Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Chen.
Hi jason, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Umami Hibachi Catering started with a simple idea: bring the fun and excitement of a hibachi restaurant directly to people’s homes.
We saw that people were looking for something different for birthdays, family gatherings, and backyard celebrations. Instead of simply delivering food, we wanted to create an experience where the chef cooks right in front of the guests, interacts with everyone, and turns dinner into part of the celebration.
Like many small businesses, we started small and grew through word of mouth, repeat customers, and recommendations from families who enjoyed the experience. Over time, we expanded our service area throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and surrounding communities and built a team of experienced hibachi chefs.
Today, Umami Hibachi Catering has become much more than just catering for us. We’ve had the opportunity to be part of birthdays, graduations, family reunions, weddings, and many other special moments. Seeing guests laughing around the hibachi table and creating memories together is still our favorite part of what we do.
We’re continuing to grow, but our goal has stayed the same from the beginning: bring the restaurant experience to our guests and make every celebration feel special.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. One of our biggest challenges in the beginning was building trust and helping people understand the concept of an at-home hibachi experience. We were asking customers to invite a chef into their home or backyard for an experience that many of them had never tried before.
Another challenge is that every event is different. We travel to different homes and venues, work with different spaces and weather conditions, and accommodate dietary restrictions and allergies. We have learned that preparation, communication, and attention to detail are extremely important.
As we grew, another challenge was maintaining the same level of food quality, entertainment, and customer service across every event. We never wanted growth to come at the expense of the guest experience.
Those challenges have actually helped make us better. We’ve learned to listen carefully to our customers, improve our process, and adapt quickly. Every party teaches us something, and that has been a big part of how Umami Hibachi Catering has grown.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Umami Hibachi Catering specializes in bringing the full hibachi experience directly to our guests’ homes and private events. Instead of going to a traditional hibachi restaurant, our guests can enjoy the experience in their own backyard, patio, or event space.
Our chefs bring the hibachi grill, cooking equipment, fresh ingredients, and everything needed to prepare the meal on-site. Guests get to watch their food being cooked right in front of them while enjoying the entertainment and interaction that make hibachi so much fun.
We specialize in birthdays, family celebrations, graduations, weddings, corporate events, and other private gatherings throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and surrounding areas. Our menu includes classic hibachi favorites such as steak, filet mignon, chicken, shrimp, salmon, scallops, lobster, fried rice, vegetables, and more. We also work with guests who have dietary restrictions or food allergies whenever possible.
What sets us apart is that we’re not simply delivering catered food — we’re bringing an experience to the celebration. The chef, the cooking, the interaction, and the meal all become part of the event.
What we’re most proud of is the trust our customers place in us for their important celebrations. Many of our bookings come from referrals, returning customers, and guests who first experienced Umami Hibachi at someone else’s party. For us, that is one of the best signs that we’re doing something right.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I believe consistency and genuinely caring about the customer experience are the most important qualities behind our success.
Every event is a special occasion for someone. It might be a birthday, graduation, anniversary, or simply a family getting together. For us, it may be one of many events we serve, but for that customer, it could be a celebration they have been planning for months. We always try to remember that.
That means paying attention to the small details — communicating clearly before the event, arriving prepared, accommodating special requests whenever possible, serving quality food, and making sure our chefs create a fun and welcoming atmosphere for everyone.
We also believe consistency builds trust. Our goal is for every customer to receive the same level of care and professionalism, whether it is a small backyard birthday party or a large celebration.
At the end of the day, our success depends on our guests. When someone recommends Umami Hibachi to a friend or invites us back for another celebration, that means more to us than anything else.
Pricing:
- Adults: $50 per person
- Children (13 & under): $30 per person
- Minimum event total: $500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hibachiumami.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hibachiumami?utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19RYCgJdgs/?mibextid=wwXIfr
