KiTARO Bistro of Japan
4551 Hwy K, O'Fallon, MO, 63368
KiTARO Bistro of Japan Menu
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Address :
4551 Hwy K
O'Fallon, MO, 63368 - Phone (636) 300-3399
- Website https://www.kitarojapan.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Ted S.
Turns out that these guys do an excellent sushi buffet on Mondays and Tuesdays, and the price is very, very reasonable. The fare is not at all bad (and there's more to the buffet than just sushi), the decor is great. Pretty nice place to bring your friends and eat lots of good sushi.
(4)Alyce I.
We stopped in for a drink tonight; great service from John in the bar; he was awesome! Reason for the low rating is the horrible birthday drums; please lose them! Awful sound!
(2)Tom T.
We had a great experience at Kitaro last night. Our Hibachi chef (Joe) was one of the more talented I have encountered. Several tricks that you don't see with others. Filet and scallops prepared perfectly. Generous portions. Very attentive server. Our kids favorite restaurant in O'Fallon.
(5)John Y.
EDIT: This place pisses me off! So it's Valentine's Day and the place is packed, as you expect just about every restaurant to be. Unfortunately, law school recognizes neither love nor joy (nor hunger, for that matter) so I was unable to partake in the ritual that is Valentine's Day evening at a restaurant. But, I decided that I could do the next best thing and bring Kitaro's home. So, I find a spot at the bar, as is my custom, and fill out my sushi order only to be told they won't do carry-out because they're "too busy." Excuse me?! I could sit there at the bar, sip a Sapporro and have them serve me sushi rolls to the tune of $30, plus the cost of the beer and tip, but they won't serve me those same sushi rolls in a to-go container? I'm still paying $30 for sushi. I'm still buying a beer and paying a tip. The only difference is that I clear my spot at the bar a whole lot faster, making room for another paying customer who would otherwise leave because the place is packed. The junior associate deputy probationary bartender was very nice in light of my incredulity and asked the real bartender if this was, in fact, the policy. She even went so far as to wander off to find a manager, but such efforts are pointless. Any manager who comes up with such a ridiculously illogical policy in the first place isn't going to change it in the face of an annoyed regular, who will no longer be a regular. As the saying goes, "you can't fix stupid." **************************************************Â************************** This has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants. This is one of those "has something for everyone" places. If you like hibachi dining, they do that. If you'd rather do sit-down dining, they do that too. Eat at the bar? Sure. Eat at the sushi bar? Of course. Take out? Yup. The place itself is upscale and contemporary. Oh, and smoke-free, even at the bar, which is awesome! My only complaint with the environment is that the booths in the dining room are a little short to comfortably seat four American of midwestern girth of any age. I found myself fighting for elbow room with my 10 year-old daughter. The hibachi dining here is about what you would expect at any Japanese restaurant. We've done it once, and it was fine. Flying bits o' shrimp, flaming onion volcanoes... the usual show. I would go so far as to say the show may have been even a little underwhelming as compared to others I've seen, and the chicken was just a touch overcooked, but it was generally good. Service was excellent; drinks were refilled promptly, which never seems to happen fast enough when doing hibachi dining (what's up with that?). Dining in the dining room is very good (except for the small tables). My wife and I did the shrimp and scallop bento boxes, and I added a spicy tuna roll, thinking dinner might have been on the light side for my liking. Damn, was I wrong. While they may not have designed the tables for Americans, they certainly took into account American appetites. Between the shrimp, scallops, tempura veggies & chicken, California roll, fresh fruit, grilled veggies... well, no one left hungry. My favorite, though, is the sushi (well, the maki-sushi, or the rolls). Kitaro has a bewildering selection of sushi and sushi rolls, and apparently an equally impressive variety of Japanese beers (from what I could tell while sitting at the bar). So far I've sampled the obligatory California roll, the Alaska roll (salmon), the spicy yellowtail and the spicy tuna ; all were outstanding. I plan on working my way down the list and then hitting the nigiri, skipping the octopus, squid and eel (eating shouldn't resemble an episode of Fear Factor). Kitaro is surprisingly kid-friendly given its apparent upscaleness. There's a kid's menu that covers the basics and then some. My 10 year-old liked her tempura chicken, while my fussy 4 year-old was indifferent toward his slightly overcooked mini corndogs. All in all, I can see Kitaro becoming a weekly tradition.
(1)heather a.
went here with a "country boy" who had no idea what he was doing... ugh!!! but with the help of the staff i was able to guide him through a meal for two. great food with great presentation!
(4)Liz G.
I have been there on multiple occasions with friends and family of all ages. My experience with the dining, bar, and hibachi areas have been good experiences with the best being the hibachi; and only if you don't have to wait over an hour to be seated (happened once with hibachi and was handled by the manager at the time. I absolutely LOVE the soup and salad that come with the hibachi, and the rest of the menu is equally delicious! With amazing food and stylish setting, overall I rate it 4 stars:) Try the California Roll, you'll Love it!!
(4)Angie V.
I've been here twice. Once for hibachi and the other time for normal service. Both times I enjoyed the food and service. Their sushi is delicious, the decor is trendy and our Hibachi chef was entertaining! Very large portion sizes on the Hibachi side, by the way!
(4)Mike L.
I've eaten here three times over the past two years. I always end up a little disappointed...the food and service never seem to match the spiffy looking exterior of the building. The hibachi was pretty lackluster, salt and butter being the main tastes, and my steak was completely overcooked. The entrees in the dining section are adequate, but I've had much better elsewhere. I'm a sushi fan, but I'm not brave enough to try it from here.
(2)Jeremy D.
This place is not a good restaurant. PERIOD. Came in after a long drive from Chicago. Asked if I wanted to sit Hibachi or Restaurant, I said Hibachi sounded great. 10m after NOT being offered anything to drink and no sign of anyone cooking anytime soon, I went upfront and said I'll sit at the sushi bar. "And if someone could get me a...." So, no drink still. But, seated where there were several dirty spaces/ places next to me at the sushi bar. And those dirty items remained, until I said something, but that part of tale is a bit later. One of the guys at the sushi line asked me if I needed anything (I think he sensed I was starting to get over the joint quickly) and told him I'll start with a spicy tuna roll. That came quickly (faster than any service as of yet). it was -meh-. Rice not done right, nori sheets softened. Tuna unspectacular. Into my second bite, someone from the waitstaff finally acknowledges my existence. Tells me that my waiter will be here soon; "So, can I get a cold sake?" Oh, here are the selection of fruit infused... "No, I really just want a COLD sake". Probably should have ordered a beer. Dave comes by, I eventually get a cold sake (mind you, I'm now done with my tuna roll)... So decide on crabcakes as a second. Now, I still haven't gotten a glass of water either... and still pretty much surrounded by dirty silverware/ napkins/ placemats. Crabcake comes, ask if all this CRAP surrounding me can be cleaned up? That is done in a half-assed manner. Was asked if the water, with rather bright lipstick, was mine... ANYWAY... Crabcake was fine. Actually, it was pretty good. Certainly better than the Tuna. At the same time, order a Strip Steak, rare. Two people are seated to my left and I sorta cringe because... those mats and place setting were never really wiped down. And no one seems to really care. Still an old place-setting left around (and I'll get to that in a minute) I don't know why I stayed. The place has pretty much successfully irritated me sufficiently. The service is borderline incompetent and I'm questioning the cleanliness of the joint. Crabcake cleared, along with my silverware (which is fine). Order a glass of something red (that was a mistake, easily the worst cab I've ever had) and my steak arrives. When I asked for a fork, I was pointed to the place-setting/ napkin holding/ fold that had been sitting there with the rest of the detritus since I got there. And there was already someone's piece of whatever they ordered on the napkin (though magically kept the fold intact with the silverware). I think Dave started to sense my WTF? and got me a fork. Vegetables, fine, nothing special, could use seasoning. Steak, can get better grade at my local Dominicks in Chicago. Temperature fine, and while "grill marks" were there, there was no other evidence of carmelization or char or whatever. Lots of gray on the surface. "Potatoes and Boursan", like the idea (though Boursan is a grocery store staple goat cheese) and the new potatoes were entirely underdone and... Crisp? These were new potatoes. Barely hot and entirely under-done. The bizarre thing to me is, this place is BUSY. The joint is borderline (if not entirely) incompetent... And people come in droves and it gets recommendations from the local hotels. I know, I'm a "Yankee Slicker" from Chicago, but this place was absolutely one of the worst dining experiences I've ever had.
