We had the opportunity to visit Wasabi on Sunday night. They opened in the old Woody's BBQ building. They have hibachi style tables as well as a sushi bar. I'll keep this review short because we were not very impressed and may just be because it was only there fifth day of being open. We ordered four rolls in total a Mexican, Spicy Tuna, a Volcano and a Love roll. I tried all the rolls and found all of them quite bland. I was mostly disappointed with the Volcano roll with the baked crab on top was very dry and not a lot of flavor. We had our 2 year old daughter with us and we ordered her a beef soba which consisted of small pieces of beef and some noddles for $12 for a kids meal. 4 rolls 1 kids meal and 2 beers and a coke = $76.
(2)
Willie W.
Extremely disappointing experience. First off arrived and ordered two glasses of a higher end wine off the menu. After a very long delay (enough we ordered our food and we had already finished our soup and salad) the "wine" arrives. This is a wine we drink at home all the time and know the taste - it was obvious we were given the cheaper house wine. We questioned but after the waiter went back to bar insisted it was the wine we ordered - ok but no offer to bring something else. We did not drink the wine and it sat on our table the rest of the meal (and of course we were charged full price for two glasses). On to the main meal (the soup and salad were ok) we ordered two filets medium rare one with lobster. Both filets arrived cooked to well done and the lobster was way over cooked and rubbery. High price meal options for this establishment, both overcooked and nothing special. We were looking forward to having new options in Plant City but this experience turned us off to this establishment - $92 later we will not be back and waste our money again for such a poor experience. Save your money and don't go either.
(1)
Suzannah A.
Beautiful decor and great food! Our server was friendly and attentive. We had the chicken hibachi, chicken teriyaki bento box, eel roll, bagel roll, Mexican roll and crunchy crab. Definitely will return and recommend!
(4)
Cassandra B.
The lunch options were very well priced. Service is nothing special but I would do lunch here again. When I do sushi for dinner I usually like to eat and have a few drinks with friends and I probably wouldn't do so here because the bar staff isn't very impressive and the prices are a bit much.
(3)
Paulina V.
I tried to give this restaurant a chance. I've been here total of three times and today was the last time I'll ever be there. Food is fine but the service is absolutely horrible. They don't seem to care about their customer service and practically rushed me and my mom out the door. I thought that was rude. This restaurant will not make it.
(2)
Mary C.
I really had some high hopes for this restaurant, however, this was a truly ridiculous and overpriced experience unlike any other. The customer service: terrible. We had reserved a spot at the sushi bar, but upon arrival, the waitress just pointed in the direction of the bar and told us to sit there. The sushi was actually decent, though a little overpriced. We ordered off the menu for our main. I have to say that the waitress was pretty rude. My husband got the steak hibachi from the kitchen. The steak was just fair. I ordered the Beef Soba, which is a Japanese buckwheat noodle, and the menu even described it as "Japanese brown noodle". What arrived was a huge plate of mushy thin egg noodle with overlooked beef and a store bought, way too salty sauce. One waitress stopped to ask how things were. After I politely stated my disappointment with the noodles and why, we were subjected to three lengthy encounters with wait staff and the manager... Not to address my concerns or to ask if there was something else I would like for dinner, but to scrutinize the menu and prove to me that Soba could mean just about anything at any restaurant. The manager even went so far as to bring out a cellophane package of Yakisoba noodles, kind of like cheap ramen, which can be purchased in any Asian market for 99 cents. To cap off an already epic evening, we were told by our waitress that we would have to pay two bills because we ordered sushi from the bar where we sat, but the main course from the wait staff. Since we went in their first week of business, we were prepared to give it another try, but after reading these other reviews, it's highly unlikely that we will risk wasting our money here. The one star rating is for the sushi only. This business will not last. Too bad.
(1)
Elizabeth L.
My best friend and I went Wednesday Nov 20th. Sat at the sushi bar, ordered water and some wine. Our drinks were fast. We ordered 5 rolls, Madame Butterfly, Sexy, Naturo, Mexican and Dragon roll. We got them one at a time, which was nice because it kept us hungry for more. The plates were set up very nice and the sushi was amazing, nothing at all what I expected from a little place in Plant City. The server messed up a few things on our bill, so we had to sit longer than we wanted to until it was fixed. The sushi was great and very well prepared, the service could've been a bit better, but all in all a great sushi place. Can't wait to go again and try more.
(4)
Kaeli T.
We went last night for my boyrfriend's daughter's 6th birthday. She had never been to a Hibachi restaurant before and didnt know what to expect. We were sat and ordered our drinks immediately and greeted with salad and soup. We also ordered our food in a prompt manner. When the chef cam out he immediately acknowledged it was her birthday and made the whole thing special for her. He was funny and did great tricks that the kids and adults enjoyed. He made the special arrangement for another guest who had an egg allergy with ease. He made to order the steaks that were cooked perfectly. All of the food was great. At the end they came out and sang happy birhtday and brought a cake and took a picture of us. We were very surprised that she was treated so special! When we left they gave her a set of nice chopsticks and they even printed the picture for us as a keepsake. I will definitely return and recommend this to anyone!!
(4)
AnhTu N.
