Tokyo Japan Buffet - Houston

Extremely disappointing, if you like hotpot, I'm sure you can get something out of going here, but if you're not adept at cooking, or looking for a buffet to eat at, stay far far away. A few years ago, my family and I used to frequent this location, it had wonderful sushi (for a buffet restaurant), juicy and tasty meats and the likes, and an infinite supply of crab legs. However, this place shutdown awhile ago, and to my surprise, had its grand opening not too long ago, me and my family were excited to try it again, but that excitement was in vain. A 2 out of 5 stars is a bit of an understatement, but I don't want to give my favorite restaurant of the past a 1/5, since the original vision is kind of still here, just clouded. Half of the buffet used to be sushi, now it is just a small part, with only a few sushi rolls. The crab legs are also gone, and the dessert was both flavorless and dry sadly. The meats and tempura are still there, but something felt off about them, maybe a bit less flavor? It could just be me remembering wrong. The service was decent, our waiter did not know the proper cooking times for shrimp, and there weren't any temperatures listed, only 1-4 temperatures. The waiter did however come to our aid frequently, and delivered food and drinks better than most places. Some tips for the restaurant: Please put up a sign on how to make a good tasting hotpot, I've never heard of hotpot before coming here, and was very confused and tried too many things, making the soup taste awful, the same for my entire family. Perhaps it is my fault for not doing research, but I found a few other families struggling to choose what may or may not taste good, and with how expensive this restaurant is, trial and error may not be an option for everybody. Maybe put up some beginner and advanced recipes for making a good hotpot, and put up times to cook the seafood and meat at, I cannot see how this is legal, but there's no sign on how long to heat up anything, nor are there temperatures on the heaters. Choose if you want to become a hotpot restaurant or a buffet place, since skating between the two will do nothing but put you out of business. The buffet has been nearly halved to what it originally was, and the new hotpot design doesn't feel very thought out, with key ingredients being completely left out.

Entering this place, the atmosphere is nice and organized. The waiter helped my family and I to a table promptly. There’s a rectangular island in the middle that serves sushi and seafood. Another area on the back has a few select items that are interesting to get. I got two of each and tasted one each with and without soy sauce/wasabi. There are people who make the sushi in front of you when needed so that is good to see. The texture and flavors of all the sushi I tasted are great! Nothing seemed off about anything. Great expectations. I got a second plate that consisted of: Takoyaki, grilled shrimp, mussels (one has cheese and garnish? while the other one I got from the rectangular island), beef, and frog legs that I rarely try. The crab meat on the bottom of the image my parents helped me open. You would have to ask the waiters/waitresses for a crab opener. The takoyaki had a nice color to it and once you bite, the texture seems off. I expected the texture to be fluffy but it was like a creamy liquid. It is probably the filling. The flavor of the takoyaki is good overall. The beef has amazing texture, seasoned well, and the flavor has a nice garlicky, beefy taste. Just a bit oily since it was rested for awhile on the buffet plate. I bet it would’ve tasted way better when it was cooked before I got some. The frog legs are crispy with a nice bite. Salty and taste like chicken. I rarely eat frog legs but these are great to whoever don’t eat frog legs or scared to eat. The grilled shrimp is crispy but very salty to my liking. One of my family members like it though, just not my preference. The mussels are mediocre at best. The crab legs are long and the meat is sweet, love it! I tried the raw oysters with lemon and it didn’t taste fresh. Had to keep one under the napkin unfortunately since I can’t eat the second one. Overall, 4/5. I would go here as a recommendation from anyone, but won’t go here as often since it’s a bit expensive for 31 bucks per member on a Sunday.

First timer on this restaurant. They do have a great variety of Sushi . They also have this Hotpot area where you can prepare your own food, will try it next time. Based on previous reviews, I am agree in regards decoration, and careless about not removing some unnecessary items like a ladder at the entrance, or a vacuum in the host boot.

I havent been here since it closed down due to covid. First time trying it after reopening and i am not dissapointed. The add on of the hotpot is nice. You get a couple diff selections of premium meats in addition to the sushi and other hot prepared foods. The price is cheap actually if you figure it out you get diff varieties of food. Not the original menu but what can you do covid changed the world and businesses everywhere have to change a bit. Bunch of karens leaving 1 stars. In my opinion.

It was pretty good but there’s not a lot of workers so you gotta wait for little bit