We were in Ames, IA over the weekend visiting some family and decided to go to Fuji Steakhouse (1614 S. Kellogg Ave.). We figured since it was Father's Day weekend and restaurants tend to be busy on either Saturday or Sunday, we'd hit it up on Saturday just after they opened the doors. We didn't do the hibachi because nobody in our group really likes the hibachi. So, we asked for sushi bar only and they sat us right away. It wasn't busy when we arrived (which was why we planned to arrive early) but not more than 30 minutes after arrival the place filled up. It's obvious people in Ames like this place. I'm not what you'd call an "expert" on sushi or Japanese cuisine, but I've experienced enough of it to know what I'm getting, what is good and what is terrible. I tried the Green Dragon roll and the Yellow Fin Tuna roll (this is sashimi - or "raw" fish) rather than just cooked and rolled. Other members of the group ordered California rolls, Super-Crunchy roll, Black Dragon rolls (which looked really good) and some other dishes - can't remember all of them. My take on Fuji Steakhouse - the sushi is good, the wait staff is friendly and the prices are a little high, but after all, we aren't near the ocean and fresh seafood is hard to come by out here. I would put Fuji up against any of the places that I've visited in the Twin Cities. If you have an open mind you'll really enjoy your visit there. If you're looking for something different in Ames and don't mind spending a little more than you're used to spending on restaurants there, give Fuji Steakhouse a try.
(4)
Kevin L.
Went there a few times for the lunch special. It's fun to watch the chef doing tricks the first time but it really became a waste of time later on. By the way lunch special consists of soup or salad plus teppanyaki rice with a choice of meat. The taste is okay, though I don't think it's any better than say, food court grade Japanese places. Lots of teriyaki sauce applied to the rice and meat. I've only ordered a tuna roll besides the lunch special. The roll tastes mediocre, with the tuna flesh looking darker than usual. With the above being said, it's okay Japanese food for borderline reasonable price, in a city like Ames.
Found a hair in my shrimp ramon just on my shrimp! never return here again! the food is.not fresh neither!!
(1)
Jordan L.
Great food! A bit pricey, but then again, I'm pretty cheap....lol Super Crunchy Roll was very good! The "Love Boat" was plenty of food for two! 4 Stars due to price.
(4)
Melissa S.
I love this place! It's what got me hooked on Sushi. Whenever I went I always had the same waiter; Joe. Always suggesting things based on other things I liked. He does a good job. I've never had a bad experience, but I only give it 4 stars because it's so pricey!
(4)
Shu L.
As an Asian, I will give 2 stars for some reasons. Food. It seems that it is a Japanese restaurant. You can try many different sorts of Japanese food there. But the Sushi, Udon and other food are pretty so so or bad ( Compare with many other Japanese restaurants only in America ). For me, it is not traditional Japanese food. Rough and strange dishes, third-rate taste will make me very uncomfortable. Japanese food concentrates on high quality food and dish details. You cannot find any related things here. Service. You may have to wait for seating in front of the front desk from several minutes. The waitress is "busy". Environment. It is not a very quit place. The owner of the restaurant tries to make the inside "Japanese", however, it doesn't get it. The tableware is not very clean. You'd better check it carefully before you use it. Price. As you can see, many reviews mentioned it is pricey. I think the price is pretty high in Ames and the food quality is very terrible. If you don't want to waste your money, please choose other restaurants in Ames. You can try it, if it is your first time. It is only a review. We cannot expect to have a nice restaurant here. It's Ames.
(2)
Kyler R.
It has a horrible smell and there are bats flying all over the place. I order the lunch special which was literally 5 little chunks of steak
(2)
G L.
Reading several reviews of the restaurant, I understand both, who gave 4+ stars and another with 1 star. My first visit of the restaurant as a japanese food lover, I'd have given one star. However, after visiting several times, even regularly like once for every other weeks, I felt sometimes, it's good enough. 1. Frankly, to an asian food savvy, some of their food brings expression like "Ew.". I'd not recommend eating some "soup" based dish such as U-dong (Noodle). It's even hard to call it "fusion". The taste is really strange- I mean that it doesn't mean bad though, just little awkward and made me suspicious whether cooks understands how to make Dashi (Asian style broth for soups). 2. Some of their menu are good. Bento boxes and Californian style rolls are pretty decent. Especially we liked their bento compositions; tastes are good and mixture of meat, rice, rolls and fruit dessert on one plate with reasonable price could be definitely their selling point. 3. You might think the food are a bit pricy. I agree and disagree on that point. The "marked" price looks high at first, but you can utilize various promotions. They serve great price on lunch time menu, runs happy-hour discounts and if you are a student, you'd get a student discount as well. Therefore, my final conclusion of Fuji is that it's not that bad. This place is OK, and even great for several occasions such as dates, casual business meetings. Like a person who didn't bring a great first impression, but could be a reliable friend at the end, you will learn Fuji that it's quite good. Another tip of this restaurant is that the serving size is generally really large, except sushi. You should count the food will come too much so that you'd ask boxes at the end, when you order.
(3)
Travis J.
Okay so when I was looking this place up I saw that it had 3 stars... I honestly had to make sure I had the right place. All I got to say is I LOVE Fuji's this place is 1 of few hibachi's in Iowa and the only one in Ames. For a hibachi grill the food is as cheap as you'll ever get it plus its AMAZING. The cook's who chop the food in front of you will make you laugh and interact with you during their performance. If your in the Ames area and looking for entertainment come on down to Fuji's where you'll never be disappointed. I've honestly been here probably 20+ times and every time I come in its always a new experience.
(5)
Scott D.
The sushi selection is wide and great. I greatly enjoyed taking my girlfriend there for lunch. We sat right at the Hibachi table and had our own personal meal. It was an enjoyable experience to say the least.
(5)
Vivian N.
From other review, I think they improve the service when i came recently. The place is good with private seating. Their bento box looks quite attracting. The bento box I had is just OK. It's a bit too little food in a huge tray. My entree was a bit sweet. Bring a hoodie/ jacket when you come, it's freezing in there.
(2)
Mark H.
I give this place three stars for the food but thought seriously about deducting a star for the service. My wife and I, and five colleagues from work, came here for dinner. My wife had made reservations but when we got here (with the restaurant having almost no customers in it) we were told that the big table was in use-- by a party of two people. When we asked why they woud use that table for two people when there was an existing reservation for seven, the hostess said "they insisted". The upshot was that we were half an hour late getting served. The waitress suggested we sit at the bar but none of us wanted to drink so we just sat around drinking water. (No offer of free drinks was made.) There is no way we will ever use this restaurant for a business dinner with any kind of group again. Once we finally got served, things improved, although the waitress seemed to have an inordinate amount of difficulty figuring out what one of us meant when he asked for a substitution that he had had previously. She also seemed confused when the woman sitting next to him said "I'll have that too". The food itself was good but nothing to write home about, but to be honest Japanese food is not my favorite cuisine, nor is it my wife's. I had the pork shobayagi, which is pork in some kind of ginger- accented brown sauce; my wife had a salmon bento box which came with chicken and vegetable tempura, California rolls and shrimp shumai. I thought the pork was OK and was pleased to see that the taste of ginger did not overwhelm the pork. My wife liked the salmon and really liked the California rolls, but she thought the shrimp shumai tasted more like tofu than shrimp. I had her chicken tempura and thought they were pretty good, with a nice light breading. I doubt my wife and I would ever come here by ourselves, simply because there are so many other restaurants in town we like more, but if we were with a small group and the others wanted to come, we wouldn't decline. As I said, though, we won't ever schedule a large-group meeting here.
(3)
Megan M.
I have been to Fuji a handful of times before today, but only for the regular dining selection and not the hibachi grill. The regular menu is a solid 2 stars. My review today is on the hibachi grill. I experienced the hibachi grill for the first time today and have to say that I would have been angry if I had paid dinner prices. As it was, I paid lunch special prices (roughly $10). My fellow diners, who have had hibachi there before, were also not impressed with today's show. The fried rice was lacking onions and carrots and the sauce was not very good. It was served long before the rest of the meal so most people at the table ate their portion while their food was being cooked. If you saved it, the rice was cold by the time there was food to accompany it. According to my fellow diners, the grill operator didn't give the usual show, leaving out many things and had very poor timing in the cooking time. Apparently a good grill operator makes sure everyone's food comes out at roughly the same time. Today, the time gap between the first person and the 8th (last) person getting their food was more than 5 minutes. I feel as if I don't need to be entertained by the cooking process of my food. The food should be the highlight of the meal itself. I ordered the chicken while avoiding the steak because I recently had a fantastic steak at 801 Chophouse in Kansas City, (there's also one in Des Moines) and didn't want Fuji ruining the memory of a good steak for me. My chicken came out late, rubbery and smothered in too much of the sauce they use. The veggies that came with the meal had the odd characteristic of being simultaneously undercooked and overcooked. I will never go back for the hibachi.