We thought we can give this place a chance despite the low rating. Boy, we were wrong...The service was horrible and the food was not even that good. The waitress never once smile the whole time she was helping us. It looks like she doesn't want us there. We order the lunch special during lunch time around 1:30pm, and they charge us dinner prices. We won't go back here or recommend this place to anyone.
(2)
Lito M.
Everything about this place is average. Had the lunch Bento Box for take out. The chicken was bland. The sushi was okay. The salad was pretty good. The soup was alright. They forgot my rice so overall disappointing.
(2)
Cheri D.
Sushi lover from LA and trust me this place is awesome! Kids had tempura plate and hibachi chicken which we grazed off.... large portions. Rolls were very affordable but big on flavor. Mexico roll yummmm and crunchy was tasty favorite. Spicy tuna was fresh and perfectly prepped. Great value...4 thumbs up from 10 years old to 45!
(3)
Mae S.
Not sure why it is only ranked three stars, maybe it has improved recently. I have no complaints. Great atmosphere, beautiful interior, and amazing food. I ordered the sear tuna roll. I am glad I ordered just the one roll because it turned out to be more then I could eat. Very generous amounts of tuna. Probably my favorite sushi place outside of Tampa.
(5)
Suzanne C.
Saw the reviews before going, and tried to make my own decision after eating there for myself. No complaints on service, but nothing to rave about either. Food was good but not spicy enough. I did not regret going, it was close to home and a nice dinner out. Would I rush back? No. I would rather travel into Brandon to Kobe's Steakhouse. Sorry! :)
(3)
Shawn V.
That "other" Japanese steak house that starts with a K :-) is one of our favorite places since our first date at one 14 years ago. When I learned a Japanese steak house was being built right here in Plant City, I was cautiously optimistic....because we love that "K" place. We went last night with two seventeen year old boys (our son and the exchange student we are hosting). They left with to go boxes...have you seen a 17 year old boy eat? That they left without being able to finish their meals is a testimony to the amount of food you get! I on the other hand dang near licked my plate. We all had a variety of combination dinners: steak and shrimp, chicken and filet, tuna and chicken. All of them were very good. The veggies were a little over-cooked and soft, yet still very tasty. The servers were very attentive and our chef put on a better-than-average show. Sometimes at these places you wind up with a chef who just goes through the motions of a few tired jokes (egg roll!). Our guy has some mad skills and "fresh" material. He really seemed to enjoy his job. Unfortunately I did not catch the egg, so no sake for me (if you've been, you know what I'm talking about) Even the tables did not feel as cramped as some of the other places. I used to go to this place when it was the old BBQ place and it is amazing the transformation on the inside! Overall, this was a very good dining experience. It's only the over-cooked veggies that keep it from getting 5 stars from me. I see no reason to make the trek into Brandon to that other place...
(4)
Alex R.
We thoroughly enjoyed our first meal here. Tables are for 10 and there are 2 in each room. It would be very easy to host a large group. Our service was good and the chef at the table provided the normal level of banter and fun. We tried a sushi roll which was terrific, seaweed salad which was great, and of course the hibachi. Food quality was very high and overall we had a great experience and will be back to be sure. I believe the cooking tables are set too high...temperature wise. The food cooked much faster than the chef could manage and we had a few things get pretty crispy. They also charge 10.00 for a birthday...if you want to celebrate publicly. I would skip that part personally. Otherwise, we had a great meal and a fun time.
(4)
Alex S.
Best restaurant between Tampa and Orlando. I have yet to try something that I haven't loved. Go with what the server recommends.
(5)
Sydney S.
It's about time plant city has a Japanese steak house and sushi restaurant. My mom and I only had the sushi and it was fabulous! Very fresh and the rolls are huge! The waiters and waitresses are extremely friendly and make you feel at home. Will be going back for sure!
(4)
Cori W.
I wasn't really a fan of the food or the prices here. Apparently on Sundays they techincally don't have a lunch they only serve from the dinner menu, which is like twice the price. I feel like this is ridiculous and it's not stated on their website. My husband had hibachi chicken and I had the kids hibachi shrimp (I ordered it for my daughter and ate it). My husband had no complaints....I did. We got the hibachi from the kitchen, it wasn't cooked in front of us....maybe that was the issue. The rice was TERRIBLE....I've never had such flavorless rice in my life, I took 2 bites and didn't eat the rest. Their yum yum sauce tasted off. Their veggies were also not the best I've had MUCH better at other Hibachi restaurants Also the hibachi dinner that was 18 dollars only came with noodles and not rice and instead of explaining that when my husband said he wanted fried rice with his meal they charged us for a side of fried rice. Thank God we had a groupon here, because if not I would've been peeved at the 50 dollar price tag. IMO go to Joto's, Kobe, or Ryuu don't waste your time with this place.
(2)
Dee M.
Absolutely excellent food. The bento boxes are delicious and their sushi is great tasting. Wonderful presentation as well. Their birthday parties are great. My oldest got a gift and picture from the waiters and they sung.
(5)
Sean O.
I have eaten here several times. The ginger salad dressing does seem a bit too watery leaving a puddle in the salad bowl and the seating in front (the booths) are a bit cramped and not too comfortable. Other than that every experience i have had has been great but is a little bit on the expensive side. Great sushi all around and they have a decent selection of japanese beers and saki. The staff are friendly and for Plant City this is a very unique and fun place to eat with the family. If you are by yourself i recommend calling ahead and just taking some sushi to go though.
