Late review: We…read moretraveled to Lake Charles and had planned to sample some carnival/fair food at the Louisiana Pirate Festival. However, the food choices were very limited. We researched restaurants in the area, but most were closed or had limited hours on a Sunday. Umami was the only restaurant with good reviews that was open at the time. The food was ok. It was definitely better than Hana Japanese Sushi Bar & Grill in Natchitoches, but not as good as Geisha Sushi Bistro in New Orleans. We ordered: Tuna tartare Spicy tuna roll Spicy salmon roll Hamachi nigiri Tuna nigiri Steamed shumai There's 24 photos that should be posted with this review.

We were passing through Lake Charles on our way to Texas and decided to give this restaurant a try…read more Unfortunately, the experience fell short. Starting with the atmosphere -- when we were seated, the table was noticeably sticky, which immediately set the wrong tone. The overall space felt dated, and several tables showed visible wear, including warped wood. It gave the impression that maintenance and upkeep may not be a priority. We decided to move forward and hope the food would make up for it. The quality itself wasn't terrible, but it wasn't memorable either -- fairly average and not something we'd go out of our way for. The biggest issue was the portion size and service flow. The sushi arrived in very small increments -- two pieces at a time -- with long pauses in between. It made the meal feel disjointed and unnecessarily drawn out. For the price point, the portions were extremely small, and I actually left hungry, which rarely happens. For three people, the bill ended up being over $125 (including a couple of beers), which felt steep considering the portion sizes and overall experience. I understand how challenging the restaurant business can be, and this isn't written to be harsh -- just honest. There's potential here, but improvements in cleanliness, presentation, portion sizing, and service pacing would make a significant difference. With several dining options in the area, I would likely explore other restaurants during our stay.

Love coming here. The food is always soooo good. We always get chicken and steak hibachi with extra…read moreyum yum sauce. 10/10. The portions are big and the prices are great.

Got : Chicken Hibachi Very bland, chicken was very fatty, no…read moreseasoning, menu says it comes with vegetables, salad, chicken, and fried rice. I received chicken, rice, noodles, and 2 broccolis. Maybe change the menu if you don't serve it.

Food is great. Service sucks. Sat down, waited 10 minutes…read morewith no interaction at all. Meanwhile the server in the section was making time with 2 ladies... visited their table 3x. Walked by me 2 tables down and on the way to wherever he was going 3x without even a glance at me. Asked the hostess for a waiter and was immediately visited by a different young man. Initially very attentive. Got my order in. Got my sushi roll. Soon after I got my entree (chicken katsu) ... but that's all I got. No rice, no salad, no miso soup. No service after that either. Another 15 minutes passes and finally the manager on duty passes by and asks if everything is ok. Well... no, it's not. Got a 50% discount, which is fitting since I only got 1/2 a meal. Might try it again... food was worthy of a 2nd visit. But the service is ridiculously below par. You can hear the waitstaff and other restaurant staff yapping it up in the kitchen having some lovely conversations... which means the patrons are being ignored

The restaurant is very clean, which is a great first impression for me. Our server was sweet and…read morecheerful. I hate that I can't remember her name. However, the 3 stars are for those things alone. I ordered the spicy garlic edamame and it was old and cold. I ordered filet mignon hibachi and the rice had so many of what I'm assuming are sesame seeds and it was so salty I couldn't eat it. The noodles had no flavor at all. Even the spicy mayo wasn't great. I literally took a couple of bites of each thing and threw it away. It simply wasn't worth eating. I probably should've given it just 2 stars but I truly appreciate the look and cleanliness of the restaurant and the kindness of the staff.

Absolutely hated it. Never coming back again. Outrageous…read moreprices zero flavor in food Waste of money Loved the cashier though.

Not great, not terrible. I ordered sushi and hibachi. The sushi was ok. I ordered to go and it was…read morepacked in the same bag as the hot plate so it was warm by the time I got home and warm sushi is not the best. The serving size of the hibachi was smaller than expected. I ordered the steak medium and it was well done at the very least. Shrimp was also over cooked. The miso soup was good and I enjoyed the rice. For the price though I feel like the quality and quantity of the food was lacking. The service was great, friendly, no complaints.

I found a new spot that I like! This place checks all the boxes. They have sushi. Appetizers…read more Cocktails. Desserts. I chose to create my own bowl. A selected the starch of my choice, which were noodles. And then I loaded up on vegetables, selected a couple of different types of meats. I added my sauce and my seasoning. It took them under 10 minutes to cook my bowl, which was impressive. I have no complaints. There are accessible parking spaces near the front. As well as accessible entrance.

