Mr Tokyo Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in Monroe

If you’re looking for the GOOD OLE RELIABLE, you’ve found it!

When visiting Monroe, NC, during the College Football National Championship, myself, my fiancé, her parents, and her grandfather decided on takeout from Mr. Tokyo Japanese Restaurant. For a group of out-of-towners relying on Google to guide us, Mr. Tokyo proved to be a safe and enjoyable choice.

Ordering and Customer Service From the moment I placed my order over the phone, I was met with excellent customer service. A young lady answered my call, and though the restaurant sounded busy (it was MLK Day, after all), she was patient, helpful, and friendly. It’s a small thing, but in today’s world, good customer service sets the tone for the entire experience, even when ordering takeout. Despite the background noise, she made the process seamless, ensuring our large and varied order was taken down accurately.

The Order Our group ordered a spread of hibachi meals, sushi, and appetizers. The final order included: • 3x Teriyaki Hibachi Chicken • 1x Hibachi Shrimp • 1x Hibachi Steak • 1x Clear Soup • 2x Crab Rangoons • 1x Philadelphia Classic Roll • 1x Juicy Crab Roll

The Highlights Let’s start with the sushi. Both rolls—the Philadelphia Classic Roll and the Juicy Crab Roll—were flavorful and fresh. I’ll say that the juicy crab roll was a flavorful well constructed dish as well as I received solid rolls. So for that I’ll give it a 9.259 on a scale out of 10. While the Philly roll we ordered it classic and would say it was pretty standard so far that I’ll give it a 8.259. Overall I’d give them a solid 8.75/10, which is great for a non-specialty sushi spot in a smaller town. The clear soup was as expected, comforting and standard, and the Crab Rangoons were packed with cream cheese, though a bit light on crab. They had a unique shape that stood out from what you’d normally see, which added a bit of personality to the dish.

Hibachi Meals The hibachi meals were good but not spectacular. The fried rice, while fine, lacked that authentic buttery flavor you’d expect from a stellar hibachi experience. It did the job but didn’t stand out. The vegetables, however, were a pleasant surprise—stovetop-fried, well-seasoned, and soy-sauce-infused to perfection. As for the proteins, they were cooked well but didn’t leave a lasting impression. If you’re looking for hibachi in Monroe, this will satisfy your craving, but it might not blow you away.

The Overall Experience From placing the order to picking it up, the experience was smooth and efficient. The staff worked well to accommodate the rush, which was evident by the loud, bustling background when I called. The packaging was neat and secure, ensuring everything arrived intact and hot when I picked it up. For a group that just wanted a relaxing meal during the game, Mr. Tokyo delivered on convenience and quality.

Value for Money While the flavors were mostly satisfying, the portions were fair, and the pricing felt appropriate for what we received. Given the range of dishes ordered and the overall quality, I’d say the value was good. It’s not the kind of hibachi or sushi experience that you’ll talk about for years to come, but it’s reliable and worth the price.

Final Thoughts Mr. Tokyo Japanese Restaurant offers a dependable and enjoyable dining experience, especially for takeout. The sushi was fresh, the customer service was great, and the food overall provided a solid Japanese comfort meal. If you’re local to Monroe or passing through, it’s a convenient option for satisfying your hibachi or sushi cravings. While it may not rival high-end Japanese establishments, it’s a great spot for casual dining or takeout.

Would I return? Absolutely, especially for the sushi and friendly service. If you’re in Monroe, Mr. Tokyo is worth a visit, whether you’re dining in or grabbing takeout to enjoy at home. It’s the kind of spot that might not stand out for luxury, but it’s reliable, friendly, and exactly what you’d want for a casual meal.

Ps. We were so hungry I forgot to take pics. So yall get left overs....

Mr Tokyo is an extremely poor representation of Japanese food. Anyone who thinks its food is fabulous need only to try freshly made sushi and such at a reputable Japanese restaurant such as Ishi in the University area. One night, pushing aside my fear of eating 'fast food sushi' and based mainly on the terrific reviews I read, I decided to try Mr Tokyo. So I toted home a sampling of items from the menu expecting to find something I liked. In a nutshell, it was disastrous. Each bite, from soup to shrimp to sushi was worse than the one before. The entire meal was engorged with preservatives so forget about 'fresh'. The shrimp tempura, obviously kept in the freezer, was encrusted with a thick, hard shell of oily bread crumbs - a far cry from lightly-coated flakes that a tempura should have. On opening the lid to the miso soup a peculiar smell wafted from it. I took a small sip and immediately winced - it had an odd bitter taste that resembled nothing to the delicate and subtle flavor of fresh miso paste. Instead it tasted like a freeze-dried powder laden with chemicals. The sauces were watered down versions of a sugary glop that was difficult to imagine what they were supposed to be. Fortunately I can't comment on the sushi. Based on the overall lack of quality in the food, I wasn't going to risk eating raw fish from this establishment - that night or any night for that matter. As far as everything I bought that evening to sample? It all went uneaten and into the garbage - exactly where it...

f I could put less than a star I would. We were seated at 625 and 10 minutes later my husband arrived at which point we still had not been greeted. The server got our drinks and did need to come back because we needed one minute to decide and placed our order which was 5 sushi rolls and steak udon for the kids to share. The soups and salad came out promptly. After 30 minutes I noticed that the food was taking quite a while. At 45 minutes and other tables getting their food is when I asked to speak to a manager. It took 5 minutes for anyone to approach the table. We were told "sorry for the mistake and the food would be prioritized and out in 5 minutes." 4 of the 5 sushi rolls came out and was told my kid's food would be another 15 minutes! An hour and 15 minutes for food!?! An appetizer was ordered for my kids, which they wouldn't eat and told them so. I also stated I was not waiting another 15 minutes. I was also told the kid's food would be comped and 30% would be taken off the sushi. Are you kidding!?! We sat staring at the sushi because I was not going to eat in front of my kids. After 5 minutes we just left. Spent over an hour at the restaurant and ate a side salad. Service was DISMAL at best and the way the manager (who waits tables??) Handled the situation was worse. As a previous restaurant manager, I am appalled and we will...