Sato Japanese Restaurant

4.0
1026 reviews
gallery picture

About

Japanese RestaurantAsian RestaurantFine Dining RestaurantSushi RestaurantRestaurant
Established in 1987, Sato Japanese Steakhouse is a steakhouse, sushi bar, and a seafood restaurant proudly serving the South Carolina area with its finest, freshest ingredients.

Location

Sato Japanese Restaurant
1999 North Beltline Boulevard, Columbia, SC
29204, United States

Hours

Reviews

4.0
1,026 reviews
5 stars
574
4 stars
197
3 stars
91
2 stars
41
1 star
123

What are people saying?

AI-generated from recent customer reviews

Food Quality

While many customers praised the food as delicious and well-prepared, there were several complaints about undercooked meals and issues with food allergies being ignored.

Service Issues

Customers frequently reported long wait times for seating and service, with some experiencing rude or inattentive staff.

Cleanliness and Maintenance

Numerous reviews highlighted concerns about the cleanliness of the restaurant, including unpleasant odors and a need for renovations.

Atmosphere

The atmosphere received mixed reviews; while some enjoyed the lively hibachi experience, others noted discomfort due to heat and poor ventilation.
  • MD
    Matt Derr
    4 days ago
    3.0
    This place has declined. No show from the chef. Grills are dirty around the edges. Rushed out after the meal.
  • NH
    Nae Harrison-Smith
    Dec 21, 2025
    5.0
    I've been coming here for over 25 years. My favorite restaurant. Staff is always polite and food is always perfect
  • KL
    Kimberly Linenbrink
    Dec 21, 2025
    5.0
    Third visit to Sato. The servers and chefs are fantastic! There were several birthdays being celebrated last night and the atmosphere was fun and energetic. Not many spots like this left in Columbia. Looking forward to returning soon!
  • AW
    Alex Wangler
    Nov 10, 2025
    5.0
    This was an amazing place to get dinner. My husband and I were craving some sushi, and this was one of the few places open late. Upon arriving, we discovered that there was also teppanyaki there, which was an added bonus. We were sat very quickly upon arriving, followed by a prompt greeting by a server. We got an excellent spread of food (too much for us to eat in our visit; we shared the steak and chicken hibachi entree, and we ended up taking about half of it home), all of which was very flavorful and filling. We also got 2 sushi rolls, both of which were delicious and reasonably priced. Our chef was very friendly and conversational; I wish I got his name to shout him out, as he gave us excellent service! All in all, I would give them 10 stars if I could! We'll definitely be back in the future.
  • MM
    Marian Manic
    Nov 2, 2025
    1.0
    We used to like this place, but not anymore. Our last experience was awful. We wanted to order for pickup, but the online ordering did not work. So, we had to call instead. When I came to pick up the order they mixed up the prices and charged us almost 50% more than they should have. When I raised the concern they corrected the mistake, but then the new price still did not match the online price. When I asked about that, they said that they automatically add a 10% tip for all phone orders (I guess that's why the online ordering form does not work) and the manager did not want to take it off even though I asked to opt out. So essentially, I was forced to pay a 10% tip for all the inconvenience they caused during the pickup! Moreover, while I was signing the receipt they picked up the original voided receipt (with the 50% surcharge) and threw it into the trash then pretended like they did not know what happened to the receipt. So, only after I asked to get a second copy they fished it out of the trash and pretended as if nothing happened. Oh, and by the way, the receipt you get for signing also includes a line for tips but they do not inform you that your total already includes the 10% tip, so you may end up paying a second tip, bringing your total expense significantly above what should normally be charged for pick up. During all of this, the manager showed a lot of frustration and impatience. For an order of over $50 for pickup I got a lot of attitude and complete incompetence. With the current incompetent staff and the manager who puts random surcharges, we'll not be coming back anymore!

Frequently Asked Questions About Sato Japanese Restaurant

What type of cuisine does Sato Japanese Restaurant serve?

Sato Japanese Restaurant specializes in Japanese cuisine including steakhouse dishes, sushi, and seafood.

Where is Sato Japanese Restaurant located?

The restaurant is located at 1999 North Beltline Boulevard, Columbia, SC 29204, USA.