(1)
Rosa K.
I miss Chicago so much... I guess if you want to call this sushi, then Fuji can have 2 stars, given that you can't find sushi, let alone hibachi anywhere else in Ames. The buffet place has just as bad sushi if not worse and I don't know why people eat at Hyvee. They do have an affordable lunch menu, but honestly I didn't eat much nor did I want to take anything home.
(2)
Megan H.
If I could give Fuji 3.5 stars, I would. I was not expecting much from the sushi, so I was pleasantly surprised when I had lunch here. $8.50 gets you two rolls from a preselected list, along with miso soup or a salad. That's a pretty decent lunch portion considering that the rolls are more generously sized than across town at Shogun (plus, the fish tastes fresher). The eel roll was on the average side, but the spicy tuna was very good. Oddly, nothing about my meal was particularly spicy, including the spicy tuna. Even the wasabi was bland. But it was still tasty. The decor is best described as Asian kitsch (fake orchids, oversized fountains, and menus that look like they were wrapped in kimono fabric)... but I actually do enjoy the atmosphere. The restaurant is sectioned off into semi-private booths so you don't feel like you're in a big room watching everyone else eat, and the service is friendly. I haven't eaten at the teppenyake grill here, which I'm sure is the main attraction for some people, but I'll definitely be back for sushi.
(3)
Natalie T.
Ames' only sushi joint worth your time. I simply cannot think of a single detractor. The ambiance in the bar area alone is worth a trip, and the cuisine never misses. I've found Fuji's service to be light years ahead of the "other" sushi places in town, to which I'll never return! 5 stars by Ames' standards!
(5)
Anna L.
This is supposed to be a tepinyaki (sp?!) style restaurant for steak and the Japanese cuisine, and it was. Food style is similar to Bennihana, which I am not a fan of. Service was exceptional. Too bad the food wasn't. We ordered the Hibachi style food. I ordered scallop hibachi and my coworker ordered salmon. Hibachi style is basically where you have a chef cook for you and do tricks as he prepares your meal. At first, the chef was amusing, cracking jokes here and there, and giggling maniacally. He did the usual tricks: spinning the eggs, making onion volcanoes, drawing smiley faces with oil... However, when he started throwing scrambled egg pieces at me and asking if I knew what rice was 3x the amount I could stand, my experience was killed. Food was below average. Fried rice was simply soy sauce and pieces of scrambled egg. Hardly any flavoring. Scallop was cooked ok, but even that was tasteless. I used their "special sauce" which was pretty much thousand island ranch tasting. Weird. I managed to finish the scallop and the veggies since I had to fill up from dinner somehow. That night, I was sitting on the toilet for a good hour. Another colleague ordered the salmon. He did not touch it at all. Salmon was dry and tasteless. The 3rd colleage ordered stir fried udon. According to him, it was bland and difficult to swallow. Our waitress was a sweetheart. Chef guy was super annoying. Ambience...well it was completely empty on a Tuesday evening, but the place was nicely decorated. Food, however, I just can't come back for another go again.
(1)
Cat F.
This place has come a long way. It is the closest sushi for us and we go there a few times every couple of months. When they first opened I was kind of excited. The first few times we went, it was horrble,the service,the selection it all was bad. We went there for lunch very recently and it was enjoyable. the service was spot on, fast and friendly too. Since it is a little bit closer than DM we will go there a lot more. The drink selection could be better? I guess they do have the Tepanaki grill going too. Folks seem to enjoy this, I have not taken part yet.
(4)
Tasha S.
TERRIBLE PLACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BEWARE OF SCAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My husband was in Ames about a month ago for a work convention. He was with a large group of men, one of whom which picked up the tab with a corperate card. My husband bought one round at the bar and put it on his credit card. WELL, we got our credit card statement today. FUJI charged his card $415.00! We called there and spoke with a lady. She said " you with large group that NOT pay!" This is totally WRONG! My husband called his sales rep(that paid) and he has proof that they paid. BEWARE of scams!!! We are currently fighting it with our credit card company. We have also filed a complaint with the BBB. HOPE we can get the $415.00 back!
(1)
Matt E.
Welcome back to Ames Japanese cuisine. I was surprised at the size and quality decor at this establishment. It was easy to get in and get seated, the wait staff was attentive and courteous. We throroughly enjoyed the Bento Box and Sushi entrees that we ordered. The quality of the fish was very good. There were also items on the menu that I as a long time patron of Japanese restaurants that were new to me (a raw conch appetizer for and example). Only recommendation is improved salad and miso soup which were disappointing. I am partial to Nihon cuisine so I will be here often but overall this is going to be one of the most popular eating destinations in Ames.
(4)
Chloe J.
Obviously yelp isn't that big in the midwest region yet because I'm surprised there isn't more reviews/ quality reviews. If you know you dont like teppynaki (Anna L.) don't go to a Teppynaki place... maybe? Anyways, Teppynaki (not sure how to spell) is one of my favorite types of restuarants to go to so I try them everywhere. I will admit you would not think you'd find a quality Japanese place in small-town Iowa but this one is the best I've ever been to. No lies. I've been to probably 15 different teppy places in several different states. The staff is fun and thrives off of the vibe/age group of the table. They don't just go for the scripted act as most places do, unlesss cheesy is what you are going for. If you dont want to be bothered, they'll be quiet. If you're sake-bombing college kids they'll go for the more R-rated jokes. I love it. The food though is the best part! Out of all the teppy places I've been to they give the most meat/seafood. The best variety of veggies. Not just typical zuchhini, onions, and sprouts. They give you broccoli, carrots, zuchhini, baby corns, etc. Also they have great sauces. The fried rice is bomb.com . I will always miss this place from college. I am lucky to get to re-visit this place this week. I heart Fuji.
(5)
Jennifer H.
The service is poor, the sushi is ok. The food is not what I got growing up. Ugh I am trying to find something nice to say.... Not working. Mom, I want some GOOD Japanese food!!!!!
(2)
Stephen E.
I didn't expect much for sushi in Ames Iowa but I was happy to find that this place was quite delish... Had the spicy tuna roll and the dream roll... Spicy Tuna was standard and the dream roll was excellent. Miso soup could use a little work. Service was decent.
(4)
Stacy S.
Thank God! Finally, there is a restaurant that saved me from the mundane diner-esque feel of Ames. Fuji is a play on the Benihana-originated dinner grilling. Some of the cooks are better than the others, but most fit the bill. It's fun for groups and for people who want their money's worth. Lunch is the best deal (approx $10 before tax for a lot of the grill). Totally worth it to hit this place up before 2pm. You get almost the same meal for 5 bucks less. Dinner is still reasonable, but the prices do go up. All you get for dinner is a salad/soup and two shrimp with your meal. The soup is decent but nothing to rave about, but the salad is my wife's favorite. She normally orders an extra bowl. The rice is the best thing, so hit the grill if you want some damn good food. Veg-heads will also like the vegetable or noodle meals. A ton of food for cheap. The sushi is decent. The expensive rolls are better and worth the extra cash. Go there willing to splurge, and you can have a sushi experience that rivals my time in Los Angeles. Beer is cheap. Sake is good. Definitely worth your time. Best place in Ames.
(4)
Tony S.
Meh. It's your only real sushi option in Ames. Doesn't mean it's good; just means the other options are even worse. I did the hibachi thing once out of some feeling of obligation, but I find that sort of "entertainment" insipid and annoying. Figuring that is simply not for me but may somehow appeal to other sorts of people in ways I cannot comprehend, I base my review on the non-hibachi food in the regular dining area only. Sushi is worth three stars: tolerable, satisfies the craving in a pinch when you don't have time to drive to Minneapolis or Chicago for actually delicious sushi. Fuji obviously caters to the typical American / Midwesterner who wants fried things and cream cheese in their rolls -- something else with which I cannot relate. As for foods other than sushi: They will tempura-fry anything here, and serve it with a thick, gelatinous sauce that bewilders me for its dissimilarity to any tempura sauce I have ever experienced anywhere else in all my history of eating Japanese food. Quite disgusting. I suppose if I don't compare it to real Japanese food, but instead think of it as its own genre, I might consider this a three-star place. But when I'm craving Japanese food and come here out of desperation, I only end up missing it more.
(2)
Doug P.
Ok if you stay away from the show dinner... do yourself a favor, order off the menu and save a few $$ plus get better food. What's the deal with the place being run by Indonesians????
(3)
Melissa S.
I love this place! It's what got me hooked on Sushi. Whenever I went I always had the same waiter; Joe. Always suggesting things based on other things I liked. He does a good job. I've never had a bad experience, but I only give it 4 stars because it's so pricey!
(4)
Travis J.