(1)Elizabeth L.
The food was great! Portions could be smaller though. The music was obnoxious...so much that John and I left early. Good great, staff great, work on portions and MUSIC.
(4)Stefanie E.
"Is there ketchup in this?" my mom asked as she took her first slurp of lobster bisque. Call me crazy, but that's not exactly the kind of question you should have to ask of lobster bisque. A hamburger, sure, but a rich and unctuous soup made of cream, perhaps some sherry and seafood stock? That wasn't even our first wacky observation about the place. I'd say the first moment we walked in, our radars were on alert. One: the place is enormous. Elegant, sleek decor, high ceilings and perfectly placed wood beams that feel like a Japanese teahouse, were it a hopping club in New York. All in all, definitively Asian in style. You definitely don't expect to find a place this gorgeous in O'Fallon off Highway K. There's even an outdoor area, though not much of a view given its location. But what's the deal? There is blaring club music and lots of fake blonde girls everywhere, sipping chardonnay. Not that blondes aren't allowed to sip chardonnay in a funky Japanese teahouse. I'm blonde, after all. I'm just saying it adds to the clubby feel of the place, which was odd for me on a Wednesday night. Then there's the flat panels playing sports. Okay, sleek decor, club music and sports? Already, confusion sets in. Then the waiter comes. He's sort of unresponsive, half alive. My mom asks for herbal tea. He's not sure. He brings a lemon tea that turns out to be caffeinated and stands there looking puzzled when we don't want it. Then there's the menu. Vichyssoise is on there, along with the lobster bisque. Then there's crab cakes. And manicotti. And edamame and udon, and escargot...buffalo mozzarella and tomato salad and chicken Cordon Bleu? My head is starting to spin. Perhaps we should have just gone to the hibachi tables. Those are generally fairly Japanese-esque. At any rate, mom ended up liking the mystery bisque quite a bit. The vegetable fried rice was good and her sea bass, which was strangely dredged in Cajun spices and topped with a sweet "fruit sauce," served with pasta spirals and Parmesan and asparagus with Hollandaise sauce (why?), was odd, but the fish was well cooked and she wiped the sauce off and took it home for lunch the next day. My shrimp crunch roll was pretty flavorful, particularly since there was no japanese mayo as is usually the case with these rolls. The San Francisco roll was made with imitation crab, though, a pet peeve of mine. Still, it was filled with avocado and cucumber and topped with shrimp and avocado, which was nice. We had the strangest evening, but this is not to say you will. There are plenty of 20-somethings who love the clubby vibe/sushi joint, and would find all of it alluring. There really is a very lengthy sushi list and they do have some unique options, so that could be fun for a weekend night out, if that's your thing. And maybe you're craving escargot AND udon...
(3)Terrence S.
Mmmmm. Sushi-gasm. This is the place to be when you're hit with that craving of delicious seafood. They offer a sushi buffet, hibachi, and full dining menu. The sushi buffet is where its at. This is quality stuff, not the stuff you'd find at typical Chinese buffet sushi bar. Don't let yourself miss out.
(4)Record g.
Get what you expect, the lunch all-you-can-eat sushi buffet is the best in the area for the price! Good clean quality not the Chinese Buffet style, much better. Nice prompt service with a smile. And the fruit deserts included at the buffet are too delicious!
(5)Devon P.
Not a great experience. Was brought here by my fiance and her family for my Birthday. They came and took our order and everything was good so far. About 10 min later our "chef" arrived. He was very hard to understand. He spilled an entire bowl of rice on the ground and had to get another, and have the spill cleaned up. This took another 10 minutes. Finally he puts the new rice on the grill and starts cooking. He tries to make small talk and tells us that this is his very first time doing Hibachi... ..Awesome. Then he proceeds to cook our meat. All the while the rice is still on the grill. He cooks our meats and is diving them up as he goes along. He gives us all rice. It had sat so long that it was chewy and overcooked. By this time everyone has all of their food on their plate except my future mother-in-law. She has ordered shrimp and the chef had given all but 6 or so shrimp out to everyone. The rest he had saved to flip into peoples mouths. He finally realizes that she has no food, asks her what she ordered, she says shrimp, and he gives her the rest. He then has nothing to flip into our mouths, so he uses a few pieces of leftover chicken still sitting on the grill, which were dry and gross. Then they come in with a giant drum for my birthday and make me stand up and DANCE in front of everyone. At the end of the meal the couple on the end lean over and tell us that the chef gave them the sirloin and all of us the Filet that they had ordered. They got the difference taken from their bill. Needless to say this guy was a screw up, and I won't be going back.
(1)Dale W.
I have been here many times for the Sushi - The Sushi is good but 8 out of 10 - they push the rolls and those are very expensive. (Golden lobster/crab roll very good) They are making some changes under the new manager, Greg Gilbertson, since I go for the sushi the evening $25 all you can eat is what I go for. That runs from 4:30pm to 6:30 pm and you have to get your last order in by 6:30 (Talked to Greg and that might be changing soon) so If you want the all you can eat get there and order all you want before 6:30 pm. Be aware that any leftovers to your order will incure a 50 cent charge.
(4)Bob D.
Good sushi for the St. Chuck area. I like their lunch buffet if you just want to gnaw on some rolls and miscellaneous appetizers. The bar is also nice. The hibachi was pretty good - standard stuff, flip the spatulas around and get some chicken fried rice.. etc. I wasn't impressed but then I'm never impressed by that. Probably great for the kids to watch though. I can't say much about eating dinner here, I have only had sushi and never ordered off the menu. If you're in O'Fallon and want sushi it's a definite contender.
(3)Erik N.
