The Hixson location of Fuji Steak and Sushi offers guests the opportunity to dine in various settings: by the hibachi grill with a personal chef, in the traditional dining room, at the drink and sushi bars, or on the outdoor patio.
"Most hibachi restaurants don't have patios, but I love it," says Christina Phakonekham, general manager. "Why not eat sushi or hibachi outside? Everything is still cooked on the grill, no pans in the process."
The kitchen is equipped with a hibachi grill where orders are prepared for anyone who doesn't want to sit at the communal- style hibachi tables and enjoy a personal chef and entertainment.
Wherever guests sit, there are plenty of opportunities and incentives to try new delicious dishes. Every Tuesday and Thursday Fuji Hixson runs its hibachi lunch menu all day and every Wednesday and Sunday guests can enjoy a variety of half-price sushi.
"I am only doing the lunch hibachi special for the summer," Phakonekham says. "It's a great incentive to come out and enjoy Fuji. Also, some people want to try sushi but think it's too expensive, so we created a sushi special that allows them to try something new."
Fuji Hixson's menu is designed to give guests a lot of choices in addition to traditional hibachi favorites. Appetizers like softshell crab or the popular bento box entrées are prepared in Fuji's kitchen, but are no less delicious or fresh. Each bento box comes with chicken, beef or salmon teriyaki along with a California Roll, fried shumai and steamed or fried rice.
Whether guests want to order Chilean sea bass prepared with a touch of soy sauce and a splash of teriyaki, then grilled and served with garlic butter and lemon juice, or Vietnamese noodle soup, the entrées are made to order using the freshest ingredients.
"A lot of people just like how different it is that we have a drink bar where 20 people can sit instead of just two or three," Phakonekham says.
The full bar is outfitted with both domestic and imported beverages, including a large selection of hot and cold sake: Nigori, Zipang Sterling, Asian pear, Asian plum, Asian raspberry and stronger, unfiltered sake.
The imported sakes are also used in several flavorful cocktails such as the Raspberry Sakatini, prepared with vodka, sake, raspberry liqueur and fresh raspberry mix. The popular Tokyo Rose is prepared with Takara plum wine and Gekkeiken sake then shaken and served on the rocks. The bar also stocks Ramune, a flavored carbonated water imported from Japan, in strawberry, pineapple, original, melon and orange flavors.
This summer, Phakonekham says, Fuji Hixson doesn't have happy hour, but rather happy days. Diners can enjoy 99-cent Fuji beer, $3.99 martinis and margaritas, half-price large sake, $5 Jager shots and two-for-one house wine every day of the week.
LOCATION: 5437 Highway 153.
PHONE: 531-3183.
HOURS: Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
NICE TO KNOW: A party room seats between 20-25 people and there is no charge to use it.