Awesome food! Great entertainment!! Love going with the family and take up the whole table.
(5)
Jared B.
My wife and I go to Yamatoes about once every two weeks. The food (hibachi and sushi) is great and the cooks make great food and are hilariously nice. However, the service is lacking. The 2 hostesses we had last night (09/21/2015) were probably 16-17 years old and spent most of their time literally running and playfully screaming at each other. It was extremely unprofessional and I get they were young but it's the owner and managers job to groom these new people in the work field. After we were seated we could hear them laughing and screaming at each other and the younger male bus boys the whole hour we were there. When we left the two teenagers were gossiping and didn't mind telling us to have a good night or thank us for coming. The waiters are always usually rude, take forever to take your order and bring back orders. The cooks usually have to ask if our order has been taken, apologize, and have to go get the waiters. If you guys don't improve your customer service the upcoming M cafe is going is going to totally annihilate this location as Miyabis has already taken half your business. I want you guys to be successful. Step up your game!
(2)
Susan J.
Yamamo's has completely lost it. We used to visit this location sometimes twice a week, we ordered take out this evening as almost everything else was closed, and what a huge mistake! We ordered Chicken w/rice/veg salad, clear soup, plus the steak/rice/salad/soup. We ordered extra soy/ginger sauce and extra mustard, NO WHITE SAUCE. What did we get? We did not get extra sauce, in fact the mustard sauce was WATERED DOWN! We also got 1 white sauce, and when we opened the bag at home it had leaked all over everything in the bag - disgusting! The chicken was DRY. The steak was CHEWY! The veggies were soggy and over cooked, and the salad is FROM A BAG!! There is nothing but a few shredded carrots and ice burg lettuce! To top it all off this was a $42 meal in which they add a tip FOR YOU EVEN FOR TAKE OUT FOR TWO PEOPLE! This place is a HUGE rip off do NOT go here. It used to be nice dining, now it is a waste of space trying to save money since Miyabi's is next door, so GO THERE!!!
(1)
Chuck W.
I don't even know where to begin with our awful experience at this place. We were party of 16 for a birthday. Hostess was extremely rude. Service was extremely slow. After ordering drinks most in our party had to go to the bar to get their own because service was so slow. Food was average. The cooks were offensive. WILL NEVER RETURN to this place. Sato's on Beltline or Miayabi down the street. This place can close for all I care. Oh and about 8 out of our party all got very sick to the stomach later in the evening and had to fight to get to the bathroom.
(1)
Anna B.
Disclaimer: This review might be very much affected by nostalgia - my family has eaten at Yamato for YEARS, and it holds a very special place in my heart. First piece of advice - ONLY come here if you're hungry. Anything less would be just a shame. Servings are gigantic + delicious,which is a dangerous combination. In fact, you might want to fast for a couple of days prior. And wear pants with an elastic waistband. All lunch/dinner hibachi entrees come with your standard rice, vegetables, miso soup, and salad. And sherbet! - such a nice touch. My favorite entrees are the filet mignon and scallops. I've tried just about everything over the years though, and I've never met a meal at Yamato that I didn't like. Always ask for extra ginger and shrimp sauce, and don't forget to ask for some to-go sauce containers to include in your to-go box. (You will need a to-go box, and if not, I'd like to meet you and shake your hand.) Sunday afternoons are very busy, so expect a wait. Dinner on weekdays seems to be your best bet. Prices vary from ~$15-24. Chefs are hilarious and I often hear new jokes when I go - a feat in itself since I've been hundreds of times. Come on in and give Yamato the chance to become your family tradition. My personal tip? Grab a handful of those delicious breath mints on your way out.
(5)
Jerry C.
I'll give four stars for the entertainment and the sushi. In fact, the sushi is real good. They did over cook my daughter's lobster, but her filet mignon was very tender. Overall, this is a great time for the family. Enough said.
(4)
Gilberto M.
Hibashi was great. They have definitely improved. My wife and I shared a plate and took some left overs home.
(5)
Steve B.