Okay so when I was looking this place up I saw that it had 3 stars... I honestly had to make sure I had the right place. All I got to say is I LOVE Fuji's this place is 1 of few hibachi's in Iowa and the only one in Ames. For a hibachi grill the food is as cheap as you'll ever get it plus its AMAZING. The cook's who chop the food in front of you will make you laugh and interact with you during their performance. If your in the Ames area and looking for entertainment come on down to Fuji's where you'll never be disappointed. I've honestly been here probably 20+ times and every time I come in its always a new experience.
(5)
Scott D.
The sushi selection is wide and great. I greatly enjoyed taking my girlfriend there for lunch. We sat right at the Hibachi table and had our own personal meal. It was an enjoyable experience to say the least.
(5)
Shu L.
As an Asian, I will give 2 stars for some reasons. Food. It seems that it is a Japanese restaurant. You can try many different sorts of Japanese food there. But the Sushi, Udon and other food are pretty so so or bad ( Compare with many other Japanese restaurants only in America ). For me, it is not traditional Japanese food. Rough and strange dishes, third-rate taste will make me very uncomfortable. Japanese food concentrates on high quality food and dish details. You cannot find any related things here. Service. You may have to wait for seating in front of the front desk from several minutes. The waitress is "busy". Environment. It is not a very quit place. The owner of the restaurant tries to make the inside "Japanese", however, it doesn't get it. The tableware is not very clean. You'd better check it carefully before you use it. Price. As you can see, many reviews mentioned it is pricey. I think the price is pretty high in Ames and the food quality is very terrible. If you don't want to waste your money, please choose other restaurants in Ames. You can try it, if it is your first time. It is only a review. We cannot expect to have a nice restaurant here. It's Ames.
(2)
Kyler R.
It has a horrible smell and there are bats flying all over the place. I order the lunch special which was literally 5 little chunks of steak
(2)
Kevin L.
Went there a few times for the lunch special. It's fun to watch the chef doing tricks the first time but it really became a waste of time later on. By the way lunch special consists of soup or salad plus teppanyaki rice with a choice of meat. The taste is okay, though I don't think it's any better than say, food court grade Japanese places. Lots of teriyaki sauce applied to the rice and meat. I've only ordered a tuna roll besides the lunch special. The roll tastes mediocre, with the tuna flesh looking darker than usual. With the above being said, it's okay Japanese food for borderline reasonable price, in a city like Ames.
(3)
G L.
Reading several reviews of the restaurant, I understand both, who gave 4+ stars and another with 1 star. My first visit of the restaurant as a japanese food lover, I'd have given one star. However, after visiting several times, even regularly like once for every other weeks, I felt sometimes, it's good enough. 1. Frankly, to an asian food savvy, some of their food brings expression like "Ew.". I'd not recommend eating some "soup" based dish such as U-dong (Noodle). It's even hard to call it "fusion". The taste is really strange- I mean that it doesn't mean bad though, just little awkward and made me suspicious whether cooks understands how to make Dashi (Asian style broth for soups). 2. Some of their menu are good. Bento boxes and Californian style rolls are pretty decent. Especially we liked their bento compositions; tastes are good and mixture of meat, rice, rolls and fruit dessert on one plate with reasonable price could be definitely their selling point. 3. You might think the food are a bit pricy. I agree and disagree on that point. The "marked" price looks high at first, but you can utilize various promotions. They serve great price on lunch time menu, runs happy-hour discounts and if you are a student, you'd get a student discount as well. Therefore, my final conclusion of Fuji is that it's not that bad. This place is OK, and even great for several occasions such as dates, casual business meetings. Like a person who didn't bring a great first impression, but could be a reliable friend at the end, you will learn Fuji that it's quite good. Another tip of this restaurant is that the serving size is generally really large, except sushi. You should count the food will come too much so that you'd ask boxes at the end, when you order.
(3)
Josh S.
We were in Ames, IA over the weekend visiting some family and decided to go to Fuji Steakhouse (1614 S. Kellogg Ave.). We figured since it was Father's Day weekend and restaurants tend to be busy on either Saturday or Sunday, we'd hit it up on Saturday just after they opened the doors. We didn't do the hibachi because nobody in our group really likes the hibachi. So, we asked for sushi bar only and they sat us right away. It wasn't busy when we arrived (which was why we planned to arrive early) but not more than 30 minutes after arrival the place filled up. It's obvious people in Ames like this place. I'm not what you'd call an "expert" on sushi or Japanese cuisine, but I've experienced enough of it to know what I'm getting, what is good and what is terrible. I tried the Green Dragon roll and the Yellow Fin Tuna roll (this is sashimi - or "raw" fish) rather than just cooked and rolled. Other members of the group ordered California rolls, Super-Crunchy roll, Black Dragon rolls (which looked really good) and some other dishes - can't remember all of them. My take on Fuji Steakhouse - the sushi is good, the wait staff is friendly and the prices are a little high, but after all, we aren't near the ocean and fresh seafood is hard to come by out here. I would put Fuji up against any of the places that I've visited in the Twin Cities. If you have an open mind you'll really enjoy your visit there. If you're looking for something different in Ames and don't mind spending a little more than you're used to spending on restaurants there, give Fuji Steakhouse a try.
Found a hair in my shrimp ramon just on my shrimp! never return here again! the food is.not fresh neither!!
(1)
Jordan L.
Great food! A bit pricey, but then again, I'm pretty cheap....lol Super Crunchy Roll was very good! The "Love Boat" was plenty of food for two! 4 Stars due to price.
(4)
Vivian N.
From other review, I think they improve the service when i came recently. The place is good with private seating. Their bento box looks quite attracting. The bento box I had is just OK. It's a bit too little food in a huge tray. My entree was a bit sweet. Bring a hoodie/ jacket when you come, it's freezing in there.
(2)
Mark H.
I give this place three stars for the food but thought seriously about deducting a star for the service. My wife and I, and five colleagues from work, came here for dinner. My wife had made reservations but when we got here (with the restaurant having almost no customers in it) we were told that the big table was in use-- by a party of two people. When we asked why they woud use that table for two people when there was an existing reservation for seven, the hostess said "they insisted". The upshot was that we were half an hour late getting served. The waitress suggested we sit at the bar but none of us wanted to drink so we just sat around drinking water. (No offer of free drinks was made.) There is no way we will ever use this restaurant for a business dinner with any kind of group again. Once we finally got served, things improved, although the waitress seemed to have an inordinate amount of difficulty figuring out what one of us meant when he asked for a substitution that he had had previously. She also seemed confused when the woman sitting next to him said "I'll have that too". The food itself was good but nothing to write home about, but to be honest Japanese food is not my favorite cuisine, nor is it my wife's. I had the pork shobayagi, which is pork in some kind of ginger- accented brown sauce; my wife had a salmon bento box which came with chicken and vegetable tempura, California rolls and shrimp shumai. I thought the pork was OK and was pleased to see that the taste of ginger did not overwhelm the pork. My wife liked the salmon and really liked the California rolls, but she thought the shrimp shumai tasted more like tofu than shrimp. I had her chicken tempura and thought they were pretty good, with a nice light breading. I doubt my wife and I would ever come here by ourselves, simply because there are so many other restaurants in town we like more, but if we were with a small group and the others wanted to come, we wouldn't decline. As I said, though, we won't ever schedule a large-group meeting here.
(3)
Matt E.
Welcome back to Ames Japanese cuisine. I was surprised at the size and quality decor at this establishment. It was easy to get in and get seated, the wait staff was attentive and courteous. We throroughly enjoyed the Bento Box and Sushi entrees that we ordered. The quality of the fish was very good. There were also items on the menu that I as a long time patron of Japanese restaurants that were new to me (a raw conch appetizer for and example). Only recommendation is improved salad and miso soup which were disappointing. I am partial to Nihon cuisine so I will be here often but overall this is going to be one of the most popular eating destinations in Ames.
(4)
Megan M.
I have been to Fuji a handful of times before today, but only for the regular dining selection and not the hibachi grill. The regular menu is a solid 2 stars. My review today is on the hibachi grill. I experienced the hibachi grill for the first time today and have to say that I would have been angry if I had paid dinner prices. As it was, I paid lunch special prices (roughly $10). My fellow diners, who have had hibachi there before, were also not impressed with today's show. The fried rice was lacking onions and carrots and the sauce was not very good. It was served long before the rest of the meal so most people at the table ate their portion while their food was being cooked. If you saved it, the rice was cold by the time there was food to accompany it. According to my fellow diners, the grill operator didn't give the usual show, leaving out many things and had very poor timing in the cooking time. Apparently a good grill operator makes sure everyone's food comes out at roughly the same time. Today, the time gap between the first person and the 8th (last) person getting their food was more than 5 minutes. I feel as if I don't need to be entertained by the cooking process of my food. The food should be the highlight of the meal itself. I ordered the chicken while avoiding the steak because I recently had a fantastic steak at 801 Chophouse in Kansas City, (there's also one in Des Moines) and didn't want Fuji ruining the memory of a good steak for me. My chicken came out late, rubbery and smothered in too much of the sauce they use. The veggies that came with the meal had the odd characteristic of being simultaneously undercooked and overcooked. I will never go back for the hibachi.