(4)
Lisa M.
My husband and I took my daughter there to celebrate her college graduation. We were asked if we wanted a booth or the hibachi side (where they cook your food at the table). Since none of us had ever been before we said yes to the hibachi side. They failed to tell us the 1-we would have to share a table and 2-the table would have to be full before they would cook our food. Had we known how long we would have to wait, we would have chosen the dining room. After waiting 20 minutes (soup and salad had long been cleared out) I asked the waitress where was the cook and our food. She said it would be another 15-20 minutes until he came out. When I asked to be moved into the regular dining room, I was told we would have to order our food again. Finally the cook came out. The show he put on was good and the food was good as well. Plus there was a lot of it. But a little more information would have been appreciated. Also (and this is not the fault of the restaurant, but another reason why I will never share another table again), I got to watch this group of people show up and this woman put her young child next to another patron instead of putting him next to her and then proceed to ignore him while he put his feet on the other patron, hit him with his toys, hit others in his party and stand on a chair behind his mother and pull her hair and generally make a complete obnoxious brat of himself. All of this while listening to her telling the others in her group the child care services showed up at her house. Lovely, just lovely. The only way I would ever go back if they changed it to where each table had their own cook top and cook. For the price we paid, we should have had an individual table.
(2)
Sven S.
Very fresh sushi. We went in for dinner on a Friday night and were very pleasantly surprised to find the quality of food in a restaurant out here. The deluxe sushi platter and the rolls were great.
(5)
Jiahui W.
When I went to wasabi I took the grill the chefs are entertaining and fun the food is prepared greatly I love how they do the volcano with the onions!!the sushi was prepared and decorated as well as the food the sushi taste really good and I would love to give this place a great rate-5 stars it is just so good I like the sushi a lot and the chefs
(5)
Gioia G.
Sushilcious We were in the neighborhood shopping at Lowes when we search for a restaurant for lunch. We were a little afraid to try this place at first since there was a few bad reviews. We are glad we gave it a try, food and service was great well deserving for a 5 stars. We don't know why some people gave them a low rating. We had lunch here and we found it very reasonable in price and food was delicious. We were three people and had bento boxes (teriyaki chicken, salmon and tempura) plus the rock-n-roll sushi roll. Server was very attentive and never once we felt neglected. The only thing we didn't like was the fried banana we had better and he came without ice scream.
(5)
Doug H.
Love this place. Best place in Plant City for sushi. Always good experience here. We done here regularly.
(5)
Lauren B.
This place is amazing. I've only been for lunch, but their lunch menu is awesome. I've had their Teriyaki chicken bento box and have ordered the California Roll as well as the Spicy Tuna Roll. Their lunch menu has amazing prices for the amount of food you get. With the Bento box you get dumplings, 4 pieces of California roll, rice, soup, and salad. I appreciate that they let you substitute the soup, salad or both for additional white rice. I am never able to finish it all and am always happy to bring leftovers home. Their sushi lunch menu is 2 rolls for $8.50. I don't know about you but getting sushi for that price is amazing! I meant to take a picture today but realized too late as I was already scarfing down my meal. So good!
(5)
Nathan M.
Do not try to use a coupon or Groupon unless you want to be treated like a second class citizen with multiple eyes rolls, huffy and puffs.
(1)
Jeff S.
We were skeptical with all the previous reviews, but since most of them were from when the place first opened, we were hoping it was just the phase of starting up. Our review is strictly based on the sushi bar, we have visited twice now, and both times we found the sushi and the rolls to be excellent! The service is great, the sushi is great, the drinks are plentiful with a full bar. We will most definitely be back !
(4)
Michael C.
Time for an update. I enjoy sushi from this establishment quite frequently, and time and time again I am not disappointed. There is Wasabi, then there is everything else. I have abandoned all other sushi restaurants in the Bay Area in favor of this one. No matter where I am at the time (including AMI), I make it a point to obtain sushi from this specific restaurant when I am in need of a fix. I don't know where they get their product from, but its quality and freshness just can't be beat. Again, if you enjoy sushi as much as I do there simply is no better alternative than Wasabi. If you are new to sushi, have it here, then good luck finding an equivalent within the state of FL, or in any major city on the East Coast for that matter.
(5)
Ken C.
Went in for Sushi and a cocktail. Was not sure what to expect but was very pleasantly surprised. We sat at the bar and service was excellent. The sushi was fantastic with great presentation. I thought the prices were a little high but there was certainly ample food. Very happy with the experience and will return.
(4)
Dan B.
Aug 5th 12ish. me and my son go to eat for the first time, we travel from Lakeland. I'd like to say the food was good but we never made it that far, we sat at the sushi bar for 10 min without being asked for a drink k order or brought a water. however during my 10 min wait I saw someone else come in be seated at the sushi bar place there order receive there order and begin consuming there order. I might give them another shot but right now I wouldn't recommend them to anyone at all based on the service I received or should I say lack of. wasabi needs to step it up a notch. not pleased at all. not only were me and my son both disappointed but it cost me money to go there and eat nothing.
