On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
Hana Japan offers a delectable choice of steak, chicken, and seafood, featuring Teppan tables for group seating around a large... more »
Loading...
The Chart Of Your Success Based Not On Just My Own View But The Others Who Reviewed You...
= \
Opened:
--------------
\
\ __
\ / \
\__/ \
\
\
\
\
\ ((00)))
0))(()00))))(0
((0))(()00))))(0))
((0))(()00))))(0))
(()00))))
00
(()00))))
________________ ((0))(()00))))(0))____BOOOOM!!___ Closed!
People thought this was:
What makes you piss out of your ass, vomit, and catch the flu all in one setting? TO DIE, oopps..… Read more »
"What restaurant have I eaten in that deserves 1-star?"
TODAI.
Scratch that, they don't deserve any stars. When Todai first started out, the place was packed everyday, the food and variety was plentiful (including expensive seafood), and there were cute characters on the walls. An expensive, but nicer-than-usual buffet with good eats.
Todai is now a sorry excuse of what it used to be.
Dear People-running-Todai, here is what not to do:
1.) Flirt (badly) with your coworker when my family is waiting for one of the MANY free tables.
2.) Omit the part about complimentary samples of lobster that have to be ordered.
3.) Clearly have a variety of sushi rolls, but not actually much of it available or coming out too slowly.
4.) Have a large ratio of empty space to desserts.
5.) Leave cooked-to-order food stations unattended (I wanted a fresh crepe, damnit).
6.) Take forever with the check.
7.) Charge as much as you do for a crappy meal where few to none of you tried.
I take responsibility for coming here in the first place, aware of the price. Granted, some of the food was good, like the peppered tuna, but nearly everything else was just OK and below.
Never again.
People thought this was:
Date: December 13, 2008 @ 1:15 PM
Occasion: Saturday Date at the Mall with Boyfriend. (Taking a Break from Christmas Shopping.)
Taste: Mall Sushi, Chinese Food and Freshly Made Crepe (strawberry, peach, etc with chocolate topping!) Buffet
Let's get this one straight: Todai is about quantity over quality. It is about how much sushi and Chinese food you can eat to get your $17.99's worth of all you can eat lunch. The dishes are average, edible and most probably will not make you sick.
Please do not complain about the quality of sushi at Todai. The price of lunch at least is fair to the amount of selection you are being provided for. $17.99 will be the price you will be paying for a one sushi roll or sashimi at a good Japanese restaurant, not for an all you can eat sushi at a mall.
Service: Wait staff in clean white uniform. Friendly.
Tab: $50.28 (including 2 sodas, tax and tip).
Skip: I would not pay $28+ for dinner at Todai. For that price, I can get a really good meal at a nice restaurant.
People thought this was:
I was hungry, so was excited to find out I would be eating all the sushi and yummy Japanese food I could eat. The variety was amazing. Lots of types of sashimi, sushi, crab legs, hot dishes, etc.
The food was good, but not great. The service was horrific. It's true you don't expect much from a buffet, but it is ridiculous that I was half way done with my meal before I got my water.
Especially not for the price - but I guess we can't really complain, since my friend's birthday dinner was free. And the meal was decent (killed all the calories I burnt off in the last three days though).
The desserts do deserve special mention as they were really really good. But since when are crepes and jello authentic Japanese cuisine. It was however quite entertaining to eat the jello with chop-sticks.
People thought this was:
Sunday... 30 dollars for one person...
Chicken teriyaki: too much fat and oil
Sushi: 2.5 out of 5...
Crab: okay
drink: heineken $5.50/bottle
Free water...
I rate this place 2 stars... because we spent 70 bucks here but it s not worth it! :(
People thought this was:
Take the number of stars and subtract 2 - that is what this place deserves. Negative stars.
We stopped here after shopping one weekend afternoon. It had been recommended by a gal at work (warning - do not accept positive reviews from people who think ordering crab cakes off tv is also a good idea) So I blame myself to a degree. But we were suckered by the "all you can eat" sushi for one price. We are both fit but can eat our weight in raw fish. YUM. Anyway back to the scene...
