complete Dinner" and "Special Dinner"--this one is where dinners come with desert. But the special dinner section is marked up with fancy names, so we just went back and read the section that made the most sense to us non-Japanese readers, which was the "Complete Dinner" section. Anyways, it was awkward because our half of the table wasn't even asked if we wanted any deserts regardless. I was later told that they should have asked, because even though it would've been extra, a scoop of their ice cream only costs a $1!! We would have loved to indulge in that, especially in lieu of the pineapple for my birthday.

Now about the actual hibachi chef... he was kind but we noticed a few things. Normally we expect a somewhat entertaining show, as you'd expect from hibachi, but this time it was lackluster. We only got the big open flame, an sad onion volcano, and some short-lived egg spinning. He also did not get out all of the shells from the eggs that went into the fried rice. The chef also had his little order slip right in front of him, on the emergency sprayers, but he still got it wrong; he gave someone else at our table my steak, when they had ordered the chicken. If I wasn't drinking and the other person wasn't cool about giving it back, we would've had a big problem. The steak itself was mid. My wife got the salmon which was only good with the sweet glaze that they put on it.

The only food rating star that was well-deserved was from the Tyson Sushi Roll. Which was very delicious. We got it both times, but we forgot that we ordered it for my first birthday, so it was kinda funny that ended up picking it out again. If you find yourself coming here even after reading my review, know that this sushi roll is really good!

For as much business as this place seems to get and how highly rated it is (currently at 4.4), I am surprised we had not 1 but 2 overall unsatisfactory visi

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 2

Service: 1

Amazing sushi. Maki Maki roll all the way!! 🤌🏻

I really love the atmosphere and the dinner selections. I highly recommend the Mr. Myagi drink on the alcohol menu! What a fantastic flavor! Overall it was a great experience and a good night!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Miso Soup

Chef seemed inexperienced. We were hoping the kids would get a show. Nothing special. No warning when lighting grill. Happened so fast couldn't warn the 4 year old. Veggies were under cooked, over all food was good, but not great like we have had before. Just a little disappointed tonight.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Miso Soup, Teppanyaki

We hadn't been here in a few years but have always loved it. We came for my birthday this evening and brought our family (4 kids all excited for the show...). Our chef gave no warning for the fire and it freaked my four year old out and he was crying. Then he did not do any of the fun tricks the entire time. My kids were so bummed out they didn't see the fun tricks.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 4

Service: 2

The only reason i gave them 4 stars is because the older lady was kind of a little up tight because she brought us the wrong food and got upset with us even though it was her fault but other then that the food is amazing and delicious and you get such good service. It is a little bit pricey but they give you alot of food and it's cooked in front of you so its worth it.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

Recommended dishes: Miso Soup, Salad, Hana Special Fried Rice, Fried Rice and Noodles, Noodles

Horrible experience

Atmosphere: 1

Service: 1

Wonderful Hibachi experience. Food is excellent.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Miso Soup

Sushi quality was decent in the previous years however, recently the quality has been less than edible. Sashimi is old and dry. Shrimp isn't cleaned properly. Vegetables are expired. They also close the kitchen 1-2 hours before posted and demean you if you order before then. I miss the old Ukai.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 2

Service: 2

So this is really just a complaint about quality assurance. Everything was average, nothing terrible. Food was ok, service ok, atmosphere ok. This was not. The paint lining of this soup bowl is peeling and chipping. I just pray I don’t swallow any paint (I probably did) and definitely other guests have definitely eaten paint. Now if they can’t see their bowls are disgusting, what else are they missing? I wouldn’t eat here again because something so simple and easy to fix, yet isn’t, is indicative of the overall quality and care of this establishment. Do not recommend.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 3

Service: 3

Still a decent Hibachi. Food was fresh and customer service was outstanding.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Awesome restaurant and staff

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I was a dine in customer at 7:54 on Saturday evening according to my receipt. Sat at the front bar area alone and ordered a sushi roll and cocktail. Close to 8:15 the bartender asked if I’d like another drink. I declined, but mentioned a friend planned to join me and another friend had requested a takeout roll.

At that point I was told the kitchen would be closing within two minutes so I’d need to place an order. Because I anticipated one joining me and didn’t know what they’d like to eat, I commented that their sign on the door noted open until 10. Bartender replied that their website reflects current hours.

She then proceeded to rush me as I was texting to get a full to go order and let the one joining me know not to bother showing up. Not only was the kitchen closed, but they shut off the tvs and said that once the table near me cleared out they’d be closed. I was urged to phone my friend for their order rather than text and was made to feel hurried and unwelcome.

Guessed at an to go order on my friend’s behalf and he came in, thinking perhaps the kitchen was closed but he’d be able to sit and eat his roll but clearly they were closing and inhospitable.

I asked to speak to a manager given the discrepancy between their door posted hours and claimed hours and the young man who came over told me they do have the 8:15 closing time posted on the door, making me feel like I must be crazy since I was certain the posted hours were until 10.

On leaving, I turned to check the doors (there is one set of double doors), both of which prominently show their full hours and lo and behold, plainly indicate open until 10 pm on Saturday. My friend and I were both perplexed and I turned to look again at the printed hours. I then noticed that only the left door had what appeared to be a label maker sign with current hours stuck to the glass, under one of the two offical-looking prints that reflected open until 10. Additionally, the label maker type hours read 8:30 not 8:15.

Points being, 1. What restaurant with a full bar closes at 8:15 on Saturday night? 2. Why make your customer feel rushed and unwelcomed? 3. Why would you not at least cover your old hours with new hours? 4. If you close at 8:30, which only one of three references showed, your kitchen should remain open until then and you should continue to serve your guests until they have finished dining. 5. Why charge your customer full price, offer no apology, and argue that your correct hours are on the door when it’s minuscule print beneath two other opposing signs showing open later?

Really uncool. And sushi was average at best. I won’t be back.

Service: 1

I’ve gone to ukai for years and it’s safe to say it’s fallen downhill. The bowls are literally falling apart into your soup and our waitress sat at the bar eating food while serving us. I completely understand needing a break, but break rooms are there for a reason, i have no reason to go back.