WaBa Grill

I ordered a Beef and Chicken bowl for $ 7.65. The bowl is literally meat and rice. The chicken was good but the beef wasn’t. The bowl is overpriced and the quantity was lacking. The «Waba sauce» is just teriyaki sauce. I would not come here again.

My husband and sons can literally eat this daily. They’re so happy we now have a local WABA. It’s definitely clean in there, staff is nice and they don’t give you crap sauce or food like some other locations that have recently invaded the city lol

Lakewood, CA (Woodruff Blvd) Waba Grill has always been great but unfortunately the Lakewood, CA location off Woodruff has recently brought out scales to measure their meat portions. When they first opened several months ago things were great, but then after several other visits I notice the meat portions had gotten smaller on all plates… Last weekend I took my daughter I bought her a kids ½ — ½ no veggies, when I took her the bowl we both saw a lot of white from the rice and very little meat she even said «is that it» referring to the meat… The scales are very visible and my opinion not good for business it must be a franchise thing as other Waba location treat me well with good meat portions. I will definitely be contacting WABA GRILL HQ and informing them of that location… I am still true to WABA but if things don’t changes in Lakewood, CA I’ll be going to other location…

First time at this location. Ordered a chicken steak plate with brown rice in return got a half-​half bowl with white rice… English isn’t comprehended here with the husky Hispanic guy. Told them to correct my order in return got a small bowl of brown rice. Tables are sticky, music is too loud, and fruit flies are in the store. All in all don’t be fooled by the signs this place needs to be inspected. I rather go to the one in bellflower.

Very tasteful! Kinda like a better flame broiler. Got the beef and chicken plate came with fruit and salad. Was told it was cantaloupe and grapes but got a orange when I opened the container at home. Also had to wait for them to service the soda machine as it wasn’t working but the staff was extempore assisting and helpful. Will return but will probably get the bowl as the orange and salad were just basic.

Food was ok, not sure I would go back but their friendliness and customer service was excellent

Back to Flame Broiler. This location has changed owners. Quality and quantity has diminished. The pictures shown do not do justice. I will add my own. Plate used to be full and now all you will find is a thin layer of meat in a shallow bowl.
Save your money and time. Find another location, a better business.

Been here three times. First time tried the beef and chicken and the beef was as dry as beef jerky. Second time the chicken was decent. Third and LAST time i went here was today for lunch and the chicken was dry as jerky. Maybe I’m missing something but is this how the meat is supposed to be? Also ordered a side of shrimp to try and for $ 5 I got 6 shrimp and they were very small and rubbery.
Empty at lunchtime is a sure sign. I’m guessing this place won’t be around much longer.

I was excited to finally have a Waba Grill in our area. I used to drive to the OC sometimes to get it. I finally made it here and I wasn’t impressed. Why do you butcher your steak to the point it looks like ground beef? And if we are aiming for healthy, why do you douse it in sugar filled sauce? My entire bowl was so incredibly sweet I could barely eat it. I’m a Flame Broiler fan and would like to go back and forth between the two of you but not if you can’t do better than this. You get one more try from me but I will have to give myself enough time to allow my blood sugar to return to normal first.

Side of salad? Looks like someone ate it before I got to it. Maybe the workers should pay attention to the portions instead of chatting away. My fault for not checking my food before leaving but really? I don’t think one leaf of lettuce made it in there.

I should’ve known when I walked into an Empty restaurant at lunch time on Saturday that something was up… But the pictures online looked too good to pass up. Well, those pictures are deceiving. We ordered a chicken bowl and steak bowl. The steak bowl actually looked like ground beef and was not appetizing. We ended up giving it to our dog. The chicken was quite dry, it appeared that the cook had some already cooked and just warmed it on the grill, which may be why it was dry. Sauce was great and they have wild cherry Pepsi on their fountain, which is what awarded them two stars.

It’s one notch below Flame Broiler. I’ve had it 3 times and it’s been good each time. It’s very clean in the store. No complaints.