The hidden gem. The sushi is top shelf. I usually end up in Columbia overnight two to three times a year. Each time I stop by for Sushi and each time Brit has been the Sushi Chef. It is always fresh and always good. I have tried other places and have found none better. One of the nice things is even when the Resturant has a line waiting, you can walk right in and be seated for Sushi. It's a hidden gem. I have never tried the Hibachi, would rather have some good Sushi instead.
(5)
John S.
Went here when I was in town last time they are worth your time if you are sitting down but togo though not so much.
(4)
Tabitha B.
The food was decent and the water was nice the hibachi cooks weren't very entertaining though and not kid friendly at all. High chair wasn't high enough for the table they didn't bring my son a plate tried to sit our toddler next to a stranger instead of between me and my husband. Took forever to get the check and to go boxes. Won't ever be going back.
(2)
Jackie W.
Currently the only person in this whole restaurant and I'm still waiting on my drink and for some food to start being cooked on this huge grill. But I got some soup though.. Ummm not sure if I will be coming back here again. :(
(2)
Margaret K.
Still good. Just not as good as it used be. The food was great. Sebastian (our chef) was great. Still more food than one can eat.
(3)
John F.
We were seated and promptly left to wait without being acknowledged again for 15 minutes before we decided to walk out. We walked right past the hostess who seated us who didn't even bother to ask why we were leaving without eating. It wasn't like the place was busy or the hostess was helping someone else when we walked by. Not a peep as we walked right in front of her. The good could have been good, but I'll never know. In the end it was a blessing, we wound up a few doors down at Miyabi, which was a fantastic experience that this place only wishes it was. If you want the Hibachi experience skip Yamoto and go a few doors down.
(1)
Mike S.
Hello Friends, I ventured down to this spot for a Bday dinner. This place is like Nakato's or Kabuto's. The party memebers all thought it was pretty strange and odd to see a VERY diverse group of employess. (Only 2..maybe 3 employess in the whole place "looked" Japanese. All the others, including the cooks were NOT. That has to be the 1st for me and other patrons in the party. No big deal, just found it odd. As for the food. I ordered a Sushi app. (2/5) the rice seemed old, they put a dab of wasabi on all the rolls under the meat. NEVER seen/heard of that one before. So when i went to chop down on my roll (dipped in Soy w/ wasabi) i was VERY shocked to taste super super wasabi. The show wasn't bad, the cook was pretty good. After he was done, we all mentioned that somebody will have FUN cleaning all that mess up. Unlike the other two spots I mentioned. They offer Rice.. NoT noodles, And at the end of the meal they brought out ice cream. Don't know if it was JUST b/c or if they do that for everyone. We did notice he was kinda sloppy, a lot of rice and things were thrown about the place. The prices weren't too bad, I saw alot of "special" signs and "early bird" specials. POSTED on the front windows, doors, and entrances. Usually when I see that much effort in small promotions its a sign of them calling for HELP. Since I'm not from around there, I don't know how much business they get, but by the looks and reading some reviews and actually eating here. I would think they need some help. Less than 50yards away is another place just like this. I would have taken pictures but, it just wasn't worth it. Its not a BAD place but, You could probably find better. Until next time.... TTFN!!
(2)
Dade D.
I hadn't been to Yamato's in years until recently. When I was younger my best friend and I used to frequent pretty regularly for sushi, but never really stayed for the show. I did notice, however, that they have a culturally diverse staff. I think that this is actually an interesting addition because in my prior experience majority of the staff of any hibachi restaurant is typically not Japanese, but normally Central American, South American, or Pacific Islander. I don't think that ethnicity should dictate anything in an atmosphere for eating and it's highly racist to suggest such. Regardless, my fiance and I were seated and promptly brought our drinks, the chef came out within 15 minutes of being seated and began to prepare our fare. I always stick with steak and chicken, and my fiance got shrimp and scallops. One thing that I will say is I was ALWAYS a fan of Miyabi's (the restaurant all other reviewers are posting about which is a few doors down) UNTIL that evening. I ordered my steak medium well as usual, but what I must note is the chef used a limited or miniscule amount of oil while preparing the steak. I was a little bit curious about this, but when I tasted it I was blown away by the flavor. Furthermore, the scallops he prepared for my fiance were impeccable. I usually don't order seafood in the midlands simply because I rarely receive well prepared seafood here, but this scallop was perfectly caramelized on the outside and tender in the middle. Aside from the entree preparation the show was also fantastic. Ironically, as I revert back to the ethnicity of the staff our chef was caucasian. While I agree that the atmosphere in miyabis may be miles apart. I respect Yamato's because of their obvious equal opportunity practices, and their lack of over oiling their food. Usually, my stomach is upset or I'm overfull after leaving a hibachi restaurant but the food didn't sit too heavy - primarily because of our chef's insight and lack of a need to use too much oil like I've experienced at Miyabi's. All in all 5 stars, and keep up the fantastic work. Also, the sushi was fantastic as always and I highly recommend the Almond Sake as well.
