Japan's Restaurant at Epcot

[auwoo]

Hi All,

New poster here. I love Epcot. Especially the food. My wife and I got out this October to the Food and Wine festival which was awesome. I've eaten at Canada, England, Germany, Italy, France and Mexico. However, we've never stopped to eat in Japan (although I love the shopping) because we've heard it's similar to Shogun or equivalent type restaurant (where the cook performs and cooks your food in front of you). I was hoping that those of you who have eaten there would let me know if that's all it is, or if Disney, as usual, takes it a step above. Me, DW, DS and DD are all going back in June and I always love trying something new. Thanks so much for any feedback,

auwoo

 

[Amyrlin]

It is nice, but it is not that much better than the chains.

 

[magicmaster]

We have never eaten a the Hibachi, but we did have excellent sushi at the sushi bar. We went there for lunch recently and we thought it was great. It was busy but not so crowded you could not get a seat.

I have eaten in many different Japanese Hibachi restaurants all over and I have also noticed they are pretty much all the same.

I have never been, but I have read here that Kimono's (in the Swan or Dolphin...not sure) is supposed to be excellent.

 

[drakester]

We ate there in June and can honestly say was not to happy with it. The only reason we ate there is because our girls (10 and 7) love those restaurants so we gave it a try. The Chinese food at the 9 Dragons was the best I ever had thought.

 

[clydenora]

We ate there about a year and a half ago. The food and atmosphere were good.

We are not going back there because of the exact reason you have concerns about. We all felt that we can go to a nearby city and get the same show/dinner. We have decided to go to Marrakesh or Ohanas this March because we do not have any Morrocan or Polynesian restaurants near where we live.

Oh, and we were a little disappointed with our chef. He was very nice and attentive, but not nearly as showy as other tables' servers. In fact, when he noticed our two sons watching a chef doing all kinds of moves at another table, he even mentioned that he was sorry that he did not do all the fancy moves that the younger ones did, due to his age. Although this did not ruin our dinner, let's face it, the cooking show is a big part of the reason one goes.

Hope this helps.

 

[thelionqueen]

We have 3 different Japanese Hibachi type restaurants in our area (2 chains, one very old and unique) and Teppanyaki in Japan @ Epcot blew them all away.

We LOVED it and make it a must do for us. I would recommend it highly.

 

[UnderTheMistletoe]

Mitsukoshi is one of our favorites on property. We always stop for a meal there. DH likes the sauces there becuase they use the old Samurai sauces instead of whatever. I don't use the dipping sauces, so it makes no difference to me.

However, I noticed you said you were travelling with two children. Inside the Hilton hotel in DTD, there is a Benihana. *That* is our favorite chain restaurant (we're going to there one in Georgetown, DC, tonight!). There is a lot more food for the amount of money you pay at Benihana vs Mitsukoshi. For me personally, the Mitsukoshi portions are much better, I just don't like paying the inflated price for them. Additionally, the Mitsukoshi in Japan is veering more towards the "traditional" Japan- offering seaweed as an appetizer, etc. It's still Americanized Japanese food, do not get me wrong.

I am surprised you have gotten as many negative reports here, to be honest. It is definitely fun- we have always loved going to them as a couple; and we used to go regularly with parents as children. But, my preference (if it weren't for DH), would be Benihana at the Hilton. Besides, every time we go in there, we see an NSYNC band member....

xoxo

 

[crisi]

We like the one in Epcot. There are at least three here, but we never make time to go here, we will when we are in WDW.

As I recall from the last time I went to one here, its pretty much the same. The chef you get can make a big difference in the quality of the "show."

 

[mickeyluv'r]

WE've always felt the same way about the Mitsukoshi, but we never miss the little QS eatery there. We consider it one of the best deals on Disney property, that's probably why we haven't been to the other Japanese places there (and I love Japanese food). The chicken sticks there are really good, and you can sit next to the water garden. It's a little oasis in the middle of the hubub.

 

[WDWNicole]

We have Benihana's close by and it is so much better than Epcot.

 

[timandlesley]

WE LOVED it. In fact we loved it so much it is where I made ADR's for my 30th birthday dinner. We wanted to go back again after eating there last trip but it was booked up for the rest of our stay. It is similar to Bennihana, but we LOVED it!

 

[dixiedizfan]

We ate there last week for the first time and were so disappointed. The food was good and plentiful, but that was all. Our chef was a nice young man who put on absolutely no show at all ... Just chopped and cooked the food, made a little smoke here and there, and that was it.

 

[Super 27]

I would definitely AVOID the cook on the table in Epcot. The food is average at best, the chefs are ok, but don't put on that much of a show, and the prices are rediculous. Any of the chains (especially Kobe) are a better choice.

Cheers,
MG

 

[ashresiren]

We have an authentic Hibachi Steakhouse in our town, so we were SO disappointed with this when we went in 2001. The food was terrible, and the show wasn't even as good as at a chain place. Counter service in Japan is wonderful though. Have fun!