Osaka Sushi and Hibachi (Coon Rapids, MN)

Restaurant Review – Osaka Sushi and Hibachi (Coon Rapids, MN)

I was visiting friends in Minnesota and the group decided it would be fun to visit Osaka Sushi and Hibachi. I hadn’t been to a hibachi grill for many years and thought it would be great fun.

We made reservations the day before and arrived as a group of seven about 10 minutes before our reservation, but we still had to wait before we were seated.

Ordering

One of our party asked the server for hashi. The server server responded to see if she wanted her sake hot or cold. Upon further explanation, it became clear that the server didn’t know what hashi are. (It's the Japanese word for chop-sticks.) The server said she was Vietnamese and didn’t speak Japanese.  I admit, I don’t speak Japanese either, but I do know the word hashi and a server at a Japanese restaurant should know what hashi are.

Food Arrival

Shrimp Tempura - Osaka Sushi & Hibachi

I wasn’t happy with the arrival of appetizers. Although I was impressed when I saw the Shrimp Tempura, but it was another ten minutes before my vegetable tempura arrived. It was almost as though our individual appetizer orders had been given to several different cooks and they sent the food out when they were finished without anyone in control of the kitchen. Appetizers for the table should have arrived near in time to each other rather than staggered over many minutes.

Food

Teppanyaki chefs are typically famous for their antics. Making the food is an art and serving it is supposed to be fun for the customers. Our chef was really boring. Rather than clattering his utensils with fascinating motion and sound, he turned the rice with one spatula and clanked his other spatula on the side of the grill in what really became to be a cocophany of sound -- not pleasant to see nor hear. The fried rice had a tiny amount of vegetables added to it and only enough sauce to turn its color slightly. It definitely was not worth the upcharge. I guess the chef thought that squirting sake into people’s mouths from across the grill would be a sufficient entertainment – it was not.   

The entrée itself was quite good. I had the Filet Mignon and Shrimp and found both the meat and the shrimp delicious. However, none of the sides were particularly good. The onion soup was bland, the iceberg lettuce salad was overdressed with just a few shards of carrots, and the noodles were overcooked.

Members of our party were still eating their meals when the cleaning crew came to clear the table. It was obvious that we weren't done yet, but apparently because none of us desired dessert, we were done in their eyes. It wasn’t that someone came and asked if they could take the plate from someone who had clearly finished. They just came and began clearing without asking and began clanking plates into the grey bus pan. We had to tell the bus person to leave and return after we had finished eating. He had to be told twice and finally gave us a look disgust that we were being unreasonable and he was only doing his job and left. I found his actions rude. There were still a half a dozen griddle stations empty, so there wasn’t any reason we should have been hurried.

Ratings          

Ambiance: 4 (Expected Hibachi grill seating.)

Food: 4 (Meat and shrimp were excellent, vegetable tempura okay and fried rice boring.) 

Service: 2 (Server was barely adequate; teppanyaki chef was only adequate, and bus person was rude.)

Price: 2 (Entrée was over $30, including the fried rice upcharge; drinks, appetizer, and a modest tip brought the bill to $50.)

Value: 3 (Expensive for what you get.)

Conclusion

I found the server unprepared to serve in a Japanese restaurant, the appetizers delivery uncoordinated, the Teppanyaki chef uninspiring and the bus staff rude. The friendliness I’ve experienced at other Hibachi grills wasn’t there. I won’t go back.

Restaurant

Osaka Sushi and Hibachi

12580 Riverdale Blvd
Coon Rapids, MN 55448