(1)
Rosa K.
I miss Chicago so much... I guess if you want to call this sushi, then Fuji can have 2 stars, given that you can't find sushi, let alone hibachi anywhere else in Ames. The buffet place has just as bad sushi if not worse and I don't know why people eat at Hyvee. They do have an affordable lunch menu, but honestly I didn't eat much nor did I want to take anything home.
(2)
Megan H.
If I could give Fuji 3.5 stars, I would. I was not expecting much from the sushi, so I was pleasantly surprised when I had lunch here. $8.50 gets you two rolls from a preselected list, along with miso soup or a salad. That's a pretty decent lunch portion considering that the rolls are more generously sized than across town at Shogun (plus, the fish tastes fresher). The eel roll was on the average side, but the spicy tuna was very good. Oddly, nothing about my meal was particularly spicy, including the spicy tuna. Even the wasabi was bland. But it was still tasty. The decor is best described as Asian kitsch (fake orchids, oversized fountains, and menus that look like they were wrapped in kimono fabric)... but I actually do enjoy the atmosphere. The restaurant is sectioned off into semi-private booths so you don't feel like you're in a big room watching everyone else eat, and the service is friendly. I haven't eaten at the teppenyake grill here, which I'm sure is the main attraction for some people, but I'll definitely be back for sushi.
(3)
Natalie T.
Ames' only sushi joint worth your time. I simply cannot think of a single detractor. The ambiance in the bar area alone is worth a trip, and the cuisine never misses. I've found Fuji's service to be light years ahead of the "other" sushi places in town, to which I'll never return! 5 stars by Ames' standards!
(5)
Anna L.
This is supposed to be a tepinyaki (sp?!) style restaurant for steak and the Japanese cuisine, and it was. Food style is similar to Bennihana, which I am not a fan of. Service was exceptional. Too bad the food wasn't. We ordered the Hibachi style food. I ordered scallop hibachi and my coworker ordered salmon. Hibachi style is basically where you have a chef cook for you and do tricks as he prepares your meal. At first, the chef was amusing, cracking jokes here and there, and giggling maniacally. He did the usual tricks: spinning the eggs, making onion volcanoes, drawing smiley faces with oil... However, when he started throwing scrambled egg pieces at me and asking if I knew what rice was 3x the amount I could stand, my experience was killed. Food was below average. Fried rice was simply soy sauce and pieces of scrambled egg. Hardly any flavoring. Scallop was cooked ok, but even that was tasteless. I used their "special sauce" which was pretty much thousand island ranch tasting. Weird. I managed to finish the scallop and the veggies since I had to fill up from dinner somehow. That night, I was sitting on the toilet for a good hour. Another colleague ordered the salmon. He did not touch it at all. Salmon was dry and tasteless. The 3rd colleage ordered stir fried udon. According to him, it was bland and difficult to swallow. Our waitress was a sweetheart. Chef guy was super annoying. Ambience...well it was completely empty on a Tuesday evening, but the place was nicely decorated. Food, however, I just can't come back for another go again.
(1)
Cat F.
This place has come a long way. It is the closest sushi for us and we go there a few times every couple of months. When they first opened I was kind of excited. The first few times we went, it was horrble,the service,the selection it all was bad. We went there for lunch very recently and it was enjoyable. the service was spot on, fast and friendly too. Since it is a little bit closer than DM we will go there a lot more. The drink selection could be better? I guess they do have the Tepanaki grill going too. Folks seem to enjoy this, I have not taken part yet.
(4)
Tasha S.
TERRIBLE PLACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BEWARE OF SCAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My husband was in Ames about a month ago for a work convention. He was with a large group of men, one of whom which picked up the tab with a corperate card. My husband bought one round at the bar and put it on his credit card. WELL, we got our credit card statement today. FUJI charged his card $415.00! We called there and spoke with a lady. She said " you with large group that NOT pay!" This is totally WRONG! My husband called his sales rep(that paid) and he has proof that they paid. BEWARE of scams!!! We are currently fighting it with our credit card company. We have also filed a complaint with the BBB. HOPE we can get the $415.00 back!
(1)
Chloe J.
Obviously yelp isn't that big in the midwest region yet because I'm surprised there isn't more reviews/ quality reviews. If you know you dont like teppynaki (Anna L.) don't go to a Teppynaki place... maybe? Anyways, Teppynaki (not sure how to spell) is one of my favorite types of restuarants to go to so I try them everywhere. I will admit you would not think you'd find a quality Japanese place in small-town Iowa but this one is the best I've ever been to. No lies. I've been to probably 15 different teppy places in several different states. The staff is fun and thrives off of the vibe/age group of the table. They don't just go for the scripted act as most places do, unlesss cheesy is what you are going for. If you dont want to be bothered, they'll be quiet. If you're sake-bombing college kids they'll go for the more R-rated jokes. I love it. The food though is the best part! Out of all the teppy places I've been to they give the most meat/seafood. The best variety of veggies. Not just typical zuchhini, onions, and sprouts. They give you broccoli, carrots, zuchhini, baby corns, etc. Also they have great sauces. The fried rice is bomb.com . I will always miss this place from college. I am lucky to get to re-visit this place this week. I heart Fuji.
(5)
Jennifer H.
The service is poor, the sushi is ok. The food is not what I got growing up. Ugh I am trying to find something nice to say.... Not working. Mom, I want some GOOD Japanese food!!!!!
(2)
Stephen E.
I didn't expect much for sushi in Ames Iowa but I was happy to find that this place was quite delish... Had the spicy tuna roll and the dream roll... Spicy Tuna was standard and the dream roll was excellent. Miso soup could use a little work. Service was decent.
(4)
Stacy S.
Thank God! Finally, there is a restaurant that saved me from the mundane diner-esque feel of Ames. Fuji is a play on the Benihana-originated dinner grilling. Some of the cooks are better than the others, but most fit the bill. It's fun for groups and for people who want their money's worth. Lunch is the best deal (approx $10 before tax for a lot of the grill). Totally worth it to hit this place up before 2pm. You get almost the same meal for 5 bucks less. Dinner is still reasonable, but the prices do go up. All you get for dinner is a salad/soup and two shrimp with your meal. The soup is decent but nothing to rave about, but the salad is my wife's favorite. She normally orders an extra bowl. The rice is the best thing, so hit the grill if you want some damn good food. Veg-heads will also like the vegetable or noodle meals. A ton of food for cheap. The sushi is decent. The expensive rolls are better and worth the extra cash. Go there willing to splurge, and you can have a sushi experience that rivals my time in Los Angeles. Beer is cheap. Sake is good. Definitely worth your time. Best place in Ames.
(4)
Tony S.
Meh. It's your only real sushi option in Ames. Doesn't mean it's good; just means the other options are even worse. I did the hibachi thing once out of some feeling of obligation, but I find that sort of "entertainment" insipid and annoying. Figuring that is simply not for me but may somehow appeal to other sorts of people in ways I cannot comprehend, I base my review on the non-hibachi food in the regular dining area only. Sushi is worth three stars: tolerable, satisfies the craving in a pinch when you don't have time to drive to Minneapolis or Chicago for actually delicious sushi. Fuji obviously caters to the typical American / Midwesterner who wants fried things and cream cheese in their rolls -- something else with which I cannot relate. As for foods other than sushi: They will tempura-fry anything here, and serve it with a thick, gelatinous sauce that bewilders me for its dissimilarity to any tempura sauce I have ever experienced anywhere else in all my history of eating Japanese food. Quite disgusting. I suppose if I don't compare it to real Japanese food, but instead think of it as its own genre, I might consider this a three-star place. But when I'm craving Japanese food and come here out of desperation, I only end up missing it more.
(2)
Doug P.
Ok if you stay away from the show dinner... do yourself a favor, order off the menu and save a few $$ plus get better food. What's the deal with the place being run by Indonesians????
(3)
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Address :1614 S Kellogg Ave,Ste 101
Ames, IA, 50010
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Josh S.
