Tokyo 23 Hibachi Buffet — Restaurant in West St. Paul

Tldr; this place was good and turned now its been turned into complete trash, dont eat here.

I've been here multiple times with my family and friends and it was amazing. Great prices and bustling with people and great food.

Not a whole lot of good things to say after the place changed owners. Food was cold, bland, warm at best and taste weird. Almost no fresh food, pans were barely half stocked with only several people. The sushi doesn't have some ingredients when they did before and tasted weird. The workers previously were always moving and looked like they loved their job, last I saw them they were leaned over resting and looked like they wanted to be anywhere else. Theres a sign saying to review them 5 star for a free lunch coupon the next time they return in order to make themselves look better (which wasnt there before). The owner is constantly yelling at her staff for god knows what. I have yet to experience the tip beggers, but they didnt talk at all. At best they come around and take your empty plates. Previously you could have a whole conversation with them. The place is dead silent besides the music. Theres minimal effort being put out and the reviews they reply back to seems dull as if they could care any less. The place needs better management and better morale raisers. Do yourself a favor and make your own food at home or go somewhere else. I would rather see the place be shut down than have their reputation be tarnished.

Edit: The music isnt loud enough, I was able to whisper to my family. The owner and staff were next to each other so her voice does not need to be raised and is very audible. I dont speak fluent Chinese, but my parents do and they seem surprised at what she's saying. My bad on the part of the waiters, and if you are giving out coupons for 3 or 4 stars with an explanation, put that...

I was very disappointed with the food not being filled and the price. I finally was able to make it out for a holiday buffet they have for the price of $26 something which includes all you can eat snow crab. My family got there at 730pm (didn’t want to early just in case of the dinner rush) which of course I started with snow crab and it had less then 10 small claws thinking they will refill soon. As I waited 30 minutes no refill so went to talk to the person in the front desk and ask why. He said oh we stopped refilling food after 8pm ok but we have been here since 730pm and there has been no refill of the snow crab! He was like oh I don’t know and that was it! At least try to be understanding and empathized with the customer because that is very bad customer service! You make your customer paid more for a holiday meal which includes all you can eat snow crab but then didn’t care to refill it! Or they could have said when I paid for the holiday price they could told me sorry we are not filling any food at this time so it gives us a choice if we want to stay. Or even could have offer when I ask why he could have said let me refund you back some money you paid for the holiday meal since we didn’t get any snow crab because that’s one of the main dish to my knowledge then I could have been a happy customer. FYI don’t go late and paid for a holiday meal because you will not get any snow crab or make sure you ask them before paying because you don’t want to be...

Only gave it 2 stars because most of the staff were decent. We won't go back. We came in for dinner on Sunday evening. Not too busy. The main buffet was ok, kept pretty well stocked. The hibachi area was gross and probably unsafe. The beef was sitting in a bunch of juice. The shrimp basin was full of water and all of the things were just scattered. I'd already gotten rice and veggies so I didn't want to abandon a plate of food but definitely skipped the meat and seafood area. That was enough to keep me from going back as the hibachi is my favorite part of a good buffet. What happened next made me be done and leave.

The wandering whistling waiter told a couple the next row over it was ok to change the baby's diaper there at the table. I couldn't believe that was the actual conversation and my husband said they must be joking around. Whistling waiter went back around and said he'd collect the dirty diaper and dispose of it. Not joking. I was so disgusted and thought for sure a restaurant this size has a changing table in the restroom. So I went to the restroom to check it out. There was a changing table in there but it looked filthy. The first stall was filthy and unflushed. Third stall didn't look bad until you saw all of the mess splattered on the walls. Caked on from forever ago. The sink was covered in water. Just disgusting. I wouldn't change my kid on the dining table, but I wouldn't change them in that...