Hiro’s Tokyo is a teppanyaki-style steakhouse in Saint Petersburg. Their cleanliness, food quality, and loyalty program all put them ahead of competing local Japense steakhouses.
Arigato Japanese Steakhouse had this market cornered years ago. However, they have failed to maintain their quality and lack much needed renovations. Their waitstaff, cleanliness, and decor have all declined sharply in the past years. Competitors such as Tsunami Japanese Steakhouse and Kobe Japanese Steakhouse have cropped up, but they offer the same mediocrity as present-day Arigato.
Luckily for local teppanyaki fans, Hiro’s has filled the void and exceeded expectations during every one of my visits. My latest Friday night visit was no different. The crowd was very light for 7:00 PM, but harsh weather may have been a contributing factor. We were seated within five minutes alongside another group of four. Our silverware was clean and a friendly waitress took our drink orders right away.
After a slightly above average onion soup and salad, our chef began cooking our meal. We got all the usual teppanyaki presentation bells and whistles — a flaming onion volcano followed by knifes spinning and shrimp tails flying. The rice and vegetables were very good. Most importantly, my steak and scallops were cooked to order and tasted excellent. I tasted my girlfriend’s sushi, and it was also great. Our check and leftover box took a little longer than expected to arrive, but overall we had a great visit.
When you visit Hiro’s be sure to request Chef Bamboo. I made the mistake of not requesting him during my last visit. While my service was still good, it is much better with Chef Bamboo cooking your meal and keeping you entertained as you wait. Also, be sure to join their loyalty program before you pay, because you get 20% off your meal and reward points. There is a small one time fee, but you’ll probably recoup this and more during your first visit.
Overall: 4.0 / 5
Food: 4.0 / 5
Service: 3.0 / 5
Ambiance: 4.0 / 5
Price: $25+ / person