Japan Express

The best thing I can say about this place is there were 4 police offices eating there when I went inside… or maybe it’s not a good thing. Anyway. I got the shrimp tempura and it was so bad. The batter was way to thick and the grease was just dripping of them. Took only one bite and that’s it. YUCK. On and the girl behind the counter knows nothing so don’t even ask.

This place is just ok, nothing special. I walked in and ordered my food to go. My order was ready literally within 3 minutes or less. I ordered the Hibachi Chicken and Vegetables. After grabbing my Togo bag, I put some ginger and a dab of their pepper sauce (they don’t offer lids on their condiment cups) on my food and went to sit in my car to eat. First bite and my veggies were cold. I was immediately disappointed. The rice was delicious and piping hot, but the chicken and veggies we’re cold, I’m sure that’s why my order was ready in less than 3 minutes. If my veggies were hot, or even warm, I would’ve given them 4 stars.
Service here was fast, the cashier wasn’t overly friendly, but she served her purpose and wasn’t rude at all. The inside of the store was ok, again, nothing special.

This is a much needed update of my first (SEVERELY misguided) review.
My first two experiences with Japan Express were two quick pickups of phone-​in orders. Perhaps it was this hastiness that masked everything I experienced when I decided to dine in on my third visit. Such as the cashier who forgot to provide my drink cups and took a weird tone when she thought I was pouring soda instead of water… Or the moment right after when I witnessed a worker in the back scooping meat out of a plastic container onto a tray which I later found out was my order. My meal literally took three minutes to get to me. Fast but certainly NOT fresh, which is puzzling because isn’t that… the opposite… of hibachi… I’d have gone to a buffet if I wanted old meat tbh. Had my food been made to order, maybe the LONG STRAND OF HAIR I found in it could have been avoided. Or maybe not. No one was wearing a hairnet. I get that these things happen but it was enough to get Japan Express on my list of places that I will not be returning to. Really, though. Spend your money somewhere else.

I have a love and hate relationship with Japan Express.
The love part is:
1. It’s my go to place after a long day of work and I don’t want to cook and don’t want the typical burger and fries.
2. The food is decent and fresh 95% of the time. There was one time my steak was so tough I had to put it in a pan and cook it some more. They stay pretty busy so obviously it’s a good meal
The hate part is:
1. Don’t get there right when they open because you’ll be walking in with the staff and have to wait for them to set up and prep
2. The front area when you walk in has the most disgusting sewage like smell. I’m sure they can fix/​mask that
3. It’s not the best service and They can be very slow. This is not «express» type service. Which is fine I would rather my food be cooked and fresh but 20 – 30 minutes is a bit much. Every other month it’s new staff that aren’t very friendly at times. Calling your order in ahead is a good idea.
If you’re around Southpoint there is another similar one by the Dunkin donuts/​Harris teeter and it’s a MUCH BETTER eating experience. All in all I’m still going there 2 – 3 times a month so give it a try.

Food was fair price… New to white sauce and ginger sauce, but turned out great. I got the hibachi shrimp and steak and it was delicious. I have recently moved here and have tried many Japanese places… So far this is one meets my standards. I would recommend the hibachi shrimp and steak. First time trying this place, and I’ll definately will be back!

Terrible! It has been 2 years since the last time I had eaten here and I swore I would never go back. Well I did, and I hate myself for it. I ordered a hibachi chicken and a steak and shrimp to go. I noticed tempura vegetables on the menu and asked if they could put tempura sauce in a to-​go cup. The girl taking my order said, «we have the little packets.» Realizing she was talking about soy sauce, I told her I didn’t want any. At this point the owner/​manager jumped in and said that they do have the sauce in little to-​go cups so I ordered some. When she called my number she asked, «how many white sauces?» When I asked for tempura sauce the manager brought me some ginger sauce. It was clear they had no idea what I was talking about. The vegetables were deep fried with breading to make it worse! As far as the entrée’s were concerned, they couldn’t have been worse. I will truly never go back this time! I had to go back out for McDonalds when I got home since the food was so bad!

Love this place. Every time I come home I go here and get the hibachi shrimp. Delicious!!!

I lunch here several times a week because I really like hibachi style food and this location is the best fast food version of hibachi I’ve found in Durham. The hibachi steak is consistently delicious and their fried rice is fairly light as far as fried rice goes.
The women who work here are really nice and helpful which is amazing considering some of the ridiculous stuff I overhear being requested of them («no vegetables except rice») or people yelling at them about random things (i.e. their chicken and steak touching.)

Fair food fair price. Ingredients were fresh. Ordered a salad and they had to run and get lettuce. Waited 20mins for food but everything tasted good. Tempura batter is good and crispy without being too greasy. Make sure you heed the check your order sign ;-)

Terrible. Kitchen staff were all cursing and being extremely loud. Hibachi steak and chicken was awful, and I paid $ 8 for that and a drink. Bits of bone in both the chicken and steak. Fried rice is very dry. Vegetables are overcooked. Sauces are disgusting– white sauce very watery, ginger sauce old… and not even sure what happened to the mustard sauce but it’s no longer mustard sauce. Sweet tea was fermented. Very disappointed. All I wanted was good Japanese food :(

I had low expectations for this joint. The prices were very low and it seemed like a bit of a hole in the wall.
Turns out, it’s actually a decent representation of Americanized hibachi Japanese. The beef fried dumplings were good, and the crab rangoons were a good departure from what I get at Chinese places.
Don’t go in expecting greatness from this place, but if you’re craving AWESOME fried rice and some tasty chicken, check out Japan Express. The girls who work there are extremely nice, and the prices are great too. It’s a great option for takeout, as it’s quick, as well.