Hibachi House Spicy Teriyaki Chicken

January 4, 2008 | Reviewer: Abi

Hibachi House Spicy Teriyaki Chicken SRP: $5.00
Serving: 1 cup, 5.1oz.
Servings Per Container: 4.5
Calories: 240 per serving
Fat: 4%, 2.5g
Cholesterol: 5%, 15mg
Sodium: 23%, 550mg
Protein: 15g
Carbs: 13%, 40g
Fiber: 4%, 1g
Weight Watchers Points: 5 Points

Hibachi House says: Tender pieces of chicken breast meat with sticky rice and spicy teriyaki sauce

Abi says: At first glance I had distinct concerns about putting a bag of frozen rice and chicken chunks in my microwave. What if they steam vents are blocked at the bag explodes? What if the chicken gets overly hot and catches fire in the bag, making my home stink of burnt plastic and charred chicken? What if the steaming technology doesn’t work and I end up with a rice and chicken soup?

All of these worries were for naught. The Hibachi House steam bag technology is essentially foolproof. Take the bag out of the box, poke a few holes in one side, set it holey-side-up in the microwave, and nuke for several minutes. Sure, there’s the possibility for extreme danger and steam burns when one removes the bag of chicken and rice from the microwave, but I’ve made a few of these Hibachi meals without sustaining injury.

The steam burn possibility is the first downside of this meal. The second thumbs-down is that Hibachi House Spicy Teriyaki Chicken lacks vegetables, which means that you’re losing out on a major source of fiber and color. I’m sure that the Hibachi people intended that we add our own vegetables rather than have them include mediocre vegetables that would possibly taint the awesomeness of the chicken. The third and final issue is the weirdly defined serving size. I would not attempt to feed a family of 4.5 with just one package from Hibachi House. No, I’d head up two packages.

So you’re probably wondering how a meal with three strikes against it gets four stars rather than a life sentence. Consistent near-perfection. The people at Hibachi House marinate and grill great cuts of chicken. Then they use their food genius to create a technology (aka plastic bag you have to poke your own holes in) that perfectly steams the sticky rice and chicken. Then they pair that wonderful rice and chicken combo with a slightly spiced teriyaki sauce that will tingle your palate. It tastes like the standard sweet teriyaki sauce that comes from your local teriyaki joint (or Whole Foods) with a bit if Sriracha thrown in.

I’m not sure I can emphasize enough just how easy and fast (less than ten minutes freezer to table) it was to make this meal for two. If you live alone or with just one other person or your children are babies or prone to fixing their own dinners, give Hibachi House meals a try. And good luck with that. This meal was free from Hibachi House and since then I’ve been looking for them in stores and haven’t seen them in DC, Seattle, or Palo Alto. I’m going to Portland, OR next week, so I’ll look for them there, but if you’ve seen these meals anywhere in your metro area, please let me know. I’ve got a Hibachi craving today.

comments

12 Responses to “Hibachi House Spicy Teriyaki Chicken”

MaryAnne on January 4th, 2008

So was one serving enough to fill you up?
Abi Jones on January 4th, 2008

No, one serving was not enough to fill me up. Slightly less than two servings was enough to make me feel very full. So I suppose somewhere between one and two ’servings’ is the ideal amount for lunch.

It isn’t diet food.
Amber on January 4th, 2008

I see these at Wal-Mart. I always pick one up, kinda look it over, and then put it back in the freezer. It’s a ritual. I always think to myself that the word “Hibachi” on the box looks violent and angry.

Anyway, yeah…
Jill on January 5th, 2008

Your right, it is rather violent looking. In fact, based off of the picture alone I would not buy it (reminds me of a sumu wrestler or something.) Then again, I am with Abi in the sense I have never seen these, too bad, I like good teriyaki.
DJ on January 5th, 2008

Yeah, I have never seen this brand in my life…boo. No where in Manhattan to be sure.

I did drive to Target in Jersey today to search for these Freschetta pizzas this site somehow got me dreaming about. Trying an individual pepperoni one tonight. MMM…
Dez on January 6th, 2008

Well, me wanty too, so I’ll keep an eye out for it in Edmonton AB Canada. It looks very much like the teryaki chicken from the food court at the mall. I would buy a bag of fancy schmancy frozen veggies to nuke with for lunch (like the Europe’s Best ones or something). And then it would go further.
Mandy on January 7th, 2008

I just picked up a couple of these at my local Wal-Mart Supercenter, thanks to your post. I’m looking forward to trying the General Tso’s Chicken for lunch today. I kept looking at them, but opting for the InnovAsians instead. If I can find these in Southwest Missouri, I’m sure they’re other places too. Keep up the great work!
DPH on February 12th, 2008

I had the General Tso’s chicken last night and it was excellent! So much better than InnovAsians. I live in a West Texas border town so asian food of any kind is hard to come by. Wal-Mart Supercenter carries them here.
Sean on February 28th, 2008

I can’t find them anywhere. Had one at costco and loved it. Where are you people finding these. Store and state. I will pay you to send some to me.
Mary Keller on March 1st, 2008

Can not find a store who caryies them in Greenville SC
Tony B. on March 5th, 2008

In Seattle you can find them at Fred Meyer’s that have grocery in them.
Sarah R. on March 12th, 2008

I had this tonight, and I am so happy that I decided to pick it up today. I never saw these meals before while shopping at two seperate Wal-Marts, but when I looked around the brand new Wal-Mart in the area, I spotted it and just had to try it. I’m excited to try the other flavors now!