Hibachi 2 U — Restaurant in Town of Hempstead

Short version: Incredibly disappointed and frustrated. Absolutely not what their social media reflects. One chef for 20 people. Rude management. Small portion sizes and fatty steak. I should’ve just cooked for our group and saved $1,500.

We booked this company for an at-home hibachi experience and unfortunately, it was extremely disappointing. It was nothing like what their social media shows. The ONE chef (for 20 people) who came was nice but timid, and provided none of the crowd work, interaction, or hibachi-style entertainment that one expects with this type of service, or that their social media promises. Because he was managing the meal for 20, he was too busy cooking and didn't have the bandwidth to engage with the group, which completely defeated the purpose of hiring a hibachi experience in the first place.

When I called the company mid-meal to express these concerns, the man who answered was incredibly rude and combative. Instead of addressing the issue, he told me I should have ordered a second chef for our group of 20. Nowhere on the website did it mention that only one chef was provided for a large party, or that a second chef was required for a group this size. Frankly, a professional company should know better: if 20 people is too many for one chef, then it’s on them to staff appropriately or at least make that clear upfront. Because there was only one chef, he was managing the cooking and the serving, so food came out in waves and some of it was cold by the time everyone was served.

I’ve done an at-home hibachi experience before with their local competitor, and it was everything you’d expect- fun, lively, engaging, and worth the money. Two chefs for 14 people, without request. This, unfortunately, was the complete opposite. For the price, I expected far more than one person quietly cooking at the grill. They absolutely should’ve had a second person there for assistance and crowd work.

Their social media paints a completely different picture. The videos and posts make it look like a lively, interactive, fun experience with lots of energy—exactly what we were expecting and why we booked. What we received was the complete opposite. On top of that, their pricing is $10 more per person than their local competitor, yet the quality and experience fell FAR short.

I would not recommend this company if you’re looking for an authentic hibachi-style experience. Save yourself the money and book with their...

I recently had the absolute pleasure of celebrating my daughter’s engagement at a truly unforgettable event hosted by the incredible Hibachi 2 U chef Tatoo in Youngsville, NC.

Chef Tatoo’s performance was nothing short of magical. His mastery of the hibachi grill was evident in every sizzling slice and flamboyant flick of his spatula. The way he effortlessly juggled utensils, created towering onion volcanoes, and ignited flames had everyone on the edge of their seats. It wasn’t just a meal; it was a spectacular show that captivated guests of all ages.

The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the sake sake moments. Chef Tatoo’s playful and engaging personality shone through as he skillfully poured sake for the guests, encouraging everyone to join in the fun. The interactive nature of the event, with sake flowing freely and laughter echoing around the room, created an atmosphere of camaraderie and joy that brought everyone together in celebration.

The food itself was exquisite. Each course was a delightful blend of fresh, high-quality ingredients cooked to perfection right before our eyes. The flavors were rich and varied, from tender, melt-in-your-mouth steak to succulent shrimp and perfectly grilled vegetables. The portions were generous, ensuring that everyone left the table completely satisfied.

What truly set this evening apart was Chef Tatoo’s ability to make every guest feel special. His warm, engaging manner and genuine enthusiasm for his craft made us all feel like we were part of something extraordinary. He took the time to interact with each person, making the experience personal and memorable.

In addition to the outstanding entertainment and delicious food, the service was impeccable. The staff was attentive and friendly, ensuring that our glasses were always full and that we had everything we needed to enjoy the evening.

In summary, Chef Tatoo provided an extraordinary experience that went far beyond our expectations. The combination of his culinary skill, showmanship, and the festive atmosphere he created made for an engagement celebration that was truly magical. If you’re looking for an unforgettable event that will leave you and your guests with smiles and fond memories, I cannot recommend Chef Tatoo highly enough. Five stars...

We hired Hibachi2U for a Bachelorette trip. Overall the experience was good. Chef had a few of us try to flip an egg into a chef hat and let the bride-to-be light the griddletop on fire. The sake watergun was fun the first couple of rounds but after the 4th-5th time it started to get to be a little much. Most of the party started declining anymore sake, but chef brought out a gatorade style jug to dispense sake directly into everyones mouths. There wasn't any performance related to the actual meal like what you would expect in a teppanyaki restaurant such as catching the rice pieces, the heart beat in the rice, or the onion volcano. Most of the performance was centered around the sake. The food was very good and was cooked very well!

At the end of the night, I gave chef our cash payment which included the cost of the meal, travel charge and extra for tip. While cleaning up, he approached me to let me know the count was off so we recounted and it was about 60 less than what I had anticipated, however it was enough to cover our bill with a $150 tip still included. This felt very uncomfortable as the bill was paid with money for tip included. Most of my communication with Hibachi2U regard cost always had "cost plus gratuity" and "don't forget gratuity" included in the wording. I think gratuity should be automatically applied if there is a concern, because in our experience gratuity/tip was included but the chef still approached us due to it not being "enough".

Overall we had a good experience: the food was good, chef was on time, and he did his best to entertain just not in the way we were...