(2)
Brittany L.
I waited almost a year to finally judge this place. Like many reviews said, when Wasabi first opened, it was lacking appeal. The service was slow, the staff was confused, and the place was packed all the time. HOWEVER, since the place has had time to settle and adjust, it has gone UPHILL. The food is pretty good. I really like their sushi, and I am picky. The Hibachi is ok. The chefs are entertaining and funny. What I like most is that the cross have died down. It has given the place a chance to work on areas of weakness. You can tell the staff has made the necessary adjustments to be successful. I personally hope this place stays open here in Plant City! it is nice to have options other than fast food and your typical "American" places like Chili's and Outback.
(4)
Amy Z.
Enjoyed the chicken katsu & wine selection was pretty good. Mexican rolls were good too. Sat at the bar - didn't try the hibachi.
(4)
Xi M.
So happy to have a sushi and Hibachi restaurant in Plant City! We've gone there for lunch and dinner. We've had their Hibachi and their sushi. My favorite roll is the Roslyn Roll. Just love it. We took our daughter there for her birthday dinner and were truly impressed with the Hibachi chef's skills. We've been to a lot of other Hibachi places and I can honestly say the chef we had was the best we've ever had. He was super friendly, entertaining and accommodating.
(4)
Jon W.
Went in on a Saturday and tried to order off the lunch menu since the website stated that the lunch menu was available of Saturday. I was told I was not allowed to order off the lunch menu today. There were only two people in the place and they wouldn't let me order lunch. Must be nice to be doing well enough to turn down business.
(1)
James K.
Pretty good sushi and incredible sashimi. The wait time used to be terrible but they have gotten a lot better.
(4)
Brittany A.
I have been to Wasabi a few times in the past year. The sushi is delicious. I have tried numerous places and it is the best in Plant City for sure. I would have given it 5 stars but I didn't really care for their hibachi meals. The rice was dry and noodles were lacking flavor.
(4)
Makenzie S.
Place is fantastic!!! Love everything here! Sushi is amazing. So many to choose from!
(5)
Rob D.
We have been here many times with friends and family, including soon after they opened and have had great experiences each time. We enjoy the hibachi side and just sitting at the sushi bar on occasion. Compared to options in Lakeland for sushi, Wasabi's is a better choice. Good selection of Saki as well.
(5)
Alicia C.
My husband, our son and myself visited this wasabi on Wednesday February 26, 2014. The waitress was nice enough, but she didn't bother to offer any drink specials or give a recommendation. (I actually don't even think she introduced herself). Drinks weren't brought out on a tray, and refills were given by taking the original cup away and bringing it back WITH the straw in it the whole time. To me, this seems like a sanitation concern. Everyone's straw goes back to the soda machine and gets knocked around touching the nozzles? Icky. I didn't use my straw after that but my husband did. The food was not brought out on a tray either, and my husband's food came out 5 minutes before mine. If we're spending 50$ on dinner at a place we've never been, I expect tray service and fresh glassware! Not to mention getting to eat at the same time?! The food was nothing to write home about. Though presented beautifully, my California roll tasted like it was from the supermarket. The seaweed they used to wrap it was incredibly chewy and wouldn't actually tear off in my mouth. I either had to shove the whole roll in my mouth, or scrape rice off of it and have the thing fall apart all over the table. I ended up taking the fish out of my salmon and tuna rolls and eating it plain. i didn't bother eating the California roll at all. The flavor of the rice that came with my husband's hibatchi was actually quite disappointing. It was flavorless and had an odd texture, almost like it had been overcooked (mushy). The booth seating in the bar area (not hibatchi) was very upright an uncomfortable. A child from the booth next to us actually hung over in our booth every 2 minutes for the first 15 minutes we were there. He tried to poke my son in the face and hit my husband in the head with chopsticks. A server saw it happen and told a manager who said he would 'keep an eye on the situation' but still, maybe if the darn booths weren't so uncomfortable he wouldn't have been standing in his seat looking over at us in the first place lol. It was awkward. The weirdest thing that happened overall was a server/busboy guy came up and actually touched my sons face on the way out of the kitchen walking through the dining room. He had knelt over and said hi to our son when he asked us if we needed refills a few minutes before, but He left, and went inside the kitchen. He came out a few minutes later doing that fast server walk, and literally reached out and brushed my sons cheek in front of us while he was walking past through the restaurant. My son screamed. The server guy actually jumped back and said 'he scared me' and laughed nervously.um what?? My 13 month old son scared you when you reached out and touched his face unannounced? HOW DO YOU THINK HE FELT?? At the time it was like oh gosh, people are staring (because no one likes when a kid lets out a random scream in a restaurant) but now that I am looking back on the situation it was really weird. No matter how cute a kid might be, keep your hands to yourself!!! And no it wasn't a pat on the head or a brush past on the shoulder, his finger purposefully touched my son's cheek, which was facing away from him as he quickly walked past. Weirdo. Not going back. Uncomfortable seats, restaurant seems to cater to the young and single (and I'm 23, so I do qualify as young) but based on the booth we were sitting in they aren't targeting families. They also need to get their service act together and give attention to detail (tray service, fresh cups for refills). Too many options in plant city to bother going here again! (Johnson's BBq!) if I want hibatchi I'll drive to kobe's
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jared P.
