We had a great time at this restaurant. When people say this is a great place for birthdays, they are not kidding. There are hundreds of pictures on the wall of past celebrations. We went for a friend's birthday and they made it really fun. At the end of the meal they brought out ice cream with a candle for the birthday boy and we all sang very loudly with the gong and tambourines they provided. Our server then took our picture, printed it out and brought it out for us to sign so we could be on the wall too. The food was delicious, but pretty standard for Japanese hibachi. Our chef was particularly entertaining and even had a few new tricks that we haven't ever seen. Overall, worth a trip especially if you're having a birthday.
(4)
Nick S.
This is the best Japanese steak house there is. It's family owned and it beats the chains easily. Service is great and the food is delicious. I suggest the steak and chicken. All entrees come with soup and salad. The chefs are all very funny and entertaining. Bonsai is a great place to celebrate or just for a great dinner.
(4)
Tatiana G.
I love coming here! All of the staff is really friendly and they remember you if you come in for a second time. When you come in, you get seated around a cooking surface, that may have other people around it too. You get an onion soup and a salad with yum yum sauce (?) which is really good. I really like to order the teriyaki chicken and filet mignon with noodles and vegetables. The noodles and fried rice are more expensive than just getting the steamed rice, but they're both worth it. Everything is cooked in front of you and the chefs put on a little show for you while they cook. By the time the chef is done cooking and I have all of my food I'm usually stuffed. It's a little expensive, but if you're celebrating something then I definitely recommend coming here!
(5)
Katie C.
This place is absolutely amazing. Excellent staff. Speedy and delicious dinner! Very entertaining :)
(5)
Randall H.
Decent food. EXCELLENT entertainment. The chefs really know how to put on a show. Not a good place for a quiet couple's evening! This place was made for groups. Definitely the kind of place for a nicer birthday party or a night out with the guys/girls. I can't recommend it enough.
(4)
Jennifer L.
They had such GREAT FOOD here! I'd give them 5-stars if the ambiance was just a little better/cleaner, but the food her was so amazing that I can totally overlook that. We always go to a place out here in Chicago, by me, but the food at this place was so much better! The filet-mignon was SOOOO tender, it just melted in your mouth. We got seated quickly, and enjoyed a wonderful dinner. The actual "entertainment" part of the cooking is very minimal, compared to several other hibachi type places. But that was fine with me on this occasion, we just wanted to eat. The service was good, the food was GREAT. Definitely recommended.
(4)
Shauna S.
Our chef was entertaining. He did the usual onion volcano, flipped shrimp in our mouths, etc. The filet mignon, teriyaki chicken, grilled vegetables, fried rice, onion soup and salad with ginger dressing were all flavorful and cooked perfectly. The waitress brought my friend an ice cream sundae for her birthday. She made a wish before blowing out the candle. Hope it comes true!! She took a photo of us to put on the wall.
(5)
Tony L.
Bonsai had always been a neighborhood teppanyaki place for me more than 10+ years. They had been here for as long as I have lived in the Sandy area. They only focus on teppanyaki, so no sidetrack from mediocre sushi bars. The place has decent amount of teppanyaki stations, and I do not recall having long waiting time here except for peak hours during weekend or special holiday. The ambience did feel darker than other places. The food quality is slightly better than other teppanyaki places, and I generally go with filet mignons and scallops. Save room for their flaming ice cream, it was a great treat shared with your date. Back when I was still single, it was a great place to introduce random Caucasian girls to Asian culture. Double, triple dates work well too, and even better with family since you get to fill an entire table rather than sitting with random strangers.
(4)
Chris S.
What can I say about this place? We go here a couple times a year to celebrate family birthdays. Great food and awesome chefs that cook your food to perfection. Pretty pricey but you get what you pay for. Definitely will be coming back. If you have not been here, get a few of your friends try it out!
(5)
Ryan L.
I like Bonsai better than Benihana. The building & decor aren't as nice, but the food is better, and that's most important for me. I've been here twice and to Benihana downtown twice recently, and had consistent experiences. The food is of course very similar, but just a bit better here. And the parking situation is much better. Bonsai's steak (New York or filet) and even the "beef" are great, tender, flavorful cuts of meat. Better than Market Street Grill, for comparison. The shrimp are great, chicken is great, and the fried rice is a must-have. The service is always very friendly and pretty prompt. The restaurant is clean, maybe a bit dated, but nice enough. We've been here for a big family celebration (great for kids) and a date for the two of us, and any situation works. Well, unless you hate people and want your own table for two ... I guess you can't get that. We've always had pleasant company at our table to enjoy the chef's entertainment-while-cooking. We'll definitely be coming back again.
