WaBa Grill — Restaurant in Bakersfield

Poor customer service. Poor food quality. First time eating at waba. And probably the last. Chose it because it is portrayed as a healthier choice and due to my medical issues, I have specific dietary requirements. I did my research beforehand, looking up the nutritional information on their website before my partner stopped to order and pick up our meal on her way home. I knew exactly what I needed off the menu in order to meet my dietary needs. I had sent her a text containing my specific order/menu items request, which she attempted to order once arriving at the location, reading, word for word, from my text. I had ordered, or requested rather, a mini sweet and spicy chicken bowl with brown rice and sauce on the side, an order of steamed veggies, and a bowl of miso soup, with a large diet soda (as a rare treat) Shouldn’t have been that difficult, one would’t think. Apparently the counter person had difficulty in understanding and wanted to sell the “combo” awfully bad, insisting that what we were ordering was what was in the combo. My partner tried asking for assistance in ordering or deciphering the menu since we had never ordered there before, and even said as much, but the counter person displayed little to no knowledge of the menu and ordering options, and offered no assistance, aside from “do you want the combo?” My partner finally relented, rather than insisting that the order be placed as requested a la carte, since the communication barrier was too great and the counter person was so insistent. Once my partner arrived home, the sauce was not on the side as requested and was just about too spicy to eat (I typically relish spicy foods!)… but definitely too spicy to enjoy. The miso soup received was apparently the loaded version which has considerably more calories and carbohydrates than the basic miso I had requested. Had to use additional waba sauce to try and “tone down” the spice from the sauce mistakenly put on the bowl to begin with, which adds yet more calories and carbs. I also received what appeared to be a child sized diet soda, because it is apparently “what comes with the combo.” My partner tried, to no avail, to upsize my soda while in the restaurant, but finally became so frustrated in trying to communicate with the counter person, that she was glad to get anything at all. All told, by the time I finished my meal, I should have just gotten a burger and onion rings next door. The total calories and carbs would have been about...

Hello owner. I enjoy the food here when i come. However, i had to write this because today the counter service was a bit unpleasant for the following reasons: A) After taking my order (veggie rice bowl), the young lady at the counter said my total was $27 and some change. I know we are in an inflation crisis but i was like WHOA is that right? B) I had requested brown rice but when she rang me up, it was still white rice so i had to remind her it was brown. C) The order also included the 5 piece dumplings but she forgot to put them on the tray when my name was called. And finally, the kitchen phone rang while i was waiting and she looked visibly upset to be answering it. I'm writing this not to get her in any trouble but to mostly give constructive criticism, as attitude goes a long way for any business. Thank you for reading sir, this experience will not deter me from coming again ✌️...

Would be nice if employees would do their job properly. To wait 30 minutes for just two steak bowls, seeing 8 of them stacked up, told they are all for Uber orders, told they had nothing prepared so not their fault. I disagree. Whoever is running the place needs to be on top of who’s doing what. The employees then tell me I need to wait another “cool minut” because my ticket wasn’t seen while hanging right in front of the guy making the orders. Sad that the food is so good and I had to get my money...