Vanilla Rice Hibachi — Restaurant in Winchester

Sorry for the subpar review but I have to keep it real (and accurate).

I wanted this experience to be great based upon the reviews and social media posts. Unfortunately, the hype isn't there.

Here comes the honest feedback.

1st, it's confusing that Hibachi House is in another business. There's a temp sign on the building but it's small and the other business' sign is easy more pronounced on the building. We weren't sure if we were in the right place, so be forewarned!

2nd, prices are high or the same as a regular Hibachi place. I ordered the lobster and steak and it was the most expensive at$48. A Hibachi place like Benihana may be$10 more expensive, but the venue is nicer and you get extras like appetizers and the show of food being cooked.

3rd. The quality of the food wasn't great. My steak was like a sirloin steak (vs a NY or filet cut like at Benihana). My lobster was quite small and a little tough suggesting it wasn't fresh. My wife's salmon and chicken were not very tender so we questioned the freshness and quality.

4th. The protein dishes were all overcooked. When you pay a premium, you'd expect the food to be cooked to perfection. The veggies were cooked on the under side and could've used 5 to 10 more mins cooking.

5th and lastly, the venue isn't very nice. I get it, it may be for take out orders but it's not the right venue for 2 meals that ultimately cost more than $100.

The good....

The rice and noodles were quite tasty and they provide big portions.

That's it. Would I come back, definitely not. Like i said, I really expected a better experience. If I'm going to spend $100+ for 2 dinners, there are so many better choices than Vanilla Rice's...

Wow… I don’t know what happened tonight. The wait was well over an hour and a half. I watched in disbelief as Chef Keese moved at his own pace, completely unbothered, like he had all the time in the world. Customers were getting upset, and the poor cashier looked like she was about to cry.

I come to this place weekly and have never seen this chef before. I’ve also never waited more than 20, maybe 30 minutes tops on a busy Saturday night. Tonight, a husband and wife actually paid and walked out without their food—the husband was so pissed off he was cursing on the way out.

I was really bummed because Groupon had a great offer today, so I bought three. But I’m going to cancel them now since I’m still within the 72-hour window.

The other chefs I’ve had here in the past are great. They cook well and even interact with customers. This guy, though? You’d think he was the only person in the building—just humming and doing his own thing, completely zoned out.

At one point, I watched him read a receipt, then five seconds later read it again. Then he opened an already-cooked container, stared at it, looked at the receipt again, and closed it. He did this at least ten times. It was exhausting to watch.

I’m taking the time to write this long review because I’ve already wasted most of my night. An anxious customer next to me asked if the wait was worth it. I hesitated but told him the food is usually amazing and that I’ve been here at least 15 times—yet I’ve never seen this chef before.

Diner beware: if Chef Keese is cooking, forget about it. On the bright side, maybe I’ll lose some weight after all that. Oh, and P.S.—my food was cold after all...

This place is an experience. An insanely delicious experience. There are a lot of ways that this could be a bad experience but the great workers and fantastic food offset all of it. It's in a dirty parking lot in a sketchy part of town. There is frequently a long wait after you order. They have inconsistent and fluctuating hours and their equipment seems to malfunction a lot causing them to have to shut down unexpectedly. Trying to keep track of when they're open is like shaking a magic 8 ball for guidance. The prices are pretty high as well. I think I paid nearly $30 for just my single serving order after tip

All that aside, the food is so good, I didn't even make it out of the parking lot without snarfing the whole thing down off the hood of my car while the other customers waiting for their food milled about staring at me enviously. The portion was enormous so I'll forgive the cost and it was all just so tasty. I chatted a bit with the guy taking orders, who I assume is the owner. he was very friendly and was holding court with the other employees and customers. Seriously, don't be put off by any of the negatives. This is fantastic food and a cool experience. I'll be back as frequently as time and...