K Teriyaki — Restaurant in Albany

Not impressed. Why?

A couple of rules I have when dining at a facility: no tipping if I am standing up to order or if I pay before my food arrives. Both of these conditions were met here.

What really bugs me and pushed me to a review was the instance at the front counter when I was paying. After our order was completed and I was paying with card, I tapped the machine to process payment. Because I didn't tip, the cashier BACKED out of the transaction, showed me my options of 10, 15, 20 and 25% to tip. We were in the dinner for two already $40, but because I had zero ability to tip (GRATUITY) based on the food and service, I felt that at that point tipping would be just throwing money away. I had cash in my wallet I would have left a cash tip if service would have been stellar along with the food but I was pressured at the front counter to apply a tip prior to anything.

This is unacceptable.

Food was sub-par, we had the chicken goyza or whatever it is called. Teriyaki sauce was so sweet I couldn't cut it (balance) it out with the noodles. I had half my dinner and took the rest home to toss.

Would I go there again: absolutely not.

I'll find somewhere else to go. It should be noted I've gone there prior to the name change/new business owners and had no issues. Something changed and it shows.

Reasons: too expensive for the quality of food and strong-arm service we received. I cant eat for less at a buffet with the same quality...

REDEMPTION - November 2024: NEW OWNERSHIP - NEW NAME. The food is even better! They are kind, polite and friendly. They have a larger selection of Asian food from Japanese, Chinese, and Korean. Portions are plentiful, the food flavorful, and the choices bountiful. K TERIYAKI is the quality of generations past. I highly recommend!

I wrote this in the Summer of 2023: EXTREMELY HOSTILE AND RUDE OWNER. I asked for two separate orders to be on two separate transactions, to be bagged and rung up separately. He said "No!" He said he wouldn't sell to me if I left and came back to order the 2nd order. I said "Are you kidding me? WOW! That's ridiculous!" He said to me "Stupid old people! Get out! You ridiculous. Don't want you business!" I told him he has just lost a customer for life , to which he replied "Don't care. Go away!" STAY FAR AWAY FROM THESE NEW OWNERS OF Toki Teriyaki in Albany, OR. This was a great place with great food with the previous owners. Life is hard enough without being yelled at, belittled, called names, and thrown out of an establishment because you requested two separate orders. After scrolling through the other reviews I see that my poor encounter with this owner is not a singular occurrence for him. I wish them the best, because at this rate, they will be losing customers hand over fist with their rudeness...

Not bad, but you need to get the right thing. I got the lunch special the first time I went there which is $6.50 for a modest amount of food and a can of soda. Unfortunately, it isn't really enough to fill you up. One of the people I was with got a different menu item which was $8.00, and it was a really good amount of food that could probably last you two meals, so the second time I went there I ordered something that I thought would be similar. Unfortunately that wasn't the case and I didn't get much more than I would have gotten in the lunch special, which wasn't that great of a deal. I was all set to give this place 4 stars but considering how disappointed I was with what I got the second time I can only give it 3, pending a re-visit to actually get the right dish.

Update: Upgraded to 4 stars on a re-visit. Get the spicy chicken - $8.00 for a very good amount of food. Much better deal than the lunch special.

UPDATED UPDATE: Downgraded to 1 star from 4 stars. Why such a drastic change? They had religious music playing. It is my civic duty to drive as many customers away from this place as possible now. Keep your religion to yourselves, don't push this on to your customers. Will not be...