(5)
Karen S.
I am surprised this is located where this is since there is a similar restaurant just a few doors down from here. The concept is unique - they cook your main dish right in front of you. Their table seats ten. For those planning to visit with a large party, due to the nature of the meal, they will not seat you until your whole party has arrived. (On a side note - say if there is a few of you - like anywhere between 2-5 people - they will seat you at a "table" with another party to get as close to 10 people that they can get at a table.) One member of our party was running extremely late last night and we went to sit down without him, and he had yet to arrive before they started cooking dinner, and if he had not shown up when they started cooking the main dish, he would have not been able to order. The rice that comes with the meal is fried - not sure if they do have steamed rice - you might have to ask the waitress when she is taking orders that you want steamed rice. Prices are a little on the high end - since the soup, salad, and sorbet were small portions (as well as the meat). It seemed like we did get lots of rice! Our cook did try to be entertaining as he could be while cooking, but have to admit - most of the cooks are not Japanese.
(3)
Gilberto M.
Ok, This is our best sushi restaurant. My wife and I love to go to this place. I can understand the mixed reviews because of the Hibachis area. Unfortunately there are better options. Don't get me wrong. It is not a bad place is just that it can be better when you compare to the competition. Now, going back to the sushi. It is always fresh and is great. Just make sure Brit is the sushi chef. This guy is a Sushi Master and the rolls are always excellent. We tried the place with other sushi chefs but is not the same. The specials before 7:00PM are great since you can save 30% on the rolls. We are getting ready to go to eat sushi here today. I already called to confirm that Brit is working. =) It's Sushi TIME!
(5)
John R.
Terrible service from Suzy. Did not bring us the apps we ordered and we had to go to the bar to get our drinks.
(1)
Dale E.
The food is good but the chef's make the experience! I have eaten at Yamato's all over South Kakalaki (South Carolina for the literate ones) and have had great experiences and bad ones all due to the chef. The food is basically the same no matter what. Had a small graduation party tonight which went over well. Our chef put the experience over the top! He kept everyone at our table entertained and involved the whole time even though the people at "the other end of the table" were not as receptive to a good time as we are. Although they seemed to have liked the fact that we joined in when the waitress was singing happy birthday to the dad and put our own spin on it since we did not know his name. I don't think I could have cooked the filet and scallops any better myself and I've been told I'm a pretty good cook. Brought plenty of food home as usual. The soup could have been better and the sorbet bigger as it has gotten progressively smaller. I have found that I will not order/buy sorbet out but tend to enjoy it greatly after my hibachi meal. All and all always a pretty good experience
(4)
Michael W.
Great food, great show. Had the Hibachi dinner with my wife and kids, and the kids had a blast. Not something we can afford very often, but it's certainly on my list of favorites. You won't be disappointed.
(4)
David Y.
o.k. this is mixed review. this yamatos has the freshes well priced sushi around. but they have seemed to have lost the show. and when me and 5 other people order extra steak and chicken and i have ( to watch my extra orders of steak and chicken get shared with the whole table it just sucks)!!!!! the same owner in columbia s.c. and myrtle beach s.c. / had someone down and out sick no take OUT killed this 200 dollar dinner .myrtle beach is better than columbia. ( sushi saves this review )
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Stefanie M.
