I experienced an amazing meal for my sister’s birthday at Taisho Japanese Grill and Sushi Bar. It had great food and few noticeable flaws. Taisho markets itself as a casual but slightly upscale Japanese restaurant that offers both sushi and hibachi-style meals. It targets families, groups of friends, and people looking for a fun dining experience with freshly cooked food. The restaurant serves a mix of sushi rolls, grilled meats, fried rice, and noodles. It is located in Cypress, Texas, and typically stays open for lunch and dinner hours and offers a happy hour deal as well.

The price range is moderate, with most meals costing around $10-30. The restaurant offers a fun hibachi show experience or a casual dining experience.

 When I first walked into the restaurant, I noticed that the atmosphere was calm, had warm lighting, and the staff was welcoming.  They were playing relaxing instrumentals, which gave the restaurant a calm vibe. It was clean, the lighting was soft, and the modern Japanese decorating was nice and on theme. The giant windows looking over the lake view were also a nice touch. The hibachi section in the back of the restaurant was not as clean, decorated, and nice atmosphere-wise, though. The menu had a wide variety of options, appetizers, sushi and hibachi meals. 

I started with the Crabmeat puff, which was crunchy and had a good flavor but could have used more imitation crab. I tried the Shaggy Dog Roll, and it was a good portion, especially for the price, which personally appealed to me because many places charge a lot for sushi then skimp on the portions. The sushi was flavorful, which made the meal feel worth it. I also had the hibachi show experience. The employee who did our show made it family-friendly, and the tricks were cool. The shrimp and chicken were grilled to perfection, and the rice and vegetables had a great garlicky flavor.

The service was a bit inconsistent, the staff was polite, and there were moments when it took longer than usual to get assistance and water refills. It slightly took away from the overall experience. According to smallbusiness.chron.com, general customer service expectations for sit-down restaurants, timely service is an important factor in customer satisfaction.

By the time we finished our meals and prepared to leave, I felt satisfied with the food, but a little disappointed with the service speed. Overall, I would give the restaurant four stars out of five.  I definitely would recommend this restaurant for casual dinners or if you’re looking for fresh Japanese food.  However, if fast service is a deal breaker for you, then I would not recommend it.

Courtesy Ivaneska Calixto