Yamato Steakhouse — Restaurant in Marion

Disappointed all the way around. I came here last Saturday afternoon to celebrate my graduation from IWU with my mother and sister. I made a reservation the week prior and was more than disappointed upon arrival when I walked in and saw how the place looked. It didn't require a reservation...I needed to relieve myself and the facilities smelled awful and were disgusting. I strongly advised my family to wait until we left if they needed to go. Since we were so hungry and my mother (a diabetic) needed to eat we stayed but I was really ready to leave I was so unimpressed especially having gone to such a wonder restaurant the night before in Wabash (Mi Pueblo), but we stayed.

The food came pretty quickly. The salad was decent, soup was cold and very salty (miso) we returned it, my mother and I ordered hibachi style meals and our meats were over cooked/dry, the portions were sizable, the rice was good as well as the sauce used. I noticed the price I was charged was different than the menu but I was so ready to go I didn't even complain. I don't recommend this restaurant. It feels dirty and I have never been to a Japanese restaurant that didn't cook the hibachi food in front of you...just saying...I...

Yamato is fairly expensive, both for Marion and for the quality of the food. However, they are unique in the area, so it's a nice choice for something a little different without driving for an hour. I ordered the age tofu ($5) and the sushi dinner ($15). The tofu was good. It was freshly made and the cooking oil was clean. I think it would make a nice lunch with a cucumber roll. The sushi (8 nigiri and a calofornia roll) was problematic. My big gripe about it is that they do not use sushi rice in their sushi. It is just plain boiled rice. The fish was also unevenly cut and arrived with my appetizer. The timing of the service, the cut of the fish and, especially, the quality of the rice all matter to the final product. If you go to Yamato, get an appetizer and maybe one of the fancier rolls....

Yamato is an AMAZING place to eat. They have a great selection of actual Asian food, and it's simply delectable. It's about the only place in the state that you can get real miso soup or yakisoba, and they're simply to die for. I try to visit Yamato as often as I can, and I have yet to be even remotely disappointed in the food, having tasted almost everything on the menu by now. If you come in season, be sure to try the soft shell crab. Delicious beyond measure.

the restaurant itself is beautiful. Well maintained, well cleaned, and full of atmosphere. Though the outside of the building seems a bit dreary and, well, "sketchy", for lack of a better word.

Overall, I can find little to complain about, to be honest. The restaurant is simply delectable, and I always walk away...