We had the opportunity to visit Wasabi on Sunday night. They opened in the old Woody's BBQ building. They have hibachi style tables as well as a sushi bar. I'll keep this review short because we were not very impressed and may just be because it was only there fifth day of being open. We ordered four rolls in total a Mexican, Spicy Tuna, a Volcano and a Love roll. I tried all the rolls and found all of them quite bland. I was mostly disappointed with the Volcano roll with the baked crab on top was very dry and not a lot of flavor. We had our 2 year old daughter with us and we ordered her a beef soba which consisted of small pieces of beef and some noddles for $12 for a kids meal. 4 rolls 1 kids meal and 2 beers and a coke = $76.
(2)Willie W.
Extremely disappointing experience. First off arrived and ordered two glasses of a higher end wine off the menu. After a very long delay (enough we ordered our food and we had already finished our soup and salad) the "wine" arrives. This is a wine we drink at home all the time and know the taste - it was obvious we were given the cheaper house wine. We questioned but after the waiter went back to bar insisted it was the wine we ordered - ok but no offer to bring something else. We did not drink the wine and it sat on our table the rest of the meal (and of course we were charged full price for two glasses). On to the main meal (the soup and salad were ok) we ordered two filets medium rare one with lobster. Both filets arrived cooked to well done and the lobster was way over cooked and rubbery. High price meal options for this establishment, both overcooked and nothing special. We were looking forward to having new options in Plant City but this experience turned us off to this establishment - $92 later we will not be back and waste our money again for such a poor experience. Save your money and don't go either.
(1)Suzannah A.
Beautiful decor and great food! Our server was friendly and attentive. We had the chicken hibachi, chicken teriyaki bento box, eel roll, bagel roll, Mexican roll and crunchy crab. Definitely will return and recommend!
(4)Cassandra B.
The lunch options were very well priced. Service is nothing special but I would do lunch here again. When I do sushi for dinner I usually like to eat and have a few drinks with friends and I probably wouldn't do so here because the bar staff isn't very impressive and the prices are a bit much.
(3)Paulina V.
I tried to give this restaurant a chance. I've been here total of three times and today was the last time I'll ever be there. Food is fine but the service is absolutely horrible. They don't seem to care about their customer service and practically rushed me and my mom out the door. I thought that was rude. This restaurant will not make it.
(2)Mary C.
I really had some high hopes for this restaurant, however, this was a truly ridiculous and overpriced experience unlike any other. The customer service: terrible. We had reserved a spot at the sushi bar, but upon arrival, the waitress just pointed in the direction of the bar and told us to sit there. The sushi was actually decent, though a little overpriced. We ordered off the menu for our main. I have to say that the waitress was pretty rude. My husband got the steak hibachi from the kitchen. The steak was just fair. I ordered the Beef Soba, which is a Japanese buckwheat noodle, and the menu even described it as "Japanese brown noodle". What arrived was a huge plate of mushy thin egg noodle with overlooked beef and a store bought, way too salty sauce. One waitress stopped to ask how things were. After I politely stated my disappointment with the noodles and why, we were subjected to three lengthy encounters with wait staff and the manager... Not to address my concerns or to ask if there was something else I would like for dinner, but to scrutinize the menu and prove to me that Soba could mean just about anything at any restaurant. The manager even went so far as to bring out a cellophane package of Yakisoba noodles, kind of like cheap ramen, which can be purchased in any Asian market for 99 cents. To cap off an already epic evening, we were told by our waitress that we would have to pay two bills because we ordered sushi from the bar where we sat, but the main course from the wait staff. Since we went in their first week of business, we were prepared to give it another try, but after reading these other reviews, it's highly unlikely that we will risk wasting our money here. The one star rating is for the sushi only. This business will not last. Too bad.
(1)Elizabeth L.
My best friend and I went Wednesday Nov 20th. Sat at the sushi bar, ordered water and some wine. Our drinks were fast. We ordered 5 rolls, Madame Butterfly, Sexy, Naturo, Mexican and Dragon roll. We got them one at a time, which was nice because it kept us hungry for more. The plates were set up very nice and the sushi was amazing, nothing at all what I expected from a little place in Plant City. The server messed up a few things on our bill, so we had to sit longer than we wanted to until it was fixed. The sushi was great and very well prepared, the service could've been a bit better, but all in all a great sushi place. Can't wait to go again and try more.
(4)Kaeli T.
We went last night for my boyrfriend's daughter's 6th birthday. She had never been to a Hibachi restaurant before and didnt know what to expect. We were sat and ordered our drinks immediately and greeted with salad and soup. We also ordered our food in a prompt manner. When the chef cam out he immediately acknowledged it was her birthday and made the whole thing special for her. He was funny and did great tricks that the kids and adults enjoyed. He made the special arrangement for another guest who had an egg allergy with ease. He made to order the steaks that were cooked perfectly. All of the food was great. At the end they came out and sang happy birhtday and brought a cake and took a picture of us. We were very surprised that she was treated so special! When we left they gave her a set of nice chopsticks and they even printed the picture for us as a keepsake. I will definitely return and recommend this to anyone!!
(4)AnhTu N.