Oh Kitaro, my favorite of all hibachis. I have never ate in the restaurant side of this place only the hibachi which ive done about 10 times here. Ive been to a dozen or so hibachis in my travels and this one is always the best. They have a great salad/dressing, amazing sushi and huuuuuuge portions. The best value is always doing a combo meal as you generally get massive amounts of both meats. While most people will go with Steak/chicken, my favorite is the Tuna although I do switch it up. For the money the lobster and shrimp just arent worth it (particularly the shrimp as you get some with your meal regardless)
(5)Ted R.
We've eaten there once, with a Restaurant.com certificate, and went despite some poor reviews here and elsewhere. Our experience was somewhat slow service, decent "show", moderate amounts of food for a premium price, and a rebuff from the manager. As we asked for our check and presented the Restaurant.com certificate, his smile turned to a scowl, and he said "I'll be right back". He arrived with the manager, who proceeded to ask how many of those certificates we had. I answered one (not sure what business it was of hers to ask me that), and she said that "the previous manager signed us up for that, she's not here anymore, and we stopped honoring them as 'we're losing too much money'. I found that logic a little suspect since our bill for three after discount (which she begrudgingly took) was still close to $30/person without drinks! I asked why they didn't post on the door that they were refusing to honor the certificates, and she said they didn't want to lose customers. Well, guess what? Think I am inclined to go back? To make matters worse, I posted a review elsewhere, manager responded to semi-apologize, asked to get my address for a "real" gift certificate, then failed to send it. Kitaro is all show, no go in my book. Dont' make promises to your customers and fail to keep them!
(1)Sabrina C.
The positive reviews on this place kind of baffle me. Yes, I'm from San Francisco and yes, I'm a foodie - my standards are high. But this place is kind of gross. Wait staff are borderline lethargic. No energy. Can't answer the simplest of questions. Takes forever to get a beverage or, you know, a pair of chopsticks. Cleanliness is questionable... I've been twice and both times I had to request a replacement for my first glass: once for lipstick (um, I don't wear lipstick) and once for some kind of crust in the inside rim of the glass. Food is literally just ok. Not a lot of flavor. Hibachi is usually pretty fun to watch, but it's just ok here. Overall experience is pretty blah. People in O'Fallon seem to love this place, and there's a line on weekends, but I can't figure out why... for the money, there are are better options within a 20-mile radius. PS - the sushi did NOT taste fresh. Either time. I was willing to give it a second chance after a subpar first experience, but you couldn't get me in the door again now. Sad, because it's super-cool looking, especially for a strip mall parking lot, and you'd think it would be stellar. It's not. Avoid.
(2)Chris G.
Best sushi I have had in the St. Louis area! It's a little pricey bit worth it for the freshness and delicious rolls. The hibachi is pretty good as well, but why get that when there is awesome sushi!? The only downside is that they are closed in the mid afternoon after lunch and before dinner. That drives me nuts.
(5)Wes D.
i'm a foodie.. so pardon me for being a little hard on this place... they brought a soup out (mushroom broth with scallions). nobody liked it. the cook asked "how did you like the soup?" ummm... just look at the bowls dude. next the stir fried rice.. medium grain and not cooked properly.. still hard in the middle and to make it worse.. the cook overcooked an already hard rice to the point where it was crunchy. no likey. there was way too much show over quality. for instance, the cook put on a show making scrambled eggs.. all chopping and spatula maneuvers.. you could smell the eggs being cooked beyond reason. i ordered the teriyaki salmon and it was smelly while cooking and tasted fishy. i sent it back after one bite. the manager was very cool about it but no comp. my families food was ok. not going back.
(3)Scott L.
What can I say that has not already been said and contradicted here? If you live on the left coast, or frequently visit Japan, you might be disappointed in the sushi (surprise, surprise). If you find yourself whacked up in some hotel, or living in O'Fallon, Mo. For the night, give Kitaro a try. I like taking family here for the hibachi when they visit from out of town, because you get dinner and entertainment at a reasonable price. The place is attractive, and I have always had great service, and good food. They have a late night happy hour where the food and drinks are reduced price.
(4)David L.
I was pleasantly surprised at how good this place was! I went here for a business lunch and we did the Hibachi grill. The chef was good and the food was great! Very large portions for a lunch menu! I even had leftovers!! The staff was courteous, prompt and attentive. The prices were pretty cheap for what I'm used to from a Japanese Steakhouse. I will definitely be a return visitor! :-)
(5)Mark N.
Awesome dining experience! Sushi is excellent and so is the staff.
(5)Lauren D.
We went here with another couple for the Hibachi table. The food was reasonably priced and delicious. You get a lot of food for your money too. I was completely stuffed and they were still piling food on my plate. It is a fun atmosphere but it is really loud in the Hibachi room so not the best place if you want to catch up with friends.
(5)Diana K.
Best fresh Sushi around! We have only done the dining not the hibachi. Sushi over rules all for me. ;)
(5)josh s.
Probaly my favorite sushi buffet around!walked in bout 11 or so got seated right away.they have changed a few things since the last time we were there.Like the price,only $12.99 for lunch!the food on the buffet.As well as the many different rolls they had beef an brocoli,coconut shrimp,crab rangoon,of course miso soup.and the people were very freindly asked bout couple special rolls and next thing i knew they had them on the buffet for me!The giesha roll is realy awesome!
(5)J L.
Great atmosphere and the all you can eat sushi you can't beat the price. Theses are just the plain rolls either you get a full sushi menu and quick service. Can't wait to get back there
(4)Mike R.
The hibachi side is OK if you are into that, I have done it at this place a couple of times and each time was as good as any other hibachi style place. I recently went to try the sushi on a Sunday afternoon around two and decided to sit in the bar. The manager, or at least I thought he was the manager, told us to grab a seat. We waited about 10 minutes until finally someone realized there was not a bar tender on duty and ask us for what they could get us. We had several beers and sushi while watching football in the empty restaurant. The gentleman who waited on us was also working the hibachi part of the place which had all the customers. He was very nice and checked back with us often. The sushi was better than most places, but not the best that I have ever had. I may return to see what they have on their sit down menus. Overall an OK place, but many may find that the pricing does not match the quality.
(3)Hasham Y.
Came here for dinner with family and friends. there was a wait of 20 min even at 9pm on Friday Night. Something i am not used to off at least in St .Luis. Our party of 6 got our own table with the chef which was great. Nothing life a personal service. Like many other hibachi restaurants the decor is funk and trendy. All the entrees come with soup and salad. Soup is average, but salad had a really yummy creamy thousand islandISH dressing. Liked it. Our chef was a novice. He dropped the metal spatula, an egg and a fork which was scary. If you can't trust a chef with the tools, all the entertaining tricks loose the fun as one is scared for his/ her life. The fried rice wasn't good. I have definitely tried better in many hibachi, Chinese and Thai places. The smoking volcano and lava tricks were perfectly done. i remain very impressed. All of us ordered sea food ( shrimps, Tilapia, halibut and salmon) with teriyaki sauce and as one would imagine, you really can't do much to ruin that. The side sauces were great. The ginger sauce and the creamy sauce both complimented the meat very well without overpowering the original flavors. We were also celebrating a birthday and they do an excellent birthday drum. The birthday roll in itself is worth 1 star. All in all, the place offers great ambiance and service. The chefs definitely need more experience in performing tricks. As far as food is concerned, they really need to improve on fried rice recipe as it constitutes major portion of the entree
(3)Tiffany B.
