Happy Teriyaki — Restaurant in Des Moines

We've been coming here quite often since this restaurant opened. Normally we always see a nice lady, who while ordering on the phone has always been kind and greets us with a smile when we come in, telling us always to "enjoy your dinner" However, this afternoon was completely a different experience. One that has left us definitely not coming back here. We called ahead and ordered two entrées(Bowls), I ordered how we usually do, saying the entrées and saying with white rice. The man confirmed on the phone to which we both heard "okay with white rice". Great! We headed to the restaurant and I went inside to pickup which my order was sitting.on the counter ready. I paid with my card, but once I turned around I noticed the receipt said "fried rice" which added a $2.00 charge each meal. I asked him if the order was made with white rice and If I was overcharged to which he argued "you said fried rice". It was a back and forth to which he kept accusing me of wanting free food. We did not. I didnt want the fried rice in the meal, I told him it was supposed to be white rice and my fiance is allergic and can't have the fried rice. He told me "well the customer is always right" in a smart ass tone. He gave me the $4.00 refund, but then said "okay you can use that money to buy white rice". Confused because that was my $4.00 he overcharged. I said I don't want to keep the fried rice. You can take it back and just switch the bowls. He continued to tell me we wanted free food. We only wanted what we paid for. The entrées which AUTOMATICALLY come with white rice. After minutes of arguing we were getting no where, he belittled me pointing at the menu and made me cry. I went out and my fiance went in to try resolve the situation. The cooks came out while she was in there and asked what the problem was. They then stepped in the back. While "Dulguun" (Cashier) continued to say it was our fault and we ordered it. After arguing with him, he threatened to call the police on my fiance for asking for white rice. He accused her of being Racist?? Then admitted he was wrong about the order! Finally the cooks came out quietly and handed her the correct rice, no problem. The cashier began saying "There, there's your rice, go now". Absolutely no way we will be returning, there was no reason it needed to escalate when we just wanted what we originally ordered...

CURRENT UPDATE: 9/17/24 So, the teriyaki bowl went up in price by $1 as they said it would, but my husband and I noticed that they give you way less chicken than when they 1st opened! Oh, and stay away from the orange chicken! It tasted stale and over sauced, and the egg rolls which I stopped ordering are no longer freshly made! :( I just wanted to give an honest update!

UPDATE: UGH! I SHOULD BE A HATER & SAY THIS PLACE SUCKS, just so it don't get so overcrowded & they start raising the prices! 👀😉🙃😅😅 So, today, my husband upgraded his white rice to fried rice for an Itty bitty $2! AND MYYYYY GOODNESS! 😭😭😋😋😋😋 3 weeks later & they're still cheap & on point! BUT the fried rice will now be a permanent upgrade bc it'son a whole notha level! & because we're equally yoked, he just now told me to edit my review & tell you guys about the fried rice! Oooooh wee! 😉🙃😅😋😋😋💕🔥

Maaan! My husband and I were REALLY skeptical about ordering due to the reviews! Eeek! 👀😫😅😁 Thank goodness we prayed together and stood in agreement that EVERYTHING was going to be good because, honey, it was fiiiire!! And for just $10.99??? Yeeeah, GOOD LUCK, MATCHING QUALITY AND QUANTITY BECAUSE YOU WON'T FIND IT! HONESTLY, WE USED TO GO TO APPLE TERIYAKI ONLY FOR CONVIENCE BECAUSE I TOLD MY HUSBAND, THIS DOESN'T HOLD A CANDLE to the one in Lakewood! Portions are small, and the chicken tastes rancid, but hubby liked the convenience! WELL THANK GOODNESS I NO LONGER HAVE TO "SETTLE" for greatness! Thanks to Happy Teriyaki! It wasn't over sauced like "other places" Yippee! Sorry about the egg rolls, but those too were huge and fire! I HIGHLY recommend you give it a try & get your money's...

Unsure if there's new owners or not - incredibly rude lady working the counter. I rarely write reviews but after my interactions with her, I have shared with friends to venture elsewhere in the neighborhood.

My interaction: After ordering with no greeting from her or any type of warm gesture, she goes in the back to start preparing the meal. After she hands me the prepared meal, I thank her and asked to place one more order to go for a friend. Once again, she goes in the back to prepare the meal. In the interim, I prepare myself a teriyaki sauce to go with the supplied sauce containers on the front counter. As i'm doing this, she runs out - grabs the small sauce container out of my hand, and yells "NO, THAT IS MINE", followed by an awkward 5 second glare in which she repeats herself, "that is mine, you don't touch that, you ask for one". I apologize - she then walks in the back, obviously is shouting about me to her (assuming) husband in another language, then a minute later, walks out and hands me the SAME container with teriyaki sauce in it - followed with the comment, "this is what you ask for". I thank her and she hands me the to go meal in which I again say thank you - she never responds and just strolls into the back.

Detailed review, sure. She could have been having a terrible day, sure. By far the worst experience i've had in awhile with something so simple. I'll keep my...