So I ordered this door dash. I got the Mongolian bowl with beef, chicken and egg and pho noodles…read morewith a variety of vegetables. It arrived piping hot! I expected the noodles on the bottom but they were stir fried in. The vegetables were very sautéed and very few. It's funny because the meat was so plentiful and the noodles were there but not over plentiful, if that makes sense. I got jalepeno and it was spicy, I also asked for pineapple and got 2 pieces but it was fresh and sautéed. I guess I kinda expected canned. So the ingredients were quality and it was really good! I also got the spicy edamame which was also good, standard. I'd definitely order from them again!

This is, without a doubt, Lake Charles' best kept secret. Nestled in a quiet strip mall, the food…read moreand customer service packs a punch that is anything but quiet. We opted for a Pork Ramen bowl and a Poke Bowl. The ramen broth had flavor depth as if it had been simmering for a millennia! The charred pork added a meaty touch. Would 10/10 recommend. The Poke Bowl was a steal at under $15. The chunks of spicy tuna were big and plentiful. Each and every bite was more delicious than the last. The restaurant itself is incredibly clean and the staff is attentive and quick with the service. The prices are awesome, just like the food! Please do yourself a favor and eat here.

There are not a lot of Asian options in the LC area but when I do come across one, I'll usually…read moregive it a try. This is only a few minutes away from the casinos and conveniently located in a plaza with multiple retail stores that I like to shop at so it was a no-brainer to stop here for lunch. I won't hold it to the same standard as Japan's or even NYC's ramen restaurants but generally speaking, the taste here is alright. The broth is standard, but the marinated egg was just slightly on the saltier side (I typically make mine with sweet or low sodium soy sauce - they also sell sodium-adjusted soy sauces for soup and marinade purposes in many Asian supermarkets as well as online). The chashu pork, in contrast, was underseasoned... which was disappointing as it's considerably the best ramen protein for many. I didn't expect much from the vegetable spring rolls since I already knew they were frozen and they turned out just as expected, only smaller. The presentation was 10/10; the taste, not so much. Aside from the underwhelming flavors, we did receive commendable customer service from this girl who was the only one serving the whole restaurant. She appears to be American-born like us and despite being busy serving 5 other tables, she made sure to come back and check on us from time to time so she definitely deserves a mention from me. In terms of atmosphere, the restaurant is somewhat dark inside so we chose to sit by the window for some natural lighting. The booth seats (at least the one we were in) have seen better days. The table was quickly wiped down with a damp rag as we sat down, a successful attempt at relocating any food crumbs left behind by the previous customers from table to floor. It wasn't until right before leaving that I saw more of the restaurant. I got up to use the restroom and discovered that the short path to the back felt like an eternity with my shoes squeaking with every step I took on the sticky floor. The restroom was also borderline unkept. After washing my hands, I darted out of there like I do from the public bathrooms back home in NYC. I do sympathize as the girl seems to be the only one working and she can't possibly keep up with it all but I saw that there were other employees on the side as well so I'm not sure if it's truly a staffing issue or just lack of proper management. It's become very apparent to me why most of their orders are delivery or pickup. In conclusion, KoKo is not a bad choice if you're stuck in the plaza and feeling really hungry, but if you have a car and don't mind holding out another 10 minutes, there are probably better options down the road. Food 6/10 Service 10/10 Atmosphere/cleanliness 5/10

Was craving something different, this place filled the need. I ate at a "reg table" not hibachi but…read moreordered hibachi, service was great and food was just what I wanted. Nice treat from the "norm" so to speak.

Foods good and the staff is helpful, it's not really Japanese but it's close. Lobster roll is good!read more

The service was excellent. I love the design and decoration of the seating area. Very warm and…read moreinviting. The food was exceptional. The scallops were delicious. We try and stop here each year when we come to Mardi Gras in Lake Charles.

Food and drinks were really yummy! We came here on a work dinner with about 12 people and it was…read moregreat, speed was pretty good. We were in a private room so it wasn't loud or anything! Great time.

Very good quality, friendly and helpful staff, overall very consistent customer experience.read more

The food was amazing for the price for two people. The service was very quick and everyone is nice…read more The restaurant was very clean. I definitely recommend anyone trying.

If I could I would rate this place 0 stars just found a worm on my plate and all they did is give…read moreme a $2 coupon.

LA Star Buffet is a very good place for all you can eat. They have a variety of foods selection…read more Their services are always wonderful. All the waitresses are always friendly and nice. The restaurant is super clean, and I would highly recommend this restaurant to everyone.