I will start this off by saying that Daruma is WAY better than the former Ajisai ever was in the location. Daruma took over this building a while back, and there have been some great improvements made. Small things like the decor now make this place feel more authentic, and less hoakey. We ordered the sushi rolls, and kept it really basic. The rolls were alright. I'd like to give them another try and taste some of the specialty rolls, but overall, it's not my favorite place in C-bus for sushi. However, the hibachi here is really great. They don't use your standard run of the mill teriyaki sauce... they cook everything really simple, let the griddle do all the work, then entice you with some Yum Yum Sauce, and another steak oriented sauce. Overall.. everyone was happy with the hibachi here. Our Chef was really great, and Surprisingly surpassed chefs seen at other grills in the area. They know their stuff, and their tricks will keep you ohh-ing and ahh-ing and mostly laughing. Over-all it was a great time. I'd definitely come back. TIP***Get here early if you're going for dinner. Within ten minutes most of the hibachi grills started filling up with families. **ANOTHER TIP** Like many hibachi grills.. Daruma has lunch hours and separate dinner hours with a closed break in between. read more

Daruma is excellent. We've been frequent visitors to House of Japan nearby for the past 10+ years, and thanks to groupon we ventured outside of our comfort zone and tried Daruma. We won't be back to House of Japan. The following things are far superior but would stand alone on their own merit: Food quality Price Entertainment by the chefs Portion size Ambiance Service They do something really unique that I hadn't seen before at a Japanese SteakHouse- They serve grilled noodles. They were amazing- especially with the YumYum sauce. It doesn't surprise me that this place has a full 5 star rating. It is certainly deserved. read more

In my opinion, Daruma easily deserves their 5 star rating. It took me awhile, but I was finally able to visit last weekend for lunch, and everything was excellent. While the sushi isn't leaps and bounds above other great sushi places in Columbus, the service was outstanding. The hostess was very sweet, and we requested being sat at the sushi bar, which was empty. The chef seemed to be glad someone had finally come in for sushi, because it looked like everyone else there was getting hibachi. We ordered some sushi rolls, along with gyoza and soft shell crab. Apparently the sushi came with salad and soup as well, because they brought those out to us right away. The manager was awesome and chatted with us a bit, and let us know we wouldn't be leaving there hungry. The sushi roll I had was great, but the soft shell crab was killer. It was a pretty big crab, and the meat tasted so fresh. The sushi chef was a great guy to talk to as well and at the end of our meal surprised us with a plate of seared tuna, on the house. The tuna was served in a light sauce and was fantastic. That's all she wrote. The girlfriend and I agreed we'd be back often, because everything was outstanding. From the outside the place doesn't look like much, but don't let that deter you. If you want a great meal with great atmosphere, you have to check it out. I was told it gets really busy at night on the weekends and making a reservation is your best bet. There's a reason why this place has 5 stars on here, so get over to Hilliard. read more

This place is great , incredible food , best service I've gotten during my 4 days in town... Sushi was spot on a crafted with care... Chef was very skilled and funny ... This is a must spot to eat !!!! I'll definitely stop again and encourage everyone who lives in area to support such a great place , I travel all over the world and this place is legit!!! read more

Daruma - Don't be fooled very nice on inside ! - Japanese Near Me - Hilliard, Ohio

New place in Mill Run. I hope they can make a success out if this previously failed hibachi. First off the service was attentive but not intrusive. Very friendly. The chefs were a joy to watch. Very talented and better than other hibachi chefs in town. The food was yummy and served in large portions. The miso soup was good with little pieces of tempura (tasted a bit like unsweetened funnel cake). The salad was yummy with a nice ginger dressing. I had the steak which was cooked to order and hubs had sushi which he enjoyed very much. I would come back! Fun place! read more

I eat A LOT of sushi and Daruma is by far the best I've had in this area. I particularly love the I-270, Godzilla roll and spicy scallop roll. We come ALL the time with the kids and we like that we can sit on hibachi side so they can all get hibachi and I can still order sushi. The hibachi proportions are huge, we almost always need a box. Prices are very reasonable. I will say that they aren't very "theatric" with their cooking like some other places, but we like that. They put on a little bit of a show (big fire, onion volcano, etc) but nothing too extreme. read more

Sushi was good, hibachi was good, service was great. If you order hot green tea, ask for two bags in the pot...mine was basically a slightly tinged water. The restaurant is beautiful and the people are very friendly. I would definitely return. I updated my review to give them 5 stars for their prompt response to my earlier review (see paragraph above) and that they did exactly what they said they would. After returning again, my experience was even bette than the one before. Such a great place with great people. :) read more