Awesome food! Great entertainment!! Love going with the family and take up the whole table.
(5)Jared B.
My wife and I go to Yamatoes about once every two weeks. The food (hibachi and sushi) is great and the cooks make great food and are hilariously nice. However, the service is lacking. The 2 hostesses we had last night (09/21/2015) were probably 16-17 years old and spent most of their time literally running and playfully screaming at each other. It was extremely unprofessional and I get they were young but it's the owner and managers job to groom these new people in the work field. After we were seated we could hear them laughing and screaming at each other and the younger male bus boys the whole hour we were there. When we left the two teenagers were gossiping and didn't mind telling us to have a good night or thank us for coming. The waiters are always usually rude, take forever to take your order and bring back orders. The cooks usually have to ask if our order has been taken, apologize, and have to go get the waiters. If you guys don't improve your customer service the upcoming M cafe is going is going to totally annihilate this location as Miyabis has already taken half your business. I want you guys to be successful. Step up your game!
(2)Susan J.
Yamamo's has completely lost it. We used to visit this location sometimes twice a week, we ordered take out this evening as almost everything else was closed, and what a huge mistake! We ordered Chicken w/rice/veg salad, clear soup, plus the steak/rice/salad/soup. We ordered extra soy/ginger sauce and extra mustard, NO WHITE SAUCE. What did we get? We did not get extra sauce, in fact the mustard sauce was WATERED DOWN! We also got 1 white sauce, and when we opened the bag at home it had leaked all over everything in the bag - disgusting! The chicken was DRY. The steak was CHEWY! The veggies were soggy and over cooked, and the salad is FROM A BAG!! There is nothing but a few shredded carrots and ice burg lettuce! To top it all off this was a $42 meal in which they add a tip FOR YOU EVEN FOR TAKE OUT FOR TWO PEOPLE! This place is a HUGE rip off do NOT go here. It used to be nice dining, now it is a waste of space trying to save money since Miyabi's is next door, so GO THERE!!!
(1)Chuck W.
I don't even know where to begin with our awful experience at this place. We were party of 16 for a birthday. Hostess was extremely rude. Service was extremely slow. After ordering drinks most in our party had to go to the bar to get their own because service was so slow. Food was average. The cooks were offensive. WILL NEVER RETURN to this place. Sato's on Beltline or Miayabi down the street. This place can close for all I care. Oh and about 8 out of our party all got very sick to the stomach later in the evening and had to fight to get to the bathroom.
(1)Anna B.
Disclaimer: This review might be very much affected by nostalgia - my family has eaten at Yamato for YEARS, and it holds a very special place in my heart. First piece of advice - ONLY come here if you're hungry. Anything less would be just a shame. Servings are gigantic + delicious,which is a dangerous combination. In fact, you might want to fast for a couple of days prior. And wear pants with an elastic waistband. All lunch/dinner hibachi entrees come with your standard rice, vegetables, miso soup, and salad. And sherbet! - such a nice touch. My favorite entrees are the filet mignon and scallops. I've tried just about everything over the years though, and I've never met a meal at Yamato that I didn't like. Always ask for extra ginger and shrimp sauce, and don't forget to ask for some to-go sauce containers to include in your to-go box. (You will need a to-go box, and if not, I'd like to meet you and shake your hand.) Sunday afternoons are very busy, so expect a wait. Dinner on weekdays seems to be your best bet. Prices vary from ~$15-24. Chefs are hilarious and I often hear new jokes when I go - a feat in itself since I've been hundreds of times. Come on in and give Yamato the chance to become your family tradition. My personal tip? Grab a handful of those delicious breath mints on your way out.
(5)Jerry C.
I'll give four stars for the entertainment and the sushi. In fact, the sushi is real good. They did over cook my daughter's lobster, but her filet mignon was very tender. Overall, this is a great time for the family. Enough said.
(4)Gilberto M.
Hibashi was great. They have definitely improved. My wife and I shared a plate and took some left overs home.
(5)Steve B.