I have been to this restaurant 3 times in hopes that maybe I am missing something that others see in this place. The first time I dined there I had the hibachi and it was so-so at best, second was sushi that left me thinking I must be a sushi snob and the third time I stuck to soup and salad. My salad was drowning in sea of dressing and I sent my soup back because it tasted as if it had been burning in the pot for hours. The wait staff has always been pleasant, the design and atmosphere are somewhat "posh" but the food lacks appeal. This place is convenient so I would love for it to be good but it just isn't and it totally bums me out!
(2)Rob S.
Great food. I love japanese and this place does a good job. The sushi was fresh and the staff really took care if us. 3 adults and 3 kids swt us back $135.00.
(4)Patt C.
My sister and I went for lunch. From 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, half-price sushi. Our server was very friendly. The menu is massive. My sister has been here before, so she offered suggestions, which were very helpful. She got a crispy calamari roll. I got the Alabama. I cannot tell you what was in it, and I cannot find it on the menu. We both got a salad: she got the seaweed salad (which is not on the menu, but amazingly available). I got a house salad minus the garlic croutons with house-made bleu cheese dressing. It had cucumber, cherry tomatoes, romaine and leaf lettuces, Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses. A great and hefty salad. Very well dressed, and the ingredients were fresh. The Alabama roll was good. Served with ginger and wasabi, and I used them both, with a little reduced-sodium soy sauce. They provide little sectioned bowls to mix your stuff, which I used. I'm not good with chopsticks, so I forked it and used my hand. My sister seems to be a master with chopsticks. What great new information.
(3)Charles S.
I give 3 stars. Been about 10 months since last visit. Service was good and the place was busy. Food is ok. Drinks not cheap. My big complaint: the place was dirty. Sticky tables and chairs. Dried food on salt shakers. Floor looked very dirty. Management needs to concentrate on continuous and thorough cleaning. Not just closings...
(3)Antonio M.
Try their special sauce. OMG AMAZING
(3)Jolena S.
Tasty sushi near where my sweetie works. Tried 5 rolls; white tiger (with seared scallops), golden lobster (tempura lobster), dragon (California roll with eel on top), spicy tuna and aspen (tempura asparagus with salmon). The stand out for me was the white tiger, for my bf it was the aspen. I wouldn't get the dragon again. The golden lobster was good but not as flavorful as I'd expect. Next time I'll try the geisha roll with lobster. They do half price specials during the day Monday through Thursday.
(3)Joey M.
Very disappointed in this last visit to Kitaro. The sushi, although 1/2 price, was not the quality I expected. It's almost as if they use shitty ingredients during their 1/2 price time and then up the quality when it's full price. I guess for sushi in O'Fallon, MO what can I really ask for?
(2)Jesse A.
Great environment, fresh sushi prepared in a timely manner. The Geisha roll was by far the highlight of my meal. Aswell as the upside down shrimp. Service was fair, and the price of the food was definitely reasonable!
(4)Xueer C.
Took a 30 minute drive over there with my friends to give this place a try. Turns out that we will be back!:) We started with the spicy octopus salad and ordered their Yakisoba with chicken, a 40 piece sashimi plate, spider, eel& San francisco rolls along with a ton of nigiri's. The spicy octopus salad was delicious and at a very good price. We did not like the Yakisoba so much because it was too sweet for our taste buds.. The sashimi were very fresh but weren't enough kinds of fish for a 40 piece plate. But they have my favorite white tuna so it still gets 5stars. :D I ordered the sanfrancisco roll because I saw the great review on yelp for their California.. And San Francisco is just california with shrimp. Pretty good, too. But the eel roll was a big disappointment and I would not recommend it. Our waiter was very nice the whole time until she messed up our bill. We wanted to split our check into 4 but after a long wait of 25 minutes, she returned with 2 split checks with $54 and $164, the rest 2 cards did not get swiped. ... That was one star off.. If I could give out half of a star, a 3.5 would be just right for this place. -we will definitely be back to try out their hibachi though.
(4)Sarah M.
love this place. great sushi!
(4)Tim B.
Had my first visit recently. We sat at a Hibachi table located right inside the Hibachi room directly to the left corner. The reason I give the location is due to how dirty it was. If you sit there and turn to look at the walls you will see they are disgusting. Hand prints, grease, pieces of food etc.... Also, look at the sugar container .... Disgusting. Secondly, there are to many seats at the table. We had 3 people and were seated on one of the corners where there are exactly 3 chairs. My son was seated in the middle and had to move his chair out from the table to accommodate all three of us. He kept dropping food on his lap due to being 2 feet from his plate. The third chair is on the corner as is the fourth chair. So, I was basically sitting on top of the guy seated next to me. I had to keep my feet directly under my chair, arms to my immediate side and attempt to eat my food from my plate that was practically touching the guys plate seated, ( on top of me ), I mean next to me. The whole situation makes you so uncomfortable that there is no way to enjoy your meal. Message to manager...... Sit at the table I am describing and take a look at the filth I just described. Then attempt to eat a meal sitting on the corner with someone you don't know seated next to you and let me know how enjoyable it is. All this "fun" for the low low price of $90.00.
(2)Ben S.
I've been here twice now and feel a bit conflicted writing this review. The first experience was a solid 4-star meal. The second experience was less so. I feel a strong urge to go with a 3-star review as a result. Tonight's food was pretty good and the service was attentive even though it was inaccurate. My wife wanted to know what pieces were in the chef's special and after asking the chef,the waiter replied that "it's the chef's choice." The chef did honor her wish to exclude a couple of pieces that she hates, but we both ordered the same thing and received different pieces!?! The appetizers arrived at different times and the second one had barely hit the table when the entrees arrived. One of the kids ordered two basic rolls and only received one of them...the other showed up as something that she neither ordered nor cared to try. Finally, the two desserts arrived at completely different times. Overlooking all of that, the food was pretty darn good. Everything was fresh and well prepared. The flavor & texture combinations in the Kentucky roll were spot-on and the nigiri was perfectly proportioned.
(4)Joey W.
My boss at work wanted to try this place off of highway K in Weldon Springs, so I decided, "hey what the heck." The restaurant architecture is quite an oddity in this part of town. You'd think this place would be selling artwork or some high quality goods, but this was an asian restaurant. We walked in and was seated very quickly. My boss wanted me to try the quick lunch hibachi grill and we were seated in an area where there were several grills that looked almost like pool tables that were lower to the ground with several chairs situated and placed all around. The prices are a bit high here for a hibachi grill. I think the least amount of money is $16 a plate. I tried the shrimp and scallops lunch and my boss tried the beef and chicken plate. They brought us a very delicious beef soup as an appetizer and the chef was brought out to prepare our meals. We watched as the chef make our fried rice and meals in front of us and he was very well manners and was quick. I also appreciate the fact that the waitress came back a few times to bring us drink refills. It may be somewhere to go for a nice date or a relaxing dinner, but with the prices, it will be a strict "once in a while".