Wow! Never coming back here again! I thought we came just in time before the rush, I ordered before everyone, waited a long time (I even had time to go to the United Board shop to look around!) and finally got my order only to find that it was all screwed up! After a 40 min wait, the manager motions me to come to the register to pay a $ 1.09 difference because it’s the wrong order (bowl versus plate). I thought, wow, you’re going to charge me $ 1.09 after waiting all this time and you screwing up my order?! Really poor management, she should know better! I was going to give this place a chance too. Absolutely ridiculous! Instead of charging me $ 1.09 for their mistake, she should’ve given me something to compensate me for my time and for their mistake! I really didn’t think that after she apologized and said she would correct the order, that I would have to pay a $ 1.09 difference! Like seriously?!

This is 2^nd Waba location that I’ve been to & the service is pretty bad. The lady taking our order messed up taking our order by adding extra bowl to our order. Also I saw her smirk at a customer because the customer voiced out that she’s waited 20 min for her two bowls. I just think the lady needs to be more professional. Other than that lady everything else is good. Plenty of parking & sit down space inside. –2 stars for customer service & wait time

Food wasn’t good plus overpriced for the quality and quantity you get. The Waba sauce (Hoisin & Soy sauce) has a ton of sodium in it. The rice was hard, under cooked, and beef was chewy. If you like this type of food head to Genkiyaki or Graceful Teriyaki Grill & Roll.

Foodie Fozzy says «WaBa, WaBa, WaBa!!»
Looking for another place to eat & review, a hot & humid Saturday had us stopping by the nearest newly opened WaBa Grill in Lakewood.
Clean, modern-​looking décor with ample table seating is what my eyes spied as I first walked in. Loved the refreshing full blast A/​C to cool off on a sweltering day. Perusing the options, I knew I would get a plate.
Steak plate–
Well-​done strips of beef w/​WaBa sauce, salad, choice of white or brown rice & an orange for dessert. A hearty & healthy meal, the WaBa sauce wasn’t cloyingly sweet. While I much prefer it rare to medium-​rare, the beef was good. I loved the fact that brown rice is available at no additional charge. The salad provided the greens & roughage, while the tart orange gave a nice ending to my non-​fried meal.
A condiment bar let’s diners load up on Waba sauce (teriyaki & hot), green onions, pickled carrots & jalapenos, and lemon slices. Being an onion lover, I availed myself of a heaping helping of green onions, of which I basically used to make a green onion salad on top of my steak plate. Good for you & crunchy to boot! Other menu options include salmon, shrimp & tofu.
The sole unisex restroom was clean & tidy. Service was good. The cashier was friendly & seemed to be happy to be working there, which is refreshing. Attitude is everything!
Parking is in a private lot shared by a bank, United Boardshop, Glory Days Sports Bar & other businesses.
WaBa Grill offers up healthy & tasty meals in a pleasant environment. While not taking the crown from my beloved Yoshinoya, what WaBa has going for it is that brown rice is available at no additional charge, minimal wait & the food was filling & satisfying. I enjoyed my meal while listening to Train, LifeHouse & the Red Hot Chili Peppers on the house speakers. We received coupons for a free chicken bowl with purchase of a plate & free fountain drink with purchase of a bowl/​plate. I’ll definitely stop by soon to redeem them whenever my tastebuds scream «WaBa, WaBa», again.
Highly recommend!
NOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOM

It’s great to see a WaBa Grill finally in the neighborhood. I’ve been there twice so far and both times the food was good and the service was decent. The first I was there I had the combo chicken & beef teriyaki plate. The second time I had the chicken with veggie bowl. Both were good.

Had the Salmon bowl today! Yum YUM! Great service too… We will definitely be back to try the rest of the menu

SHUT YO FACE YUMMY FOR YOUR TUMMY FOOD!!! Doesn’t matter what you select, everything is soooooooooo good! Flame Broiler taste like mystery meat where as Waba Grill everything is cooked in front of you — fresh and hot! I use to drive to Tustin just for Waba Grill and no longer thanks to the opening here in LB. Open everyday till 9pm /​/​major cross streets are Woodruff and Carson. Eat Healthy my friends and enjoy the GREAT FOOD, clean environment and Waba Grill crew. Aloha!

Overall very tasty. Lots of healthy choices. Fast casual teriyaki grill chain restaurant. I ordered the #1 chicken/​Steak plate. Lots of food for $ 8. You walk away full and feeling like you made a healthy choice. Despite all the sugar that must be in the Teriyaki sauce.
Very fresh. Next time I’ll get the Salmon.