Fuji mountain steakhouse — Restaurant in Hillcrest Heights

Attended this establishment with a reserved & large party of 9+ people for the hibachi part of the restaurant on a Saturday night between the hours of 9pm-11pm. The customer service was moderate as the servers were nice upon our party’s entry but were the opposite upon exiting. Along with the unique interaction I had when 1 staff member questioned me about not paying my bill & his co-worker stood oddly behind me with a unfriendly glare towards me. My cook was extremely kind, amusing, & pleasant as he cooked & served the meals. I did have the unfortunate experience of seeing a mouse in the kitchen area as my table was seated in the view of inside the kitchen. Other than that the atmosphere was overwhelming with the conversations being very loud & the employees not really providing a sense of calmness or sincerity.

-The complimentary soup, tasted like flavored water with sliced mushrooms and store-bought chopped onion flavoring.

-The complimentary salad had a soft yet crunchy texture & the flavor of the dressing was exceptional as it resonated with a mix of thousand island & vadalia onion. While me & my colleagues all ordered the same salad, ingredients differed among us.

-I also ordered the 6 ct. Volcano Roll. The first was bland and the flavors did not merge properly, however the second cleansed my palate with a distinct taste of ginger, salmon, crab flavors, and an avocado blend. I didn't finish this piece of my meal because I had a gut sense I shouldn't.

-The fried rice was flavorful, with a good quantity of garlic and a good balance, especially with the addition of yum yum sauce. The veggie blend was a fantastic addition to the rice because it was perfectly cooked and seasoned. However, the dinner took a turn for the worst when the chicken was added, which was chewy and chalky, mildly seasoned but not massaged into the interior. Furthermore, the sauce in which the chicken was cooked did not combine well with the other flavors. My sprite was delicious, as was the saki which was...

Well folks, if my rating isn’t evidence enough, skip to my last statement ⤵️

I took my date here since we had wanted to go for the longest. We decided against the hibachi for some alone time, but should have noticed how empty the place was, and should have figured it was for a good reason. Clue #1

The bathroom was an abomination. I’m sure the new strain of COVID is in there somewhere. We had to seat ourselves because no one present to greet us, and the two ppl working there seemed to have forgotten us when we got their attention. There were maybe three or four other families in the restaurant when we sat down - they confused our orders with theirs. When they got it right, they forgot our soup, then forgot our salad, then brought the wrong drinks. I decided to drink the soda they gave me anyway (wasn’t a big deal) and realized IT WAS FLAT. other reviews say the same. Clue#2

At this point my date is annoyed but I LOVE Asian cuisine so I’m rooting for them….Friends… the food looked GREAT for the price ( even though they fill you with rice), but one bite into both our dishes, we both looked at each other with disgust. The food was TERRIBLE. The meat tasted like salt n peppered shower shoes, the sesame chicken tasted like frozen nuggets, the salad was 70% Japanese mayo, the miso soup…well I liked it…until we realized the bowls were dirty!

The icing on the cake was the “flower vase” (see my photos). I thought it was funny (IYKYK) - my date thought it was a sign we should leave. Clue #3

Overall, while the staff seemed nice, the food was so terrible I almost called the police to report it as fraud. Don’t eat here unless you feel like your taste buds deserve to be...

My party of over 30 people and I had reserved a private room for two birthday celebrations. Unfortunately, the experience fell far short of acceptable and raised serious concerns about health and sanitation.

Firstly, the room was significantly overcrowded for the space provided. With over 30 guests crammed in, it was uncomfortable and unsafe. Given the fire hazard and lack of space, refusing some guests or moving us to a more suitable area would have been the responsible course of action.

Secondly, the hibachi grill's exhaust system was malfunctioning, filling the room with excessive smoke. This caused eye and throat irritation for myself and many other guests, making the dining experience extremely unpleasant.

Thirdly, the food preparation hygiene was concerning. As the chef scrambled eggs, we noticed numerous eggshells mixed into the food. Despite repeated attempts to point this out, the chef ignored our concerns and continued cooking. Only after an eggshell was discovered did he offer a cursory apology and proceed to cook the contaminated eggs with the rice.

Fourthly, the smoke became so bad that even servers entering the room were coughing and covering their mouths. This further highlights the severity of the ventilation issue and the potential health risks to patrons and staff.

Finally, the cleaning practices were equally questionable. Upon finishing cooking, the chef used a visibly dirty rag, reeking of an old bathroom, to clean the grill. This lack of basic hygiene added to the overall negative impression of...