Samurai Sushi & Hibachi: User Reviews

The previous reviews are very interesting.

My Wife and i went to Samurai for a quick bite before a movie on Friday night. We got there at 5:30 and there were probably 5 other tables so the service was impeccable. Everything was prompt and the server even recommended a dish that turned out to be our favorite.

The restaurant is very boring looking in my opinion, I felt like i was in a warehouse.

We ordered 2 salads, 1 regular sushi roll, 1 specialty roll, and 2 sashimi. With 2 beers the total came to $62 which i thought was outrageous.

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My wife, daughter and me had an early morning visit to the Porcelain Goddess. Same complain watery in the caboose area... we all had the fried rice, daughter and me had the filet migon, and wife had the New York steak. IF one of us had the problems then we could say we probably needed to go, but all three of us, that is a coincidence..

I do miss however, the "cook the steak, steak, steak, cook the steak, steak.." mantra.

They seriously need to improve on their quality. The only revenge I got was to suggest on the wife she should have ordered the salmon skin salad... She turned green and then ordered me not to say another word because she was driving....

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We went there for a late night dinner. Seated right away but had the feeling that we were not really welcome for the grill. However we tried. My daughter wanted the Japanese soda and asked for a glass. the waitress said she couldn't have one and would have to drink out of the bottle. The chef came in... Chinese, not Japanese, but if he can cook, who cares. He rushed through the service, with the exception of large amount of alcohol he poured on the grill and set fire to it, it nearly burned my wife 's face... no apology. Then he tried to get me to drink some sake out of a plastic bottle from hell. The sauces were weak almost watery.. and the conversation from the chef was oh my god the person kept saying :steak, steak, steak, steak, steak.... until I wanted to reach across the grill and slap him. The fried rice was terrible, yup eggs, and some seafood sauce dumped in and very eggy. 78 dollars later, i was ready to leave. It is not Ohana or Benny Hanna or Garfield (Hawaii) it is a poor man's grill . You'd think by now the would have something better going on. IF you say you are open until 10:30,then by god you better be serving at 9:00 like you would at 6:00.
I will not be returning in this the next life... maybe the owner has a concept, but his service folks are clueless. They need to do some serious thinking about what they serve to get those rich folks across the street to want to eat there. I 'd rather have had a baked potato than endure that again

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Im shocked by some of the negative views of this place. We had a wonderful experience! I was surprised at the delicious and fresh sushi and the staff was great. Go on a Monday night-all you can eat for $25. My only complaint was that I left very uncomfortably full!

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I love how half the reviews complain about having to wait a whole 30 minutes to get there food on an all-you-can-eat Sushi night when the place is packed! What did you expect? The food would be ready in five minutes? You ordered 6 rolls and your order is behind the other 15 tables who ordered ahead of you! Of course it's going to take a little bit of time!

Also about the service... Well can anyone tell me of any place they have ever been too where they are be served by Asian people with limited English skills that the service has been exceptional? It kinda comes with ther territory. It like going to a bar-b-que restaurant in the ghetto and expecting wonderful service as well. You don't get. You kind of have to trade off the exceptional food for the lack of service. If you want some annoying, attentive server strung out on meth keep going to Friday's, Applebee's or Olive Garden and then eat your terrible factory made dinner by a bunch illegal Mexicans in the kitchen.

I love the other complaints on here like, "The restaurant is too big/vast," or "Too much space!" What? So you would pefer some cramped sushi place like Taki where other tables are practically sitting on you lap?

Also people complain about the prices, do you expect a roll that is a foot long, wide as a can a pop, with five different fishes and two veggies in it to be four dollars? The "whopping" price of $12 for a roll that size should be expected.

This place is hands down the best sushi place in town. The Amazing roll is the best sushi roll in town.

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I surprised by the bad reviews of Samurai because I was pleasantly surprised when visiting this spot. We went because I head about the All You Can Eat sushi special on Monday and Tuesday nights. I absolutely love sushi, and the ability to eat as much as you want for $25 was was too good for me to pass up. I was was extremely happy with all of the rolls, and the extensive selection that offered traditional and combinations that I had never seen on a menu before. My fiance sadly doesnt like sushi, so I always try to pick spots that have good alternatives to fish on the menu. He ordered a beef and broccoli lo-mien dish that was very tasty, and not greasy as some Asian noodle dishes can be. My only complaint about Samurai was the atmosphere. The layout is odd and its too large in my opinion. It seemed empty and cold. I am definitely oing back for the all you can eat sushi!

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I went on a Monday night with my girlfriend. We had heard that there was all you can eat sushi and were pretty pumped. We ended up having to wait 45 minutes until the first round was brought to us and at least another 30 for the second round to come! The server added 20% gratuity on our 2 person tab and they tried to make us pay for the 5 pieces of sushi that we didn't eat! I will never go back there again! There are plenty of other good sushi places in Des Moines that have better service!

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I was 100% disappointed in this place. We were sat down and had time to look at the menu. It took 10 min to get drinks, 35 to get food, and during this time we never had anyone stop by to ask us how we were doing, or if we needed refills on our drinks. It had now been 45 min and all I had to show for it was a glass of water and a beer. We ate the food, which I must say was pretty good. And then played the waiting game again. Being as I was doing the all you can eat sushi I needed to make another order. I waited for a full 30 min with empty plates on the table for the waitress to come by and take another order. I placed an order for two more sushi rolls as I at least wanted to get my money's worth. We waited another 15 min with nothing. We ended up getting the check and leaving as it had now been 1.5 hr since we first sat down and all I had was two sushi rolls! Save your time, money, and sanity and do not go to Samurai

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I wasnt to impressed with the sushi at Samurai and the service was not that good or i should say it sucked. You want good sushi you should go to Wok in Motion or
Waterfront Seafood Market and Restaurant

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I grew up in Southern California where Sushi is quite Vast ! I have visited Appare - Nice Resturant Expensive Food, Taki Expensive Food, Terrible Service, Dark Setting, Not Fusion, East Village Sushi #9 terrible environment, quality lacks, and service is not satisfactory.

I have eaten Sushi for over 25 years. I know Quality, Service, Quantity, Pleasant Atmosphere, and Memorable Experiences....Samurai Sushi & Habachi is #1 in Iowa.

If you like Sushi or have never tried it, they will Customize your order and NOT charge you more for it. The owner Tim Lau is very professional and curteous. I eat there every Monday for lunch & sometimes every Thursday.

December 2008 - January 2009 ALL YOU CAN EAT SPECIAL ROLLS $20 (per person)
Come give it a try and make the determination I have made....

Samurai Sushi & Habachi is # 1

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