(4)J. K.
Got a beer, sushi & miso soup. Dined alone, didn't eat much but still got good service from John on a Friday evening. Staff very accommodating about my need for a table near an outlet for my computer. Excellent wi-fi. Only complaint, place is pretty loud; but then I sat just outside the hibachi room where the big knife & grill shows were going on.
(4)Beth R.
Love the hibachi dining here. The servers are really on the ball and the food is awesome. Kobe's used to be my favorite and I like Shogun too, but I would choose Kitaro over both of them. Prices are slightly lower than the other two, which is also nice, but I wouldn't mind if they were just as expensive, they are worth it!
(5)Jay F.
I was back in St. Louis on biz, just wrapped for the day, and happened to drive by Kitaro. I've had really good fish in the Midwest a few times lately (folks know how to maximize refrigerated airfreight I guess) and my 'Spidey Senses' said, "Ah,Soundmanjay-San... good fish awaits". Everything was really flavorful, fresh as the Ventura Blvd. places back home (big sushi avenue around Los Angeles) and a good wait staff. 'O' the sushi waitress was great, and 'J' the 1st day after training kid did good (names omitted to protect the girls). A few more unique sauces and a bit more of a hand-roll selection (thanks for assist, 'O', you're the greatest) and they'll be hitting 4 stars on a regular basis.
(4)john j.
A great place to take friends and family. The atmosphere is fun and the fish is fresh. Fortunate to have Jenny as our waitress, she made many great recommendations and made sure the hot tea was always topped off. Looking forward to my next visit to O'Fallon!
(5)R W.
Half-price sushi Mon-Thurs at lunch can't be beat! Yes please. Every roll I have tried so far has been great (with the exception of the spicy tuna) which isn't bad, just not the best spicy tuna I have had. The Kentucky and Cardinal rolls -mmmmm mmmm. Good service, can be a bit slow at lunch rush. Just make sure you have ample time. I will be back for sure.
(4)Dan H.
We had lunch there today. The food was great and the chef was very entertaining! Great experience especially for the price. I will definitely go back again.
(5)Jen D.
Whenever we're craving some fresh, well prepared sushi or a nice saki selection with top notch hibachi chefs, we head here. Great service and both table service and hibachi dining are excellent.
(4)Brittany W.
I love their sushi! The environment is really cool and all of the staff is super nice. I also love the hibachi side of the restaurant. Very entertaining. :)
(4)Yoshi K.
My daughter was craving sushi so we went out for a weeknight dinner there since it was close to home. We discussed having the weekday all you can eat sushi special for $ 25 pp; but decided that she wasn't quite ready for an entire sushi meal yet; therefore we sat in the Teppanyaki Room. For a weeknight the restaurant was quite full and shortly after we had arrived all of the teppanyaki seating was full - good sign. Our waiter was good and attentive to our needs. We had the 'Spicy Tuna Roll' and 'Spicy Yellowtail Roll' to start along with 2pc of Ebi and 2pc of Tamago Sushi. All were very good. For dinner we had the steak and shrimp for 2 and plenty of leftovers to bring home. Fried rice was good, but I don't like it when they serve the stir fried spaghetti noodles at the end. I would rather have sauteed vegetables, such as bean sprouts; but no big deal. Our Chef was pretty good and kept us fairly entertained, and of course we had a birthday at our table and another a table over so that provided a little more entertainment as the management asked them to do a dance off. Funny. For a weeknight this was a little pricey since I had a couple of adult beverages on top of everything else. Next time I think we will try the all you can eat Sushi special. Give it a try...can't go wrong with good sushi and good steak.
(4)Stewart P.
My feelings about this place are mixed. I've been wanting to go here for awhile as I used to drive by it all the time and wondered what it was like. The building definitely stands out as you drive on Highway K. Once inside I immediately loved the interior. Fresh, unique, colorful and fun to be in. The food and service however were less than stellar. I ordered the strip steak with scallops and was pretty disappointed. It came with choices and I got the salad and vegetable medley. The steak, ordered medium well was nowhere near it, but I ate it anyway. The scallops, which the waiter forgot about, clearly were rushed in response and had no flavor and were watery, as if defrosted and cooked very quickly. A waste of money for sure. I love scallops. The house salad was decent as were the vegetables. The waiter, while very friendly, seemed to not really fit the job, which may not mean much. It was service I might expect from a low end place, plus he was sweating visibly and that is never attractive when eating. All this said, I may try the place again as a friend recommended the food I ordered. They also have Hibachi along with sushi items and an all you can eat sushi, but only on certain nights? It's worth checking out once.
(3)Chad V.
Went to Kitaro on a Monday night - place was mostly empty. We were told that we would need to wait 25 minutes for Hibachi service even though all the rooms were wide open. The hostess said they were "extremely busy". The restaurant was EMPTY! That being said, if we wanted to dine without hibachi, we could be seated immediately. A definite swing and miss.....won't be returning.
(1)Jeff H.
Vegans and vegetarians, beware! We will not be going back. Ever. 1. Miso soup made with meat broth, Kitaro neither offered nor provided a substitute. We received no discount despite not being able to eat it. 2. Salad came with non-vegan dressing, Kitaro neither offered nor provided a substitute. We received no discount despite not being able to eat it. 3. They put butter in the rice and vegetables (which they don't tell you anywhere). While everyone else got copious amounts of rice cooked right on the grill, we received one small bowl of steamed rice. Yippee. 4. Hibachi cook put butter in the vegetables after we told him not to. Instead of immediately getting another bowl and cooking those first, we sat around waiting while everyone else ate their meals, only to have him cook our vegetables right after he cooked meat in the exact same spot. Disgusting. 5. Sushi was okay, but it was not tightly rolled, and it fell apart while eating it.
(1)Kathryn W.
Great food and staff! Very large portions, we could not finish all of our food. I have eaten at many Japanese places like this, and this was one of my favorites. The building and atmosphere is very good. Great place for a celebration or just an evening out! Sushi is awesome and very fresh!
(4)Alisha A.
