The Weekender: Three Hibachi hotspots
If you aren’t a fan of Hibachi, chances are you haven’t tried the best. I know because that was me ten years ago. The truth is, not all Japanese steakhouses are created equal. I turned finding the top Hibachi in the 614 into a personal journey, ingesting heaping amounts of fried rice and allowing seared shrimp to be tossed at my mouth from across a hot grill. Here are three of my favorite spots for Hibachi.
Daruma Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi introduced me to egg yolk sauce, and eating Hibachi will never be the same. Located on the west side, Daruma is the hidden gem of Hibachi. Daruma prepares a traditional Hibachi lineup but throws an unexpected touch of grilled noodles dressed with soy sauce. The ultimate stars are the broth with crispy onions, sesame ginger dressing that could make anyone enjoy a salad, and the glutenous egg yolk sauce that is sumptuous and decadent (especially on seafood). My go-to is the steak and scallop combo.
Must-have – Fried Gyoza
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Kyoto Japanese Steakhouse continues the tradition of excellent Hibachi, sitting right off Sawmill Road in the previous location of Genji. Kyoto offers a diverse menu, including popular appetizers, Japanese soda, sushi, sashimi, tempura (yum!), and more Americanized options like teriyaki chicken. We all know what we came here for, though – the Hibachi. The dish serves satisfying Genji with floating mushrooms and onions, followed by the traditional iceberg salad and continuous mounds of food from the grill. Kyoto separates itself by including more vibrant vegetable offerings and grilled bean sprouts – both delicious and flavored with soy sauce. My go-to combo is the filet and shrimp, dolloped with butter and mouthwatering.
In the know – If you work in the area, Kyoto offers a variety of Bento Boxes for lunch.
Mr. Hibachi brings Columbus Hibachi on the go. This tasty concept makes Hibachi accessible for those with limited time and limited funds. Mr. Hibachi is an easy go-to during the week when craving hibachi and not wanting to leave the couch. Delivering all the necessary Hibachi flavors, Mr. Hibachi loads up each to-go container with fried rice, seared vegetables, and your choice of meat or seafood. Most importantly, you can take lots of Yum Yum Sauce home too.
These delicious Hibachi options have taken steps to make you feel more comfortable by providing portable partitions that separate parties. This weekend is the ideal time for dinner and a fire show, so get a group together and enjoy a volcanic onion.
If you like this, read: The Weekender: Three places to find unconventional biscuits and gravy
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