We came here to celebrate my daughter's birthday after she requested hibachi and it was an awesome choice! Our server was quick and pleasant and our chef was so great. He really put on a show and made my daughter's birthday so awesome by doing special things just for her. Our food was delicious. If you love carbs, then you're in luck, because here you get rice and noodles! Even the shrimp had a great flavor and I don't typically enjoy shrimp. The ginger sauce that comes with the meal is delicious. After our meal was finished cooking, the staff came out and sang happy birthday and gave my kid a nice big bowl of ice cream! She was thrilled. Definitely an awesome place to celebrate! Everyone was very kind. My only complaint was the floor was super sticky but that didn't take away from our experience. read more

Absolutely amazing, hot and fresh every single time. The staff is very friendly. The food is always consistently good. I have never had a bad experience here I've been coming here for years it's definitely my #1 favorite Japanese steak house in all of Columbus. Will be back asap!!! read more

I did not come here to experience the Hibachi as I detest Hibachi shows. I have no interest to sit around the table and watch so we sat near the bar. They have a very nice area for people like me. This area is near the bar but doesn't feel like the bar area. We came here during Happy Hour times and they have a few decent Happy Hour deals. They have a selection of about 15 rolls for Happy Hour that range from $1.50-3 cheaper than normal prices. They also have drinks discounted $1-2. I ordered some saki and we grabbed four rolls. They have caviar on some of their rolls which was different from most of my prior experiences at Sushi places. I didn't think caviar changed much of the taste of the rolls but it added alittle savory taste to the roll. I learned something else, I can't eat rolls with eel sauce. We ordered one roll with eel sauce and I barely could swallow it even with tons of wasabi on it. It didn't help that the seaweed wrap on it was really chewy. I actually spit it out. The other three rolls were good but not crazy good to make me wanting to come back here. In Hilliard this is a nice option as the sushi here is better than Kroger or the Supreme Buffet. In Hilliard, I would head to Wild Ginger before coming to Daruma especially for the Happy Hour deals. read more

My first time here. Great food... Great service. Delicious yum yum sauce. Not too sweet! Their ginger sauce is also quite good! Only complaint is they should dry their lettuce off before pouring the salad dressing on. My salad was swimming in water. But overall great! I live on the other side of town but have a love affair with hibachi. I will be back for sure! read more

Because of the owner and the employees of this restaurant, they turned what could've been a horrible into a truly wonderful experience. We brought our daughter here for her birthday. Well we were just getting ready to get our food, she had a seizure and fell off her chair! Of course we were very concerned, but they had already called the paramedics, this was not her first seizure, and everything turned out OK. But the amazing thing was the caring attitude and willingness to help in anyway from the entire staff. What little bit we had to eat was absolutely incredible and they didn't even give us a bill! I'll leave another review after I've come and had the food, but I can tell you this is the only Japanese steakhouse for my family from now on! read more

Daruma - Japanese Near Me - Hilliard, Ohio

Excellent sushi! We got the spicy tuna roll, the dragon roll and a yummy roll; all were fantastic. Every single person on that staff is attentive, warm and friendly. So far, they have offered the best customer service out of all the restaurants we have visited in Hilliard! Thank you Daruma, we will be back. read more

Daruma - Yummy roll and spicy tuna - Japanese Near Me - Hilliard, Ohio

I realized I had this on my bookmarks list, but I had visited Daruma back in August 2015 for my friend's birthday! We didn't realize it was a hibachi place, and were pleasantly surprised. We had a pretty good show. I only wish there were some more tricks. I felt like it was over so quickly. They were well done, but I wanted more. The food was delicious, and everything was seasoned really well. I had scallops and steak. I would definitely come here again. They were able to accommodate large parties for a reasonable price. There's lots of parking. The food is really good! read more

Daruma and the staff provide an excellent experience from the service to the quality of food. The manager is a true professional and the chefs are expertly trained - Roger is an impressive talent. While the hibachi is a fun experience, the sushi is generous and high quality and will not disappoint. My wife and I will be repeat customers. read more

Daruma - Japanese Near Me - Hilliard, Ohio

I love going to japanese steakhouses and this one is the best of them all in Columbus. Service was outstanding for how busy it was on a Saturday night. The entire Hibachi Room was full. We had to wait about 10 minutes for an open table. The soup was great, loaded with toppings, the salad dressing was different from all the other places, but it was good. Our chef did a few of the tricks, but the food was outstanding- Both my scallops and shrimp were on point. The Fried Rice was good, but the noodles were the kicker. Only hibachi in Columbus that gives them to you along with the rice. It was a tad expensive since it was for dinner, but i had an entire plate for lunch the next day and with the Groupon we bought, it kept the cost down a little bit. I was very impressed with this place and can see why it is the highest rated Japanese Steakhouse in the 614 read more

