HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Will the real Hibachi please stand up?
For years, Hibachi Japanese Steakhouse has operated along Huntington's 4th Avenue with great success.
But there's a new game in town -- actually it's just a block away and also called Hibachi Japanese Steakhouse. What one restaurant sees as healthy competition, however, the other sees as bad business.
The "Taste of Asia" Hibachi Japanese Steakhouse and Grill restaurant boasts a variety of Asian cuisine.
“We have more than one Asian cuisine; that's why our name is ‘Taste of Asia’ because we've got Thai, Chinese and Japanese cuisine and we have hibachi also,” said Michael Cheng, the co-owner of Taste of Asia.
Sushi is also on the menu full-time, with an artistic flair that makes you stop and admire before eating. ‘Taste of Asia’ is located along 3rd Avenue, just a block down from Pullman Square -- promising another shot in the arm to Huntington's downtown.
“It's great," said Huntington Mayor David Felinton. "Downtown Huntington has really picked up over the years, and this is a business that's here because of the excitement. This is one of the most vibrant downtowns for miles."
But, a "taste of Asia" isn't totally unique to Huntington. Just one block away along 4th Avenue, you'll find another Hibachi Japanese Steakhouse -- this one simply called Hibachi. Very similar names, very similar food and it’s already causing some confusion.
“We’ve had numerous calls from customers who think we’ve moved to 3rd Avenue. While a lot of businesses are moving to 3rd Avenue near Pullman Square, we are not,” said Vicki Burd, the general manager of Hibachi.
Hibachi has operated in Huntington for 15 years. It also offers sushi, Chinese and Japanese cuisine, plus the hibachi experience where chefs cook on the grill in front of you. Burd admits she wasn't wild about the new restaurant opening, especially so close to hers.
“We waited until they opened and then we went and tasted their food and we weren’t worried anymore,” Burd said.
Back at Taste of Asia, they'll tell you that even though the names are similar, the two restaurants are very different.
“We focus not on just hibachi, but on fusion food which is why take a lot of pictures of food because there is no Asian fusion restaurant in Huntington," Cheng said.
Felinton said the competition is a good sign.
“There are dozens of restaurants in the style of Applebees and (T.G.I.) Friday's theme, and they always seem to do well and more international cuisine represents a community that's becoming more diverse and has more diverse taste,” he said.
Taste of Asia is the only restaurant in Huntington to offer Thai cuisine.