The hidden gem. The sushi is top shelf. I usually end up in Columbia overnight two to three times a year. Each time I stop by for Sushi and each time Brit has been the Sushi Chef. It is always fresh and always good. I have tried other places and have found none better. One of the nice things is even when the Resturant has a line waiting, you can walk right in and be seated for Sushi. It's a hidden gem. I have never tried the Hibachi, would rather have some good Sushi instead.
(5)John S.
Went here when I was in town last time they are worth your time if you are sitting down but togo though not so much.
(4)Tabitha B.
The food was decent and the water was nice the hibachi cooks weren't very entertaining though and not kid friendly at all. High chair wasn't high enough for the table they didn't bring my son a plate tried to sit our toddler next to a stranger instead of between me and my husband. Took forever to get the check and to go boxes. Won't ever be going back.
(2)Jackie W.
Currently the only person in this whole restaurant and I'm still waiting on my drink and for some food to start being cooked on this huge grill. But I got some soup though.. Ummm not sure if I will be coming back here again. :(
(2)Margaret K.
Still good. Just not as good as it used be. The food was great. Sebastian (our chef) was great. Still more food than one can eat.
(3)John F.
We were seated and promptly left to wait without being acknowledged again for 15 minutes before we decided to walk out. We walked right past the hostess who seated us who didn't even bother to ask why we were leaving without eating. It wasn't like the place was busy or the hostess was helping someone else when we walked by. Not a peep as we walked right in front of her. The good could have been good, but I'll never know. In the end it was a blessing, we wound up a few doors down at Miyabi, which was a fantastic experience that this place only wishes it was. If you want the Hibachi experience skip Yamoto and go a few doors down.
(1)Mike S.
Hello Friends, I ventured down to this spot for a Bday dinner. This place is like Nakato's or Kabuto's. The party memebers all thought it was pretty strange and odd to see a VERY diverse group of employess. (Only 2..maybe 3 employess in the whole place "looked" Japanese. All the others, including the cooks were NOT. That has to be the 1st for me and other patrons in the party. No big deal, just found it odd. As for the food. I ordered a Sushi app. (2/5) the rice seemed old, they put a dab of wasabi on all the rolls under the meat. NEVER seen/heard of that one before. So when i went to chop down on my roll (dipped in Soy w/ wasabi) i was VERY shocked to taste super super wasabi. The show wasn't bad, the cook was pretty good. After he was done, we all mentioned that somebody will have FUN cleaning all that mess up. Unlike the other two spots I mentioned. They offer Rice.. NoT noodles, And at the end of the meal they brought out ice cream. Don't know if it was JUST b/c or if they do that for everyone. We did notice he was kinda sloppy, a lot of rice and things were thrown about the place. The prices weren't too bad, I saw alot of "special" signs and "early bird" specials. POSTED on the front windows, doors, and entrances. Usually when I see that much effort in small promotions its a sign of them calling for HELP. Since I'm not from around there, I don't know how much business they get, but by the looks and reading some reviews and actually eating here. I would think they need some help. Less than 50yards away is another place just like this. I would have taken pictures but, it just wasn't worth it. Its not a BAD place but, You could probably find better. Until next time.... TTFN!!
(2)Dade D.
I hadn't been to Yamato's in years until recently. When I was younger my best friend and I used to frequent pretty regularly for sushi, but never really stayed for the show. I did notice, however, that they have a culturally diverse staff. I think that this is actually an interesting addition because in my prior experience majority of the staff of any hibachi restaurant is typically not Japanese, but normally Central American, South American, or Pacific Islander. I don't think that ethnicity should dictate anything in an atmosphere for eating and it's highly racist to suggest such. Regardless, my fiance and I were seated and promptly brought our drinks, the chef came out within 15 minutes of being seated and began to prepare our fare. I always stick with steak and chicken, and my fiance got shrimp and scallops. One thing that I will say is I was ALWAYS a fan of Miyabi's (the restaurant all other reviewers are posting about which is a few doors down) UNTIL that evening. I ordered my steak medium well as usual, but what I must note is the chef used a limited or miniscule amount of oil while preparing the steak. I was a little bit curious about this, but when I tasted it I was blown away by the flavor. Furthermore, the scallops he prepared for my fiance were impeccable. I usually don't order seafood in the midlands simply because I rarely receive well prepared seafood here, but this scallop was perfectly caramelized on the outside and tender in the middle. Aside from the entree preparation the show was also fantastic. Ironically, as I revert back to the ethnicity of the staff our chef was caucasian. While I agree that the atmosphere in miyabis may be miles apart. I respect Yamato's because of their obvious equal opportunity practices, and their lack of over oiling their food. Usually, my stomach is upset or I'm overfull after leaving a hibachi restaurant but the food didn't sit too heavy - primarily because of our chef's insight and lack of a need to use too much oil like I've experienced at Miyabi's. All in all 5 stars, and keep up the fantastic work. Also, the sushi was fantastic as always and I highly recommend the Almond Sake as well.