(4)
Su S.
We love coming here to celebrate birthdays. My kids love it and it's very family friendly. The chefs are great with kids and everyone always has a good time. Good food, better than Benihanas if you ask me. They take a Polaroid of your group at the end of the meal and it's so fun to come back and find out pic on the walls.
(4)
Bonnie C.
It was way over priced. Chef tried to be funny but wasn't. In fact he was a little insulting to people at our table who ordered noodles. Not sure I would go back but food was good. I had shrimp and salmon.
(3)
Ryan M.
Pretty typical for this type of hibachi grill. I have never done anything but that grill food, so I can't comment on the appetizers/sushi/etc... The filet is well done, and the added garlic butter is a nice addition. The chicken is good and the shrimp is normally well cooked, but has been over done a few times. I think the value compared to the other similar restaurants is good, its a little cheaper. My daughter enjoys the show done by the chefs, so its why we go.
(3)
Lindsey K.
We love bonsai. We come a few times a month. They are family owned and friendly. We work late and they always smile when we come in close to close. I love the salmon!
(5)
Todd E.
A great place to celebrate something! Bonsai is a great destination restaurant. My family typically visits to celebrate birthdays, but it is a fun place to visit anytime. The chefs are very entertaining and seem like they are having fun. In the 8-10 times I have been there, I have never seen them make a mistake or an incorrect order. They typically do all of the tricks you may expect from a Japanese steak house with spinning eggs, fire, spinning knives etc. The food is always very fresh and consistently good. That is saying a lot for restaurants in SLC where food is often cooked the same way for a while, then suddenly changed. You always know what to expect here. I have tried salmon, shrimp, NY Steak and chicken, and it's all good. Appetizers are often overlooked here, but they are good too. Try the chicken wings if you like that kind of thing, they are lightly fried and are excellent. The sushi is something I overlooked for a long time, but as soon as I tried it I was very pleasantly surprised. They have a sushi chef who seems to have a lot of experience at making the basics and it works well. I have been several times just for wings and rolls and was very pleased. The drink menu is lacking. They have a selection of a few US and Japanese beers, and the Saki selection consists of 'hot' or 'cold'. Overall, I think this place is amazing and nail it perfectly for audience they are trying to reach.
(5)
Robin A.
What a fun place to come with a group, the food was amazing, we all had the bonsai special, which includes soup, salad, pot stickers, beef, fried rice, shrimp, steak, chicken and ice cream,i got a side of noodles and they were great. I think this might become our new birthday tradition spot!
(4)
Scott A.
Oh my gosh. Heaven on earth. The food is fresh and as good as it gets. Our chef Lai is really talented both as a cook and entertainer. We had the best food and the best evening out. I recommend this place highly. We do have Japanese steakhouses that are closer, but this one is worth the drive and is my favorite.
(5)
Jelaire P.
Love this place! Great food, great service, great atmosphere, everything is great! We've been going to this restaurant for 10+ years and it's a family favorite! The chefs are wonderfully talented and very fun to interact with! I don't eat fish so sometimes the chefs will have me try and catch steak with my mouth instead of shrimp! Talk about considerate, inclusive, and imaginative!
(5)
Loni P.
LOVE this place! i go every year on my birthday, the salad and soup is my favorite, i love the shrimp and garlic steak i wish i could make ham fried rice like they do, i could eat here every day its just so expensive thats why i request it every year for my birthday!! i wish they'd step up their game on the entertainment part like they used to, maybe i just need to bring my kids with me next time!
(4)
Travis B.
We went here for a couple of birthdays. The food is ok but the service is what sets this place apart. The chef's are always funny and they are very engaging. The kids love them and the adults find a smile when they are around. The filet is good and the scallops are tender. The salad dressing is by far and away the best ginger dressing this side of Louisville (Kentucky has a surprising amount of Japanese). The service is ALWAYS friendly and they really go out of their way to make you smile. My only tip is don't be a pussy and open up for the shrimp toss. I see a lot of people shyly turn their heads and say no. Look I know you think you are trying not to look silly but when you turn away and say no you look like a wanker and everyone will remember how uncool you really are think that if they put a rag on the end of that stick up your but you could mop the floor on your way out.