We thought we can give this place a chance despite the low rating. Boy, we were wrong...The service was horrible and the food was not even that good. The waitress never once smile the whole time she was helping us. It looks like she doesn't want us there. We order the lunch special during lunch time around 1:30pm, and they charge us dinner prices. We won't go back here or recommend this place to anyone.
(2)Lito M.
Everything about this place is average. Had the lunch Bento Box for take out. The chicken was bland. The sushi was okay. The salad was pretty good. The soup was alright. They forgot my rice so overall disappointing.
(2)Cheri D.
Sushi lover from LA and trust me this place is awesome! Kids had tempura plate and hibachi chicken which we grazed off.... large portions. Rolls were very affordable but big on flavor. Mexico roll yummmm and crunchy was tasty favorite. Spicy tuna was fresh and perfectly prepped. Great value...4 thumbs up from 10 years old to 45!
(3)Mae S.
Not sure why it is only ranked three stars, maybe it has improved recently. I have no complaints. Great atmosphere, beautiful interior, and amazing food. I ordered the sear tuna roll. I am glad I ordered just the one roll because it turned out to be more then I could eat. Very generous amounts of tuna. Probably my favorite sushi place outside of Tampa.
(5)Suzanne C.
Saw the reviews before going, and tried to make my own decision after eating there for myself. No complaints on service, but nothing to rave about either. Food was good but not spicy enough. I did not regret going, it was close to home and a nice dinner out. Would I rush back? No. I would rather travel into Brandon to Kobe's Steakhouse. Sorry! :)
(3)Shawn V.
That "other" Japanese steak house that starts with a K :-) is one of our favorite places since our first date at one 14 years ago. When I learned a Japanese steak house was being built right here in Plant City, I was cautiously optimistic....because we love that "K" place. We went last night with two seventeen year old boys (our son and the exchange student we are hosting). They left with to go boxes...have you seen a 17 year old boy eat? That they left without being able to finish their meals is a testimony to the amount of food you get! I on the other hand dang near licked my plate. We all had a variety of combination dinners: steak and shrimp, chicken and filet, tuna and chicken. All of them were very good. The veggies were a little over-cooked and soft, yet still very tasty. The servers were very attentive and our chef put on a better-than-average show. Sometimes at these places you wind up with a chef who just goes through the motions of a few tired jokes (egg roll!). Our guy has some mad skills and "fresh" material. He really seemed to enjoy his job. Unfortunately I did not catch the egg, so no sake for me (if you've been, you know what I'm talking about) Even the tables did not feel as cramped as some of the other places. I used to go to this place when it was the old BBQ place and it is amazing the transformation on the inside! Overall, this was a very good dining experience. It's only the over-cooked veggies that keep it from getting 5 stars from me. I see no reason to make the trek into Brandon to that other place...
(4)Alex R.
We thoroughly enjoyed our first meal here. Tables are for 10 and there are 2 in each room. It would be very easy to host a large group. Our service was good and the chef at the table provided the normal level of banter and fun. We tried a sushi roll which was terrific, seaweed salad which was great, and of course the hibachi. Food quality was very high and overall we had a great experience and will be back to be sure. I believe the cooking tables are set too high...temperature wise. The food cooked much faster than the chef could manage and we had a few things get pretty crispy. They also charge 10.00 for a birthday...if you want to celebrate publicly. I would skip that part personally. Otherwise, we had a great meal and a fun time.
(4)Alex S.
Best restaurant between Tampa and Orlando. I have yet to try something that I haven't loved. Go with what the server recommends.
(5)Sydney S.
It's about time plant city has a Japanese steak house and sushi restaurant. My mom and I only had the sushi and it was fabulous! Very fresh and the rolls are huge! The waiters and waitresses are extremely friendly and make you feel at home. Will be going back for sure!
(4)Cori W.
I wasn't really a fan of the food or the prices here. Apparently on Sundays they techincally don't have a lunch they only serve from the dinner menu, which is like twice the price. I feel like this is ridiculous and it's not stated on their website. My husband had hibachi chicken and I had the kids hibachi shrimp (I ordered it for my daughter and ate it). My husband had no complaints....I did. We got the hibachi from the kitchen, it wasn't cooked in front of us....maybe that was the issue. The rice was TERRIBLE....I've never had such flavorless rice in my life, I took 2 bites and didn't eat the rest. Their yum yum sauce tasted off. Their veggies were also not the best I've had MUCH better at other Hibachi restaurants Also the hibachi dinner that was 18 dollars only came with noodles and not rice and instead of explaining that when my husband said he wanted fried rice with his meal they charged us for a side of fried rice. Thank God we had a groupon here, because if not I would've been peeved at the 50 dollar price tag. IMO go to Joto's, Kobe, or Ryuu don't waste your time with this place.
(2)Dee M.
Absolutely excellent food. The bento boxes are delicious and their sushi is great tasting. Wonderful presentation as well. Their birthday parties are great. My oldest got a gift and picture from the waiters and they sung.
(5)Sean O.
I have eaten here several times. The ginger salad dressing does seem a bit too watery leaving a puddle in the salad bowl and the seating in front (the booths) are a bit cramped and not too comfortable. Other than that every experience i have had has been great but is a little bit on the expensive side. Great sushi all around and they have a decent selection of japanese beers and saki. The staff are friendly and for Plant City this is a very unique and fun place to eat with the family. If you are by yourself i recommend calling ahead and just taking some sushi to go though.
