Don’t Get Scammed: What to Watch Out for When Booking a Hibachi Chef

We’ve heard too many stories from customers who paid a deposit — and then the chef never showed up. Unfortunately, this is common in the private hibachi industry.

Here’s why:Some companies are not local. They look professional online, take as many bookings as possible, collect deposits — and then try to find a chef later. These are often random people they’ve never met. When the day comes and they can’t find anyone, no one shows up. You're left without food and without your money.

Worse, they often won’t answer the phone. If you call their customer service, they usually can’t even tell you who your chef will be — because they don’t know yet. That’s a big red flag.

What to Watch Out For:

• No Yelp reviews (only Google reviews — which are easier to fake).

• No chef assigned or confirmed when you book.

• They won’t take phone calls or give real answers.

At JustOne Hibachi, we’re different. We’re fully local in Southern California, and our whole team is just Allen and Jay. We personally cook at every event — no strangers, no surprises. You’ll always know who’s showing up.

We also only accept bookings we can personally handle, because quality and reliability matter more to us than volume.

If you're planning a special event, don’t gamble with it. Ask questions. Book local. And if you’re in SoCal, check out JustOne Hibachi — real chefs, real service, no shortcuts.