Tokyo Japanese Steak House Inc — Restaurant in Joplin

We are very frequent visitors of Japanese Steak House. We are usually thrilled with our service and meal, but tonight put a bitter taste in our mouth so bad that we will travel to Bentonville before we eat here again. We started off with a short wait (we anticipated it being longer being a Friday night) but during our wait there was no one at the bar, finally we asked a server for a drink while we waited and he said "Well I can't find the bar tender I'll just get them for you myself" no worries there at least we got our drink and he was very friendly. Once seated at the hibachi our waitress brought our drinks, salad, and soup. All 10 (4 different parities) people at the hibachi were done eating and out of drinks when our chef arrived. Our waitress brought a few drinks and did not return. An older gentleman was in the room as well and the chef told us he was one of the owners. We asked him for a drink, once again they were empty, and he said "Ugh I am not a server let me find your server." Usually an owner will do what it takes to make his guests happy?! Right?! Finally another waiter brought our drinks, and another guest at our hibachi had to go up to the front and get our chopsticks. He then asked our waitress if his sushi would be ready soon, her reply "There's a long wait you'll get it when you get it." We were all staring at each other in disbelief. Long story longer (I'm sorry) than it started. Our food was sub-par, one diner wasn't served noodles (when the chef asked the waitress for noodles, she replied she's too busy she has a party) because they ran out, and another guest wasn't served their steak because they ran out. Then the owner was back in the room. We tried speaking to him, he then acts like he doesn't know English, after he spoke to us earlier just fine. We asked to speak to a manager or someone who knew English well. We then got to talk to the gentleman that served our drinks in the beginning (remember when there was no bar tender?) he said don't worry we will take care of your meal. "I'm very sorry." At this point we thought "Okay everyone has a bad day it's ok." The hostess then comes in and tells "We'll take 20% not the whole check." I would not accept that after all we were literally told 3 minutes before our meal would be comped. Now we aren't just some angry diners looking for a free meal, so we as a group, decided that we would tip the chef as it wasn't his fault about the awful service by his co-workers. He received an $80 tip, and all 4 parties told him he was great. The waitress then comes in and argues that she did not say any thing to us and did a good job. And she had a party to take care and we weren't her only table. As we were walking out of the restaurant the owner and hostess were talking in another language staring at us, and we politely told them thank you, and they would not respond. We used to love this place, but we will not be back. A sour waitress is understandable but a sour owner is no deserver...

My wife and I were invited via our daughter and boyfriend for my wife's birthday dinner. The boyfriend had been to this Japanese Steakhouse multiple times and knew we would enjoy the food and the experience. I gotta say he was spot on.

We were seated immediately around a flat top that the Chef uses to prepare whatever meal the customer(s) ordered. You are in close proximity of other customers that are there to enjoy the same thing. But, unless you're in a large group of those you know, like a family event or a work lunch/dinner event, one "might" feel uncomfortable sitting close to those you don't know. For me and our family this is a non-issue. We can gab it up with strangers no problem. Around great food gabbing becomes easier. Our service was quick. But I think our server wasn't into this particular early evening visit. She wasn't friendly but cordial. Almost as if she was more interested in leaving due to another priority. Her body language indicated as much. She did take care of needs around this relative large group of 8 folks, including me, my wife, daughter, and boyfriend. Thus the ding in service which was more about how she interacted.

Orders all taken. Our Chef, "Baby," came out to prepare multiple meals. What a GREAT personality and genuine love of his craft. He made it enjoyable to be a part of as his enthusiasm was contagious. Videos are posted. The family getting the air time is the other family seated with all of us. They were the strangers that became a small part of this birthday dinner experience for my wife.

The Japanese food and the experience is first class. My daughter's boyfriend made a great call. It was the first time here for my wife and myself. My daughter had been here once before with her boyfriend. Gotta say, we can't wait to return just on a date night!

Thank you Tokyo Japanese Steak House for an epic menu selection and quality food. Thank you to our Chef Baby for a superb performance and at times memorizing. It was indeed an...

Wasn't my choice to eat here. Reading some of the reviews had me REALLY nervous about what to expect.

Surprisingly, the visit was very nice. The service was quick, the staff we had were pleasant (I did notice some of the other staff there were very sour faced).

Bailey, our waitress, was very attentive and made sure we had everything we needed including refills.

The chef (I wish I had caught his name) did a great job preparing & cooking our food. All our chef prepared food was delicious. The salads & appetizers were very good. The only thing I would mark them down on food wise other than the small portions, would be the onion soup. With the promise of mushrooms & green onions in a clear broth, this soup was disappointingly bland with a serious lack of any mushroom or green onion.

As you would expect from an establishment that should have had more entertainment during the cooking process, this place is on the expensive side. Note I said, "should have had more entertainment"... that's because there was VERY little of it. Having been to these types of restaurants before where the chefs flip shrimp into their hats or pockets, twirl knives and perform a lot of other fun and thrilling things, the high cost is well worth it. Maybe they are trying to cut down on the cost of wasted food??? Maybe use chicken pieces instead of shrimp... or drop prices to match the drop in entertainment value. This lack of entertainment has been mentioned in many other reviews and you should know not to expect much.

Overall, it was a very pleasant, delicious, although too expensive visit that unless they make some changes I will unfortunately not...