(5)Karen S.
I am surprised this is located where this is since there is a similar restaurant just a few doors down from here. The concept is unique - they cook your main dish right in front of you. Their table seats ten. For those planning to visit with a large party, due to the nature of the meal, they will not seat you until your whole party has arrived. (On a side note - say if there is a few of you - like anywhere between 2-5 people - they will seat you at a "table" with another party to get as close to 10 people that they can get at a table.) One member of our party was running extremely late last night and we went to sit down without him, and he had yet to arrive before they started cooking dinner, and if he had not shown up when they started cooking the main dish, he would have not been able to order. The rice that comes with the meal is fried - not sure if they do have steamed rice - you might have to ask the waitress when she is taking orders that you want steamed rice. Prices are a little on the high end - since the soup, salad, and sorbet were small portions (as well as the meat). It seemed like we did get lots of rice! Our cook did try to be entertaining as he could be while cooking, but have to admit - most of the cooks are not Japanese.
(3)Gilberto M.
Ok, This is our best sushi restaurant. My wife and I love to go to this place. I can understand the mixed reviews because of the Hibachis area. Unfortunately there are better options. Don't get me wrong. It is not a bad place is just that it can be better when you compare to the competition. Now, going back to the sushi. It is always fresh and is great. Just make sure Brit is the sushi chef. This guy is a Sushi Master and the rolls are always excellent. We tried the place with other sushi chefs but is not the same. The specials before 7:00PM are great since you can save 30% on the rolls. We are getting ready to go to eat sushi here today. I already called to confirm that Brit is working. =) It's Sushi TIME!
(5)John R.
Terrible service from Suzy. Did not bring us the apps we ordered and we had to go to the bar to get our drinks.
(1)Dale E.
The food is good but the chef's make the experience! I have eaten at Yamato's all over South Kakalaki (South Carolina for the literate ones) and have had great experiences and bad ones all due to the chef. The food is basically the same no matter what. Had a small graduation party tonight which went over well. Our chef put the experience over the top! He kept everyone at our table entertained and involved the whole time even though the people at "the other end of the table" were not as receptive to a good time as we are. Although they seemed to have liked the fact that we joined in when the waitress was singing happy birthday to the dad and put our own spin on it since we did not know his name. I don't think I could have cooked the filet and scallops any better myself and I've been told I'm a pretty good cook. Brought plenty of food home as usual. The soup could have been better and the sorbet bigger as it has gotten progressively smaller. I have found that I will not order/buy sorbet out but tend to enjoy it greatly after my hibachi meal. All and all always a pretty good experience
(4)Michael W.
Great food, great show. Had the Hibachi dinner with my wife and kids, and the kids had a blast. Not something we can afford very often, but it's certainly on my list of favorites. You won't be disappointed.
(4)David Y.
o.k. this is mixed review. this yamatos has the freshes well priced sushi around. but they have seemed to have lost the show. and when me and 5 other people order extra steak and chicken and i have ( to watch my extra orders of steak and chicken get shared with the whole table it just sucks)!!!!! the same owner in columbia s.c. and myrtle beach s.c. / had someone down and out sick no take OUT killed this 200 dollar dinner .myrtle beach is better than columbia. ( sushi saves this review )
(3)