Japan Express — Restaurant in Durham

I used to work at the New Japan on Miami Blvd. for 6+ years. I know how things are supposed to be run. this place, does NOT. I know that when the owner is there, the customer service MUST be better. Me and my bf called the order in, and a young man took our order. I work in the customer service industry and I always use ma'am, sir, and of course please and thank you's. NONE of those words were exchanged except on my behalf. these employees should consider it a COURTESY that I'm using my manners (which is something that requires simple brain activity). I assumed the teenager that took our order was the only young man not wearing a uniform, wiping the tables down (which were soaking wet),when we walked to the counter we knew he was approaching based on the sound of him not picking up his feet. which I expect from toddlers, not from a teen. anyway, he took his sweet time shuffling about for a few minutes before he decides that HE'S ready to attend to us (no smiles or how can I help you). my bf politely said we were there to pick up our order (2 hibachi chicken, shrimp and steaks, 1 hibachi chicken with teriyaki sauce & no zucchini, an order of shrimp tempura and a side order of fried rice), we gave him our info to identify which order was ours. great. now the funny part is that I looked at everything in the bag and I knew either the fried rice was missing or the shrimp tempura. my bf asked him was everything in the bag and the guy said yes without even glancing at our bag. I politely said that it was missing but as i was saying it, the girl behind the steam table handed him the my side order if fried rice, neither kne apologized for the confusion. whatever. we asked for white sauce, ginger sauce, and hot sauce. he just threw a few sauces in a brown paper bag and I guess he called it a day. as I put the sauce baggie inside of our bag full of food, I noticed the sauces were just all over the place. so I went ahead and arranged them NEATLY and did not just THROW IT IN! I noticed I didnt get any ginger or hot sauce, so I asked the young man can I have 2 hot and 2 ginger. he just pointed to the sauce dispensers for the dine in customers and said "we don't have the hot sauce back here, you need to get it over there and the cups are over there." at this point I've just about had it, and please and thank you werent good enough. I asked him " do you have the lids to those cups?" I received them with and eye roll and a very long exaggerated sigh. just for the heck of it, I said thank you. and the guy just turned around and walked away. I really wanted this food to be good...unfortunately that was not the case. both chicken, shrimp and steak plates had a whopping 3 pieces of shrimp. total RIP off. the steak was dry, as if its been sitting there. if you're familiar with the texture of a rubber band, that's exactly how my hibachi chicken was. flavorless, cold, and rubbery. not to mention i only saw a "sprinkle" of teriyaki sauce. EVERYONE'S rice wasn't cooked, it was still crunchy... smh. this is the 1st and last time I come to this location. I'd rather take the extra drive to the Miami Blvd location, or the new one on Martin Luther King. save yourself the stress and go to...

This place has really gone to poop. Poor service. Poor food(raw) shrimp and chicken. You always have to ask them to cook it well done. The cook gets upset when you ask for things to be recooked. The cashier's laughing and speaking in Spanish so you feel very uncomfortable. And you know to never make your cook angry because they do unthinkable things to your food. I ordered chicken and shrimp habachi combination. They said they didn't have anymore chicken so I ask if I can get double shrimp to replace the chicken. A young lady smartly yells out WE DON'T HAVE ANYMORE SHRIMP. Then the cashier says sorry we don't have anymore. I stand confused trying to understand how do I correct my own order then the owner finally steps in asking what does she want? They tell him and he says...Give her more shrimp!!! Confused Pikachu Face.....I will not return to this location after going there for the last 15+yrs. Way before Kroger left, Hancock Fabrics was still in the complex and before Duncan Donuts were ever thought about at that location, Sheets was a small Shell Station and McDonald's was across the street from the Reservoir....

Called in due to the current pandemic for pick-up for hibachi streak, chicken and shrimp, shrimp tempura, and fried beef dumplings. Employee was very quick and to the point on the phone and said 15-20 minute wait.

A bit slow at the window to grab the food since the cashier is also answering the phone and taking orders. Stopped ringing me out to answer phone and work with someone bringing food up from the back whom did not have a face mask on. Kitchen staff did have a face mask on though.

The 5 Fried dumplings were tasty and hot.

The 3 shrimp tempura came with a deep-fried onion rings, zucchini spice, and piece of broccoli. The shrimp was exactly what you would expect though heavily breaded.

As for the streak, shrimp, and chicken hibachi; Chicken was a bit on the cool side, and very plain Steak had a decent bit of fat and gristle on the pieces and the portion was a bit skimp The shrimp... was shrimp, and was fine A hefty serving of rice The veggies were a bit meh in the entree as well.

For the price I'm thinking I'll pass...