Little Tokyo Restaurant

Little Tokyo sits in a strip center on Teaster Lane, and honestly, we drive right past it every time before spotting the sign. The parking's around back, which throws people off, but once you're inside it's this cozy spot that locals have been hitting for years.

The hibachi tables are the main draw — chefs flip shrimp into your mouth and do the whole onion volcano thing that makes kids lose their minds. We usually skip the hibachi though because you're looking at a 30-minute wait most nights, and those grills make the room pretty toasty. The regular dining room stays cooler and you can order off the same menu.

Their sushi's actually solid. We had friends visit from North Carolina who came here three Sundays in a row instead of doing the usual pancake house routine. The miso soup and salad come with everything, and that yum yum sauce is addictive.

One thing — if you're doing hibachi, bring layers or sit near the edge of the table. Those grills pump out serious heat and we've watched people get pretty uncomfortable halfway through dinner.

They're open 11 to 9 every day, which is nice because most Japanese places around here close between lunch and dinner. Skip the weekend evenings if you hate crowds, but weekday lunch is usually dead.