Mikado Japanese Steakhouse — Restaurant in Palm Desert

I recently had the opportunity to dine at Mikado Japanese Steakhouse, and my experience was a mixed bag. While the service was top-notch, the food was average and overpriced, and the restaurant's policies left a lot to be desired.

The Food: Unfortunately, the food at Mikado Japanese Steakhouse was a letdown. The miso soup was overly salty, and the salad was saggy and unappetizing. The ginger dressing was watery and lacked flavor. My wife's scallops were met with indifference, and her exact words were "it wasn't bad, but it wasn't good." This lackluster food was made even more disappointing by the high prices.

The Prices: Speaking of prices, Mikado Japanese Steakhouse seems to nickel and dime its customers for every little thing. Want fried rice? That'll be an extra $6 for a small bowl. This feels like a unnecessary add-on, and I would have preferred it if the restaurant had simply built the cost of the rice into the price of the meal. Alternatively, they could have provided a more generous portion size to justify the extra cost.

The Menu: One of the biggest issues I had with Mikado Japanese Steakhouse was the lack of detail on the menu. I ordered the vegetable option, but I was not expecting tofu to be included. Unfortunately, this meant that I lost half of my portion size when the food arrived, as I don't eat soy. I would have appreciated it if the menu had provided more information about what was included in each dish.

The Service: Despite the issues with the food and menu, the service at Mikado Japanese Steakhouse was exceptional. Our server was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable, and did a great job of making sure we had everything we needed throughout the meal.

The Verdict: Overall, my experience at Mikado Japanese Steakhouse was a mixed bag. While the service was top-notch, the food was average and overpriced, and the restaurant's policies left a lot to be desired. With a little more attention to detail and a more generous approach to portion sizes, this restaurant could be a real winner. As it stands, I would caution potential diners to be aware of the extra costs and to carefully review the menu before ordering.

Rating Breakdown: Food: 2/5 Service: 5/5 Value: 2/5 Menu: 2/5 Overall Experience: 3/5

Recommendation: If you're looking for a Japanese steakhouse experience, I would recommend exploring other options in the area. While Mikado Japanese Steakhouse has some potential, the high prices and lackluster food make it a less desirable choice. However, if you do decide to dine here, be sure to carefully review the menu and ask questions about what's included...

Wowww! What a gorgeous and great restaurant !

We came here for dinner yesterday, on Friday 10/4. We were a lot , about 36 people; 7 families from LA, that went on a vacation in the Palm Desert area. My daughter chose that restaurant, and made a reservation for 20 people (that how we started this trip). When more people decided to join us, they made their own reservations, for various different hours (whatever was available online). On Friday, my daughter called the restaurant, and explained SEAN, the manager , that we are a big group, with different hours of reservations, but would like to dine together. I will not exaggerate if I will say that this nice and kind manager (SEAN) did EVERYTHING he could to accommodate all of us together at 8pm, and moreover, put all of us (36 people!) together in a private room. He greeted us upon arrival, and during the whole evening checked on us, to make sure everything is o.k. Thank to him, and his wonderful crew, we had a beautiful and unforgettable evening! The food was delicious and the service was outstanding ! The vibe and the atmosphere is so happy and vibrant. The chefs are doing anything to make your experience here unique and happy. We all enjoyed it SO much! Excellent food, with a great entertainment. If you are visiting the Palm Desert area, do not miss this gorgeous restaurant. To my opinion (and basically everyone in our group), it is a must visit. We couldn't have a better Friday evening anywhere else. Thank you SEAN, you are such a treasure to...

Food was good, but a bit overpriced.

Big problem was our chef Ricardo. My mother has a shellfish allergy and told the waiter, but she said shellfish can still be cooked on the grill. She reminded Ricardo this when he arrived and he was angry (at my mom!) because the server had not alerted him about the allergy. He angrily asked if she had told the server, which she had, and when she said cooking together was okay he got angry and said no I have to return the food to the kitchen because if you get sick then it’s my fault. He said this very aggressively and left.

Then, when someone in my party asked which of the two sauces should be used with meat and which with veggies, he responded, “Were you not here when I explained that?”

Someone in our party asked for a fried rice after not previously asking for one and when they said thank you, Ricardo said “Don’t say thank you, you’re paying for it.”

Someone not in our party accidentally grabbed one of our fried rice and when we asked Ricardo for a new one Ricardo asked the couple why they would take it if they hadn’t ordered it.

Lastly, he threw the shrimp at us to catch quicker than any chef I’ve ever seen. He clearly wanted to do the bare minimum and leave the entire night.

The table behind us had an amazing chef and we have been to this restaurant many times over the years, but this was unacceptable, and we simply didn’t say anything that night to not further ruin the...