Wasabi Hibachi Sushi Bar — Restaurant in Roswell

We had lunch at Wasabi, a 3 month old “Japanese“ restaurant down the street from our house andnear my Taekwondo School. What a grim pilgrimage it was to this shrine of “Japanese” cuisine, where my wife and I, the only Asian patrons in a packed swarm of white diners, endured a culinary catastrophe so soul-crushing it drove her to declare, “will not come back,” with the finality of a daimyo banishing a disgraced vassal. This Chinese-owned strip-mall charade, posing as a sushi haven, assaults you at the door with a strange smell that serves as a grim herald of the horrors to come. The décor, in fairness, is a deceptive triumph: sleek modern panels cast an elegant setting, while the seats, plush and inviting, cradle you like a siren luring sailors to their doom. It’s as if the interior was crafted to distract from the culinary crimes, but that mysterious stench, lingering like a bad memory, betrays the façade. The kitchen, one suspects, is where authenticity goes to write its last will and testament. The menu is a tragic farce, offering “sushi” that seems concocted by someone who once glimpsed a maki roll in a foggy dream. The sushi arrives nicely plated but tastes like it was scraped from a discount teriyaki jar. The fish, of such low grade it could star in a fishmonger’s nightmare, has the texture of a waterlogged rag and a freshness that suggests it was last seen swimming during the dial-up era. The rice, a gluey clump, grips the plate like it’s staging a hunger strike, while the wasabi offers the zest of a wilted radish. The ramen is no redemption, a substandard bowl of despair that could make a noodle renounce its calling. The broth, likely decanted from a can or premade packet, tastes like it was brewed to insult, thin and flavorless as forgotten dishwater. The pork, tough as a tire tread, chews like it’s exacting vengeance for being sliced. Each spoonful is a grim reminder that ramen should spark joy, not existential regret. Service, however, is the true pièce de résistance. Our primary server, struggling with English as if it were a foreign concept, delivered plates with the precision of a toddler playing darts. Another server, looking like he had just rolled out of bed and forgotten a comb existed, sported a disheveled mop that screamed, “I gave up before my shift started.” The sushi chef, meanwhile, presided over his station with the bored expression of someone scrolling through their phone during a funeral, slicing fish with all the enthusiasm of a Monday morning. Smiles? Absent entirely, as if the staff had collectively sworn a vow of gloom. As the only Asian diners in a crowded room, we felt like anthropologists studying a joyless ritual, our chopsticks hesitating over dishes that mocked both sushi and ramen tradition. My wife’s “will not come back” wasn’t just a statement—it was a solemn oath, forged in the crucible of low-grade fish and leathery pork. This restaurant, with its lovely décor and cozy seats, is a cruel mirage, its strange smell and dour staff a prelude to the culinary despair within. If you’re craving sushi and ramen that insult your senses while a joyless crew sleepwalks through service, join the throng here. Just don’t be surprised if, like my wife, you swear a blood oath to...

My husband, son and I went here for lunch recently. We were excited to have a new restaurant open in this spot since the last one did not survive. We’ve had neighbors that raved about their experience when they first opened, so we couldn’t wait to try!

First, parking is not an issue as it’s a shopping center parking lot free to the public. Upon entering the restaurant, a young lady greeted us and we were seated immediately. There was only one other customer on the restaurant during this time, we were surprised it was empty inside.

I ordered the lunch sushi trio so I could share with my husband. I chose my usual spicy tuna roll that I order everywhere (this is my standard on judging the sushi), and also the Alaska roll and the Yellowtail Jalapeño roll. I was very disappointed, all of the sushi had a very “fishy” taste to it, like it wasn’t fresh and had been sitting out for days in its fish juices. It really distracted me from any flavors of the sushi I ordered. I also noticed that every roll had a very thin layer of rice, some spots almost not even covered by rice. The rolls were also falling apart and there are only 6 pieces.

My husband ordered the steak and shrimp Hibachi and shared some with me. The steak was slightly over cooked (he asked for medium), the shrimp were good. The biggest issue with his meal was the sauce. We have been to MANY Japanese restaurants but we have never had a sauce that was thick, almost a gravy tacky consistency. It was off putting. The vegetables seemed fresh and were cooked nicely.

Our son ordered the chicken katsu bento box. He enjoyed his meal and I did try his chicken katsu and it was nice and crispy.

Unfortunately, almost within the hour, my husband and I both had upset stomachs that lasted the rest of the day. Our son was fine, but he also did not try our food. So we think the hibachi or sushi rolls made us feel terrible.

I would normally give a new restaurant another shot and feel they were just working out the kinks, but after the terrible food my husband and I had and feeling awful afterwards, I do not think we will be back.

The waitress/hostess was pleasant and the restaurant was clean and the decor and ambiance was airy, modern and nice. But if I was the owner, I would look hard at the quality of food you are serving.

If you want excellent sushi, bento, hibachi and service with a smile, go across the street to JP Sushi, they will...

We visited Wasabi for the first time tonight and it did not disappoint. The new sushi and hibachi restaurant is thoughtfully designed with a modern approach. It’s very clean, too 👌🏻. I especially enjoyed the large format digital wall in the back that brings a dynamic vibe to the space. My husband and I along with 3 pre-teen and teenage kids dined at the hibachi table (which was easy to secure a reservation for). We had our own table and were approached very quickly to begin service. That said, service was really great! They were prompt and made sure we all placed drink orders and food orders at the same time (which we always want to do with kids in tow).

The hibachi experience was nothing out of the ordinary but I particularly enjoyed that it was a little faster than most places - this meant we got to eat quickly and get in/out efficiently. The food itself was well seasoned and really yummy. I recommend the filet and shrimp combo with fried rice! We also started with the seaweed salad and I loved it.

As of 6/2/2025 they still do not have their liquor license, so we weren’t able to try any beverages. This was probably the only downfall but I recognize it’s temporary. Keep this in mind if you are looking to dine there soon.

We plan to come back and would really love to try their sushi for lunch or dinner. Great experience overall and especially for east Roswell where we can be close to home!

Bonus: we got a little gift on the way out (chopstick and...