We were in Ames, IA over the weekend visiting some family and decided to go to Fuji Steakhouse (1614 S. Kellogg Ave.). We figured since it was Father's Day weekend and restaurants tend to be busy on either Saturday or Sunday, we'd hit it up on Saturday just after they opened the doors. We didn't do the hibachi because nobody in our group really likes the hibachi. So, we asked for sushi bar only and they sat us right away. It wasn't busy when we arrived (which was why we planned to arrive early) but not more than 30 minutes after arrival the place filled up. It's obvious people in Ames like this place. I'm not what you'd call an "expert" on sushi or Japanese cuisine, but I've experienced enough of it to know what I'm getting, what is good and what is terrible. I tried the Green Dragon roll and the Yellow Fin Tuna roll (this is sashimi - or "raw" fish) rather than just cooked and rolled. Other members of the group ordered California rolls, Super-Crunchy roll, Black Dragon rolls (which looked really good) and some other dishes - can't remember all of them. My take on Fuji Steakhouse - the sushi is good, the wait staff is friendly and the prices are a little high, but after all, we aren't near the ocean and fresh seafood is hard to come by out here. I would put Fuji up against any of the places that I've visited in the Twin Cities. If you have an open mind you'll really enjoy your visit there. If you're looking for something different in Ames and don't mind spending a little more than you're used to spending on restaurants there, give Fuji Steakhouse a try.
(4)Kevin L.
Went there a few times for the lunch special. It's fun to watch the chef doing tricks the first time but it really became a waste of time later on. By the way lunch special consists of soup or salad plus teppanyaki rice with a choice of meat. The taste is okay, though I don't think it's any better than say, food court grade Japanese places. Lots of teriyaki sauce applied to the rice and meat. I've only ordered a tuna roll besides the lunch special. The roll tastes mediocre, with the tuna flesh looking darker than usual. With the above being said, it's okay Japanese food for borderline reasonable price, in a city like Ames.
(3)Jill C.
My fiancé, daughter and I went to Fuji today. We ordered the sashimi sampler as an appetizer, it was pretty good. The rest of the meal however was well below my standards for the price given. The side salad was very watery, there was a pool of water that the bottom of the bowl. I ordered the chicken teriyaki bento box. The teriyaki sauce was delicious, but the chicken was rubbery. My fiancé ordered the hibachi steak dinner. The portion of steak wouldn't have satiated our two year old's appetite. Our daughter, however, loved the chicken and rice from her children's meal(which had about the same portions as her father's meal). Overall, the food is overpriced and so-so.
(2)Mo Y.
Found a hair in my shrimp ramon just on my shrimp! never return here again! the food is.not fresh neither!!
(1)Jordan L.
Great food! A bit pricey, but then again, I'm pretty cheap....lol Super Crunchy Roll was very good! The "Love Boat" was plenty of food for two! 4 Stars due to price.
(4)Melissa S.
I love this place! It's what got me hooked on Sushi. Whenever I went I always had the same waiter; Joe. Always suggesting things based on other things I liked. He does a good job. I've never had a bad experience, but I only give it 4 stars because it's so pricey!
(4)Shu L.
As an Asian, I will give 2 stars for some reasons. Food. It seems that it is a Japanese restaurant. You can try many different sorts of Japanese food there. But the Sushi, Udon and other food are pretty so so or bad ( Compare with many other Japanese restaurants only in America ). For me, it is not traditional Japanese food. Rough and strange dishes, third-rate taste will make me very uncomfortable. Japanese food concentrates on high quality food and dish details. You cannot find any related things here. Service. You may have to wait for seating in front of the front desk from several minutes. The waitress is "busy". Environment. It is not a very quit place. The owner of the restaurant tries to make the inside "Japanese", however, it doesn't get it. The tableware is not very clean. You'd better check it carefully before you use it. Price. As you can see, many reviews mentioned it is pricey. I think the price is pretty high in Ames and the food quality is very terrible. If you don't want to waste your money, please choose other restaurants in Ames. You can try it, if it is your first time. It is only a review. We cannot expect to have a nice restaurant here. It's Ames.
(2)Kyler R.
It has a horrible smell and there are bats flying all over the place. I order the lunch special which was literally 5 little chunks of steak
(2)G L.
Reading several reviews of the restaurant, I understand both, who gave 4+ stars and another with 1 star. My first visit of the restaurant as a japanese food lover, I'd have given one star. However, after visiting several times, even regularly like once for every other weeks, I felt sometimes, it's good enough. 1. Frankly, to an asian food savvy, some of their food brings expression like "Ew.". I'd not recommend eating some "soup" based dish such as U-dong (Noodle). It's even hard to call it "fusion". The taste is really strange- I mean that it doesn't mean bad though, just little awkward and made me suspicious whether cooks understands how to make Dashi (Asian style broth for soups). 2. Some of their menu are good. Bento boxes and Californian style rolls are pretty decent. Especially we liked their bento compositions; tastes are good and mixture of meat, rice, rolls and fruit dessert on one plate with reasonable price could be definitely their selling point. 3. You might think the food are a bit pricy. I agree and disagree on that point. The "marked" price looks high at first, but you can utilize various promotions. They serve great price on lunch time menu, runs happy-hour discounts and if you are a student, you'd get a student discount as well. Therefore, my final conclusion of Fuji is that it's not that bad. This place is OK, and even great for several occasions such as dates, casual business meetings. Like a person who didn't bring a great first impression, but could be a reliable friend at the end, you will learn Fuji that it's quite good. Another tip of this restaurant is that the serving size is generally really large, except sushi. You should count the food will come too much so that you'd ask boxes at the end, when you order.
(3)Travis J.
Okay so when I was looking this place up I saw that it had 3 stars... I honestly had to make sure I had the right place. All I got to say is I LOVE Fuji's this place is 1 of few hibachi's in Iowa and the only one in Ames. For a hibachi grill the food is as cheap as you'll ever get it plus its AMAZING. The cook's who chop the food in front of you will make you laugh and interact with you during their performance. If your in the Ames area and looking for entertainment come on down to Fuji's where you'll never be disappointed. I've honestly been here probably 20+ times and every time I come in its always a new experience.
(5)Scott D.
The sushi selection is wide and great. I greatly enjoyed taking my girlfriend there for lunch. We sat right at the Hibachi table and had our own personal meal. It was an enjoyable experience to say the least.
(5)Vivian N.
From other review, I think they improve the service when i came recently. The place is good with private seating. Their bento box looks quite attracting. The bento box I had is just OK. It's a bit too little food in a huge tray. My entree was a bit sweet. Bring a hoodie/ jacket when you come, it's freezing in there.
(2)Mark H.
I give this place three stars for the food but thought seriously about deducting a star for the service. My wife and I, and five colleagues from work, came here for dinner. My wife had made reservations but when we got here (with the restaurant having almost no customers in it) we were told that the big table was in use-- by a party of two people. When we asked why they woud use that table for two people when there was an existing reservation for seven, the hostess said "they insisted". The upshot was that we were half an hour late getting served. The waitress suggested we sit at the bar but none of us wanted to drink so we just sat around drinking water. (No offer of free drinks was made.) There is no way we will ever use this restaurant for a business dinner with any kind of group again. Once we finally got served, things improved, although the waitress seemed to have an inordinate amount of difficulty figuring out what one of us meant when he asked for a substitution that he had had previously. She also seemed confused when the woman sitting next to him said "I'll have that too". The food itself was good but nothing to write home about, but to be honest Japanese food is not my favorite cuisine, nor is it my wife's. I had the pork shobayagi, which is pork in some kind of ginger- accented brown sauce; my wife had a salmon bento box which came with chicken and vegetable tempura, California rolls and shrimp shumai. I thought the pork was OK and was pleased to see that the taste of ginger did not overwhelm the pork. My wife liked the salmon and really liked the California rolls, but she thought the shrimp shumai tasted more like tofu than shrimp. I had her chicken tempura and thought they were pretty good, with a nice light breading. I doubt my wife and I would ever come here by ourselves, simply because there are so many other restaurants in town we like more, but if we were with a small group and the others wanted to come, we wouldn't decline. As I said, though, we won't ever schedule a large-group meeting here.
(3)Megan M.
I have been to Fuji a handful of times before today, but only for the regular dining selection and not the hibachi grill. The regular menu is a solid 2 stars. My review today is on the hibachi grill. I experienced the hibachi grill for the first time today and have to say that I would have been angry if I had paid dinner prices. As it was, I paid lunch special prices (roughly $10). My fellow diners, who have had hibachi there before, were also not impressed with today's show. The fried rice was lacking onions and carrots and the sauce was not very good. It was served long before the rest of the meal so most people at the table ate their portion while their food was being cooked. If you saved it, the rice was cold by the time there was food to accompany it. According to my fellow diners, the grill operator didn't give the usual show, leaving out many things and had very poor timing in the cooking time. Apparently a good grill operator makes sure everyone's food comes out at roughly the same time. Today, the time gap between the first person and the 8th (last) person getting their food was more than 5 minutes. I feel as if I don't need to be entertained by the cooking process of my food. The food should be the highlight of the meal itself. I ordered the chicken while avoiding the steak because I recently had a fantastic steak at 801 Chophouse in Kansas City, (there's also one in Des Moines) and didn't want Fuji ruining the memory of a good steak for me. My chicken came out late, rubbery and smothered in too much of the sauce they use. The veggies that came with the meal had the odd characteristic of being simultaneously undercooked and overcooked. I will never go back for the hibachi.