(4)
Judee P.
Don't trust the menu on yelp because it has changed. Cause it is all wrong there is no lobster tempura and no fried cheesecake which is sad because I really wanted fried cheesecake and no bento boxes. I had the seafood tempura which was good the scallops were awesome. you get 2 scallops, 2 squid pieces and i think 3 shrimps and the rest were vegetables. the scallops were amazing. Squid was chewy and shrimp well is shrimp. Lobster and fillet Mignon which was really good. Lobster I wish was better but the fillet mignon just melted in your mouth. My boyfriend had the salmon which was really good. The chef, Jason, was funny and knew many tricks.
(4)
Yolanda C.
the food is very greasy. It's a fun place to bring the kids, but I guess i've become quite a health food nut lately with all that GMO crap they're doing to our food! The food is full of butter and salt, and i definitely have had better. Staff is friendly, but doesn't make up for the food quality. I think it has potential though!
(2)
Brittney N.
These sorts of restaurants are fun. Who doesn't want to see an onion volcano? Or have a piece of shrimp flung at your face? There are several options for this style of Food Theater, and Bonsia is a decent option if you are in the mood. I tend to think that most of these places are a little overpriced considering the quality of food you are getting, but then again, I suppose part of the tab is going towards the unique dinning experience. We don't usually go there unless we are celebrating a birthday party, but when we go, we have a good time. Wish that ham fried rice wasn't an extra charge considering how much you are paying for the rest of the meal, but again, i think that people are use to paying more for this kind of place, and I actually do think that they are a little less expensive than some of the other places that are doing the same sort of thing.
(3)
Joshua S.
Teppanyaki is a wonderful way to celebrate ones birthday, and by the amount of happy birthday gongs, songs, and tambourines we heard, I don't think there was room for regular customers on the night we went. Sidenote: Tony "The Asian Godfather" L.'s birthday was our reason for being there. New York steak and shrimp, veggies, soup, salad and rice for a measly $20 is a great deal! Add in the chef and show; you've got yourself a birthday celebration worthy of remembrance... The steak was mostly tough (I know, I know), but everything else was delicious. Words of comfort and good cheer: If your chef just so happens to be a bit on the less-than-skilled-side, never fear, there are 3 to 4 other tables from which you can steal a glance. Thankfully, our chef was entertaining and engaging. And, yes, I caught the shrimp in my (tapping into my inner Tobias Fünke) hot manly mouth.
(4)
Jamie S.
This place serves up some amazing hibachi and truly stands out! This is one of the best hibachi experiences that I've had. We had Ly as our hibachi chef and he was amazing! He cooked using various seasonings and flavorings instead of butter, salt, and soy like most hibachi places. Don't discount the importance of a good chef for hibachi. He was very creative with his entertainment dispaly and thankfully he didn't do the traditional cheesy hibachi tricks. I highly recommend Bonsai if you are the mood for hibachi. You will not be disappointed...definitely check it out!!!
(4)
Kirt C.
Really good service. Very entertaining for kids and adults alike. Would recommend to anyone!
(5)
Danny L.
Yum yum with a nice show from the chef. Good for special occasions and when someone in your party has never experienced this type of food venue. I came here for my uncle's birthday. Pros: Clean Food quality very good Entertaining chefs performing various tricks Con's: Some chefs are better than others (some make the food too salty) Some chefs more humorous than others
(4)
Daniel R.
Typical stove in the middle Japanese steak house. Do they intentionally throw the shrimp at your face or down your shirt instead of making it catchable? I swear everyone orders different things but we all get the same. It's good but nothing you haven't seen before. Onion volcano and rice bowl juggling.
(3)
John C.
Can't believe I have been to this place 6 times in this year alone and kept forgetting to post on Yelp. Great place to eat and take kids to. Always entertaining and fun. Food is really good, the service is iffy most of the time. Hard to get drinks refilled and plates and things removed when done eating. Some times our meals get free ice cream with any choice, other times they say it is more expensive with other flavors. Kinda ticks me off when they do this and aren't consistent. Since this place is so close to where I live I am a regular here. Not sure why Jordan Landing gets so much hype? I think their food and service are both horrible and isn't worth the long wait. Will keep coming back as the food is great.
(4)
Rod S.