We waited in a long line and finally we were in. We paid (as you pay first THEN you get to see the food) EWWWWW...
first off - there were flies landing on the food. So I went for the hot food thinking flies probably aren't landing on steaming food. I was right - but still didn't dodge a bullet - the food is just gross. They advertize lobster - munchkin land slipper lobster with about as much meat in it as a fat crayfish. Super spiced with hot pepper and seemingly deep fried.
There was an overpowering stinky fish smell around some of the food - so I used that as my warning to not eat it.
All in all - for about 20 bucks a person - we had about $5 worth of edible food that was only that...edible - not good.
Hey if gorging yourself on fly ridden, oily, funky fish food is your thing - dig in. IBut if you are like us and expect clean food that is sauced and spiced well (not dredged in pepper and oil) then skip this and take your 40 bucks and walk about the corner of the building to any of the other decent mall food establishments.
People thought this was:
My co-workers and I call this place To Die. Not to imply you'll expire from eating here. However.. I believe the last time I went I paid $25 for dinner which I feel is way to much considering my next comments:
The sushi is moderate to poor quality.
The Udon is very near tasteless.
Some of the "hot foods" looked cooked to oblivion (and they had just opened for dinner, I waited in line to get in)
Absolutely NOTHING seems fresh.
I felt stuffed into a sea of tables & diners. Almost like eating in a school cafeteria (for $25?)
I got sick 3 out of the 3 times I ate here.
People thought this was:
Compared to most bay area buffet's, Todai is the only one that has relatively quality food. By no means is it a Vegas quality buffet, but the food is relatively fresh and clean (and I'm using these terms loosely here) compared to other buffet's I've been to.
I usually load my plate with sushi, crab legs and most of their seafood selections. Most of the time I find myself with stacks of crab legs which I particularly enjoy about Todai. Another thing I like are their dessert options. The crepes are good but you will often find yourself waiting for someone to prepare them for you. The tiny pieces of Tiramisu are good, but be careful not to get it when they are freshly put out. There have been several times I've bitten into some frozen pieces (yuck). The fruit tarts are consistently tasty and are a sure fire bet to satisfy your sweet tooth.
The reason for my rating is the price. This place is expensive, even for lunch. You can eat here for free on your birthday, but that means the rest of your party will foot a hefty bill. And I don't know anyone who eats on their birthday alone. Another thing is the greeting service at the front door. They are not the friendliest bunch, but they'll get you seated swiftly. The waiters are a hit-or-miss when it comes to refilling your drinks, but they are usually pretty good about taking out your used plates.
People thought this was:
Let's get something out of the way first. I'm Asian. Chinese to be exact..which means I love buffets, a good deal, and something free. 2 out of the 3 on a regular basis here ain't so bad. Something free if it's your birthday but there's a catch: You have to bring two other paying adults. Otherwise, you get a rain check. With that said, I've been to quite a few buffets in my time. The food's alright. Some items are quite yummy. Sushi's pretty good for a buffet place.
I'll give this joint some stars for its selection and variety. Certain foods are hit or miss in taste and/or quality such as their seafood salad. Sometimes it's great, sometimes it isn't so fresh. I figure it's from the food sitting out too long without being changed and then the texture gets a little questionable. Their pricing ranges from about $15-$27 depending on time of day (lunch or dinner) and whether it is a weekday or weekend. A bit of a price difference for dinner but you get a lot more meat selection, sashimi, and crab legs. Lunch is a pretty good deal considering the options and how much food you could cram down yourself before you start having difficulties breathing.
Service here is lacking; the wait staff are slow (or fail) to refill and take away plates.
Don't come in here with high standards. It's a buffet..How good can it get? It's not Vegas. Get ready to loosen that belt by a notch or two and come hungry.
People thought this was:
For people who are not fond of buffets to begin with, save yourself the time and money and stay away from Todai...
Unfortunately, this place was located close to where I use to work and sometimes I get out voted by my co-workers, so we end up here for lunch.
Every time that I have eaten at Todai, I made sure that I had soda to help me wash down the food with. None of the food ever looks or tastes fresh and the sushi tastes like plastic. At $16-20 per person, I rather go eat at the food court in the mall.
People thought this was:
Wow I don't think I've ever seen a place with so many 1 star reviews!