(1)Rosa K.
I miss Chicago so much... I guess if you want to call this sushi, then Fuji can have 2 stars, given that you can't find sushi, let alone hibachi anywhere else in Ames. The buffet place has just as bad sushi if not worse and I don't know why people eat at Hyvee. They do have an affordable lunch menu, but honestly I didn't eat much nor did I want to take anything home.
(2)Megan H.
If I could give Fuji 3.5 stars, I would. I was not expecting much from the sushi, so I was pleasantly surprised when I had lunch here. $8.50 gets you two rolls from a preselected list, along with miso soup or a salad. That's a pretty decent lunch portion considering that the rolls are more generously sized than across town at Shogun (plus, the fish tastes fresher). The eel roll was on the average side, but the spicy tuna was very good. Oddly, nothing about my meal was particularly spicy, including the spicy tuna. Even the wasabi was bland. But it was still tasty. The decor is best described as Asian kitsch (fake orchids, oversized fountains, and menus that look like they were wrapped in kimono fabric)... but I actually do enjoy the atmosphere. The restaurant is sectioned off into semi-private booths so you don't feel like you're in a big room watching everyone else eat, and the service is friendly. I haven't eaten at the teppenyake grill here, which I'm sure is the main attraction for some people, but I'll definitely be back for sushi.
(3)Natalie T.
Ames' only sushi joint worth your time. I simply cannot think of a single detractor. The ambiance in the bar area alone is worth a trip, and the cuisine never misses. I've found Fuji's service to be light years ahead of the "other" sushi places in town, to which I'll never return! 5 stars by Ames' standards!
(5)Anna L.
This is supposed to be a tepinyaki (sp?!) style restaurant for steak and the Japanese cuisine, and it was. Food style is similar to Bennihana, which I am not a fan of. Service was exceptional. Too bad the food wasn't. We ordered the Hibachi style food. I ordered scallop hibachi and my coworker ordered salmon. Hibachi style is basically where you have a chef cook for you and do tricks as he prepares your meal. At first, the chef was amusing, cracking jokes here and there, and giggling maniacally. He did the usual tricks: spinning the eggs, making onion volcanoes, drawing smiley faces with oil... However, when he started throwing scrambled egg pieces at me and asking if I knew what rice was 3x the amount I could stand, my experience was killed. Food was below average. Fried rice was simply soy sauce and pieces of scrambled egg. Hardly any flavoring. Scallop was cooked ok, but even that was tasteless. I used their "special sauce" which was pretty much thousand island ranch tasting. Weird. I managed to finish the scallop and the veggies since I had to fill up from dinner somehow. That night, I was sitting on the toilet for a good hour. Another colleague ordered the salmon. He did not touch it at all. Salmon was dry and tasteless. The 3rd colleage ordered stir fried udon. According to him, it was bland and difficult to swallow. Our waitress was a sweetheart. Chef guy was super annoying. Ambience...well it was completely empty on a Tuesday evening, but the place was nicely decorated. Food, however, I just can't come back for another go again.
(1)Cat F.
This place has come a long way. It is the closest sushi for us and we go there a few times every couple of months. When they first opened I was kind of excited. The first few times we went, it was horrble,the service,the selection it all was bad. We went there for lunch very recently and it was enjoyable. the service was spot on, fast and friendly too. Since it is a little bit closer than DM we will go there a lot more. The drink selection could be better? I guess they do have the Tepanaki grill going too. Folks seem to enjoy this, I have not taken part yet.
(4)Tasha S.
TERRIBLE PLACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BEWARE OF SCAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My husband was in Ames about a month ago for a work convention. He was with a large group of men, one of whom which picked up the tab with a corperate card. My husband bought one round at the bar and put it on his credit card. WELL, we got our credit card statement today. FUJI charged his card $415.00! We called there and spoke with a lady. She said " you with large group that NOT pay!" This is totally WRONG! My husband called his sales rep(that paid) and he has proof that they paid. BEWARE of scams!!! We are currently fighting it with our credit card company. We have also filed a complaint with the BBB. HOPE we can get the $415.00 back!
(1)Matt E.
Welcome back to Ames Japanese cuisine. I was surprised at the size and quality decor at this establishment. It was easy to get in and get seated, the wait staff was attentive and courteous. We throroughly enjoyed the Bento Box and Sushi entrees that we ordered. The quality of the fish was very good. There were also items on the menu that I as a long time patron of Japanese restaurants that were new to me (a raw conch appetizer for and example). Only recommendation is improved salad and miso soup which were disappointing. I am partial to Nihon cuisine so I will be here often but overall this is going to be one of the most popular eating destinations in Ames.
(4)Chloe J.
Obviously yelp isn't that big in the midwest region yet because I'm surprised there isn't more reviews/ quality reviews. If you know you dont like teppynaki (Anna L.) don't go to a Teppynaki place... maybe? Anyways, Teppynaki (not sure how to spell) is one of my favorite types of restuarants to go to so I try them everywhere. I will admit you would not think you'd find a quality Japanese place in small-town Iowa but this one is the best I've ever been to. No lies. I've been to probably 15 different teppy places in several different states. The staff is fun and thrives off of the vibe/age group of the table. They don't just go for the scripted act as most places do, unlesss cheesy is what you are going for. If you dont want to be bothered, they'll be quiet. If you're sake-bombing college kids they'll go for the more R-rated jokes. I love it. The food though is the best part! Out of all the teppy places I've been to they give the most meat/seafood. The best variety of veggies. Not just typical zuchhini, onions, and sprouts. They give you broccoli, carrots, zuchhini, baby corns, etc. Also they have great sauces. The fried rice is bomb.com . I will always miss this place from college. I am lucky to get to re-visit this place this week. I heart Fuji.
(5)Jennifer H.
The service is poor, the sushi is ok. The food is not what I got growing up. Ugh I am trying to find something nice to say.... Not working. Mom, I want some GOOD Japanese food!!!!!
(2)Stephen E.
I didn't expect much for sushi in Ames Iowa but I was happy to find that this place was quite delish... Had the spicy tuna roll and the dream roll... Spicy Tuna was standard and the dream roll was excellent. Miso soup could use a little work. Service was decent.
(4)Stacy S.
Thank God! Finally, there is a restaurant that saved me from the mundane diner-esque feel of Ames. Fuji is a play on the Benihana-originated dinner grilling. Some of the cooks are better than the others, but most fit the bill. It's fun for groups and for people who want their money's worth. Lunch is the best deal (approx $10 before tax for a lot of the grill). Totally worth it to hit this place up before 2pm. You get almost the same meal for 5 bucks less. Dinner is still reasonable, but the prices do go up. All you get for dinner is a salad/soup and two shrimp with your meal. The soup is decent but nothing to rave about, but the salad is my wife's favorite. She normally orders an extra bowl. The rice is the best thing, so hit the grill if you want some damn good food. Veg-heads will also like the vegetable or noodle meals. A ton of food for cheap. The sushi is decent. The expensive rolls are better and worth the extra cash. Go there willing to splurge, and you can have a sushi experience that rivals my time in Los Angeles. Beer is cheap. Sake is good. Definitely worth your time. Best place in Ames.
(4)Tony S.
Meh. It's your only real sushi option in Ames. Doesn't mean it's good; just means the other options are even worse. I did the hibachi thing once out of some feeling of obligation, but I find that sort of "entertainment" insipid and annoying. Figuring that is simply not for me but may somehow appeal to other sorts of people in ways I cannot comprehend, I base my review on the non-hibachi food in the regular dining area only. Sushi is worth three stars: tolerable, satisfies the craving in a pinch when you don't have time to drive to Minneapolis or Chicago for actually delicious sushi. Fuji obviously caters to the typical American / Midwesterner who wants fried things and cream cheese in their rolls -- something else with which I cannot relate. As for foods other than sushi: They will tempura-fry anything here, and serve it with a thick, gelatinous sauce that bewilders me for its dissimilarity to any tempura sauce I have ever experienced anywhere else in all my history of eating Japanese food. Quite disgusting. I suppose if I don't compare it to real Japanese food, but instead think of it as its own genre, I might consider this a three-star place. But when I'm craving Japanese food and come here out of desperation, I only end up missing it more.
(2)Doug P.
Ok if you stay away from the show dinner... do yourself a favor, order off the menu and save a few $$ plus get better food. What's the deal with the place being run by Indonesians????
(3)Melissa S.
I love this place! It's what got me hooked on Sushi. Whenever I went I always had the same waiter; Joe. Always suggesting things based on other things I liked. He does a good job. I've never had a bad experience, but I only give it 4 stars because it's so pricey!
(4)Travis J.
