Pound Steak — Restaurant in Richmond

My husband and I decided to try this place after hearing the buzz on IG about this place as they were offering 20% off promo for their soft opening. Keep in mind that this was on a Friday night around 8:15 pm. We arrived at the restaurant, and it was packed inside with also 5 groups outside awaiting ahead of us. We waited for 45 minutes to finally have our seat ready just enough time before the last order was due (not the main part I was disappointed on since it was busy, appeared to have a slower turnover, we arrived late, appeared understaffed too?, etc).

We had our order in 15 minutes before the actual last order call (medium rare Ribeye steak and hamburg steak with cheese). While waiting for the food, there was a corner for self-serve bar (consisting of "unlimited" rice, miso soup, and curry). Due to the time we were seated, unfortunately, the curry was out, and rice was running low.

As for the food quality: Miso soup was super bland. Not savoury or salty at all. Salad was meh. My ribeye steak arrived first, and It was tough/chewy and overcooked, which made it closer to a medium rather than a medium rare. The quality of the cut seemed low based on the texture and overall appearance. Sure.. it was $28+ but not worth it, I find. On the side of the hot plate, there was a little bit of corn, one floret of broccoli, and a few pieces of potatoe. Presentation was kinda sad. Sauce was not bad, though.

When I saw hamburg steaks being carried to other tables, they had a similar presentation except that the 2 patties on a plate were thick but small in size like a size of a palm. I honestly had the impression that they may not be worthy of the price listed.

10-15 more minutes after the arrival of my steak, we were told that the hamburg steak became unavailable. As per our server, apparently, the kitchen or whomever had undercounted and miscalculated how much of the patties were supposed to be made before the last order came and the kitchen was already closed for serving hot food. It wasn't completely the servers fault perhaps even though we had our order in on time and she did the last order rounds, but we were displeased with what happened after waiting for some time and looking forward to the hamburg steak more so than the ribeye steak.

At least, the service was genuine and somewhat attentive enough to keep empty plates off of our table. Our server was apologetic to the unexpected circumstance we were in.

So, my husband was left starving, unfortunately.

Apparently, a table across from us had a similar issue with ending up not getting their add-on appetizer when a server went around for last order calls.

Based on these circumstances, I had to say, it did not meet our expectations. Based on past reviews, it seems that inconsistency in the quality and execution seemed to be recurring issues? It'll be problematic to not being able to sustain its food quality, portion, and, service throughout the day, especially during rush hour times or busy weekend nights. I hope they can improve before they fully open in the...

I first heard about this restaurant from a friend who mentioned a new Japanese steakhouse opening in Richmond. They emphasized its authenticity, noting that all the servers were Japanese and that it was likely owned by a Japanese person. However, when I visited, I noticed the staff in the kitchen were speaking a different language, which made me question the authenticity of the restaurant as a traditional Japanese steakhouse.

I ordered the unagi, which came as a 3/4 lb portion. The serving size was generous, and the taste was quite good. We also ordered a medium-cooked ribeye steak, but unfortunately, it arrived rare. While the first part of the steak was decent, the end portion became tough and hard to chew, likely because it was undercooked. Based on this experience, I wouldn’t recommend ordering the ribeye steak here.

One of the restaurant’s features is offering free rice and soup. However, both rice cookers were empty, and I had to ask the server to refill them. The self-service setup for rice wasn’t very sanitary, either. I observed a customer filling his bowl, which still had curry remnants, and then scooping some rice back into the cooker. It was quite unsettling. I think it would be much more hygienic if the staff served the rice and soup instead of leaving it up to the customers, especially given these unsanitary practices.

Finally, despite this self-service setup for rice and soup, they still expect customers to leave a tip. Overall, while some of the food was decent, there are significant issues with the service and sanitation that would make me hesitate to recommend...

Disappointing for anyone expecting semi-authentic Japanese cuisine.

This spot feels more like a Japanese-style café rather than an actual restaurant. One major issue: what’s labeled as Unagi on the menu is actually Anago (saltwater eel). That’s an important distinction — the flavor, texture, and richness are completely different. When I asked where the eel came from, it took four different staff members before someone could give me an answer. While the servers were friendly, they seemed unfamiliar with their own menu. Not to mention the incorrect information on their menu.

The food itself is overpriced for the quality. The steak was the only dish that stood out, and even then, they were out of the strip steak I’d originally wanted. Service was slow, and the dishes came out one by one rather than together.

I ended up ordering the chicken katsu curry, which was extremely disappointing. The rice was bland, the curry sauce was overly sweet, and much of the chicken was gristle and sinew. I also ordered the Takoyaki, which was drowned in sauce and no crunchiness of texture on the outside.

If you’re looking for authentic Japanese flavors, this is not the place. It feels like a poor imitation of Japanese comfort food at fine-dining prices. A major...