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Innovative Japanese station opens in Cal Poly food court

Hibachi-San offers authentic dishes ranging from poke and teriyaki bowls to fruit and milk teas.

Mike Buzalka, Executive Features Editor

September 28, 2015

1 Min Read
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California State Polytechnic University, Pomona is host to the first campus unit of Panda Restaurant Group’s Hibachi-San concept, which specializes in Japanese dishes like teriyaki, tempura, sushi and poke (a fish salad). Panda Restaurant Group, which also owns the Panda Inn and Panda Express concepts, currently operates 19 Hibachi-San locations in 11 states.

Located in the Bronco Student Union, Hibachi-San replaces a previous Asian themed concept.  The food court also has Qdoba, Subway, Peets/Freshens and Round Table Pizza stations.

At the Cal Poly unit, the poke and teriyaki bowls are individually assembled in front of the customers using a base of steamed or brown rice, salad or soba noodles and then topped with fresh seafood such as albacore, octopus, salmon, salmon roe, scallops, shrimp, tuna, spicy tuna or yellowtail. The dish is completed with a sauce and additional toppings of the customer’s choice.

Another unusual touch at the station is a tea bar offering a variety of fruit and milk teas. Customers can also add boba to their drinks.

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]

About the Author

Mike Buzalka

Executive Features Editor, Food Management

Mike Buzalka is executive features editor for Food Management and contributing editor to Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News. On Food Management, Mike has lead responsibility for compiling the annual Top 50 Contract Management Companies as well as the K-12, College, Hospital and Senior Dining Power Players listings. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English Literature from John Carroll University. Before joining Food Management in 1998, he served as for eight years as assistant editor and then editor of Foodservice Distributor magazine. Mike’s personal interests range from local sports such as the Cleveland Indians and Browns to classic and modern literature, history and politics.

Mike Buzalka’s areas of expertise include operations, innovation and technology topics in onsite foodservice industry markets like K-12 Schools, Higher Education, Healthcare and Business & Industry.

Mike Buzalka’s experience:

Executive Features Editor, Food Management magazine (2010-present)

Contributing Editor, Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News (2016-present)

Associate Editor, Food Management magazine (1998-2010)

Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1997-1998)

Assistant Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1989-1997)

 

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