Okay so when I was looking this place up I saw that it had 3 stars... I honestly had to make sure I had the right place. All I got to say is I LOVE Fuji's this place is 1 of few hibachi's in Iowa and the only one in Ames. For a hibachi grill the food is as cheap as you'll ever get it plus its AMAZING. The cook's who chop the food in front of you will make you laugh and interact with you during their performance. If your in the Ames area and looking for entertainment come on down to Fuji's where you'll never be disappointed. I've honestly been here probably 20+ times and every time I come in its always a new experience.
(5)Scott D.
The sushi selection is wide and great. I greatly enjoyed taking my girlfriend there for lunch. We sat right at the Hibachi table and had our own personal meal. It was an enjoyable experience to say the least.
(5)Shu L.
As an Asian, I will give 2 stars for some reasons. Food. It seems that it is a Japanese restaurant. You can try many different sorts of Japanese food there. But the Sushi, Udon and other food are pretty so so or bad ( Compare with many other Japanese restaurants only in America ). For me, it is not traditional Japanese food. Rough and strange dishes, third-rate taste will make me very uncomfortable. Japanese food concentrates on high quality food and dish details. You cannot find any related things here. Service. You may have to wait for seating in front of the front desk from several minutes. The waitress is "busy". Environment. It is not a very quit place. The owner of the restaurant tries to make the inside "Japanese", however, it doesn't get it. The tableware is not very clean. You'd better check it carefully before you use it. Price. As you can see, many reviews mentioned it is pricey. I think the price is pretty high in Ames and the food quality is very terrible. If you don't want to waste your money, please choose other restaurants in Ames. You can try it, if it is your first time. It is only a review. We cannot expect to have a nice restaurant here. It's Ames.
(2)Kyler R.
It has a horrible smell and there are bats flying all over the place. I order the lunch special which was literally 5 little chunks of steak
(2)Kevin L.
Went there a few times for the lunch special. It's fun to watch the chef doing tricks the first time but it really became a waste of time later on. By the way lunch special consists of soup or salad plus teppanyaki rice with a choice of meat. The taste is okay, though I don't think it's any better than say, food court grade Japanese places. Lots of teriyaki sauce applied to the rice and meat. I've only ordered a tuna roll besides the lunch special. The roll tastes mediocre, with the tuna flesh looking darker than usual. With the above being said, it's okay Japanese food for borderline reasonable price, in a city like Ames.
(3)G L.
Reading several reviews of the restaurant, I understand both, who gave 4+ stars and another with 1 star. My first visit of the restaurant as a japanese food lover, I'd have given one star. However, after visiting several times, even regularly like once for every other weeks, I felt sometimes, it's good enough. 1. Frankly, to an asian food savvy, some of their food brings expression like "Ew.". I'd not recommend eating some "soup" based dish such as U-dong (Noodle). It's even hard to call it "fusion". The taste is really strange- I mean that it doesn't mean bad though, just little awkward and made me suspicious whether cooks understands how to make Dashi (Asian style broth for soups). 2. Some of their menu are good. Bento boxes and Californian style rolls are pretty decent. Especially we liked their bento compositions; tastes are good and mixture of meat, rice, rolls and fruit dessert on one plate with reasonable price could be definitely their selling point. 3. You might think the food are a bit pricy. I agree and disagree on that point. The "marked" price looks high at first, but you can utilize various promotions. They serve great price on lunch time menu, runs happy-hour discounts and if you are a student, you'd get a student discount as well. Therefore, my final conclusion of Fuji is that it's not that bad. This place is OK, and even great for several occasions such as dates, casual business meetings. Like a person who didn't bring a great first impression, but could be a reliable friend at the end, you will learn Fuji that it's quite good. Another tip of this restaurant is that the serving size is generally really large, except sushi. You should count the food will come too much so that you'd ask boxes at the end, when you order.
(3)Josh S.
We were in Ames, IA over the weekend visiting some family and decided to go to Fuji Steakhouse (1614 S. Kellogg Ave.). We figured since it was Father's Day weekend and restaurants tend to be busy on either Saturday or Sunday, we'd hit it up on Saturday just after they opened the doors. We didn't do the hibachi because nobody in our group really likes the hibachi. So, we asked for sushi bar only and they sat us right away. It wasn't busy when we arrived (which was why we planned to arrive early) but not more than 30 minutes after arrival the place filled up. It's obvious people in Ames like this place. I'm not what you'd call an "expert" on sushi or Japanese cuisine, but I've experienced enough of it to know what I'm getting, what is good and what is terrible. I tried the Green Dragon roll and the Yellow Fin Tuna roll (this is sashimi - or "raw" fish) rather than just cooked and rolled. Other members of the group ordered California rolls, Super-Crunchy roll, Black Dragon rolls (which looked really good) and some other dishes - can't remember all of them. My take on Fuji Steakhouse - the sushi is good, the wait staff is friendly and the prices are a little high, but after all, we aren't near the ocean and fresh seafood is hard to come by out here. I would put Fuji up against any of the places that I've visited in the Twin Cities. If you have an open mind you'll really enjoy your visit there. If you're looking for something different in Ames and don't mind spending a little more than you're used to spending on restaurants there, give Fuji Steakhouse a try.
(4)Jill C.
My fiancé, daughter and I went to Fuji today. We ordered the sashimi sampler as an appetizer, it was pretty good. The rest of the meal however was well below my standards for the price given. The side salad was very watery, there was a pool of water that the bottom of the bowl. I ordered the chicken teriyaki bento box. The teriyaki sauce was delicious, but the chicken was rubbery. My fiancé ordered the hibachi steak dinner. The portion of steak wouldn't have satiated our two year old's appetite. Our daughter, however, loved the chicken and rice from her children's meal(which had about the same portions as her father's meal). Overall, the food is overpriced and so-so.
(2)Mo Y.
Found a hair in my shrimp ramon just on my shrimp! never return here again! the food is.not fresh neither!!
(1)Jordan L.
Great food! A bit pricey, but then again, I'm pretty cheap....lol Super Crunchy Roll was very good! The "Love Boat" was plenty of food for two! 4 Stars due to price.
(4)Vivian N.
From other review, I think they improve the service when i came recently. The place is good with private seating. Their bento box looks quite attracting. The bento box I had is just OK. It's a bit too little food in a huge tray. My entree was a bit sweet. Bring a hoodie/ jacket when you come, it's freezing in there.
(2)Mark H.
I give this place three stars for the food but thought seriously about deducting a star for the service. My wife and I, and five colleagues from work, came here for dinner. My wife had made reservations but when we got here (with the restaurant having almost no customers in it) we were told that the big table was in use-- by a party of two people. When we asked why they woud use that table for two people when there was an existing reservation for seven, the hostess said "they insisted". The upshot was that we were half an hour late getting served. The waitress suggested we sit at the bar but none of us wanted to drink so we just sat around drinking water. (No offer of free drinks was made.) There is no way we will ever use this restaurant for a business dinner with any kind of group again. Once we finally got served, things improved, although the waitress seemed to have an inordinate amount of difficulty figuring out what one of us meant when he asked for a substitution that he had had previously. She also seemed confused when the woman sitting next to him said "I'll have that too". The food itself was good but nothing to write home about, but to be honest Japanese food is not my favorite cuisine, nor is it my wife's. I had the pork shobayagi, which is pork in some kind of ginger- accented brown sauce; my wife had a salmon bento box which came with chicken and vegetable tempura, California rolls and shrimp shumai. I thought the pork was OK and was pleased to see that the taste of ginger did not overwhelm the pork. My wife liked the salmon and really liked the California rolls, but she thought the shrimp shumai tasted more like tofu than shrimp. I had her chicken tempura and thought they were pretty good, with a nice light breading. I doubt my wife and I would ever come here by ourselves, simply because there are so many other restaurants in town we like more, but if we were with a small group and the others wanted to come, we wouldn't decline. As I said, though, we won't ever schedule a large-group meeting here.
(3)Matt E.
Welcome back to Ames Japanese cuisine. I was surprised at the size and quality decor at this establishment. It was easy to get in and get seated, the wait staff was attentive and courteous. We throroughly enjoyed the Bento Box and Sushi entrees that we ordered. The quality of the fish was very good. There were also items on the menu that I as a long time patron of Japanese restaurants that were new to me (a raw conch appetizer for and example). Only recommendation is improved salad and miso soup which were disappointing. I am partial to Nihon cuisine so I will be here often but overall this is going to be one of the most popular eating destinations in Ames.
(4)Megan M.
