If you’re anywhere near Lufkin, Texas, do yourself a favor and stop by Tsubaki Japanese Restaurant—this place sets the standard for what great sushi and hibachi should be. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere feels warm, welcoming, and genuinely authentic. The staff is attentive without being overbearing, and everything from the décor to the presentation screams quality. But the real stars of the experience are the chefs. Sushi Master Audi is in a league of his own. Every roll is crafted with precision, balance, and creativity. The fish is unbelievably fresh, the cuts are perfect, and the flavors are clean and bold. You can tell he takes pride in every plate that leaves his station. If you’re a sushi lover, Audi will absolutely ruin every other sushi spot for you within a 3 hour radius—in the best way . On the hibachi side, I've heard Chef Wong brings pure entertainment and skill to the table. His timing, techniques, and showmanship keep you smiling the whole time, and the food itself is phenomenal—tender steak, perfectly seared shrimp, vegetables cooked just right, and fried rice that hits every note. He’s fast, funny, and really knows how to create a great hibachi experience.
Tsubaki Japanese Restaurant
Excerpts
If you’re anywhere near Lufkin, Texas, do yourself a favor and stop by Tsubaki Japanese Restaurant—this place sets the standard for what great sushi and hibachi should be. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere feels warm, welcoming, and genuinely authentic. The staff is attentive without being overbearing, and everything from the décor to the presentation screams quality. But the real stars of the experience are the chefs. Sushi Master Audi is in a league of his own. Every roll is crafted with precision, balance, and creativity. The fish is unbelievably fresh, the cuts are perfect, and the flavors are clean and bold. You can tell he takes pride in every plate that leaves his station. If you’re a sushi lover, Audi will absolutely ruin every other sushi spot for you within a 3 hour radius—in the best way . On the hibachi side, I've heard Chef Wong brings pure entertainment and skill to the table. His timing, techniques, and showmanship keep you smiling the whole time, and the food itself is phenomenal—tender steak, perfectly seared shrimp, vegetables cooked just right, and fried rice that hits every note. He’s fast, funny, and really knows how to create a great hibachi experience.
Very disappointing experience. The food was excessively salty across the board. The fried rice in particular was overwhelmingly salty and almost inedible. The noodle soup was also heavily over-seasoned, with far too much salt added, completely overpowering the natural flavors of the ingredients. Proper seasoning is basic and fundamental. I hope the restaurant takes this seriously and improves the quality control.
Very disappointing experience. The food was excessively salty across the board. The fried rice in particular was overwhelmingly salty and almost inedible. The noodle soup was also heavily over-seasoned, with far too much salt added, completely overpowering the natural flavors of the ingredients. Proper seasoning is basic and fundamental. I hope the restaurant takes this seriously and improves the quality control.
*** edit**I have to agree with a previous review, you get vip treatment here. We loved the hibachi experience. We went for lunch. And then also dined at the sushi bar for dinner later the same day. Everyone was extremely polite and courteous. Service was good and the food was tasty. The miso soup was delicious. My toddler loved it. Her only problem was I couldn't feed her fast enough. She ate steak and rice too. The mixed drinks were so good and made extremely well. My daughter had a great time and we will absolutely be returning. Best sushi I have had in a long time and felt very welcomed and appreciated as a customer. **still just as great. They even remembered our drinks.