NAO Japanese Grill — Restaurant in Pigeon Forge

We were visiting from chattanooga and wanted some good hibachi and sushi, came in and there was a sign saying they no longer serve sushi(more than half of their menu were sushi). We walked in and it was dead silent , no music playing or volume on the tv ,we went ahead and got two orders of filet and chicken , we paid for drinks and NONE of the drinks were good, the soda machine was out of c02 and the soda machine by the cashier didnt work, went up there and told the worker and she did not understand what “carbanation” was so i just ended up getting water, not once did she offer me a refund for the drinks, we got our food and i could say that it was the WORST hibachi i have ever had, the chicken was so tough that u could barely stick a fork in it, the filet just was not it, definitely not “filet mignon” , the rice was wet and cold somehow and it was served “fresh”, the vegetables were extremely overcooked. We took a couple bites and could not force ourself to keep eating even though we were starving. Not to mention , we ended up getting water and it still didnt taste right! It tasted like metal water and there were particles in the water! The “manager” walked in right when we were about to leave and we went up there to let them know how our experience was and was told that “wow yall are the first people, everyone else loves it” , im convinced that everyone that wrote a good review here does not know what good / authentic hibachi is, she asked if we finished our food and we told her that we barely ate any of it , she then only refunded us for one meal and the drinks which was not a big deal but being told by the manager that we were the “only” one that complained is bullcrap! Look at the reviews and see for yourself! this place is ran down and if youre wanting good hibachi DO NOT GO HERE! Save your money and go to nagano pigeon forge or even PANDA EXPRESS...

I have conflicting review of this place. Last week had the most amazing scallops and asparagus there. Went a few nights ago to try the steak....and something was off....very off. I felt horrible asking for a refund. They did so, but without saying much. I was apologetic ...but I shouldn't have to feel bad when what I was served wasnt fresh? She said it was ok, and just wanted happy customer. But ....

So how could one meal be so amazing and next week a complete fail? I appreciate that they refunded me.....First counter clerk said no, they never done that before. And Im thinking..."but Im not going to eat meat that tast like that steak in my own fridge thats iffy after I forgot to grill it for a week " Something was off and I was trying to tell them politely....so I gad to tell her, I literally took 2 bites and maybe she needed to ask a manager or something.....And, she did. I was refunded and felt horrible for asking....she still charged me for a fountain soda, which I left there because I wasnt hoing to sit in there and sip a soda without any food? Why didnt she just refund the whole thing? Wierd...just wierd. And why does a person need to feel bad when something was clearly wrong? So, like I said, very undecided about the whole place.

Cleanser they use on the tables has ruined the finish. So they have a sticky residue feel that makes them look like it hasnt been wiped. There are definitely some issues going on when it comes to the details. Since I travel for work I eat at A LOT of places.....and its these details that stick out in my mind when I decude to go back or not. Im here for 1 more week out of 7.....chances are I will wait untill Im back next year to decide. This last experience was enough...

This place was so good it makes me angry. I am passing through on a road trip and wanted some food that was close to my hotel that wasn't some chain I could have anywhere else. I made the right choice. I chose NAO hoping for acceptable hibachi and passable sushi but what I got was more than I could have asked for. The nigiri I got was shockingly fresh and high quality for being in a place like Pigeon Forge. No altered colors, substitute fish or alterations to appear more desirable. Just genuinely good fresh fish. The fried calamari and shrimp used in the hibachi dish were not chewy and perfectly cooked, while the sauces accompanying them were delicious but not overwhelming. The steak was cooked perfectly and we cleaned every plate, which is rare for me and my wife to do. I never am so upset or impressed by a place to leave a review so this is a first for me. The owner obviously cares greatly about this place and despite a large menu selection, uses cross utilization of ingreditions perfectly so it doesn't sacrifice quality of individual dishes. All sushi/nigiri is made to order and all hibachi cooked aswell. It made me slightly sad that the only thing I saw people ordering was hibachi plates when they had such good ingredients for everything, but I was happy they seemed to be getting good business.. The only downside was the wait time and that is mostly due to it being a tourist town with high turnover rates being unable to keep up with the obvious demand on the business.

Short version: If you are willing to wait for this food(at very affordable prices) you will not be disappointed. If you enjoy sushi or hibachi you will be very surprised...