Sioux City Adventures: My 5 Favorite Hibachi Moments
Five years ago, I had the adventure of a lifetime – I spent a week in Tokyo, Japan with my best friend.
The trip was life-changing, and it took my appreciation for the Japanese culture to a whole new level.
That being said, I’m almost ashamed to admit that until last Friday, I had never before enjoyed a hibachi dining experience.
It just so happened that this shortcoming of mine was mentioned around the time that we were trying to decide what to have for lunch at the office. So, with my co-worker-friends along for the ride, I headed out for an adventure at Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar in Sioux City.
We had a blast, of course, and I’m going to share with you my five favorite moments.
#1: Great Balls of Fire!
Okay, so maybe there weren’t actual balls of fire involved, but goodness gracious, the flames got really high! Thankfully, I saw the same thing happen at the grill next to us moments before, so I wasn’t too scared to indulge my inner-pyro by enjoying the roaring whoosh of the flames and the heat on my face.
#2: Edamame love!
Jess was all kinds of aghast when I told her I’d never tried edamame a few weeks ago, so she decided to use this as an opportunity to open my eyes to its awesomeness. I was a bit skeptical, since I’m not a fan of peas, but I’m delighted to say that I found edamame quite tasty!
Although, Mal might have been a bit happier about it than me… 
#3: Japanese Egg Roll! (and Other Neat Tricks)
One of the coolest parts about this experience was watching the chef do all of his neat little tricks! Not only was he impressive, he was hilarious! Check out the Japanese Egg Roll, Japanese Butterfly, and the Flaming Onion!
Japanese Egg Roll
Japenese Butterfly
Flaming Onion
#4: Wait For It….!
Everything is cooked in stages on the grill, starting with veggies, then rice, noodles, and finally – meat. They all get done at various points, and the chef serves them directly. Here’s an awesome timelapse that Mal took, which shows how the food really starts to stack up!
It was very tempting to start chowing on the rice and noodles before I got my chicken, but I did my best to wait until the whole meal was complete before really digging in. It was totally worth the wait – my mouth is watering just thinking about it! Mmmm…
#5: Ramuné Soda!
At the end of our meal, one of the friendly staff brought us a few samples of Japanese soda, which were not only delicious, but super fun! They come with a special opener attached, and a little glass marble inside the bottle that makes you sip, not gulp!
The gentleman had to help everyone get the drink open…except Jess, who opened hers like a pro!
With all of these awesome moments combined, and everything in between, this was one of the most fun lunch experiences I’ve ever had, and I can’t wait to go back!
Where are your favorite meal destinations? Where should I go on my next adventure? Drop me a comment and let me know! I’m up for anything, as long as it isn’t dangerous, illegal, or harmful to myself and others.
Nakia Tyler is a Project Manager at Team Creative Fire. When she isn’t exercising her creative muscle, she spends her time fan-girling over Doctor Who, playing with her adorable niece, and fueling her shopping addiction. If you see her out and about having adventures, feel free to say hi. She’ll probably be wearing pink.
About the Author
Nakia Tyler Nakia is a Web Specialist at Team Creative Fire. When she isn’t exercising her creative muscle, she spends her time fan-girling over Doctor Who, playing with her adorable niece, and channeling her inner Hello Kitty. If you see her out and about having adventures, feel free to say hi. She’ll probably be wearing pink.
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