I wanted to get dinner out on a Sunday night. It couldn't be a chain. I like an adult beverage with dinner. I didn't want to eat at the 2-3 places in Utah County that fit the bill. Off to Sandy we go. Utah County watch that money leave your area. It's been years since going to an Americanized Teppanyaki place. They tend to be pedestrian food with a corny show. Somehow that seemed OK tonight. We were at a table with regulars and a baby. Every table had a baby. Oh yea, it's Sandy. We'll spring for dinner, but not someone to watch the baby. It immediately started screaming. Oh boy. I'm beginning to remember why it's been years since going to this type of place. Fortunately, they stuffed a bottle in the babies mouth, and everything ended up fine. Your mileage may very. We ordered one dish of scallops and one of filet (rare). In the end, the food was well done pedestrian food. The show was fun. Most importantly, the meat was not too overcooked and it was flavorful. The scallops were not overcooked at all and very good. The scallops were best without any of the sauces. The prices were fair, the food good, the show entertaining. I can't ask much more. It beats any similar place in Utah County.
(4)
Dustin K.
Always fun and yummy avoid the lobster tail not very good. Steak was good and are services was amazing.
(4)
Ed R.
Bonsai is our go spot for special gatherings with family and friends. Great food, Great service and reasonable rates. All of the above have kept us coming back for over 10 years. We're now working on our 3rd generation of family enjoying this local favorite.
(5)
Joy R.
Can't comment on the food, but the customer service is not great. I tried to place a take out order, and the woman on the phone got hostile. I think the menu on here is inaccurate-- the woman on the phone said they have absolutely no tofu dishes.
(1)
Mike O.
It's performance food. They do their thing on a grill. Everyone is seated around the sides. Think Benihana. It's called Teppanyaki and why America hasn't embraced hibachi style cooking where you do your own thing with your very own grill at your table is beyond me. Anyway, pretty sure this is Chinese or Korean imitating Japanese. Nothing wrong with that, pretty sure my last chef at Benihana was from Nepal. True story. It's entertaining and expensive. And not really that good. But the denizens of Sandy eat this stuff up! It's all we got out here. Makes me throw up a little in my mouth which causes me to get teary. The facial expression reveals my mix of emotions at all things American Teppanyaki al a Sandy, Utah. Don't make a special trip but if you're on a high school prom date or you've got family in town and your father-in-law is buying then by all means go and have a great time!
(3)
Sam S.
We went to Bonsai last Saturday night for dinner. There was about a 20 minute wait to get a table but I think we were seated before that. One of our friends is a chef at Bonsai and we were lucky enough to get him as our table's chef. His showmanship was awesome, doing lots of cool tricks and playing with fire. I ordered the lobster tail with shrimp and scallops. The food was well prepared and tasted great. This was my first experience eating scallops and I didn't care for them much. After the meal I got a little indigestion because of the oil and butter, but I still enjoyed the meal overall. While Bonsai isn't as nice inside as Teppanyaki or Benihana, they serve up good food in a casual and fun environment. Price and portions are on part with Benihana and Teppanyaki.
(4)
Joshua R.
Better than Tepanyaki!! This is one of the best Japanese stake houses I have been to. Great entertaining chefs. The food is the best part. So tasteful and savory.
(5)
Wade S.
This it's probably my wifes and my favorite restaurant. It's better than Benihana in every way. Best food, best service, and best cooks. Chefs always put on a good show. Go there on your birthday and they will treat you right.
(5)
Merecedes G.
Good place, although expensive. Could use more vegetarian rolls (only have 2). Take out service is great and we love the extra sauce they always include. Dependable good spot.
(3)
Marc L.
One of the best teppanyaki meals my family has ever had. The filet was among the most tender I've ever eaten. The chef was average as far as the show goes.
(5)
Brett N.
Bonsai is a typical American style hibachi restaurant that is very similar to the more popular Benihana or Tepanyaki Japanese Steakhouse. It is equivalent to its competitors in nearly every way and the food is just as good if not better. As a family we have gone here many times and the service, food and overall experience has always been positive.
(4)
Brandon C.
This place blows Benihana and the other Japanese steakhouses out of the water - and they're based in Utah. Typical hibachi fare, with chefs tossing knives and flipping shrimp, but the taste is far better than others. Go for the extra rice, which is just a couple bucks more.
(5)
April D.
I was not crazy about this place at all. The chef was good, but the soup tasted like soap, perhaps the dishes were not rinsed or something, but yuck. I have never gone back and don't think I will in the future.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Cody W.
