Open to Change

Hibachi Grill & Buffet

Location: 3703 Garth Rd., Baytown, TX 77521
Phone: 281-838-8168
Offers: Buffet, Dine-in, Sushi bar, Party room   
Cuisine: Chinese Cuisine, Japanese Cuisine
Signature Dishes: Hibachi Chicken, Steamed Broccoli
Year of Establishment: 2009

"Change" is the eternal theme for any thriving business, whether in good times or not. Zong Fa Tang, owner of the Hibachi Grill & Buffet has kept this in mind thus creating a restaurant that is always up to date with new culinary delights. 

Gone are the old traditions. Instead, it is a new style buffet that caters well to the residents of Baytown, Texas. Mr. Tang created his own niche market in the center of Baytown by providing a jaw dropping array of buffet offerings, and combining Chinese, Japanese, and other Asian cuisines together. This creates one-of-a-kind flavor and visual experiences. And to add to the excitement, Mr. Tang’s menu has consistent changes!

“I have been working in and running restaurants for over 20 years. My experience led me to think things over and find out why so many Asian style restaurants open and close so quickly in the United States. This is what brought me to open the Hibachi Grill & Buffet concept,” says Mr. Tang.

Mr. Tang chose to open a restaurant in Baytown, Texas, a densely populated area filled with various American ethnic groups. After a considerable amount of study, he learned enough about the local demographics and their dining habits to take the leap.  He took over the old Ryan’s Steakhouse and remodeled it into his vision of a contemporary buffet. The restaurant is decorated in a way as to add to the atmosphere involved with the savory menu items. Going with a consistent theme of Asian simplicity, the booths, tables, chairs and wall decorations are neatly arranged, so customers can dine without being distracted. When you walk into this spacious restaurant, you’ll be seated in the dining hall, or if you’re holding a party, you’ll head over to the party room (which can accommodate 130 diners).

“Many of the customers come to celebrate their birthdays, anniversaries, and business meetings, and are real glad that we take such good care of them,” says Mr. Tang, “we often take photos for them and then paste the pictures on the wall. Every time they come back, they remember the happy times they have had here.”

This is a time when Mr. Tang gets to know his customers, and the ever-growing wall of pictures is a testimony to how well the restaurant is received.  

Of course, the charm of Hibachi Grill & Buffet not only lies in its large space, the real hook comes from the amazing variety of food, the type of large, almost overwhelming, selection that you might only experience at a food show or exhibition. Boasting twelve buffet bars, the restaurant provides a selection of foods addressing the full range Americans desire, ranging from Chinese traditional classics, such as General Tso’s Chicken, Sesame Chicken or Chow Mein; to innovative Japanese items, such as sushi and various California rolls; as well as providing American favorites from mac-n-cheese, beanie weenies, and pizza to cakes, pie and pudding. The “all-you-can-eat” buffet definitely has something for everyone.

Healthy Menu
In a time when people are looking for healthy alternatives, the federal government has tirelessly advocated healthy dining in an effort to tackle obesity across the country. One of the restaurants engaged in this great cause is Hibachi Grill & Buffet, which has made it a point to offer healthy buffet items that are still tasty. Many restaurants address customer concern about greasy offerings with their approach (using no MSG, little oil, limited salt or alternative seasonings). It is the same with the Hibachi Grill & Buffet. However, they even go a step further by providing steamed vegetables that aren’t drenched with sauces!

To further enrich this concept, Mr. Tang hired a professional Japanese chef and added sushi, sashimi, and various rolls in the restaurant to further increase choices. For some customers looking for healthy food, sushi is a healthy and nutritious alternative. You’ll really enjoy it if you are looking to stay away from fat-filled meat and go back to the basics. The sushi is made to order; you can experience the pleasure of sitting at the sushi bar and watching the chef carefully slice the fish, mix the ingredients, and then turn them into exciting edible art (a harmoniously balanced combination of color, aroma, and flavor).

Presentation and Flavor
Don’t skip the hibachi! The alluring aromas lingering in the restaurant will draw your attention, guiding you to the hibachi table. The chef stands with the crowd of mesmerized people watching the chef perform incredible knife tricks while skillfully preparing your dish any way you chose! Mr. Tang strongly recommends the Hibachi Chicken, and Hibachi Fried Rice, which are two of the more popular dishes. He only let on to the basics: First the chicken is shredded, and then grilled on the hibachi; afterwards it is sautéed with scallion, garlic, and peppers. The last technique is oven grilling with variety of accompanying spices and/or sauces.

“The food is always fresh, even though it is a challenge to maintain,” says Mr. Tang. One way he adheres to quality is by holding true to his high standards for the delivery and storage of raw foods.

“I have the ingredients delivered on a daily basis,” says Mr. Tang. “There are crowds of people in our restaurant, and we run out of ingredients quickly.” That translates to a booming business which is supported by the customers. For a buffet restaurant, it is better to keep food fresh by maintaining high customer traffic. It is just like a positive cycle—the more customers that come in, the more frequently the dishes are replenished, and the fresher the dishes are. While the Hibachi Grill & Buffet does offer a lot of common Asian buffet fare, it still distinguishes itself by excelling in preparation, presentation, assortment and range of offerings of non-common Asian foods. Everything they offer is fresh, tasty, and served at the right temperature.

With such a bountiful selection of fresh and quality food, it really is worth the price! Imagine only spending about $10 for full access to the buffet, sushi, and grilled items.  Most folks would think it costs more! Much More! 

As a business veteran in the restaurant industry, Mr. Tang has been operating buffet restaurants since 2001. In 2009, at the height of the economic recession, many shops and restaurants were facing shrinking profits and faltering customer traffic—many even closed. Mr. Tang was bold and courageous enough to blaze out a new path and do something unique.

Blazing His Own Path
“In the past I followed what others were doing without stopping to really analyze things. By doing that, I ended up ignoring the basics—food and service. Now, after reflecting on what was going on years ago, I learn how to change and improve the restaurant,” explains Mr. Tang.