Look it's a buffet, obviously the food is not going to be best quality, but there are a lot of choices. Isn't that the point? The sushi is passable and there was 1 interesting roll that I really enjoyed (can't remember what it was though!). The rest of their food can be summed up by "mayonnaise covered (blank)" Fill in the blank by whatever seafood you like. Their tempura is too bready and they had these weird incredibly tiny dim sums. Did anyone else see these little dumpling things that were like the size of an almond??
I think $25 is a little pricey and would probably prefer to go to a chinese buffet for $10 less. But if someone else is paying, I'll keep my mouth shut and just eat at Todai :)
People thought this was:
Went to Todai for my birthday this year because of the free admission for the birthday girl/boy! The rules has been changed...you need 3 more adults in your party now to get a free lunch or dinner. we didn't know that so we got a free dinner voucher the next time we come back with a party of two. but you need to comeback within 3 months. well i thought that was nice. And they asked us if we wanted lobster at the table instead of us getting one ourselves. (you only get one) I hate lobster so my boyfriend is grateful that he gets two every time :).
The service is fast and friendly, even know its self served all you can eat seafood and other Asian cuisine. They clear your finished plates promptly and they give you a routine hello in Japanese (i think) when you open the entrance door...I been eating there at least once a year...for a birthday or someone elses birthday...or when i go shopping at Stoneridge Mall where its located in.
I don't have any complaints because i never had a bad experience there...but over the years the selection of food is getting smaller and smaller.
But I love Todai....been to one in Las Vegas, NV and Pleasanton, CA
I go there for the unlimited sushi station and cold salad...if you like baby octopus (don't judge me:) lol They have a really great baby octopus salad...yummy! I do not eat any fried or anything that's been heating by a large light bulb. So if you get diarrhea the next morning...sorry! Oh, I'm the lady that gets three servings of Creme Brulei...(misspelled i think) every visit for dessert...anyways
Todai is probably from Todai ji which means the Eastern Great Temple, its a buddist temple thats located in Nara, Japan...you guys been pronouncing it wrong...sorry to ruin all the TO Die jokes:).
People thought this was:
Im giving it 5 stars only for the wierd experience I had there with a co-worker from the east coast that had never had a sushi buffet before...
So anthony bourdain always warned against eating any sort of fish on mondays due to the fact that it was probably ordered sometime last wednesday...has that ever stopped me? No..ive got the personaltiy type that basically takes a warning as an open personal invitation to take a crack at it...
so we dozied up to the door and sat down...
as we ate our sushi..my co-worker looks at me and grimaces...
"mmmmmm...that was the worst piece of salmon ive ever had"
I took a look at him and said
"Well if i dont see you tomorrow i'll check up on you in the emergency room for food poisoning"
right at that time...a litlte kid wandered past our table and then threw up right in front of us...like it came out his nose and stuff....
my co-worker looked at me and said...
"im done...check please"
5 stars for the story....i'll update it if i get food poisoning in a couple of days...
People thought this was:
Either you hate it, or you love it...Hated it!
The restaurant is nice...the buffet is nicely laid out...
The food is salty, stale and nasty...fish is fishy, desserts are pretty...but tasteless.
OH...did I mention the price? Outrageous!
People thought this was:
Todai on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays are $30/person.
The sushi is mediocre and the service slow.
The udon has also downgraded.
People thought this was:
5 years ago this place was always pack of ppl. Food was great!, Sushi was fresh. But everything changed when they change ownership.
We went there two weeks ago, March 18 2008.
The sushi(s) were terrible, no taste. The worst of the worst.
The seaweed salad (my favor) found hair inside, YUCK!.
Udon soup has no flavor, like plent water with brown color (what in the world!).
The deserters had nothing except cheap cake cut in little piece and of course crepe, which again has no flavor.
I dont think they made those food with passion. They just hire the cheapest labor and created the worst food.
Two of us spent $72 (included tips and Tax)
Please, there are more places to eat in Pleasanton. Make worth of your money.!
People thought this was:
Wow!! I can't believe how Todai is being slammed with 1 and 2 stars.. For the 12 years that I lived in Pleasanton, always walked by Todai, saying that I am going to try it.. Today was the first time the hubby and I went.. We were not disappointed! Shouldn't have taken us that long to go!! There was so much food to choose from and was freshly made and very tasty. The service was great!! They came and asked if we needed anything, refills and how we were enjoying our lunch.. We will be going back!