We had a great time at this restaurant. When people say this is a great place for birthdays, they are not kidding. There are hundreds of pictures on the wall of past celebrations. We went for a friend's birthday and they made it really fun. At the end of the meal they brought out ice cream with a candle for the birthday boy and we all sang very loudly with the gong and tambourines they provided. Our server then took our picture, printed it out and brought it out for us to sign so we could be on the wall too. The food was delicious, but pretty standard for Japanese hibachi. Our chef was particularly entertaining and even had a few new tricks that we haven't ever seen. Overall, worth a trip especially if you're having a birthday.
(4)Nick S.
This is the best Japanese steak house there is. It's family owned and it beats the chains easily. Service is great and the food is delicious. I suggest the steak and chicken. All entrees come with soup and salad. The chefs are all very funny and entertaining. Bonsai is a great place to celebrate or just for a great dinner.
(4)Tatiana G.
I love coming here! All of the staff is really friendly and they remember you if you come in for a second time. When you come in, you get seated around a cooking surface, that may have other people around it too. You get an onion soup and a salad with yum yum sauce (?) which is really good. I really like to order the teriyaki chicken and filet mignon with noodles and vegetables. The noodles and fried rice are more expensive than just getting the steamed rice, but they're both worth it. Everything is cooked in front of you and the chefs put on a little show for you while they cook. By the time the chef is done cooking and I have all of my food I'm usually stuffed. It's a little expensive, but if you're celebrating something then I definitely recommend coming here!
(5)Katie C.
This place is absolutely amazing. Excellent staff. Speedy and delicious dinner! Very entertaining :)
(5)Randall H.
Decent food. EXCELLENT entertainment. The chefs really know how to put on a show. Not a good place for a quiet couple's evening! This place was made for groups. Definitely the kind of place for a nicer birthday party or a night out with the guys/girls. I can't recommend it enough.
(4)Jennifer L.
They had such GREAT FOOD here! I'd give them 5-stars if the ambiance was just a little better/cleaner, but the food her was so amazing that I can totally overlook that. We always go to a place out here in Chicago, by me, but the food at this place was so much better! The filet-mignon was SOOOO tender, it just melted in your mouth. We got seated quickly, and enjoyed a wonderful dinner. The actual "entertainment" part of the cooking is very minimal, compared to several other hibachi type places. But that was fine with me on this occasion, we just wanted to eat. The service was good, the food was GREAT. Definitely recommended.
(4)Shauna S.
Our chef was entertaining. He did the usual onion volcano, flipped shrimp in our mouths, etc. The filet mignon, teriyaki chicken, grilled vegetables, fried rice, onion soup and salad with ginger dressing were all flavorful and cooked perfectly. The waitress brought my friend an ice cream sundae for her birthday. She made a wish before blowing out the candle. Hope it comes true!! She took a photo of us to put on the wall.
(5)Tony L.
Bonsai had always been a neighborhood teppanyaki place for me more than 10+ years. They had been here for as long as I have lived in the Sandy area. They only focus on teppanyaki, so no sidetrack from mediocre sushi bars. The place has decent amount of teppanyaki stations, and I do not recall having long waiting time here except for peak hours during weekend or special holiday. The ambience did feel darker than other places. The food quality is slightly better than other teppanyaki places, and I generally go with filet mignons and scallops. Save room for their flaming ice cream, it was a great treat shared with your date. Back when I was still single, it was a great place to introduce random Caucasian girls to Asian culture. Double, triple dates work well too, and even better with family since you get to fill an entire table rather than sitting with random strangers.
(4)Chris S.
What can I say about this place? We go here a couple times a year to celebrate family birthdays. Great food and awesome chefs that cook your food to perfection. Pretty pricey but you get what you pay for. Definitely will be coming back. If you have not been here, get a few of your friends try it out!
(5)Ryan L.
I like Bonsai better than Benihana. The building & decor aren't as nice, but the food is better, and that's most important for me. I've been here twice and to Benihana downtown twice recently, and had consistent experiences. The food is of course very similar, but just a bit better here. And the parking situation is much better. Bonsai's steak (New York or filet) and even the "beef" are great, tender, flavorful cuts of meat. Better than Market Street Grill, for comparison. The shrimp are great, chicken is great, and the fried rice is a must-have. The service is always very friendly and pretty prompt. The restaurant is clean, maybe a bit dated, but nice enough. We've been here for a big family celebration (great for kids) and a date for the two of us, and any situation works. Well, unless you hate people and want your own table for two ... I guess you can't get that. We've always had pleasant company at our table to enjoy the chef's entertainment-while-cooking. We'll definitely be coming back again.
