Miyako Japanese Hibachi Steak, Seafood & Sushi bar — Restaurant in Frederick

Good news! Gratuity is included, so the waitstaff can treat you however they want! This was our first visit to Miyako. It looked incredibly promising. Our local hibachi restaurant has been so short staffed lately that the quality of the food and service has noticeably gone down, so my husband and I decided to try up in Frederick. The good: our chef was excellent, and the overall food quality was good. Drink service and selection was good. The restaurant did an excellent job of accommodating another guest at our table who had severe food allergies - she was very happy and was able to enjoy her meal safely! The different: the soup was very salty and had a much beefier taste than other similar hibachi restaurants we have been to. It was not unpleasant, but it was not what I would consider a traditional Japanese flavor. The salad dressing had a more peanut-y flavor - lovely, but unexpected, and is something for those with food allergies to take note of. Now for the BAD: After everyone had been served their fried rice, my husband had not yet received his order of steamed rice. Keep in mind that white rice is the DEFAULT option here, and that fried rice is extra. The waitress told us that she had told him they were out of white rice when he placed his order, and that he had substituted extra vegetables instead. This is absolutely untrue. He asked for white rice AND for extra vegetables. Our waitress claimed that the restaurant had been out of white rice for "HOURS". Meanwhile, the table next to us had been served white rice just minutes earlier - their dinner show had not started until after we had been seated. She tried to show me what had been ordered on her notepad by referring to an illegible greasy ink splotch. We informed her that she had in fact not said anything about the rice availability when we placed our orders and that if the extra veggies were in fact a substitution for an unavailable item, then we should not be charged for them. She became incredibly adversarial and said "You know, SOMETIMES...with CUSTOMERS....", and then abruptly stormed off. A minute later she returned with....A BOWL OF STEAMED RICE! None of this makes sense. We were happy to have the rice, and we were in fact not charged for the extra veggies. There was an interesting addition to the bill of "complementary steamed rice" for $0, as though it was a special request and not, as mentioned earlier, the default option. Sadly, we still had to pay the automatically included gratuity of 18%, for a party of two. Now, my usual minimum tip is over 20%. It's not about the amount. Clearly this establishment needs to safeguard against atrocious service via the auto-grat. I do not write many reviews. I am not a "Karen". I did not even ask to speak to the manager here. Maybe the fact that our waitress assumed I was one of these people is more reflective of the general clientele than it is of the level of professionalism of the staff here, but who knows. Our first visit to this restaurant will absolutely...

We went there tonight Dec 28, 2015 as a tradition for my daughters birthday. The only bad experience we ever usually have is a non entertaining chef. Tonight's experience and how they decide to handle it when I call tomorrow to complain will be the deciding factor if I ever return. There are other restarunts like this in this town. When we got seated and were looking the menu they tell us that their soda machine broke. Instead of sending an employee to go get the soda they didn't have or giving a discount they stared at us crazy when we didn't like our choices of lemonade unsweetened tea gingerale or water. We ended up choosing ginger ale but it was kinda gross with fried rice. We never received any refills either ( your allowed 3 they offered none) usually they are refilling your glass as soon as its a quarter of the way gone. Our chef was good this time but by good I mean he had a personality and was funny, he only did 4 basic tricks. Our soup and salad came out at the same time and two seconds later so did our chef. I think this was because I brought in a cake so they knew we were going to be there for awhile. This brings me to their "celebration" which consists of them banging the drum and gong and saying happy birthday bringing a slice of once frozen plain cheese cake with a candle and taking a picture then printing it out. They never tell you this cost money until you see your bill. It used to be 5.00 until this year now be aware!!! The celebration is 7.00!!!! 7.00 is way to much money to charge for that!!! Had I known they raised the price I would have said no thanks. So buyer beware ask about prices on everything they are very sneaky there. This is why tonight since they didn't care about me being upset about the celebration price increase and the not having soda I did not tip properly. I only tipped the chef and I told him do not split that it was...

YELLED AT BY CHEF OVER ONIONS ..... I am very saddened to write this review. I have been going to Miyako for over 5 years now on a regular basis and I have previously recommended to many friends. After my experience yesterday, I will not be returning. I brought my parents for lunch on 9/13/23 for one of their birthdays. We ordered hibachi and when the chef came to the table, my mother politely said that she did not want white onions in her vegetables or rice. The chef was immediately taken back and said "the vegetables have already been cut and we should have told the server". I have been there many times and this was never a problem before. He continued to be aggravated, stormed off and got a whole new plate of vegetables. When he was almost finished cooking, he gave vegetables to a gentleman at the table who had specified that he did not want any vegetables. When it was time for me personally to be served the vegetables, he tried to split up the "non onion" vegetables and give them to me too. I explained to him that I wanted the onions in mine and that I think he gave my vegetables to another person at the table by accident. This is when the chef started YELLING, and I mean YELLING at us. I immediately asked to speak to a manager and the manager could not get the chef to stop talking back. I have NEVER been yelled at while eating a meal and I will NEVER return. We were literally shaking and my mother was at the verge of tears from this experience on her BIRTHDAY. The way we were spoken to was just unbelievable...