So much for going back..LOL... To my surprise Todai is closed!!
Todai is ehh. Although I'm not a big fan of buffets, I've been to quite a few over the years and I would even give some of them four to five stars but Today I think is just bad. I've been here twice. Once was a long time ago and I remember it to be better than my last experience.
I thought the selection of food was quite small compared to what many other buffet have these days and with all the Asian buffet popping up around the bay area they better shape up fast or they wont be around long. We went there for dinner recently and they had seafood like mussels, squit, and those things that look like shrimp but are bigger whose name I can't remember. A lot of the food didn't seem to fresh and the sushi selection was okay. I would rather take the 25 bucks and go to a sit down place and order 25 dollars worth of sushi.
They also had a half lobster per person for dinner and it was pretty small and they just kind of come by and throw it on your table and leave.
I don't think I'll be going back here by choice anytime.
People thought this was:
I was at the mall the other day and noticed this place was closed! Not surprised at all, I am a foodie and I love to eat at many places and try many things! This place is the NASTIEST FOOD I HAVE EVER EATEN!!! SOOOOO NASTY!!! That is why they are closed now! Wonder what is going in that space next? Hopefully something edible!
Why oh why did I go to Todai's... AGAIN?! I've gone to the one at Eastridge Mall but did I learn my lesson?? NOOOO! Eat at your own risk. I mean, if you like nasty, mushy, frozen, unfrozen, then frozen and unfrozen again sashimi, go for it. If not, then stay away.
Sidenote: Did you know... that Todai... is pronounced TO DIE? As in..... if you wanna die, EAT HERE. (hardy har har.)
People thought this was:
Maybe if I was in Vegas, and this was the buffet at the shitty hotel I had stayed up and played poker at all night while doing shots of Petron and was "comped", I might be inclined to give it more than 1 star, but since this is not the case...
Todai. At the mall. Ass expensive. Luke warm food. Did I say expensive? My daughter who turned 11 last week and happens to be tall for her age was charged full adult price. Why you ask? Because their kids prices have height stipulations.
Kids 12 and Under:
3 Feet
4 Feet
5 Feet. My daughter is just over 5 ft. tall. SUCKS.
Some of the food was okay. Some was not. I did not try the sushi, though the BF did. Mix of Japanese and Korean fare. The best part was the dessert bar (which I did not partake in)-the daughter and bf each had a fresh made crepe with whipped cream, banana and chocolate syrup(1 star for the happy sounds coming from both of them for this).
Not worth the price-not worth the calories. Not worthy.
Note:
Tempura broccoli burps are NASTY!
People thought this was:
Their quality used to be way better... like 6 yrs ago?
For the past 3 years theyve gotten cheap.
the only time worth eating is lunch time. Their prices are high and you do not get any quality at all but i dont blame it beucause what can you expect out of a buffet with like 50 dishes going on at once.
FREE for birthday person! dont forget to bring ID.
Other than that, this place is not worth it! id rather spend 30 bucks on quality japanese food for myself and maybe go home not feeling sick to the stomach.
Not recommended.
My hubby and I last went here for my b-day last March, and the place had taken on a whole new look. It's going for more of a "club" vibe now, rather than the cute Japanime characters and huge overhanging octopus, fish, etc. I was very disappointed that they had changed their "free birthday meal" so that you had to have at least 2 other people in your party in order to get the free meal. I got a raincheck for my freebie, but I'd still have to come in with at least a party of 3.
The food was more sushi-related than it used to be. As always, some things are winners, and some are losers. We always get our money's worth on the unagi, but are well aware that at least the rice is pre-shaped and frozen (who knows what they do to the fish), as sometimes those heat lamps just don't heat them up enough. Same goes for the desserts (best thing are the mini cream puffs and the creme brulee). All too often, we've gotten mini cakes and pie slices that are still icy. Not really a good way to promote freshness. I don't go for the noodles or anything in that made-to-order area. The closest I get is the tempura (btw, they don't have chicken nuggets anymore!). The fresh fruit selection was really good, but could do without the scary jello.