Was looking for a spot to celebrate my birthday that was kid-friendly. I haven't been to a hibachi style restaurant and Daruma had the best reviews on yelp. Needless to say, I was not disappointed. I was very impressed with the skill set of the chefs. They were both entertaining and made excellent food. The chefs definitely played to the children, which I appreciated. In terms of the food, I've never been to a hibachi restaurant that provided noodles on the hibachi. Very good, just like the rest of the food. read more

Very good sushi! The staff were very nice and my food was amazinggg. I would definitely go back again

Chef was very friendly and open. The food was good , I got chicken and filet mignon ; the filet was very good and the chicken was a little over cooked , but still good. read more

These people have no taste, apparently. As far as Japanese Steakhouses in Central Ohio go, I would put it far down the list. Not well seasoned, charges extra for mundane things ($2 for fried rice?) and I hate to say it, but the chefs are kind of obnoxious. They work very hard, but still. Service was great. Wait time wasn't that bad. But ultimately you go to restaurants for the food, and I wasn't impressed. However if you consider ketchup spicy, you may feel differently. read more

Nice staff. Had plastic in our drink and they fixed it immediately. We also had a hip cup in our order but may have been our fault for not reading the details. Nevertheless the waiters and staff were very nice. Food was okay. read more

Honestly I wrote a review a year ago but this needs updated as of today's visit. This year we took our family. I wasn't too impressed. Every person was very nice, but the place hasn't been kept up to restaurant standards. Our chairs were peeling apart (pleather peeling), there was old food stuck on the grill still from the last group, and I had something floating in my water and had to ask for another one . I had mentioned to our family how great of a place this was and how we loved it before, and they kept asking me if I was talking about the same place. My chicken was chewy-dry, I'm not sure I can even eat the leftovers. Like I said, every person was very nice and service oriented and I appreciated their kindness. But the place needs some updating if they want to charge hibachi prices. read more

Love the food and the staff ! Highly entertaining , friendly and connecting with the customers on a personal level ! Great quality food on a consistent level (went there for a variety of occasions from business lunches to a friends birthday gathering ) read more

Great hibachi and sushi! Japanese steakhouse hibachi dinner was great. Actual Grilled veggies (zucchini, mushrooms, broccoli, carrots, & onions) not just sprouts. Food was not salty like most places. Their garlic butter was tasty!! Nice chefs, host, and wait staff. Couldn't be more please with this place!! I didn't like their salad dressing. It was just plain oil salt and pepper. I wanted more ginger dressing taste. Overall great experience my daughter loved it and the chef entertained us and her requests to make whatever she wanted. Great owner and customer experience. read more

Daruma - Steak kids meal!! Lots of food for a kid. Loved it! - Japanese Near Me - Hilliard, Ohio

We went here for the first time last night. The server was SUPER friendly. The food was good! We both got a sushi roll. I had the spicy tuna roll and he had a California Roll. We both ate every piece and it tasted fresh and yummy. Wasn't a big fan of the soup that comes with the hibachi dinners, but it wasn't awful or anything. just wasn't our fave. Was a little bland. The salad was good and I really like that they put tomatoes in it. First time I've seen this from a Jap steakhouse. Nice touch! The steak was tender and the chicken was really yummy, good cuts of chicken. I will def be back. Also very clean inside. Was packed on a Monday night, which means they must be doing SOMETHING right! read more

Daruma - hibachic chicken meal. Very good! Fresh ingredients. Good quality meat! - Japanese Near Me - Hilliard, Ohio

Went for sushi on a groupon. Fantastic staff and atmosphere. Clean inviting and the sushi was phenomenal. With the Groupon we spent 60$ and paid 30$ so that sweetened the deal even more. My fiancé stated that he felt like we were a king and queen there because the staff were so attentive and the pleasant as surprise of soup and salad with our sushi meal was awesome! Can not wait to return and try hibachi and bring friends and out of town guests. read more

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One night, while my wife and I were pleasantly arguing about what and where to eat, we decided on a lark to try this place. It was probably the best dining decision we've ever made. The waitresses were quick, the food was hot, plentiful and beyond delicious, and the place was well decorated and clean. We'd come back here in a heartbeat!! From the ginger dressing on the salad, to the tempura flakes in the soup ending at the yum yum and ginger sauces given with your meal, we couldn't stop eating; in fact, we killed out leftovers just a few hours later. We will definitely be recommending this place to everyone we know!!! read more

