Osaka Sushi & Hibachi - Oregon, OH — Restaurant in Oregon

After traveling for most of the day, we finally stopped at our hotel and thought, "let's look for a good place to eat!" We were just passing through Oregon (Toledo,) and having never been here before we weren't sure what was on offer. Right next to the hotel was this place, Osaka Sushi and Hibachi. We all thought that sounded great! When we entered, we thought that maybe this might not have been the best choice. The place looked a bit run down, and the hibachi grills where one would normally sit were stacked with supplies. The place was, however, absolutely full of guests. We were seated in a booth and looked at the menu, which listed a huge variety of sushi (cooked and raw,) stir fry dishes, soups, udon noodle dishes, bento boxes, and desserts. We decided to order bento boxes, a teriyaki beef udon dish, a hibachi chicken dish, and to start gyoza dumplings and a crab "spider" as appetizers. Our impression of the place continued to go downhill at this point, as our salads and soups that were part of the bento boxes were brought out to us in Styrofoam to-go containers. We almost cancelled our orders and prepared to leave. However, this is where things changed.

My wife had gone to the bathroom and when she came back she said the bathroom was absolutely spotless. I've read you can tell the quality of a restaurant's kitchen by the cleanliness of their restrooms, as the same mindset controls both. We proceeded to open up the salad containers and the lettuce, tomato and cucumbers were crisp and fresh. The miso soup was hot, savory and flavorful. Our main dishes began to arrive in traditional plates, and each one of them was made with the freshest ingredients, excellent presentation, and amazing flavors. The sushi was well prepared, the tempura cooked to perfection, the chicken breast in the bento box seasoned and prepared perfectly, the udon noodle dish flavorful and teeming with fresh vegetables. The Hibachi chicken was perfect.

We were blown away by Osaka Sushi and Hibachi. Don't let appearances deceive you. This was one of the best hibachi restaurant meals I've ever had, and I say this having eaten similar dishes in multiple states, in Europe, and in Tokyo, Japan. We asked the waiter to pass our compliments to the chef, and he did. The waiter said the chief had arrived in the US in 2008 and had been making food in this fashion since. This place is a diamond in the rough, and...

We had an amazing experience here, especially after making our way here from a wet, snowy drive downtown (we first tried to get into Kenga, but the atmosphere wasn't for us - too loud, VERY crowded). However, Osaka's roomy and warm atmosphere, along with the most wonderful server, was a welcome and much-needed environment! It was like stepping into a warm embrace, one that just happens to have a warm bowl of miso to scare away the wintry elements.

Our amazing server couldn't be more accommodating and patient with us - giving us enough time to peruse the menu without being gone too long - she provided the most perfect balance.

The sushi...even though it wasn't on the menu, the sushi chef did an outstanding job artfully crafting my favorite, custom dish, Tekka Don (tuna on a bed of rice). The results were beautiful...the colors blending together perfectly with the added elements I didn't request, but completed the dish in an aesthetically pleasing symmetry. I almost didn't want to eat it!

I honestly could go on and on, but I'll tell you this - come here for the ambiance, the friendliness, the immediate accommodation, the sweet plum wine, and the delectable sushi, most certainly prepared straight from the heart! We will definitely be returning here whenever...

I was unable to tell if this restaurant was open from the outside due to the windows and doors being dirty with a broken lock on door. A fishy odor was obvious when walking in. Employees were severely under dressed, unkempt and lounging around the entrance. Decor was confusing; part Chinese with touches of cheap Japanese costume swords on wall. Clutter, cleaning bottles, taped paper notes and boxes were spread about without care or sense of order leading to quick thoughts of what the kitchen would reveal if visible. The country music and atmosphere did not set the mood for Sushi at all. Disappointed that I did not feel good about ordering raw fish due to the odor, I was equally not impressed with the fried rice cooked in Chinese styling. I did appreciate our server and her ability to answer questions and check in on us during the meal. This could be a really nice restaurant with some investment and some care in the details. Also I would suggest getting rid of the hibachi hood and grill since it was an eye sore and served more as an extra table for boxes then a cooking device. If things don't change, sorry to say, I would...