Todai was my two friends' choice when they visited Pleasanton. There is no Todai near where they live and both had looked forward to eating at the all-you-can-eat seafood buffet. I've been to the one in SunValley Mall and found the food to be mediocre and pricey.
The Stoneridge location was no different. The sushi maker made one plate of maguro sushi the entire time we were there. I had to get my fill of sashimi through poke or the sashimi salad with the gross sesame seed oil all over it. The charge was $16.85 (Saturday lunch) plus $2.50 for tea. That is a steep charge for one tea bag and the hot water was not even hot.
Well, I only have to go to this place once a year when my friends visit from out of town.
You don't go to Todai for the best food.
Want the best sushi in the world, go to a good Japanese restaurant.
Want the best Lo Mein in the world, go to a good Chinese restaurant.
Want the best Galbi in the world, go to a good Korean restaurant.
Want the best desserts in the world - go to a good bakery.
But if you want all of the above and can live with 75% of the taste rather than having your tastebuds explode due to excellence, you're officially starving, your glucose is dropping rapidly, and your vision is blurring as you speak - then you can't beat Todai.
Let's face it, folks - - sometimes, an all-you-can-eat buffet is just downright heavenly. It's the American way. It's a feast. It's an "eat or die" fiesta. It's a "screw the diet, we gonna chow" event.
Sometimes, depending on your mood and hunger status, a well-lit buffet concourse of all kinds of foods imaginable, surrounded by other gluttons who have come to this place to expand their stomach muscles to the point of risking a visit to the ER, the scent of cuisines from various countries permeating the air that all you smell is "FOOD" rather than one particular thing is exactly what your heart, body and mind craves, desire, and yearns for. "We want FOOD! We want FOOD!"
OK, so maybe not all of you, but I have my moments. Even though I am a sushi fanatic who has had the best sushi in Tokyo - - when that kind of a moment hits - - Todai FULFILLS. Their mediocre hamachi makes me oooh and ahhh at those times ...their slightly dried up and a tad bit unidentifiable Uni just hits the spot.... their bland fried rice with a dash of Tabasco makes me think I died and went to heaven.... their udon's warm soup and slightly overcooked noodles make me want to consume the bowl along with the udon..... their crepes just make you want to scream from delight. Their raw oysters... your head knows they are not topnotch but your stomach chants, "Feed me, feed me..." The crab legs... you've had better but hell if you know it when you rip those legs apart and take out the crab meat.
Alright, so that moment usually lasts for the first 8 minutes of eating voraciously before you realize you're full and things start tasting the same.
By 18 minutes, you think perhaps it was a mistake coming here.
By 35 minutes of eating, you think perhaps you should stop eating because you're starting to feel ill.
By 50 minutes, you want to call 9-1-1 except you can't even reach your purse to get your phone. Hell, you can't even talk in full sentences anymore. Slowly, the recent memory of feeling like you're starving to death begins to fade, and you wonder why you came to this God-forsaken place again. You can now recall why the last time you came, you vowed to yourself, "Never again." So much for vows.....
But those first 8 minutes.... preceded by the anticipation of Todai while you drive there, starving to death, hands shaking because you've never been so hungry in your life, accompanied by friends who also think they might be starving to death, as you start to see "stars" while you're waiting in line.... and then those first 8 minutes of BLISS as you consume food at a rate faster than any human ever should with everything tasting like God's angels personally cooked and blessed this food...............
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
OK, so I'm hungry right now. So what? :-)
In regards to specific Todai locations - I rather like this Pleasanton location, located next to Macy's at Stoneridge Mall. I think I actually like the one in Orange, CA in Southern Cali more, but it's a close call. I do know that compared to any "Oriental Buffet" that tends to crop up anywhere for ridiculously cheap prices, I have yet to find one that I like, in general, more than Todai.
2-2.5 stars for the food itself.
1 star for those 8 minutes alone.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
Edit: Oh, and Todai for lunch is just WRONG. I mean, I have the rest of my day that I must live out. I just don't do Todai for anything but dinner, once every 6-8 months.... and I don't make active plans for after dinner either. Going back home with friends to vegetate on the sofa with a good movie is about as much as I can do afterwards. Hahaha.........
People thought this was:
Matt was on his way to the East Bay for a special work-related assignment. As he stepped out of the house, guess who called?