(4)Lisa M.
My husband and I took my daughter there to celebrate her college graduation. We were asked if we wanted a booth or the hibachi side (where they cook your food at the table). Since none of us had ever been before we said yes to the hibachi side. They failed to tell us the 1-we would have to share a table and 2-the table would have to be full before they would cook our food. Had we known how long we would have to wait, we would have chosen the dining room. After waiting 20 minutes (soup and salad had long been cleared out) I asked the waitress where was the cook and our food. She said it would be another 15-20 minutes until he came out. When I asked to be moved into the regular dining room, I was told we would have to order our food again. Finally the cook came out. The show he put on was good and the food was good as well. Plus there was a lot of it. But a little more information would have been appreciated. Also (and this is not the fault of the restaurant, but another reason why I will never share another table again), I got to watch this group of people show up and this woman put her young child next to another patron instead of putting him next to her and then proceed to ignore him while he put his feet on the other patron, hit him with his toys, hit others in his party and stand on a chair behind his mother and pull her hair and generally make a complete obnoxious brat of himself. All of this while listening to her telling the others in her group the child care services showed up at her house. Lovely, just lovely. The only way I would ever go back if they changed it to where each table had their own cook top and cook. For the price we paid, we should have had an individual table.
(2)Sven S.
Very fresh sushi. We went in for dinner on a Friday night and were very pleasantly surprised to find the quality of food in a restaurant out here. The deluxe sushi platter and the rolls were great.
(5)Jiahui W.
When I went to wasabi I took the grill the chefs are entertaining and fun the food is prepared greatly I love how they do the volcano with the onions!!the sushi was prepared and decorated as well as the food the sushi taste really good and I would love to give this place a great rate-5 stars it is just so good I like the sushi a lot and the chefs
(5)Gioia G.
Sushilcious We were in the neighborhood shopping at Lowes when we search for a restaurant for lunch. We were a little afraid to try this place at first since there was a few bad reviews. We are glad we gave it a try, food and service was great well deserving for a 5 stars. We don't know why some people gave them a low rating. We had lunch here and we found it very reasonable in price and food was delicious. We were three people and had bento boxes (teriyaki chicken, salmon and tempura) plus the rock-n-roll sushi roll. Server was very attentive and never once we felt neglected. The only thing we didn't like was the fried banana we had better and he came without ice scream.
(5)Doug H.
Love this place. Best place in Plant City for sushi. Always good experience here. We done here regularly.
(5)Lauren B.
This place is amazing. I've only been for lunch, but their lunch menu is awesome. I've had their Teriyaki chicken bento box and have ordered the California Roll as well as the Spicy Tuna Roll. Their lunch menu has amazing prices for the amount of food you get. With the Bento box you get dumplings, 4 pieces of California roll, rice, soup, and salad. I appreciate that they let you substitute the soup, salad or both for additional white rice. I am never able to finish it all and am always happy to bring leftovers home. Their sushi lunch menu is 2 rolls for $8.50. I don't know about you but getting sushi for that price is amazing! I meant to take a picture today but realized too late as I was already scarfing down my meal. So good!
(5)Nathan M.
Do not try to use a coupon or Groupon unless you want to be treated like a second class citizen with multiple eyes rolls, huffy and puffs.
(1)Jeff S.
We were skeptical with all the previous reviews, but since most of them were from when the place first opened, we were hoping it was just the phase of starting up. Our review is strictly based on the sushi bar, we have visited twice now, and both times we found the sushi and the rolls to be excellent! The service is great, the sushi is great, the drinks are plentiful with a full bar. We will most definitely be back !
(4)Michael C.
Time for an update. I enjoy sushi from this establishment quite frequently, and time and time again I am not disappointed. There is Wasabi, then there is everything else. I have abandoned all other sushi restaurants in the Bay Area in favor of this one. No matter where I am at the time (including AMI), I make it a point to obtain sushi from this specific restaurant when I am in need of a fix. I don't know where they get their product from, but its quality and freshness just can't be beat. Again, if you enjoy sushi as much as I do there simply is no better alternative than Wasabi. If you are new to sushi, have it here, then good luck finding an equivalent within the state of FL, or in any major city on the East Coast for that matter.
(5)Ken C.
Went in for Sushi and a cocktail. Was not sure what to expect but was very pleasantly surprised. We sat at the bar and service was excellent. The sushi was fantastic with great presentation. I thought the prices were a little high but there was certainly ample food. Very happy with the experience and will return.
(4)Dan B.
Aug 5th 12ish. me and my son go to eat for the first time, we travel from Lakeland. I'd like to say the food was good but we never made it that far, we sat at the sushi bar for 10 min without being asked for a drink k order or brought a water. however during my 10 min wait I saw someone else come in be seated at the sushi bar place there order receive there order and begin consuming there order. I might give them another shot but right now I wouldn't recommend them to anyone at all based on the service I received or should I say lack of. wasabi needs to step it up a notch. not pleased at all. not only were me and my son both disappointed but it cost me money to go there and eat nothing.
(2)Brittany L.