I was going to be in the O'Fallon area on Saturday for a Bachelorette party that afternoon. I wanted Japanese food for lunch and found KiTARO in the area on yelp. My sister and I got there around 11:30AM and were the only ones there besides one other person which was ok with us. We decided to eat in the Bistro section instead of the Hibachi section. My sister is vegetarian, so she ordered the Yakisoba (cooked noodles and veggies). This was pretty much the only vegetarian option, but it sounded good so she was ok with that. I ordered the Bento Box with fried rice, teriyaki chicken, and California sushi rolls. I had never eaten sushi before and our server recommended this sushi roll as a good "gateway" selection to introduce me to sushi. We also ordered the vegetable spring rolls as an appetizer. The spring rolls came out first. There were six of them, they were sliced open at an angle, and were piping hot. It came with a sweet Thai Chili sauce for dipping. They were excellent. Crispy and fresh. My order came with Meso soup which was brought out next and it was hot and delicious. Then our entrees came out. My sister dug in immediately and was in love with her noodles and veggies. It was delivered on a fajitia skillit so imagine that covered in noodles and veggies. My food came in a divided box containing the salad, fried rice, chicken with carrots and mushrooms, sushi rolls, and wasabi and ginger. The salad was amazing. I actually don't usually care for the salad dressing at Japanese restaurants but this was fresh and delicious. Next I tried a sushi roll. I liked it. I didn't know what to expect and I was pleasantly surprised. It came with 8 and after about 4 I realized I was already getting full and needed to tackle the rest of my food. The fried rice, which is my favorite part, was amazing! They gave a nice big helping. The chicken teriyaki was also delicious. The carrots were cooked perfectly. I gave the mushrooms to my sister and see agreed that the sauce was amazing. If I am back in the O'Fallon area again I will definitely be back here. I may even have to make a special trip. If you're in the mood for moderately priced and delicious food with ample portions I recommend KiTARO. The wait staff was also very nice and attentive.
(5)Asad A.
Awesome Sushi every time! And the Decor is amazing as well
(5)J B.
Tried this place for the first time today for Happy Hour. They have selected sushi for 1/2 price for happy hour 4 to 7pm and a few other items. We had the Spicy Tuna, California roll, Philadelphia and St Charles Roll. All were very good. The Thai wings are just O.K. had better... Crab Ragoon is the best we have ever had. It is a VERY GOOD happy hour! THe service was good also. We will definitely go back!
(5)D S.
Always great sushi. Great except for the kitchen blaring T-Pain which dampened the experience.
(3)Kate C.
My family & I visit this establishment for a birthday we celebrate each year. The hibachi guys are always on point & we enjoy our limited time in the back room. The bar area is clean, stocked, & well manned by kind people each time I stop in for a sushi roll and glass of wine by myself. Last few times I was in however, I was a bit thrown off by the twangy country music being played fairly loudly throughout the entire establishment... A Japanese establishment. Was strange to me. I also think for such a flashy venue they should consider more of a night time aspect of business. Bringing a live deejay in to spin loungey tunes starting at 9 could open a whole new avenue of revenue & business for themselves instead of simply closing at 11. The demographic for this type of nite life is present in south Ofallon and surrounding areas. It astounds me someone has not taken advantage of this idea already, having the actual space, layout, & progressive style Kitaro has inside & out. GM & owner should consider this idea.
(4)Mark S.
Never had a bad experience with the food here (sushi or hibachi) the drinks can get rather pricy but there are numerous unique choices. Need a better happy theme to drive more patrons in after work.
(4)Lianne S.
I was pretty happy with my experience here. I went here once in 2009 and then I went there again a few weeks ago. I will probably go again sometime in the coming months. Both times I sat on the restaurant side and solely enjoyed sushi. My only concern is that it seems like they no longer offer All You Can Eat Sushi! Noo! That was the best part of the meal. I have been to other spots with this deal and they always lack on quality. Kitaro did not. Every roll we ordered, we loved. Service was superb. Some of the best service I've had in recent months. 3.5 stars but will round up to 4 for service.
(3)Mindy P.
I am fascinated by Hibachi, I don't know why. I have not tried very many hibachi places in St. Louis, the few times I have had it were in Indianapolis, oddly enough. I loved the atmosphere, great for a "night out" feeling without having to really go out. We were there for lunch, and it was super early so there were not a lot of people. The service was excellent, better than what I actually thought of the food. It just tasted like average hibachi... nothing jumped out and grabbed me. I hope to go back again and try the sushi side of the restaurant!
(3)Robert J.
I love Hibachi. I know it seems to taste the same and the show is the same everywhere, but it is still so much fun with a group. It feels like you are on vacation. We came here with a group of six for a birthday and had a great time. Our chef was great and a lot of fun. I have to say though, the rice and veggies are the best tasting. We had the filet and scallops and they were so so. The filet wasn't very tender, it could have been any cut of beef and the scallops had good texture, but not too flavorful. The noodles were a bit bland too. I thought the atmosphere was nice and open, with unique Asian architecture. Drinks were not cheap on a Saturday however. Happy hour is your best bet here. As with a lot of Hibachi places, it is not cheap either. For several beers and food, it was $90. Ouch! Like I mentioned, the chef was entertaining and that is part of what you are paying for, but our waitress girl was a slouch. We, like always, rolled out of this place stuffed. But after a night out, we were sure to finish our leftovers at midnight before we went to sleep.
(4)Derek K.
Great food, friendly staff and reasonably priced food! If you are looking for a good hibachi style Japanese steakhouse, the buck stops here!
(5)Douglas K.
Awesome lunch buffet and really good sushi! I was not expecting much and was pleasantly surprised. The restaurant was very clean and had good decor. My server (Suzanne) was very helpful and knowledgeable about the menu. I have no complaints at all about this restaurant.
(5)Foodie F.
The sushi is fantastic here. Staff is nice and the entertainment at the hibachi table makes for an interesting celebration. When I did a search for "restaurants" in this zip code every restaurant surrounding Kitaro came up but Kitaro didn't. They should fix this with Yelp because if we hadn't driven by and seen it we wouldn't have known it was here... Kind of a bummer that they have a Yelp page but don't show up in search results. Not sure how that happens.
(4)Aimee K.
It's hard for me to rate Kitaro, because I feel like if it was closer to the city I might feel a little a little less enthusiastic, it being around tons of phenomenal restaurants and all... but I'm so glad O'Fallon has a place like this among all of the chains and so-so dinner spots. The building itself is really pretty and has lights that change color and look amazing at night, and the interior is large and looks like a typical Asian joint. One thing I have to comment on it the cocktails of course... so good! I love when I can ignore the drink list and ask for a peach martini and it's set in front of me without a problem. The service has always been pretty good in my experience, both at the bar and in the dining area. Kitaro is loaded with appetizers ranging from crab & artichoke dip to coconut shrimp to beef-wrapped asparagus. I have to comment on the beef-wrapped asparagus, though... it's very, very little food. I burst out laughing with it was set in front of me because it was literally 4-5 tiny pieces of asparagus wrapped in beef! Bite size. Me no likes. Aside from that, they have tons of sushi, "fusion entrees" like mahi mahi, lamb, etc., and also a nice selection of steaks. They also have a plate pairing option which can be fun. Totally worth it if you're in the area, but I wouldn't make the drive just for dinner! Coincidentally I'll be going there for cocktails tomorrow night, so I'll get an even better feel.
(4)Scott M.
This was a favorite place of my dad and I to go for all you can eat crab legs buffet. However, they no longer have it. Such a pity. I haven't had their other food so I can't comment on it but I just wanted to let others know about there no longer being a crab legs buffet on Fridays.
(4)Mark N.
Horrible service we made an 8:00pm reservation and it is now 8:30. They just now gave us a vibrating square to hold and when I asked the lady here about it she said "it's always like this". I will never come back the chesterfield Vally is to close to wait for a restaurant that is at best a 7.