Niece was hungry and suggested Todai, so don't bother to ask.
It has been a while since Matt has stepped in to a Todai and has mixed reactions to the Asian Buffet venue.
This Todai is one of the anchor restaurants in the Pleasanton's Stoneridge Mall. As we waited to be seated, the hostess said, "Party of two: will the married couple follow me!" Matt and niece looked at each other and say, "WTF?"
As niece stepped out and grabbed her food, another waitress came to Matt and asked, "What does your GIRLFRIEND wants to drink?" Matt nodded his head in disbelief.
The waitress came back with two cups of hot and soothing Green tea and iced water. Soda, tea, and bottled water cost $1.50. As niece came back, she loaded up on Korean Teriyaki Short-rib and a massive plate of Korean soft vermicelli Noodles. (Jup-Chae)
Matt loaded up assorted sushi and variety of cold Japanese salads including the Sashimi-Salad, Seaweed-salad and Hawaiian Poki, (sliced Ahi-Tuna salad). The waitress asked niece, does your BROTHER wants another refill of tea?
The all-you-can-eat lunch buffet cost $14.95 per person. As Uncle was about to pay for our tab, the cashier asked, "did you lovely couple enjoy your lunch?" Matt replied, "Yes, my niece and I did, thanks."
The cashier gave Matt a VIP Lunch Card. The card is a frequent dining card gives you a free meal after the fifth visit only at the Pleasanton location. The food was good and fresh, but if we continue to dine at this Todai, Matt hopes the worker supposedly know that the young lady is Matt's niece.
People thought this was:
It's amazing how the lines back up in anticipation of the doors opening. I can never eat my worth at these kinds of places, not that I would want to here. My family in SoCal are diehard Todai fans, but it's like the old Sizzler all-you-can-eat for the sushi hungry. So there will be your reliable things to eat, but Todai is more practical eating versus a destination restaurant.
I agree with Tony T. - a bit bland...Then again, we're spoiled with great Japanese food in the Bay Area. It's in Stoneridge Mall, so parking is easy.
People thought this was:
If you're new to sushi this is a good place to start out because it's a buffet and there is a whole lot of variety. In that respect you get a lot of bang for your buck -- especially if there are at least four of you and one of you has a birthday
Sushi Novices -- How to eat sushi at Todai's:
1. Bring an experienced sushi eating friend. Your friend is there to be your guide who can explain the thin pinkish/tan strips and the green mushy stuff are. Your friend will guide you regarding what to pick and what to expect.
2.Get there when the place opens. Freshness is critical! (Some of their stuff is frozen & thawed it seems) get there early! Better not completely thawed than old and tired.
3. Sit as close to the section with sushi rolls & nigiri as possible. You need a view of this area to make sure you can observe what has been freshly put out for feasting.
4. Listen to your friend when he or she says not to take the last sushi item left on the display. Cordially ask for a new roll, pieces of nigiri or ask when they'll be out & wait. Don't eat old stuff that's sat for longer than about 5 minutes. Be observant.
5. Focus on the sushi. You can get the crab legs o' plenty elsewhere or on your next trip. The more sophisticated your sushi palate becomes the less frequently you're likely to visit for the sushi anyway.
6. The lobster isn't lobster. If so, would it really be that price? Todai's is totaly open about that. Focus on the sushi.
7. The only non sushi item I'd suggest is tempura (vegetables or shrimp). Get your little bowl of sauce in which to dip your tempura items. CAUTION: Do not get more than two tempura items. You're here to learn about your sushi likes and dislikes.
Guess what?
If you find that you don't like sushi ( and the foods that go with it such as wakame salad and tempura) you've got a whole lot of other stuff to try. You've got ribs and stuffed mushrooms and crab legs. You've got deserts et cetera. Use these as your fall back.
If you're not new to sushi then you probably aren't getting your money's worth. You're probably introducing your friend to it. This is a chain, remember.
People thought this was:
I was told this was a great place for lunch or dinner if you likeJapanese Buffet style. What a fucking crock. The service was bad, the shellfish rancid & the only thing that actually tased good was the shrimp& cucumber salad- it fooled me. I've been suffering the affects of food poisoning for the last day. Lovely. ( yes boys & girls , that's sarcasm at work ).