(4)Su S.
We love coming here to celebrate birthdays. My kids love it and it's very family friendly. The chefs are great with kids and everyone always has a good time. Good food, better than Benihanas if you ask me. They take a Polaroid of your group at the end of the meal and it's so fun to come back and find out pic on the walls.
(4)Bonnie C.
It was way over priced. Chef tried to be funny but wasn't. In fact he was a little insulting to people at our table who ordered noodles. Not sure I would go back but food was good. I had shrimp and salmon.
(3)Ryan M.
Pretty typical for this type of hibachi grill. I have never done anything but that grill food, so I can't comment on the appetizers/sushi/etc... The filet is well done, and the added garlic butter is a nice addition. The chicken is good and the shrimp is normally well cooked, but has been over done a few times. I think the value compared to the other similar restaurants is good, its a little cheaper. My daughter enjoys the show done by the chefs, so its why we go.
(3)Lindsey K.
We love bonsai. We come a few times a month. They are family owned and friendly. We work late and they always smile when we come in close to close. I love the salmon!
(5)Todd E.
A great place to celebrate something! Bonsai is a great destination restaurant. My family typically visits to celebrate birthdays, but it is a fun place to visit anytime. The chefs are very entertaining and seem like they are having fun. In the 8-10 times I have been there, I have never seen them make a mistake or an incorrect order. They typically do all of the tricks you may expect from a Japanese steak house with spinning eggs, fire, spinning knives etc. The food is always very fresh and consistently good. That is saying a lot for restaurants in SLC where food is often cooked the same way for a while, then suddenly changed. You always know what to expect here. I have tried salmon, shrimp, NY Steak and chicken, and it's all good. Appetizers are often overlooked here, but they are good too. Try the chicken wings if you like that kind of thing, they are lightly fried and are excellent. The sushi is something I overlooked for a long time, but as soon as I tried it I was very pleasantly surprised. They have a sushi chef who seems to have a lot of experience at making the basics and it works well. I have been several times just for wings and rolls and was very pleased. The drink menu is lacking. They have a selection of a few US and Japanese beers, and the Saki selection consists of 'hot' or 'cold'. Overall, I think this place is amazing and nail it perfectly for audience they are trying to reach.
(5)Robin A.
What a fun place to come with a group, the food was amazing, we all had the bonsai special, which includes soup, salad, pot stickers, beef, fried rice, shrimp, steak, chicken and ice cream,i got a side of noodles and they were great. I think this might become our new birthday tradition spot!
(4)Scott A.
Oh my gosh. Heaven on earth. The food is fresh and as good as it gets. Our chef Lai is really talented both as a cook and entertainer. We had the best food and the best evening out. I recommend this place highly. We do have Japanese steakhouses that are closer, but this one is worth the drive and is my favorite.
(5)Jelaire P.
Love this place! Great food, great service, great atmosphere, everything is great! We've been going to this restaurant for 10+ years and it's a family favorite! The chefs are wonderfully talented and very fun to interact with! I don't eat fish so sometimes the chefs will have me try and catch steak with my mouth instead of shrimp! Talk about considerate, inclusive, and imaginative!
(5)Loni P.
LOVE this place! i go every year on my birthday, the salad and soup is my favorite, i love the shrimp and garlic steak i wish i could make ham fried rice like they do, i could eat here every day its just so expensive thats why i request it every year for my birthday!! i wish they'd step up their game on the entertainment part like they used to, maybe i just need to bring my kids with me next time!
(4)Travis B.
We went here for a couple of birthdays. The food is ok but the service is what sets this place apart. The chef's are always funny and they are very engaging. The kids love them and the adults find a smile when they are around. The filet is good and the scallops are tender. The salad dressing is by far and away the best ginger dressing this side of Louisville (Kentucky has a surprising amount of Japanese). The service is ALWAYS friendly and they really go out of their way to make you smile. My only tip is don't be a pussy and open up for the shrimp toss. I see a lot of people shyly turn their heads and say no. Look I know you think you are trying not to look silly but when you turn away and say no you look like a wanker and everyone will remember how uncool you really are think that if they put a rag on the end of that stick up your but you could mop the floor on your way out.
