Sato Japanese Restaurant - Japanese restaurant in Columbia - 1999 N Beltline Blvd, USA

Our server and chef were both excellent! I really enjoyed the fact that the chef made sure my daughter was happy, and his presentation and delivery were both awesome! Thanks. I definitely will be back, and I recommend this restaurant to anyone in the south who wants to eat at a Japanese Steak House!

I recently visited for the 1st time on a Thursday night. We were seated promptly but it took about 10 minutes for the server/waitress to greet us. In her defense, there were a couple of large parties there, but she should have at least acknowledged us. We literally sat there until I asked someone who the table belonged to. My sushi wasn’t the best…it didn’t taste fresh at all. The food itself was your typical hibachi meal. I would say, the steak was cooked perfectly. The chef was good…kinda quiet but he did interact w/ the birthday boy, which was good. Would I return? Maybe, but I’m in no rush.

My family and I have been going here for years, our last recent visit was HORRIBLE!!! I believe the cook called his self “Martin” or “Marti” he has been working there a while, I would always dread getting him because he is always rude, unfortunately we ended up with him again, this time he seemed like he didn’t even want to be at work, he gave us the worst service ever in all the years I’ve been going there. He made racist jokes, the food was not cooked right, everything we requested he didn’t do. We asked that our vegetables be cooked longer he got mad and slammed down the spatula, he used the same spatula with raw chicken while cooking the vegetables without even wiping the spatula off or anything, it was so horrible I told him to just cancel my order. He was rude and obnoxious the entire time! This man is ruining your business!

What an absolute gem! We flew in from Vegas to see our soldier graduate boot camp and had all 7 kids with us. The staff were so kind and the food was delicious! The steak was so tender, the shrimp grilled to perfection. Our hibachi chef was especially kind to the kids and took extra time to show them a trick even after he was done because they asked 😅 He also went above and beyond just to make sure everything was cooked to perfection. If we are ever back in town we have this on our list of places to eat again!

I am sharing this review while i sit in this restaurant. Because i am allergic to shellfish i asked for my food to be prepared separately. The cook totally ignored my request. I told the server and my request was not honored. I was charged for the rice and vegetables that i did not eat because it was cold. The restaurant refused to honor my request and refused to make it right. I will not be eating here again.

Listen....I have never been held hostage in a restaurant until today. Sato Japanese Restaurant in Columbia SC you will never get my business ever. We're not just talking about the mojito mixed with flat sprite, the salad over saturated with dressing, a portion of my order was missing as well and no refills and no circulating air. He paid the bill on his card(while some left cash) and I went to the restroom because I started to feel bad. I come out and some of the group has left. He's waiting on me. I go to leave and they block me from leaving saying that someone didn't pay. Not my issue? We paid!!! She then tells me that I still can't leave. I politely tell her that her waitress needs to go to the table and get the money that was left on the table. She keeps on(patience lost) I told her to have her waitress take her a#% to the table and get the money. She then goes over but never goes to the end of the table where the tray of money is sitting. We go to leave and she's still blocking us. My friend comes back in asking what's going on, I explain. She goes to the table and picks up the money that is laying there. The lady is still talking (no apologies) I leave out. It was already my 1st and last time. I will never recommend.

Went with a group of 7 and did the early bird special with steak and chicken. Steak was cooked perfectly and the chicken was flavored well with terriaki. Chef Toy held a great discussion while cooking the great meal while Sharon kept our drinks filled. I would ask for chef Toy for your next meal.

I like to say the food was very good and the cook we had was nice and funny. My family and I was there last night and it was our first time being at Sato. Even though we had to wait 40 to 45 minutes for a table. Then we got a table and we had to wait again for a server to take our drink orders and food orders. I order a apple bay drink and had to wait a long time for it but my server told me they didn’t have it, so I order a mango margarita. My server was very nice and told me the drink was on her and yesterday was my birthday. They sing happy birthday to me and also apologize for the wait time and also explain why and what was going on. I appreciate the customer service, good food, and strong mango margarita soooo good lol and birthday song.