I have been to Fuji a handful of times before today, but only for the regular dining selection and not the hibachi grill. The regular menu is a solid 2 stars. My review today is on the hibachi grill. I experienced the hibachi grill for the first time today and have to say that I would have been angry if I had paid dinner prices. As it was, I paid lunch special prices (roughly $10). My fellow diners, who have had hibachi there before, were also not impressed with today's show. The fried rice was lacking onions and carrots and the sauce was not very good. It was served long before the rest of the meal so most people at the table ate their portion while their food was being cooked. If you saved it, the rice was cold by the time there was food to accompany it. According to my fellow diners, the grill operator didn't give the usual show, leaving out many things and had very poor timing in the cooking time. Apparently a good grill operator makes sure everyone's food comes out at roughly the same time. Today, the time gap between the first person and the 8th (last) person getting their food was more than 5 minutes. I feel as if I don't need to be entertained by the cooking process of my food. The food should be the highlight of the meal itself. I ordered the chicken while avoiding the steak because I recently had a fantastic steak at 801 Chophouse in Kansas City, (there's also one in Des Moines) and didn't want Fuji ruining the memory of a good steak for me. My chicken came out late, rubbery and smothered in too much of the sauce they use. The veggies that came with the meal had the odd characteristic of being simultaneously undercooked and overcooked. I will never go back for the hibachi.
(1)Rosa K.
I miss Chicago so much... I guess if you want to call this sushi, then Fuji can have 2 stars, given that you can't find sushi, let alone hibachi anywhere else in Ames. The buffet place has just as bad sushi if not worse and I don't know why people eat at Hyvee. They do have an affordable lunch menu, but honestly I didn't eat much nor did I want to take anything home.
(2)Megan H.
If I could give Fuji 3.5 stars, I would. I was not expecting much from the sushi, so I was pleasantly surprised when I had lunch here. $8.50 gets you two rolls from a preselected list, along with miso soup or a salad. That's a pretty decent lunch portion considering that the rolls are more generously sized than across town at Shogun (plus, the fish tastes fresher). The eel roll was on the average side, but the spicy tuna was very good. Oddly, nothing about my meal was particularly spicy, including the spicy tuna. Even the wasabi was bland. But it was still tasty. The decor is best described as Asian kitsch (fake orchids, oversized fountains, and menus that look like they were wrapped in kimono fabric)... but I actually do enjoy the atmosphere. The restaurant is sectioned off into semi-private booths so you don't feel like you're in a big room watching everyone else eat, and the service is friendly. I haven't eaten at the teppenyake grill here, which I'm sure is the main attraction for some people, but I'll definitely be back for sushi.
(3)Natalie T.
Ames' only sushi joint worth your time. I simply cannot think of a single detractor. The ambiance in the bar area alone is worth a trip, and the cuisine never misses. I've found Fuji's service to be light years ahead of the "other" sushi places in town, to which I'll never return! 5 stars by Ames' standards!
(5)Anna L.
This is supposed to be a tepinyaki (sp?!) style restaurant for steak and the Japanese cuisine, and it was. Food style is similar to Bennihana, which I am not a fan of. Service was exceptional. Too bad the food wasn't. We ordered the Hibachi style food. I ordered scallop hibachi and my coworker ordered salmon. Hibachi style is basically where you have a chef cook for you and do tricks as he prepares your meal. At first, the chef was amusing, cracking jokes here and there, and giggling maniacally. He did the usual tricks: spinning the eggs, making onion volcanoes, drawing smiley faces with oil... However, when he started throwing scrambled egg pieces at me and asking if I knew what rice was 3x the amount I could stand, my experience was killed. Food was below average. Fried rice was simply soy sauce and pieces of scrambled egg. Hardly any flavoring. Scallop was cooked ok, but even that was tasteless. I used their "special sauce" which was pretty much thousand island ranch tasting. Weird. I managed to finish the scallop and the veggies since I had to fill up from dinner somehow. That night, I was sitting on the toilet for a good hour. Another colleague ordered the salmon. He did not touch it at all. Salmon was dry and tasteless. The 3rd colleage ordered stir fried udon. According to him, it was bland and difficult to swallow. Our waitress was a sweetheart. Chef guy was super annoying. Ambience...well it was completely empty on a Tuesday evening, but the place was nicely decorated. Food, however, I just can't come back for another go again.
(1)Cat F.
This place has come a long way. It is the closest sushi for us and we go there a few times every couple of months. When they first opened I was kind of excited. The first few times we went, it was horrble,the service,the selection it all was bad. We went there for lunch very recently and it was enjoyable. the service was spot on, fast and friendly too. Since it is a little bit closer than DM we will go there a lot more. The drink selection could be better? I guess they do have the Tepanaki grill going too. Folks seem to enjoy this, I have not taken part yet.
(4)Tasha S.
TERRIBLE PLACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BEWARE OF SCAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My husband was in Ames about a month ago for a work convention. He was with a large group of men, one of whom which picked up the tab with a corperate card. My husband bought one round at the bar and put it on his credit card. WELL, we got our credit card statement today. FUJI charged his card $415.00! We called there and spoke with a lady. She said " you with large group that NOT pay!" This is totally WRONG! My husband called his sales rep(that paid) and he has proof that they paid. BEWARE of scams!!! We are currently fighting it with our credit card company. We have also filed a complaint with the BBB. HOPE we can get the $415.00 back!
(1)Chloe J.
Obviously yelp isn't that big in the midwest region yet because I'm surprised there isn't more reviews/ quality reviews. If you know you dont like teppynaki (Anna L.) don't go to a Teppynaki place... maybe? Anyways, Teppynaki (not sure how to spell) is one of my favorite types of restuarants to go to so I try them everywhere. I will admit you would not think you'd find a quality Japanese place in small-town Iowa but this one is the best I've ever been to. No lies. I've been to probably 15 different teppy places in several different states. The staff is fun and thrives off of the vibe/age group of the table. They don't just go for the scripted act as most places do, unlesss cheesy is what you are going for. If you dont want to be bothered, they'll be quiet. If you're sake-bombing college kids they'll go for the more R-rated jokes. I love it. The food though is the best part! Out of all the teppy places I've been to they give the most meat/seafood. The best variety of veggies. Not just typical zuchhini, onions, and sprouts. They give you broccoli, carrots, zuchhini, baby corns, etc. Also they have great sauces. The fried rice is bomb.com . I will always miss this place from college. I am lucky to get to re-visit this place this week. I heart Fuji.
(5)Jennifer H.
The service is poor, the sushi is ok. The food is not what I got growing up. Ugh I am trying to find something nice to say.... Not working. Mom, I want some GOOD Japanese food!!!!!
(2)Stephen E.
I didn't expect much for sushi in Ames Iowa but I was happy to find that this place was quite delish... Had the spicy tuna roll and the dream roll... Spicy Tuna was standard and the dream roll was excellent. Miso soup could use a little work. Service was decent.
(4)Stacy S.
Thank God! Finally, there is a restaurant that saved me from the mundane diner-esque feel of Ames. Fuji is a play on the Benihana-originated dinner grilling. Some of the cooks are better than the others, but most fit the bill. It's fun for groups and for people who want their money's worth. Lunch is the best deal (approx $10 before tax for a lot of the grill). Totally worth it to hit this place up before 2pm. You get almost the same meal for 5 bucks less. Dinner is still reasonable, but the prices do go up. All you get for dinner is a salad/soup and two shrimp with your meal. The soup is decent but nothing to rave about, but the salad is my wife's favorite. She normally orders an extra bowl. The rice is the best thing, so hit the grill if you want some damn good food. Veg-heads will also like the vegetable or noodle meals. A ton of food for cheap. The sushi is decent. The expensive rolls are better and worth the extra cash. Go there willing to splurge, and you can have a sushi experience that rivals my time in Los Angeles. Beer is cheap. Sake is good. Definitely worth your time. Best place in Ames.
(4)Tony S.
Meh. It's your only real sushi option in Ames. Doesn't mean it's good; just means the other options are even worse. I did the hibachi thing once out of some feeling of obligation, but I find that sort of "entertainment" insipid and annoying. Figuring that is simply not for me but may somehow appeal to other sorts of people in ways I cannot comprehend, I base my review on the non-hibachi food in the regular dining area only. Sushi is worth three stars: tolerable, satisfies the craving in a pinch when you don't have time to drive to Minneapolis or Chicago for actually delicious sushi. Fuji obviously caters to the typical American / Midwesterner who wants fried things and cream cheese in their rolls -- something else with which I cannot relate. As for foods other than sushi: They will tempura-fry anything here, and serve it with a thick, gelatinous sauce that bewilders me for its dissimilarity to any tempura sauce I have ever experienced anywhere else in all my history of eating Japanese food. Quite disgusting. I suppose if I don't compare it to real Japanese food, but instead think of it as its own genre, I might consider this a three-star place. But when I'm craving Japanese food and come here out of desperation, I only end up missing it more.
(2)Doug P.
Ok if you stay away from the show dinner... do yourself a favor, order off the menu and save a few $$ plus get better food. What's the deal with the place being run by Indonesians????
(3)