I waited almost a year to finally judge this place. Like many reviews said, when Wasabi first opened, it was lacking appeal. The service was slow, the staff was confused, and the place was packed all the time. HOWEVER, since the place has had time to settle and adjust, it has gone UPHILL. The food is pretty good. I really like their sushi, and I am picky. The Hibachi is ok. The chefs are entertaining and funny. What I like most is that the cross have died down. It has given the place a chance to work on areas of weakness. You can tell the staff has made the necessary adjustments to be successful. I personally hope this place stays open here in Plant City! it is nice to have options other than fast food and your typical "American" places like Chili's and Outback.
(4)Amy Z.
Enjoyed the chicken katsu & wine selection was pretty good. Mexican rolls were good too. Sat at the bar - didn't try the hibachi.
(4)Xi M.
So happy to have a sushi and Hibachi restaurant in Plant City! We've gone there for lunch and dinner. We've had their Hibachi and their sushi. My favorite roll is the Roslyn Roll. Just love it. We took our daughter there for her birthday dinner and were truly impressed with the Hibachi chef's skills. We've been to a lot of other Hibachi places and I can honestly say the chef we had was the best we've ever had. He was super friendly, entertaining and accommodating.
(4)Jon W.
Went in on a Saturday and tried to order off the lunch menu since the website stated that the lunch menu was available of Saturday. I was told I was not allowed to order off the lunch menu today. There were only two people in the place and they wouldn't let me order lunch. Must be nice to be doing well enough to turn down business.
(1)James K.
Pretty good sushi and incredible sashimi. The wait time used to be terrible but they have gotten a lot better.
(4)Brittany A.
I have been to Wasabi a few times in the past year. The sushi is delicious. I have tried numerous places and it is the best in Plant City for sure. I would have given it 5 stars but I didn't really care for their hibachi meals. The rice was dry and noodles were lacking flavor.
(4)Makenzie S.
Place is fantastic!!! Love everything here! Sushi is amazing. So many to choose from!
(5)Rob D.
We have been here many times with friends and family, including soon after they opened and have had great experiences each time. We enjoy the hibachi side and just sitting at the sushi bar on occasion. Compared to options in Lakeland for sushi, Wasabi's is a better choice. Good selection of Saki as well.
(5)Alicia C.
My husband, our son and myself visited this wasabi on Wednesday February 26, 2014. The waitress was nice enough, but she didn't bother to offer any drink specials or give a recommendation. (I actually don't even think she introduced herself). Drinks weren't brought out on a tray, and refills were given by taking the original cup away and bringing it back WITH the straw in it the whole time. To me, this seems like a sanitation concern. Everyone's straw goes back to the soda machine and gets knocked around touching the nozzles? Icky. I didn't use my straw after that but my husband did. The food was not brought out on a tray either, and my husband's food came out 5 minutes before mine. If we're spending 50$ on dinner at a place we've never been, I expect tray service and fresh glassware! Not to mention getting to eat at the same time?! The food was nothing to write home about. Though presented beautifully, my California roll tasted like it was from the supermarket. The seaweed they used to wrap it was incredibly chewy and wouldn't actually tear off in my mouth. I either had to shove the whole roll in my mouth, or scrape rice off of it and have the thing fall apart all over the table. I ended up taking the fish out of my salmon and tuna rolls and eating it plain. i didn't bother eating the California roll at all. The flavor of the rice that came with my husband's hibatchi was actually quite disappointing. It was flavorless and had an odd texture, almost like it had been overcooked (mushy). The booth seating in the bar area (not hibatchi) was very upright an uncomfortable. A child from the booth next to us actually hung over in our booth every 2 minutes for the first 15 minutes we were there. He tried to poke my son in the face and hit my husband in the head with chopsticks. A server saw it happen and told a manager who said he would 'keep an eye on the situation' but still, maybe if the darn booths weren't so uncomfortable he wouldn't have been standing in his seat looking over at us in the first place lol. It was awkward. The weirdest thing that happened overall was a server/busboy guy came up and actually touched my sons face on the way out of the kitchen walking through the dining room. He had knelt over and said hi to our son when he asked us if we needed refills a few minutes before, but He left, and went inside the kitchen. He came out a few minutes later doing that fast server walk, and literally reached out and brushed my sons cheek in front of us while he was walking past through the restaurant. My son screamed. The server guy actually jumped back and said 'he scared me' and laughed nervously.um what?? My 13 month old son scared you when you reached out and touched his face unannounced? HOW DO YOU THINK HE FELT?? At the time it was like oh gosh, people are staring (because no one likes when a kid lets out a random scream in a restaurant) but now that I am looking back on the situation it was really weird. No matter how cute a kid might be, keep your hands to yourself!!! And no it wasn't a pat on the head or a brush past on the shoulder, his finger purposefully touched my son's cheek, which was facing away from him as he quickly walked past. Weirdo. Not going back. Uncomfortable seats, restaurant seems to cater to the young and single (and I'm 23, so I do qualify as young) but based on the booth we were sitting in they aren't targeting families. They also need to get their service act together and give attention to detail (tray service, fresh cups for refills). Too many options in plant city to bother going here again! (Johnson's BBq!) if I want hibatchi I'll drive to kobe's
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