Yep,I was sooooo very pleased I filed a complaint with the health dept. Stay very , very far away. Your health & well being is worth more than a mere $25.00.
People thought this was:
Listen Todai, I hate to say this, but I think it's time we should end our little affair before you become too emotionally entangled; you were scrumptious in the beginning, our rendezvous's were exhilarating as I sampled your many sea-bearing designs with oohs and ahhhs, but sadly I think you have lost that certain "magic" in the way you touch me...it's just not the same. Don't take it the wrong way, but you're just not up to par.
When I last dined on your creations, you really put in that extra effort to please me-- freshness, variety, quality...all the great things that make for a great relationship. Your sashimi-- flavorless; the crab overly salted and chewy; Chinese greens with prawns- cold and stale... I left with a strange feeling in my belly-- and well Todai, I don't want to make this uncomfortable for both of us, so I won't be coming around...no more laughs or smiles, but you'll have plenty of eager plates that want you, so don't wait around for me...
Love,
XXXXXX
People thought this was:
Ate here last night for the first time for a birthday party. It's a buffet sushi place. They recently updated the decor, but it was hard to pay attention to that through the mass of hungry people.
Honestly I'm not the a sushi fan so I can't comment on that part of the buffet, but people were gobbling it up. Although the staff were slow to replenish the more popular sushi items.
They have terriyaki (beef, chicken and fish). Yaki Soba which is more like Chow Mein then true Yaki Soba. Udon and Miso soups. I had quite a bit of shrimp cocktail.
Members of our party had lots of crab legs which is probably the best part of this buffet (totally get your money's worth there). There was alot of discussion on how best to crack crab legs at our table which was fun.
Three people in our party were having their birthday and once the waitor had reviewed their licenses it was determined that they would eat for free. That's pretty nice.
They had a crepe station which made fresh yummy crepes and looked pretty darn good but I abstained since we were going to the movies later that night and had candy in the car. Also I own a crepe pan so I make crepes at home whenever I want.
The service was fairly quick although our waitress forgot to bring us a water pitcher and when she did she only brought 1 for our party of 14 which of course we ran out of water in a flash.
I'm not a mega buffet fan, I like my food fresh, hot and made just for me, but overall this was a fun place to have a birthday dinner. The food was ok but not worth the $27 a head. And I really thought the selection was great (for us non sushi fans) but if you don't like seafood I wouldn't recommend eating here.
People thought this was:
Okay, by some strange coincidence, I went to TWO Japanese buffets in the space of five days. The first one, Makino Seafood Buffet in Las Vegas, was spectacular. Food was fresh, well presented, and above all, very TASTY. The second buffet, Todai, was okay, though not spectacular. However, the buffet concept, while not new, is new to me, and I have to say, I love it. The idea of "grazing" on sushi, sashimi, seaweed salad, and fresh crab and lobster is something I particularly enjoy.
Now - here are two caveats - 1. Take your time. If you eat too quickly, you fill up and don't get the full benefit of gorging the way our evolutionary ancestors intended. and 2. always "pull from the back." And by this i mean, when the put the tray out, don't take the stuff up front - this is the stuff that's been out there the longest. It's kind of like the supermarket strategy of placing nearly expired food right in front where it's easiest to reach.
Okay, as for the ambience - it's in Stoneridge Mall. Now, I know that some people think eating in a mall is a little kooky. I don't happen to share that thought. One thing that's nice about being in a mall is that you can, under the guise of making a cellphone call, take a quick walk to burn off some of the early calories, making room for BRAND NEW calories. Oh, and the faster you walk, the more room you make. Just remember, if you shop, take your stuff to the car before returning. Don't let them see you walk in with Banana Republic and Forever 21 bags - the cellphone ruse falls apart at that point.
Okay - that's it. Think fresh, eat slowly, and above all...pull from the back.
People thought this was:
I waited to long to eat today, I was overly hungry, my son was whiny and we needed food NOW. So it was between, Todai and California Pizza Kitchen. Hmm so I chose Todai I figured I could get a few veggies in my son easier than I could at the pizza place.
First off, they measured my child and because he was over 3 feet, they charged him $7.95...what the hell does your height have to do with how much you eat? My son ate about as much as Thumbellina would and she is only a few inches tall.
