2 /5 Kee: I usually love going to hibachi steakhouses and generally have great experiences, so I decided to visit the Habashi Steakhouse in Federal Way since it’s close to home. The atmosphere was nice, and we didn’t have to wait long. I came with my two kids, and we were seated fairly quickly. Overall, the ambiance was enjoyable.
However, the experience started to go downhill with the service. The older woman who took our order seemed very rushed, even though it was only around 6:00 p.m. When we finally decided on our meals, she abruptly took the menus from me and my daughter. It felt a bit disrespectful, and while I considered saying something, I chose to let it go and focus on enjoying the evening. Looking back, that was my first red flag.
The food preparation was the biggest disappointment. The chef cooked everything out of order...vegetables were cooked first and plated, then the rice and noodles, and the meat was cooked much later. By the time the protein was ready and hot, the vegetables and rice were already cold. The lobster tail was not fresh and the smell was fishy and the meat tasted bitter. The lack of timing and flow really took away from the hibachi experience, which is supposed to be cohesive and enjoyable.
To make matters worse, when we received the bill, there was an added charge listed at the bottom related to a “large capacity” or group fee. There were only three of us, and no one explained this charge beforehand. The extra $50–$60 pushed our total to about $260 for three people, with no alcohol, just regular soda which is completely unreasonable.
Overall, while the atmosphere was nice, the rushed service, poorly timed food preparation, and unexpected charges made this a very disappointing experience. Unfortunately, I won’t be returning to this location.