Daruma is nestled in a plaza at Mill Run and easy to miss. This hibachi restaurant serves huge portions and delicious food! They also have the most attentive servers, your glass will never be empty! Fun hibachi chefs and also solid sushi. You can choose to sit at a hibachi grill where the chef cooks the food in front of you or on the more restaurant side with regular tables. We've done both! The grill is fun if you are with a group. The hibachi dinner comes with clear soup with mushrooms and green onions, salad with ginger dressing, noodles, vegetables, fried rice and your choice of protein. Yum yum and sesame ginger sauce are provided. You will always take leftovers home with you - but they never last long!! read more

Place is amazing.... good is huge portions and the yum yum sauce is great... The entertainment of the chefs is top notch... Highly recommended this place located in Mill read more

My boyfriend and I came here once because it was close to home and we had a craving for some sushi. After our first time there we continued to come back and have become regulars ever since. The sushi (and hibachi) is always very good and the service is beyond excellent. When we go in we feel like family. Lada (owner/manager) and Roger (Sushi Chef) are always extremely friendly and really take great care of us while we are there. The environment is always relaxed and fun and I am never disappointed in the food, no matter what I try. If anyone remembers the Hibachi place that was in the spot prior, which had sub-par food and even worse service, Daruma is quite the opposite! I will be continuing to invite my friends and family to Daruma. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed! read more

Had not ever heard of this place but live close and was browsing yelp and the reviews were so overwhelmingly positive I decided to go that evening. Completely deserving of 5 stars. Our chef was phenomenal we had the steak and chicken combo and chicken and shrimp combo. It came soup and salad prior to the meal which were both great and noodles and rice with the meal. We also had spicy tuna sushi rolls and those were great as well. The service was excellent and Chef was entertaining extremely talented and funny . A+ all around. Apologize for poor grammar in review I am sausage fingering this on my ipad read more

We were craving hibachi and thought why not get takeout from one of our favorite hibachi restaurants! It was sooo good and was such a treat to have at home since we couldn't go in. So happy that they're open and serving their amazing food! read more

i love love love watching the chef cook right in front of me. they are always so entertaining and their food never disappoints.

Exemplary food and outstanding service from their fine chefs that entertain and cook delicious food for you. We had their combos with lobster, beef,shrimp and then another combo a second time. Their chefs cook the foods much better than any steakhouse I've been to. My friend and I are fans. Grab their Groupon before it goes out. The drinks are also great. Their ambiance is very pleasing, decor is great in keeping with the steakhouse look. read more

My husband and I go here often, because the food is fantastic. When eating hibachi you get, two shrimp, vegetables, rice (fried rice has an upcharge), soup, and salad with your meal. The salad has that amazing ginger dressing that Japanese restaurants do so well. The soup isn't the best I've had at a hibachi restaurant, but it gets the job done. They always give you a sushi menu and we start off with the Hawaii roll, which is fantastic. My favorite part is probably the vegetables. Carrots, zucchini, onions, and broccoli, they are so yummy dipped in the sauces! The manager always comes around and checks on you which is greatly appreciated. The staff is friendly and the chefs are good. We always come home with so much leftovers that sometimes it is enough for two extra meals. I gave four stars, because the last time we were there, I had a hair in my food and some weird piece of paper/cardboard in it as well. We've been there enough times with really great food for me to give them a pass for that one time it wasn't the best. read more

Love it here. They give you rice & noodles! (Most places its one or the other) Great hibachi chefs. Place is the real deal read more

Wish I could give this a better review because the Hibachi Chef was awesome! The restaurant itself is very dark and dirty. We almost did not go in because the exterior is run down and neglected, with weeds and trash. The server did the bare minimum. We never received our appetizers, weren't checked for for more drinks, plates not cleared, etc. We were basically ignored by her and there were only 2 other groups in the place. The food was average and portions were generous. Won't be back. read more

Definitely one of the best Japanese Steakhouses that I have ever eaten in. Excellent food, service and show! You definitely have to check it out! read more

Daruma - This is after I was completely full. Huge portions and seasoned perfectly. Sushi is also excellent! - Japanese Near Me - Hilliard, Ohio

I started off with a pina colada. Very sweet and gone in seconds. We ordered the shrimp tempura and salmon rolls which were also gone in seconds. The entertainment was superb. My chef was fun and I loved his egg tricks. Without looking, He sent one of the onions across the room and into a mans pocket. It was hilarious. I ordered the lobster, shrimp, scallops special (I figured at this point, go big) lobster is usually over cooked but at this restaurant my chef did an amazing job cooking our lobster just right. Overall, service was amazing, loved my chef and enjoyed my scrumptious dinner. If I got to order all over again, I would go for the filet minion, my friend ordered it and I almost ate half of it until she gave me the stink eye for not ordering it myself lol read more

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Wonderful owners! Love the noodles served with each meal. So yummy and my favorite hibachi restaurant!