Yakitori Jinbei — Restaurant in Smyrna

Ironic that for a place with Yakitori in its name, it seems to be very selective with the days that it chooses to serve them (Thurs-Saturdays) and only after 5pm. Seems like they really want to serve Yakitori almost as much as the Cable guy wants to help you set up your TV.

The first time I came in they were out of the yakitori so we ordered sushi, which also happened to be out. I ended up settling with the Korean Fried Chicken and lukewarm ramen that tasted just meh. I just assumed they had a busy night and were short on food, but they could've told us before we made our orders. It also struck me as odd when they said Yakitori were served only on certain days. OK.

Despite that experience I came back a second time on Friday to see if I can actually get some Yakitori. I called in at 5:28pm to ask if they do reservations. Unfortunately they don't do that, and that's fine. They TOLD me that they have a waitlist and if I wanted to put my name down with group number. I did just that and drove over with my friends. I checked with the front desk and lo and behold, they didn't even bother to put down my name. I'm disappointed in whoever took the call.

While waiting in line, more people came in after my party and were put on the waitlist. They were all let in before us even after we waited there for more than 20-30 minutes (we arrived 6:35). Not only that, we arrived ahead of time so that we can use the Happy Hour offer that ended at 7. Because of the wait, that pushed us to be seated 7:05 which was slightly after the time period. The waitress told us that the system locks out and that there is no way to provide us with the offer, which felt unfair. To be fair, I do not blame the waitress, she was just relaying company policy. I just think the system is garbage for making everything so inaccessible and not user-friendly. Of course exclusivity sells, I guess.

Then we finally ordered our food. We had the Korean Fried Chicken which tasted pretty good, but I noticed that the drumstick I was munching on still had red in it, one whole side of it.

After that, the Yakitori came and it looked as any Yakitori should. Taste was fine, but not enough to justify the prices. I guess because Guy Fieri really liked them or posed for photos now they have increased in value. Supply and demand and all that. Cool.

Overall, I would say my experience with Yakitori Jinbei is very underwhelming. Came in on two different occasions and left disappointed both times. Sometimes it was the service, such as when the waitstaff didn't even know what is out which resulted with me having to reorder food multiple times. Serving Yakitori on exclusive days kind of defeats the purpose of the name of the restaurant, I came here for Yakitori not Ramen Mondays or Sushi Sundays.

For our most recent visit, we ordered 15 piece Yakitori, Korean Fried Chicken, and a sushi roll netting us almost 70$. For that price, I could have gone to Sushi Village gotten similar quality sushi if not better, in greater quantity, and have faster seating. The Yakitori was also just meh, I can see why they only serve them 3 of 7 days of the week. If I was in their position, I guess...

Once Loyal Customers, but Quality and Service Have Deteriorated

I’ve been a loyal customer of the yakitori restaurant for years, cherishing the unique flavors and warm ambiance that kept me coming back. However, my recent experience has left me no choice but to share my disappointment.

Today marked a turning point as the food quality plummeted to an unprecedented low. The dishes that once delighted my taste buds now resembled nothing more than hastily reheated TV dinners. The fried rice, once crispy and flavorful, was transformed into a mushy mess that was nearly inedible. The bulgogi, which used to be a delightful highlight, was not only lacking in taste but visually appalling – a slab of silver-gray meat that hardly resembled the appetizing dish it once was.

To make matters worse, when we approached the manager with our concerns, their response was shockingly unapologetic. Rather than addressing our valid complaints, they seemed offended that we dared to mention the dismal quality of the food. This dismissive attitude only added to our disappointment and cemented our decision to sever ties with a restaurant that had been a dependable favorite for so long.

The decline in food quality wasn’t the only cause for concern. The restaurant’s health score, which had previously stood at an impressive 98, had fallen to a dismal 80 on our recent visit. Such a drop in health standards raises serious questions about the overall cleanliness and safety of the establishment.

It pains me to write this review, as I had hoped for the restaurant to maintain its standards and continue delivering the memorable dining experiences I had come to expect. Regrettably, this is no longer the case. It’s with a heavy heart that I advise potential patrons to steer clear of this once-beloved spot. The prices no longer align with the lackluster offerings, and the disappointment is not worth the expense.

In conclusion, my loyalty has been squandered, and I can no longer recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking a satisfying dining experience. Save your money, time, and taste buds by avoiding this establishment at all costs. The restaurant’s decline from a cherished culinary destination to an underwhelming disappointment is truly...

My ratings to the food I tried: Tonkotsu Ramen: 3 Katsudon: 1 Korean Fried Chicken: 5

First time I had Tonkotsu Ramen. It has enoki mushrooms and bamboo shoots, which tastes normal. The egg and pork tastes pretty good. Remen itself tastes okay. By far I would rate the dish as 5 star, but then I tasted some very weird vegetables at the bottom of the ramen. I don't know what those vegetables are, but they don't taste good. Based on the menu, I think maybe it's sauteed cabbage. If that's the case, it's the worst cabbage I've ever had. It doesn't have any good taste where I expect from cabbage.

Second time I had Katsudon. I'm a big fan of Katsudon, Gyudon and other dons. Though the dish doesn't taste bad, it doesn't really make me feel happy either. The porks are extremely below my expectation. I would expect porks to be wrapped in a crisp layer of bread crumbs. But they are not wrapped inside at all. After first bite, pork and bread crumb are separated as if they are never well mixed in the first place. Bread crumbs are not only not crispy, but feel like they have been put inside water for a very long time. Eggs are not well made. Though not too bad, it's not the style where eggs should be made for Katsudon. In addition, I expect unions to be spread across the surface with egg.

Third time I tried Korean Fried Chicken. Though last time it was not a very good experience, I already made the decision that time when I saw the menu so I still decided to come. It doesn't disappoint me. First of all, it looks pretty beautiful, with orange sauce and green onions. After my first bite, I feel in love with it. It makes me feel like I'm home, though I never tried anything before when I was in China. The surface is crispy, but not thick. With a bite of both the crispy surface and the chicken meat, I feel very happy. Sauce has a strong taste but not greasy.

One more small thing is that sushi table seems a little bit small when all chairs...