Yakiko Hibachi Grill — Restaurant in Charlotte

1st impression bad impression. I should have turned around and kept walking. I googled this place and drove over. I walked up to the door and tried to open the door and it seemed to be locked. I looked thru the window and couldn’t see anyone so I figured oh well I’ll go to the pub next door. So I go next door and ask them if they know what time this place opens and they say they are open and say but there is something wrong with the door and people come over asking all the time.. She walks out with me and yanks very hard on the door twice and it opens. I go in and explain to the young lady behind the corner what happened and she says, yeah it’s kinda hard. So I order, Fried rice (extra charge), shrimp and chicken combo, zucchini (extra charge) mushrooms extra charge and onions extra charge, and an extra sauce.. the lady was nice enough and it came up to 15:50 or so. I wait on the food and the owner cooks it up. ( the lady told me he was the owner) so when he brings me the food and hands it to me I notice immediately that the bag is very light. I have never gone to a hibachi place and gotten a light bag. Anyway I explain to him about the door and how if it wasn’t for his neighbor I would hv left and wonder out loud how many other people have done the same thing. He says yeah the door is heavy. Uhhh sir how bout you at a minimum put a sign up that’s says pull hard... But no apology no nothing... Now back to the food I should hv cooked it myself, I would have gotten more and a better value and good service.. or I should have went with my first mind and ordered at the pub! I wish I could figure out how to post the pictures I took of the meal... Anyway do t...

Hibachi is one of my favorite meals that includes rice, because I am a rice lover!! This place was really convenient to my place and due to restricted lunch time and good reviews I decided to give them a try.

I ordered the chicken hibachi with sweet carrots, and rice with all veggies (broccoli, mushrooms, onions, and carrots) and of course the shrimp sauce. For this meal I only paid around $9 not including tip, which is good average pricing for hibachi.

The rice was way under cooked and tasted as if they steamed, slightly fried and added a whole bunch of Soy sauce to it. I can not, will not eat or enjoy rice that is undercooked. It is very hard, trying to re-steam rice. I had to microwave steam the rice to cook it more. As you see in Picture, I like to prepare my food before I consume, so I cut up the meat and veggies, they are roughly cut/chopped, but that’s okay. Sweet carrots tasted like regular canned carrots with sugar added. All of the other veggies were fresh and cooked perfectly.

I like hibachi without the sauce so I can taste the flavors but due to some misses with this dish, I poured the sauce over most of it. So, the sauce is delicious and there lies the FLAVOR! Garlicky, creamy goodness that you need for this meal.

I contacted restaurant and was informed that it was a fresh batch of fried rice, then slightly offered more uncooked rice. The Special sauce saved them and extended some grace. I will not cross them off my...

2nd edit - They just keep increasing their prices. This place is no longer a bargain. The same order from 2 weeks ago was around $23, is now over $30. I understand inflation, but prices are now 100% higher than when they opened. Inflation is not even close to 100%. $15 for a scoop of rice and 6oz of chicken tossed in a sauce? Hard pass. I don't think I will be ordering from here anymore.

An edit - part of why I gave it 5 stars was its value. It used to include soup or other side, that now costs separately. Prices in general have increased almost 40% since opening (according to Postmates). The "bang for the buck" advantage they had is gone. Now, I hesitate ordering from here. Now, a lunch for 2 is around $30. That's way too expensive for lunch for 2. I definitely don't go here as much, it has become too expensive.

Original post: A huge welcome to the area! Many construction workers and BoA workers still need a place to grab a bite for lunch or after work. Their take out-window is EXTREMELY convenient. My girlfriend and I have been getting food here multiple times a week since they opened. Food is great and consistent. Only downside is that vent above the window. Holy smokes that thing is deafening. I feel terrible for the people that live above...