(1)J K.
Sushi is good. Hibachi is not so good. Hibachi was a lot like drinking straight out of the soy sauce bottle. No depth of flavor. Yakisobi was pure sugar. Definitely Americanized. Stay with the sushi. Service was ok.
(2)Mike G.
I have been here twice eating at the Hibachi table once and the dining room once. The Hibachi experience fell short of entertaining. The cook we had was a total moron and managed to drop most of his cookware. He must have been fairly new because he had no skills. He did sling hot egg all over one of the diners and managed to get egg shells in the lap of another. The portion of meat that I received was very small and it was not filet mignon. It looked more like a sirloin. The dining room experience was a different story. We had a very good meal, the steaks were cooked to perfection and the service was excellent. We have not had sushi here so I cannot comment on that. I will not do Hibachi here again but will definitely do the dining room again.
(3)S T.
Underwhelming but acceptable. The standard hibachi table show, some chefs make it a performance, others just another meal. I ended up ordering sushi with a table of friends ordering hibachi, I was served first, though I specifically asked to be served with the main entrees of the other guests. It is my pet peeve, and I was very clear when I ordered that I did NOT want to be served my main course right away. I was also not super impressed with the rolls, they were all very similar, not terrible, just not memorable. After I complained to the manager she offered me free rolls to take home?!? Uh, no thanks, I came here to enjoy a meal with my friends, not eat sushi alone in my apartment. My friends said they had decent food, and the decor was nice, I will probably try some other sushi places area instead of returning any time soon.
(3)Cara B.
I'm not a fan of sushi, but I'm a fan of Kitaro. I think it's pretty cool that they have sushi, a dinner menu and teppan tables. It's awesome that they have non-sushi options so I'm still cool with meeting a sushi-loving friend here. Everybody's happy! I love their udon noodle bowl. It's huge and chockfull of veggies and chicken (or shrimp, if you desire). This huge bowl of saucy noodles gave me two meals, for about $11. Awesome! However... I'm withholding the 5th star because of some of the other prices. For example, their seared tuna sounds delicious but it's $28! Yikes. Therefore, I have never ordered it. I know we live crazy far away from the ocean, but that still seems steep to me. The inside is pretty awesomely decorated. Some might say standard Asian décor, which it is. But it's still pretty good looking! Service is friendly and accommodating. No complaints in that department. I'm happy to have a place like this in St. Charles county! I'll definitely keep going back.
(4)Rob M.
I've only had the hibachi, so I really can't comment on the restaurant part, sushi and any other part of the restaurant. I've been here four or five times so I have a decent amount of experience for what they have to offer with the hibachi. As for the hibachi, I can't say I've had a terrible time, but never had a great time. The guys who do it have just done the bare minimum as far as 'entertainment' and engagement with everyone around the grill. They never messed anyone's order up and cooked things quickly and correctly, but there was never any flare with what they did. I've had a much more entertaining time elsewhere. If you want hibachi, Kitaro is not a bad place to go. I am sure there is a better option somewhere in the St. Louis area, but you could certainly do much worse.
(3)Mark H.
My wife and I had lunch here and the food and service were definitely lacking. I'll start with the service. The server seemed a bit miffed when we didn't opt for the buffet. I'm sorry, I'm not a buffet person. She finally came back to take our order and then proceeded to tell my wife that the Tempura Shrimp she ordered were grilled. My wife told her that was great, that's even better. Then she came back a little while later and told her that they were in fact fried. Personally, I ordered that Seared Tuna. When the server came back and dropped the food off that was the last time we saw her. My Tuna was more medium well than seared and was just NOT GOOD. My wife's shrimp were also over cooked. All in all, the food was bad, in fact, the only thing worse than the food was the service. We never even got a refill on our ice water, she never came back to see how the food was; hell, I would have told her! I've been here a couple of times before with friends and never been impressed with the food. I've done the Hibachi, I've eaten the Sushi and Sashimi. I can't understand how this place is getting all of these rave reviews. Maybe it's the all you can eat buffet. I was in the mood for fish but in retrospect, we should have gone to Long John Silver's or had a Filet-o-Fish at McDonald's. I could have spent $15 instead of $50 and had better food and certainly better service!
(1)Paul K.
Had the hibachi on the third pass- NASTY. The sushi was edible, especially considering it was a $25 all-you-can-eat deal, but the hibachi was soaked in butter and flavorless nonetheless. Plus, we were the last customers in for the night (45 mins before closing) and we couldn't have gotten the "we're closing" signals any clearer- since it's right across from the hotel we're staying at and one of the few places in O'Fallon open past 9, I might go back, but- I'd have to be hungry.
(1)Evan L.
It's hard for me to describe my feelings on Kitaro. I've eaten here probably 40-50 times over the last 5-6 years. Before I started going here I used to travel to St. Charles to eat at the parent restaurant, Shogun. While most of my dining experiences at Kitaro have been positive, it's impossible to ignore some of the lesser qualities of the establishment, especially compared to some of the other hibachi options in the area. One of my biggest complaints is the 'hit or miss' nature of the hibachi chefs. Some of them are fantastic and produce high-quality fare. Others seem uninterested in their work, and the end product reflects this. The menu does not appear to be standardized, which is something that also bothers me. At Shogun (And at Kitaro years ago) the fried rice was phenomenal. Butter and mustard sauce were always included and gave the rice the trademark flavor that I came to love. Now I am forced to ask our cook to include the ingredients every time I come to dine here. I spoke with one of the senior chefs (Marz, I believe) and he said that he has no idea why they stopped including these items, and agreed that the rice was much more bland without them. I think a large part of the problem is turnover. I used to recognize the chefs every time I came here. Now I rarely have any idea who is cooking my food. I think that the restaurant could do more to retain some of its more senior and talented chefs. One thing that I must give Kitaro credit for are the extremely affordable lunch options. No where else have I ever seen a hibachi lunch entree for under 10$. I won't stop coming to eat here, but I do sometimes wish that Shogun were a bit closer. Since both restaurants are owned by the same people, I fail to see why the higher-standards of Shogun cannot be adopted by Kitaro chefs and staff.
(3)A A.
I love this place, its close to home and the sushi is great! They are a little pricey, but I dont think they understand the meaning of reservations.
(4)Julie M.
My husband took me here for my birthday dinner. He made reservations. When we arrived (on time!), we were rushed to a table with 7 people celebrating a 15-year-old's birthday and seated on the end. They had already finished soup and salads, so we were served both immediately, before even opening our menu. We were then asked for our order...we hadn't even opened our menus. No chance to look at the drink menu. We quickly decided on a meal, since everyone else was waiting for our order, so they could have their food cooked. The "show" was fine...typical, nothing special. The chef did a great job with the group of teenagers. Food was fine...rice was OK,, noodles not worth it, and veggies were mostly onions. The steak and shrimp was surprisingly good and we really enjoyed that. We felt very rushed through our meal and as soon as the chef cleaned the grill, they started handing out take-home boxes, sang happy birthday to the birthday girl, and brought plates and napkins out for the next group...all within 45 minutes of our arrival. Very disappointed in the whole experience...this was supposed to be a special celebration for my 40th birthday and instead we wasted $50 on a hurried experience that we didn't enjoy at all. We've been here before, but after this experience, we definitely won't be back.