(4)Judee P.
Don't trust the menu on yelp because it has changed. Cause it is all wrong there is no lobster tempura and no fried cheesecake which is sad because I really wanted fried cheesecake and no bento boxes. I had the seafood tempura which was good the scallops were awesome. you get 2 scallops, 2 squid pieces and i think 3 shrimps and the rest were vegetables. the scallops were amazing. Squid was chewy and shrimp well is shrimp. Lobster and fillet Mignon which was really good. Lobster I wish was better but the fillet mignon just melted in your mouth. My boyfriend had the salmon which was really good. The chef, Jason, was funny and knew many tricks.
(4)Yolanda C.
the food is very greasy. It's a fun place to bring the kids, but I guess i've become quite a health food nut lately with all that GMO crap they're doing to our food! The food is full of butter and salt, and i definitely have had better. Staff is friendly, but doesn't make up for the food quality. I think it has potential though!
(2)Brittney N.
These sorts of restaurants are fun. Who doesn't want to see an onion volcano? Or have a piece of shrimp flung at your face? There are several options for this style of Food Theater, and Bonsia is a decent option if you are in the mood. I tend to think that most of these places are a little overpriced considering the quality of food you are getting, but then again, I suppose part of the tab is going towards the unique dinning experience. We don't usually go there unless we are celebrating a birthday party, but when we go, we have a good time. Wish that ham fried rice wasn't an extra charge considering how much you are paying for the rest of the meal, but again, i think that people are use to paying more for this kind of place, and I actually do think that they are a little less expensive than some of the other places that are doing the same sort of thing.
(3)Joshua S.
Teppanyaki is a wonderful way to celebrate ones birthday, and by the amount of happy birthday gongs, songs, and tambourines we heard, I don't think there was room for regular customers on the night we went. Sidenote: Tony "The Asian Godfather" L.'s birthday was our reason for being there. New York steak and shrimp, veggies, soup, salad and rice for a measly $20 is a great deal! Add in the chef and show; you've got yourself a birthday celebration worthy of remembrance... The steak was mostly tough (I know, I know), but everything else was delicious. Words of comfort and good cheer: If your chef just so happens to be a bit on the less-than-skilled-side, never fear, there are 3 to 4 other tables from which you can steal a glance. Thankfully, our chef was entertaining and engaging. And, yes, I caught the shrimp in my (tapping into my inner Tobias Fünke) hot manly mouth.
(4)Jamie S.
This place serves up some amazing hibachi and truly stands out! This is one of the best hibachi experiences that I've had. We had Ly as our hibachi chef and he was amazing! He cooked using various seasonings and flavorings instead of butter, salt, and soy like most hibachi places. Don't discount the importance of a good chef for hibachi. He was very creative with his entertainment dispaly and thankfully he didn't do the traditional cheesy hibachi tricks. I highly recommend Bonsai if you are the mood for hibachi. You will not be disappointed...definitely check it out!!!
(4)Kirt C.
Really good service. Very entertaining for kids and adults alike. Would recommend to anyone!
(5)Danny L.
Yum yum with a nice show from the chef. Good for special occasions and when someone in your party has never experienced this type of food venue. I came here for my uncle's birthday. Pros: Clean Food quality very good Entertaining chefs performing various tricks Con's: Some chefs are better than others (some make the food too salty) Some chefs more humorous than others
(4)Daniel R.
Typical stove in the middle Japanese steak house. Do they intentionally throw the shrimp at your face or down your shirt instead of making it catchable? I swear everyone orders different things but we all get the same. It's good but nothing you haven't seen before. Onion volcano and rice bowl juggling.
(3)John C.
Can't believe I have been to this place 6 times in this year alone and kept forgetting to post on Yelp. Great place to eat and take kids to. Always entertaining and fun. Food is really good, the service is iffy most of the time. Hard to get drinks refilled and plates and things removed when done eating. Some times our meals get free ice cream with any choice, other times they say it is more expensive with other flavors. Kinda ticks me off when they do this and aren't consistent. Since this place is so close to where I live I am a regular here. Not sure why Jordan Landing gets so much hype? I think their food and service are both horrible and isn't worth the long wait. Will keep coming back as the food is great.
(4)Rod S.