My price was $14.95!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! For the dregs of the buffet at the end of lunch, had i known this before hand there is NO way I would have stayed.
I proceeded to have the nastiest, mushiest, flavorless meal in my 36 years of life.
O wait there was flavor....the taste of stale fishy oil that was hasnt been changed in who knows how long used to fry the tempura .
The veggies were grey and mushy and gross.
The fish stunk. That includes the shrimp.
The sushi was so old i didn't even try it.
We basically ate fried rice, because they brought it out fresh from the kitchen.
I had to ask THREE different waitresses THREE different times for our two drinks.
I asked the waitress for some hot oil, pretty common in Asian restaurants.....they brought me a cup of melted butter.... need I say more
I was not happy AT ALL.
Then I went up to pay $30.
forget it never again
People thought this was:
Chicken sh*t birthday policy. So I am not much for mediocre food. Mediocre all-you-can-eat food. That's doable. medicore free all-you-can-eat food on your birthday? I am so there!! So imagine my disapointment when I went there on my b-day and found out the birthday policy has changed and now you have to be accompanied by 2 paying adults.
Todai, you suck! But we still ate there. So much for principle.
People thought this was:
This place just gets worse and worse over the years. A few years ago, this place was actually decent, but now it just sucks!!
Everything about the place was horrible. The cold food, the tasteless udon, the server giving us our drinks 15 minutes after we started eating! This place has gotten so cheap to the point where they did not give us lobsters anymore.
The only thing I like about this place is the nice guy that makes the crepes around evening time. So, the one star is for him.
I made the mistake of coming here last week, I will never go again! Don't waste your $30 here, there are other great places to eat in and near the mall.
I never understood why my family loved Todai. It's essentially indistinguishable, tasteless food with a high price tag. And today, we finally validated that opinion once more when we had no choice but to go there when the wait at it's neighbor Cheesecake Factory was 50 minutes. The sushi tasted worse than i recalled. It was soggy and unfresh tasting. The worst is that the rice balls they stuff underneathe the sushi had the next day, cold rice taste and feel to it. Gross!
At least, we got one free meal out of it since it was my hubby's bday.
People thought this was:
This place is not to-dai for... good concept, but poor execution.
People thought this was:
Sounds like such a good idea, then you get there and it's 500 bratty kids throwing sushi at each other and seafood that tastes like it's been sitting under a heat lamp for most of the day.
Save your money and go to a real sushi place.
People thought this was:
I think buffets are disgusting, period. Unfortunately, the mother&sister-in-law love this place so I find myself here more often than I should be. Everything looks old like it had been cooked yesterday and reheated in the microwave. The fish looks old, the short ribs are shrunken, the shrimp tempura is not crispy, the sushi doesn't look fresh - I don't eat raw fish so I've never tasted, the crab legs are thin with no meat, the salad is wilted, the fruit is brown, the plates are dirty and the worst thing is that they charge something like $24.95 to eat this crap for dinner. Are you serious? I always tell the bf that I would rather eat at McDonald's than this place, but we never do.
People thought this was:
evil...evil...evil...that's one word i would associate with todai...
okay, do you want two words instead? instant gratification...
either way, todai is a dangerous place. not for the quality of food, the quality of food is so-so, especially for the price you pay. it costs $30 a person and it doesn't even include a drink? i will forever be a slave to buffets...
yes, i'm giving them two stars...but i don't think they really care. as long as i'm alive, i'll be their loyal customer, unfortunately. ::sigh::
it sucks that their birthday policy increased up to two paying adults + the birthday person. last time we were there, they were kind enough to give us a free meal on our next visit. well, luckily for them, they didn't do US a favor, if you know i mean.......
but to end this review on a positive note, i must admit their selection of food has expanded, so to speak. the quality the same, but their selection has improved quite a bit.
People thought this was:
New VIP Room Now Open with…
Dublin, CA
Earn 5% towards any Dinner…
Pleasanton, CA
Pleasanton, CA
Category: Japanese
Pleasanton, CA
Category: Japanese
Pleasanton, CA
Category: Sushi Bars
Danville, CA
Category: Japanese
Are you hungry? You don't need to go to Nevada for…
Places that will make you piss out of your ass,…
Here is my list of places that make you…