(1)Ann T.
love the decor, inside and out. i really don't know why more people don't dine here. customer service is friendly too! my new training buddies and i came here last night for some sushi. it was a monday night and they had $25 all you can eat sushi. well, we ended up going with the teppanaki in the back of the restaurant. our chef was super cool and of course he had skills. he told us he was microasia. i swear, that was the first time i've ever met someone from microasia! he was awesomee... trying feeding the guys scrimp. you had to have been there. anyway, food was exactly like benihana's... i ended up going with the combination... filet mignon and scrimp. heh. my meal came with fried rice, salty ass noodles, and veggies. our waitress kept coming by to check up on us. she even told us to keep the hot sake on the grill so it stayed hot! lol. she even split the bill for all 6 of us... awesome. that way citi could reimburse us. all in all, i'd come back. but to try the sushi. ehhh...not like we have a choice anyway. we're in the middle of a ghost town. i guess we lucked out with kitaro.
(4)Amy F.
Delicious high quality sushi! Try the lunch buffet for a wide variety & very reasonable price. Our waitress (I think her name was Kelly) was so friendly & efficient. She kept our table clear and was so sweet to our boys. We highly recommend and will definitely be returning.
(5)Jay M.
Wow... where do I start... I have a policy about not eating sushi too far from the coast. But there was Kitaro, a "Japanese Bistro" across from the hotel, and I figured I needed to at least try it. It came highly recommended by several people.... So I drove over (which was odd for me, but after a 65 km bike ride I felt a drive to the restaurant in the rain was warranted, especially since there are no sidewalks or crosswalks here). The place has a LINE at the hostess stand! I'm thinking it must be good if it has a LINE UP to get in. The bar is packed. I ain't gonna find a seat there. "Do you want restaurant or hibachi?" uuuh... what has the shorter line? "Restaurant." OK, I'll eat in the restaurant. The sushi bar itself was empty. An omen? I'm sat down and David swings by. Things started really running amok when David felt it was necessary to explain that the "soya sauce with the green top is low sodium. That means it has less salt." ... Oh boy. I ordered the large sake and looked around. Hmm... trendy setting, clean lines, big screen TVs NOT showing bad Japanese game shows... full of white folk laughing and having fun. The sake comes out in a huge wine carafe. I am stunned. A wine carafe full of hot sake? Are you freakin' kidding me? David had also explained the process around ordering. I contemplated getting bento, but just couldn't stop the sushi urge. I ordered edamame and filled out the list for sushi. David swings back by with the edamame and takes my card. I ask if the tobiko comes with a quail egg. Massive cluelessness. No problem, just bring the tobiko. "The what?" TOBIKO. The Flying Fish Eggs! SHEESH! I started pouring the sake, missing everyonewithwhomI'veevergorgedontoomuchsushi, munch the edamame, then PRESTO David shows up with my food. Slow night at the sushi kitchen. Everything is a little blah, no joy in the food. Then I notice the row at the table next to me, the waitress apologizing profusely and a couple getting up to leave - their glasses are still full! Wow, WTF? I though. I continued eating and watching non existent japanese game show television (at least it wasn't Fox News) and finished the meal. Then David returned... "Do you know who that was sitting next to you?" he asks excitedly. Uh, No. "That was Darrell Strawbmumblemumble." Who? "Darrell Strawberry. He pitched for the world series winning [some-baseball-team-I-don't-f***ing-care-about] in [some-year-long-ago]. I actually said Hi to him since I coach my son's baseball team and my assistant coach was Darrell's room mate in college." Oh yeah, I think I've heard of Darrel Strawberry. Why was there so much apologizing when they left? "What?" Yeah, there was a lot of I'm sorry being said as they left. "Who, the waitress? (his eyes are like f***ing cannon balls now)." Yes, the waitress. "I don't know..." I couldn't take the inanity of the situation comedy unfolding before me any more and waved him on. Now I am just hoping I didn't pick up some kind of fish borne illness. If I do I suspect Darrell Strawberry will get sick too. You might hear that mentioned on Fox News. Or ESPN. Or not... The hibachi might be good here, but DON'T come for the SUSHI!
(1)Ashley V.
My fiance and I came here with a couple of friends one night for dinner! Most amazing sushi and coconut shrip i have ever had! Not to mention my all time favorite crab cakes! okay... I could go on and on about their food! It was glorious. The service was right on, never had an empty drink! Being my birthday, they cam out, sang to me with an awesome drumb... gave me some yummy dessert! AND! tried to make me "bust a move"! the whole experience was awesome and I highly recommend this place!
(5)Chris R.
Hey read this review first. If you like fresh sushi and you have a budget there lunch buffet is 12$ and it's pretty good blows some other sushi places away. Also for dinner they have a 25$ buffet were you can pick any sushi on the menu and eat tell you explode. I have not been to the other side were they do the japanese grill but it sounds like fun from all the peoe laughing and having a good time. Try this place out it's good.
(5)Timothy W.
One of our favorites!! Amazing atmosphere and I love the sashimi selections. The service has always been good and would highly recommend.
(4)Geoffrey G.
I have been here many times with family and friends, and have had a great experience each time. I love food and i always get a ton here for a decent price.The drinks are also reasonable as well. I generally get the fillet and chicken with extra rice, and almost every time i have food to take home. This place also puts on a great show. Every cook i have had is super friendly and very funny. The enviorment overall is great. They also have a sauce calles yum yum saice and it is amazing. I put it on everything there. It is sweet and creamy. They also sell it as well if you like the sauce. Overall, I love this place and the food and drink they have.
(5)Amiami M.
For an O'fallon restaurant this is probably a four star. I've been to some"wow ya" hibachi before and the cooks here tend to lack the wow although they do serve good food. I'd have no complaints on the food other than portion sizes are way too much. We always share a volcano drink but they charge to share a meal on the hibachi side. I can't comment on the sushi since we didn't try it tonight. Our son wanted to celebrate his birthday here and overall we enjoyed it although their hostess is incredibly rude. A smile and less eye rolling would help. We'll be back, just not often or soon.
(3)Peter L.
Kitaro no longer has a buffet either lunch or dinner. I had the hibachi steak and shrimp; the chef put on the show,which is great for kids and even made me laugh. The food was good and certainly freshly prepared. I was prepared to say that there would be too much salt, but that was not the case. So it was a nice meal, and conveniently located to where I was doing some work.
(3)Gary D.
Had dinner here at the hibachi side with a co-worker and was pretty underwhelmed. I had the tuna steak which had been previously frozen. I like it seared on both sides and it was like the center wasn't completely defrosted. The side dishes were all just fair, fried rice so-so, salad was the same, the chef went thru the usual motions of a chef at a hibachi restaurant but with no energy or enthusiasm at all. Plus it took forever just to get a beer. It's not horrible but nothing to write home about either.
(3)