Hibachi

Mexihanas Hibachi Grill in Long Beach offers Japanese food with a Mexican twist

LONG BEACH, Calif. — The restaurant Mexihanas Hibachi Grill offers Japanese food with a Mexican twist.

“Everyone was selling tacos, everybody was selling tortas, menudo, and pozole, so I wanted to bring to my city something that we didn’t have,” said Martin Luzanilla, the owner of Mexihanas.

During the pandemic, Martin Luzanilla was struggling financially. So he decided to take a chance and start Mexihanas, selling food out of his driveway.

“The pandemic hit, jobs were out the door. We were down to our last $2,000 in the bank and we had no other way of income or resources of income, and it was either pay the rent or get a business started that was going to help us provide for our family,” added Luzanilla.

Martin used social media to post about his food. He started off selling 10 plates, then 35, and business grew from there.

Martin did this for about a month and a half before renting out a restaurant in Long Beach, CA.

“We serve steak, chicken, shrimp, lobster, fried rice, mixed vegetables, garlic noodles, and our world famous tuna,” Luzanilla shared.

Martin said thanks to all the love from the community, he has a second location coming soon.

Website:

https://www.mexihanashibachigrill.com/

Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/mexihanashibachigrill/?hl=en

https://www.facebook.com/mexihanashibachigrill/

https://www.facebook.com/Mexihanas-Hibachi-Grill-105758777875342/

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Kenzi Hibachi Express to open in Pekin with Japanese food

Kenzie Yasa, 8, proudly displays the artwork on the side of his dad Ikomang Kembaryasa's food truck, Kenzi Hibachi Express, at its permanent location at 3324 Court St. in Pekin. The new food truck is named after Kenzie with a slight spelling change.

Kenzi Hibachi Express is coming to Pekin at least partially as a result of a Google search on the part of the restaurant’s co-owners.

When Ikomang Kembaryasa and his wife, Niwayan K.S. Utari, decided to relocate from Rockford and open a Japanese restaurant, they were searching for a community where they could break new ground. They chose Pekin because it was a community where they could be the first to offer Japanese cuisine.

“I was searching for places that don’t have a lot of Asian food,” said Kembaryasa. “When Pekin came up, we saw they don’t have any Japanese restaurants here.”

More:It’s all about street food at Peoria’s new food stand, Grill ‘Em All

The working space of Kenzi Hibachi Express is nearly ready to go with new appliances and kitchen supplies.

Kembaryasa, a chef with 15 years of experience, developed his craft working at a Japanese restaurant in Wisconsin before deciding to go into business for himself. Kenzi will feature the cuisine typical of a Japanese steakhouse — including steak, shrimp, scallops, salmon and noodle dishes — but will offer it from a mobile kitchen rather than cooking it tableside in a sit-down restaurant.

“It’s a hibachi restaurant without the show,” Kembaryasa said. “Hopefully, the community will welcome us and come and try our food.”

Kembaryasa and Utari plan to open Kenzi Hibachi Express early this month. Kembaryasa added that he intends to offer free soft drinks, including Japanese sodas, with each order for the first two weeks. Utari believes the restaurant’s location at 3324 Court St. will give it the advantage of visibility.

“I think

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