New Hibachi Restaurant Fills Niche In Brookfield
BROOKFIELD, CT — With over 600 restaurants closing permanently around the state due to coronavirus restrictions, the opening of one is not only news but perhaps cause for celebration.
Abraham Toama, owner/chef of Hibachi King which opened in Brookfield on Thursday, said he made the plunge because people wanted a "fresh food alternative." Less altruistically, he noted that "there isn't much hibachi in the area," and he's right about that.
Hibachi cooking originated in Japan, and its hallmark are meats, vegetables and rice cooked atop a large flat grill. Devotees of the cuisine say the style of cooking highlights and enhances the foods' natural flavors. The Benihana chain of restaurants, with its communal tables and theatrical preparation of food from wise-cracking chefs popularized hibachi in the U.S. in the 20th century.
The emphasis at Hibachi King is less on the jokes and more on the food, and there's little room for theatrics. The restaurant is nestled alongside a Dunkin' at 7 Federal Road, and the clear focus currently is on takeout service, which Toama said has been going non-stop since his doors opened.
The chef told Patch he has no qualms about opening a new restaurant in the midst of a pandemic, while many eateries around him are shuttering. To his way of thinking, "quality food and good service" trump COVID-19 every time they're played.
Restaurants in Connecticut can still only operate at 50 percent capacity due to coronavirus restrictions, but local restaurateurs saw a glimmer of hope this week when Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker loosened some screws for the industry in his state. Gov. Ned Lamont said Thursday he would review Connecticut's inside dining protocols "in a couple of weeks."
Toama notes proudly that, while executive chef for Aramark Food Services, he "cooked for every king and queen all over the world" for a United Nations summit. Most recently he managed and oversaw dining and corporate dining for the Cartus Corporation in Danbury.
Hibachi King is open seven days a week, at 11 a.m.
This article originally appeared on the Brookfield Patch
