Hibachi Express — Restaurant in Salem

The food at this Hibachi Express at Lakeside was pretty good but not quite 5 stars. The owner is a rude and strange guy. My wife has studied Chinese for many years and spoke Mandarin Chinese to the owner. The owner was very rude and said in English "stop trying to speak Mandarin. you can't speak it". Even though my wife speaks great Mandarin. My wife had her native Chinese friend with her and her native Chinese friend told the owner "actually she speaks great Chinese" and the owner turned his guns on my wife's native Chinese friend and said "You must have grew up in America, you don't know what you're talking about". Actually, my wife's friend grew up in Beijing and definitely knows what she's talking about.

The owner needs to be nicer. He seemed upset to see my wife speak fluent Mandarin. Why would he get upset? Does he have hatred in his heart? Won't support this...

The best Japanese food on the go! Hibachi Express makes it easy to call and place a to-go order, which is convenient because they can get very busy, especially on weekends. They have a Kids size and an Adult size which are nice depending on your appetite. I prefer the Hibachi Chicken which is tender and juicy in the soy sauce with a generous portion of Fried Rice. It comes with a mix of grilled zucchini, squash, and onions, and I will occasionally ask for just onions for a small upcharge. They let you pump your own Yum Yum Sauce / White Sauce which I tend to dump liberally on my food because it is so. darn. good. The family that owns it is friendly enough and the prices...

This place must really be getting squeezed on their margins. The Yum Yum sauce was so watered down, I poured it onto my steak and shrimp and it was the consistency of actual water. Like a disgusting pool in the bottom of the tray with no actual sauce clinging to the food. Like washing the food in some watery substance. Moving onto the Miso Soup - again, no miso flavor, the tub was only 1/2 full and it was completely watered down as well. I used to go to the Towers Hibachi Express before moving to Salem and it is like night and day between the locations. Will they get it together? Judging on the number of sauce complaints dating back several years, it doesn't...