JapaneseHouston.com

HB Japanese Steak House - Humble

I have eaten at the Humble location of HB Japanese Steak House about a dozen times. You will wonder why if you keep reading. If your attention span is too short know this - I don't recommend it. Here's why...

Please notice this review pertains only to the Humble, TX location. Their website lists 3 Houston locations but I find 4 on Google Maps. Perhaps one is not the same company. It is a common name.

Warning! If you visit their website it will start talking to you which I find annoying every time. Please give me a PLAY button so I can brace myself for the audio portion.

In my many trips to the Humble restaurant I have eaten teppanyaki about 6 times, sushi bar twice, at a table a few more. The prices are fair, the service is okay, the food is... let me be specific.

Teppanyaki and Sushi Bar Experiences

The teppanyaki is actually okay, not great, okay. I would rate the chef's teppanyaki skills at about a 5 out of 10 on average. And hey, what child doesn't love the flaming onion volcano of doom and silly Japanese Samurai birthday costume Polaroids?

The sushi is a 4 out of 10 but that isn't my main problem. I can handle so-so sushi and not even complain about it... much. My problem is the one time I sat at the sushi counter and witnessed a cockroach scramble into a crack between the sushi fridge and countertop. I can even deal with that to some degree, I mean what restaurant is 100% bug free? But that caused me to become very aware of my surroundings. Do you ever watch your sushi being prepared, I mean really watch? Look at where the chef sets the knife, does he clean it between uses, does he pick up the same wet rag over and over, does he touch the appliances and then roll sushi without washing? Authentic Japanese sushi bars can look disorganized and cluttered but not, let's say, unclean. This sushi bar did not meet my standards.

Ordering From the Regular Menu at Tables.

Each time I have been there the tables have streaks. And no, I am not a neat freak. The streaks are from using a dirty wet rag to clean dirty tables over and over as I witnessed. Autoclave sterilized towels are not required but if it's leaving heavy white streaks, time to change it. On the occasions we requested an extra spoon, it was placed directly on the table. This always bothers me but here especially so. I really just do not get how that seems okay to some wait staff, placing eating utensils directly onto a restaurant table.

Why did I eat there 12 times and then complain about it?

1) Because they have cheap and fast teppanyaki near where I live. 2) Because they have beef tataki which is hard to find (But they serve it with soy sauce. Tataki is NOT served with soy sauce. Please refer to any Japanese cooking website before placing on menu.) 3) They have cheap sushi. 4) It is close, fast, affordable, and I SO wanted it to work out. Much as Charlie Brown SO wants to kick Lucy's football.

But the restaurant is busy - Could I be wrong?

I imagine that is partly due to a great location across from Deerbrook Mall and for the average viewer this is a fun exotic experience. It is a family style atmosphere where affordable teppanyaki is the biggest draw by far. And maybe I am just a too picky. Try it for yourself by all means. Like I said, the teppanyaki is in the okay range.

I don't enjoy writing negative things about a local business but this is my true experience. I will at least commit to trying it once again in the future and consider updating this review. I wonder if I will feel even more foolish for #13.

Location and Contact Information

HB Japanese Steak House
9556 FM 1960 Road West
Humble, TX‎ 77338
(281) 446-3373
www.hbsteakhouse.com

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