KABUTO Jr HIBACHI HOUSE — Restaurant in Richmond

This restaurant is ok. I expected better because of the high ratings on yelp/google. Service is good, food is meh.

As I've said in other reviews for Asian restaurants in the downtown Richmond area, Asian food here is not the greatest. It's probably best to stay away from Asian food in the area and go for other types of cuisine.

I ordered takoyaki and spicy ramen and added corn ($1) and nori ($0.75). $0.75 for two small pieces of nori felt a bit steep. My friend ordered the chicken karaage and pork bun. The chicken karaage just tasted like regular chicken nuggets, and the pork bun had shredded pork in it. I didn't try it. The takoyaki I had was ok - it wasn't piping hot on the inside like I'm used to and tasted more like batter than octopus.

The ramen was underwhelming. It gave off a smell that I'm not used to (smelled like vegetables? Bamboo chutes? It just smelled off). The broth wasn't very rich/creamy and was more on the watery side. Noodles were ok; as another reviewer stated, they had the texture of instant ramen. The chashu slices in the ramen threw me off because they were really thinly sliced. There was a decent amount of chashu slices in the ramen, so I don't know why they don't just give 2-3 thicker slices like most ramen places that I've been to do.

The restaurant is affordable and probably ok if your expectations aren't high, but I wouldn't return. The restaurant has an odd smell to it when you walk in and it's a bit difficult to go down the stairs to go to...

Good service and atmosphere, but food needs a bit of improvement.

As I walked in, our party was warmly welcomed by the waitress, who was very attentive and friendly. The environment was inviting, and the menu offered a solid variety of ramen and hibachi dishes.

Pros: The hibachi is definitely a standout. I ordered the dinner portion of the garlic beef hibachi, and the flavors were well balanced. The rice and vegetables mellowed out the boldness of the garlic beef. It also came with a fresh salad and a comforting bowl of soup. The yumyum sauce deserves a special mention: its creamy, sweet-savory profile really brought the dish together.

Cons: The ramen, however, was a bit too salty for my taste. While some might enjoy the bold flavor, I think it could benefit from pairing with extra white rice or steamed vegetables to balance things out. That said, the noodles had a satisfying chew, and the variety of toppings you can choose to add some nice texture and contrast. Definitely the highlight of the bowl once you finish slurping through it.

If you’re in downtown and craving hibachi, this place is...

Came here for an early dinner with my daughter (5) and son (4) who both had a grand time. They were patient and accomodating and brought us extra bowls and utensils. My kids split a bowl of the signature Tenka Ramen (and by that I mean they devoured it) as well as some dumplings. I had some takoyaki and the curry ramen - which I'd never seen before - both of which were delicious. The curry ramen was topped with fried chicken which both kids tried a piece of and loved. My daughter decided to do a mixture of both broths (just a little of the curry) because she liked them both, while my son declared that he preferred his own broth (the tenka) to mine.

Service was quick and very friendly. We sat in a little booth, which was perfect. There was also a small amount of bad seating and a few tables. I think they may have had to reduce the indoor seating for staffing reasons since there's also room in the front that's currently used for people waiting for pick up orders now. Charming spot though, and right in the middle of the city. Definitely recommend if you're...