Yamazato Japanese Restaurant — Restaurant in Virginia

TL:DR - yum yum sauce is good. scallop and vegetables pretty good. Better to-go than dine in.

I decided to come here for some food that I thought would be pretty good with all the reviews.

Maybe I just came at an inconvenient time, but I continually noticed there was nobody at the counter. The person who took my order was nice though. Food I have mixed feelings. I order filet mignon and scallop hibachi.

First, yum yum sauce is real. Their yum yum sauce has something unique to it that taste different from other yum yum sauces I had before. The scallop was delicious. It was not bursting in scallop flavor, but there was a good balance between the soy sauce and the scallop flavor. Plus, it was not too salty. I would order this again. I also liked that there were vegetables covering the floor.

Now for not so good things. Filet mignon, I tasted something I really hope I did not in a restaurant. Staleness. The meat was cooked okay fully cooked, and the texture was okay, but biting into the filet mignon I tasted a meat when it is slightly stale. I was not too worried about safety since the meat was cooked well-done, but the taste was still bad. Yum yum sauce did cover the stale taste though.

The fried rice that comes with the hibachi was mediocre. Not bad, but I wouldn't come out of my way to eat fried rice again at this location.

I would not pry to deeply about this place by the atmosphere since to-go is their main service. If you plan to dine in, they will give minimal service, with food still in to-go box and fountain drink is self-served. They just let us use their furniture to eat. The furniture is like a typical Chinese/Hibachi to-go restaurants with the metal...

This is the best teriyaki joint in Lynchburg. Bold statement, I know, considering that, for some reason unbeknownst to me, there are so many teriyaki places here. I first went to Yamazato’s about 20 years ago. I loved it then but then moved out of town. I’m back but in a different part of town far away from the store. We’ve gone to various teriyaki places closer to us but I recently drove the distance to get Yamazato’s again. The difference is evident. Other places can be more dry where they have an abundance of sauce, making the taste considerably better. Their teriyaki and yum yum sauce are distinctly more flavorful. Their portions are almost double any other place. And the inside? They’ve completely remodeled and it’s beautiful inside. While I’ll still get take away or order delivery, it’s good to know that it’s a clean beautiful place to sit down as well. We’re spoiled for choice with teriyaki places in this town, but Yamazato’s goes steps...

Last night around 8:45pm I went to pick up some takeout at this restaurant. I’ve always gotten the Chicken Teriyaki with no onions, freshly made zucchini and steamed rice. It’s always been great and never any problems. 45 minutes later I suffered from severe stomach and back pain that was so painful I couldn’t see. Called my mother for help and she immediately called 911. Luckily because I have a sensitive stomach I couldn’t finish it. The paramedics have seen this one to many times and knew what to do. After 2 hours my body went into horrible waves of vomiting. None of the food I ate even digested. I lived my first and hopefully last round of food poisoning. I understand that mistakes happen so I won’t be asking for anything. I just want others aware that mistakes can happen anywhere and to always be safe. Sometimes it’s just better to prepare your own food. Thanks...