Asia Garden | Hibachi & Sushi Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in Collinsville

The ownership of this restaurant has changed and the new owner is benefiting from the five star reviews given to Asia Garden. Since the menu and the food went from authentic Chinese to Japanese Hibachi the name should also be changed so people aren’t misled. I tried to place an order for pickup but the app wasn’t cooperating and I noticed the menu was different so I called the restaurant. I asked about the menu, and the person I spoke with said that it had changed, but did not volunteer ownership had changed, and at that time I didn’t think to ask. I asked a lot of questions about hibachi, and she was very polite and answered all of them so I gave it a try. I ordered the mixed hibachi with chicken and fillet mignon. It came with fried rice, miso soup, and noodles. I also ordered a side of plain white rice and 3 gyoza. (Pot stickers) just in case I didn’t like the hibachi. Total was $29.95 not including tax and tip. $4.07 for an ice cream scoop serving of steamed white rice- pretty pricey!

The soup came in a large styrofoam cup but there was barely any in it, which was ok because it was too salty to drink and likely not a high quality miso. The fried rice was also salty but not to the point of being inedible, but it had no flavor and barely any other ingredients in it. The meat tasted sour and was also so salty it was inedible.The noodles were soggy and drowning in salty sauce. The vegetables were limp instead of crisp and appeared as if they had been sitting cooked or partially cooked for sometime, and this was Friday night during dinner hour. They were also too salty to eat. The only thing halfway decent was the gyoza. I gave one star because the food was terrible in every way! I gave five stars for customer service because when I called to complain, the person I spoke with was very professional and apologetic, and she was also helpful during my initial call. Asia Garden (IMHO) was the absolute best and truly authentic Chinese food serving dishes made with high quality ingredients. It’s now a Japanese Hibachi house and should change its name to reflect the completely different culture and...

Listen, I was skeptical, too, when my very favorite cousin said he wanted to have his birthday gathering at a sushi place in Collinsville. In a strip mall. Next to a Dollar General. Maybe I was being a little snooty about it. (Okay, I was being a lot snooty about it. Nippon Tei should have shown us all not to be rude about sushi in strip malls.)

I walked in and still felt pretty skeptical. No mood lighting and glass tables here - just old school formica and surprisingly comfy chairs. They didn't flinch at our party of 8 strolling up in the afternoon, despite a steady flow of takeout orders, and they were AMAZING. They were super nice about the birthday, they were super helpful about the menu, which is honestly pretty vast and has something for everyone, including my vegan self. Our drinks were never empty and there was always plenty of room on the table.

The food was wildly good and we ordered all the way across the menu. Unfortunately, I can't speak to the fishy sushi personally but I can tell you everyone's trying to come up with a day to go back. My sushi was delicious - thoughtfully conceptualized and well done. The mango avocado roll was a big highlight (read: the best thing I've eaten in a hot minute) and they had enough options that I was able to actually pick and choose instead of just getting the two or three veggie rolls that they offered. My family got fishy sushi and some appetizers, which were lovely and wee and just perfect small plates, and we had a couple orders of noodles and hibachi scattered in the group, as well.

But the best part, the most charming part, was the presentation. They say you eat with your eyes and, friendos, I was STUFFED. Everything came out looking gorgeous but the sushi plates / boats / platters were beautiful. Like. I'm not normally like this but it was just incredibly thoughtful. My sushi, the all veggie platter, didn't have an animal on it, but a flower, and that spoke to me of a level of consideration, of attention to detail, that you definitely want in a place serving your loved ones raw fish.

Can't wait to come back to...

Ordered take out for my family. Had a bad connection when I first called. Call was disconnected. No big. She called right back, and read everything to me. A bit pricey, but as I am buying for 5 ppl, $62 didn't seem so outrageous to me.

Was told that it would be ready in 30 minutes. Also not a problem. Large orders take more time. I get there a bit early, and I pay. Still no problem...

30 minute mark comes and goes. They say just a few more minutes. Okay.

20 more minutes later, and I still haven't gotten my order. The lady I can assume is the owner or manager finally comes to talk to me, telling me I am going to get a coupon to take a portion off my next order. 5 minutes later, they bring my order out, and hand me a menu with pre printed coupons.....

Are you serious??

She had let me know when she finally spoke to me that she had a health inspector here,and that's what took so long, cool, I get it. But let me know from the jump, or find a way to complete an incoming order on time under those circumstances.

And then to insult me with coupons that are already printed on your menus. I feel completely disrespected as a customer, and I may consider not ordering here again. If you make a mistake, then please, do better to correct it.

I am completely disappointed in how this whole transaction went down, and had I known it would take so long, I would have either ordered earlier, to make up for the time I had to wait, or I may have just not...