I wanted to get dinner out on a Sunday night. It couldn't be a chain. I like an adult beverage with dinner. I didn't want to eat at the 2-3 places in Utah County that fit the bill. Off to Sandy we go. Utah County watch that money leave your area. It's been years since going to an Americanized Teppanyaki place. They tend to be pedestrian food with a corny show. Somehow that seemed OK tonight. We were at a table with regulars and a baby. Every table had a baby. Oh yea, it's Sandy. We'll spring for dinner, but not someone to watch the baby. It immediately started screaming. Oh boy. I'm beginning to remember why it's been years since going to this type of place. Fortunately, they stuffed a bottle in the babies mouth, and everything ended up fine. Your mileage may very. We ordered one dish of scallops and one of filet (rare). In the end, the food was well done pedestrian food. The show was fun. Most importantly, the meat was not too overcooked and it was flavorful. The scallops were not overcooked at all and very good. The scallops were best without any of the sauces. The prices were fair, the food good, the show entertaining. I can't ask much more. It beats any similar place in Utah County.
(4)Dustin K.
Always fun and yummy avoid the lobster tail not very good. Steak was good and are services was amazing.
(4)Ed R.
Bonsai is our go spot for special gatherings with family and friends. Great food, Great service and reasonable rates. All of the above have kept us coming back for over 10 years. We're now working on our 3rd generation of family enjoying this local favorite.
(5)Joy R.
Can't comment on the food, but the customer service is not great. I tried to place a take out order, and the woman on the phone got hostile. I think the menu on here is inaccurate-- the woman on the phone said they have absolutely no tofu dishes.
(1)Mike O.
It's performance food. They do their thing on a grill. Everyone is seated around the sides. Think Benihana. It's called Teppanyaki and why America hasn't embraced hibachi style cooking where you do your own thing with your very own grill at your table is beyond me. Anyway, pretty sure this is Chinese or Korean imitating Japanese. Nothing wrong with that, pretty sure my last chef at Benihana was from Nepal. True story. It's entertaining and expensive. And not really that good. But the denizens of Sandy eat this stuff up! It's all we got out here. Makes me throw up a little in my mouth which causes me to get teary. The facial expression reveals my mix of emotions at all things American Teppanyaki al a Sandy, Utah. Don't make a special trip but if you're on a high school prom date or you've got family in town and your father-in-law is buying then by all means go and have a great time!
(3)Sam S.
We went to Bonsai last Saturday night for dinner. There was about a 20 minute wait to get a table but I think we were seated before that. One of our friends is a chef at Bonsai and we were lucky enough to get him as our table's chef. His showmanship was awesome, doing lots of cool tricks and playing with fire. I ordered the lobster tail with shrimp and scallops. The food was well prepared and tasted great. This was my first experience eating scallops and I didn't care for them much. After the meal I got a little indigestion because of the oil and butter, but I still enjoyed the meal overall. While Bonsai isn't as nice inside as Teppanyaki or Benihana, they serve up good food in a casual and fun environment. Price and portions are on part with Benihana and Teppanyaki.
(4)Joshua R.
Better than Tepanyaki!! This is one of the best Japanese stake houses I have been to. Great entertaining chefs. The food is the best part. So tasteful and savory.
(5)Wade S.
This it's probably my wifes and my favorite restaurant. It's better than Benihana in every way. Best food, best service, and best cooks. Chefs always put on a good show. Go there on your birthday and they will treat you right.
(5)Merecedes G.
Good place, although expensive. Could use more vegetarian rolls (only have 2). Take out service is great and we love the extra sauce they always include. Dependable good spot.
(3)Marc L.
One of the best teppanyaki meals my family has ever had. The filet was among the most tender I've ever eaten. The chef was average as far as the show goes.
(5)Brett N.
Bonsai is a typical American style hibachi restaurant that is very similar to the more popular Benihana or Tepanyaki Japanese Steakhouse. It is equivalent to its competitors in nearly every way and the food is just as good if not better. As a family we have gone here many times and the service, food and overall experience has always been positive.
(4)Brandon C.
This place blows Benihana and the other Japanese steakhouses out of the water - and they're based in Utah. Typical hibachi fare, with chefs tossing knives and flipping shrimp, but the taste is far better than others. Go for the extra rice, which is just a couple bucks more.
(5)April D.
I was not crazy about this place at all. The chef was good, but the soup tasted like soap, perhaps the dishes were not rinsed or something, but yuck. I have never gone back and don't think I will in the future.
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