Japan XO — Restaurant in Raleigh

I had an unfortunate circumstance here. This was my first visit here. The staff spoke when we entered and the place looked cleaned.

I ordered Hibachi Salmon plate. It came with veggie and fried rice.

Prior to my food being ready, a female staff member brushed her hair with her hands and fixed her ponytail. She did not wash her hands. I privately inquired about that when my plate was brought out, but she said she sanitized her hands. I did not witness that but I am sure her hands were not washed because I watched to make sure she did not fix my plate nor bag it.

I got my food and went home. When I arrived home my food was still hot and it looked delicious. The fired rice and veggies were not as flavorful as I'm used to, but it was edible.

The salmon was thick with skin side down on the rice and veggies. I ate a great portion of the rice and veggies before eating the salmon. When I ate the salmon I bit into scales... OMG that was horrible. I choked and regurgitate what I previously digested. The other portion of the salmon still had scales on it.

I called and was given to Peter, to whom I eventually found out is the manager. Peter listened and apologozed. He went on to say that the food is sent like that and they taste it before serving. So I asked had it eaten it that way. Peter said yes, it taste more crunchy and tasty. In all my travels nationally and internationally, I've never had fish intentionally with scales.

Peter offered for me to get 1/2 off on our next visit but at this time we will not return NOR will we suggest...

Where do I start. You would think that Restaurant that specializes in Asian Cuisines would smell delicious but the restaurant stinks to the point it almost makes you second guess buying their food. Outside of the horrendous smell; the cooks do not wear gloves or a hair net. I noticed one cook kept wiping his nose on his shirt sleeve and I literally caught that same cook put something in his mouth and afterwards he proceeded in licking his hand that he picked the food up with. He then proceed to cook and flip the food items on the grill without washing his hands. By this time someone was bringing me out my food. I was very disturbed and disgusted especially with Covid and a multitude of viruses and diseases going on. Go at your own risk. But these people are nasty; they are not “Back” home! This is America. Here we do not lick our hands and eat off other people food or plates unless it is family/friends (depending on how close you are); I personally do not allow that from anyone. How animalistic and uncivilized must you be to do something like that. Just Disgusting. The food was decent at the most; I believe most people leave good reviews bc the prices are good for hibachi. It’s definitely not worth me going back and risking my life as far as getting sick from their negligent...

Had an absolutely awful expierence. I have issues eating raw salmon, so i go OUT OF MY WAY to NOT order it in my sushi. I ordered a crunchy crab roll with masago and spicy mayo on top. I was amoung a larger order, which included a Vegas roll, which includes raw salmon. These two rolls were for two seperate people in the order, and i would have NEVER expected what i recieved. I recieved my ServSafe license in 2016, from my high school Hunter Huss, and was top of my class. What i recieved was a helath code violation. I recived the crunchy roll as well as the Vegas roll, in the same box. The Crunchy roll has COOKED CRAB MEAT (a shell fish) and the Vegas roll has RAW SALMON. These two rolls were touching and completely cross contaminated. When the issue was addressed with the owner SEVERAL TIMES. He said that the rolls were ok to be boxed together, and there were no issues with the way they were boxed. My personal issues with raw salmon aside, THIS IS CROSS CONTAMINATION. RAW FISH CANNOT TOUCH COOKED FISH NO MATTER WHAT. The owner refused to do ANYTHING or find ANY SOLUTION. I have pictures of the way they were boxed, not to mention the girl who ate the Vegas roll,...