Hibachi & Co.’s fast and fresh food wins best takeout

Hibachi & Co. is known by Chapel Hill locals and UNC students alike as providing fresh food quickly with large portions and low prices, which is why it won the 2021 Carolina’s Finest Award for having the best takeout in Chapel Hill.

This casual restaurant is building a loyal following not only in Chapel Hill, but also in the Triangle area in general, with other locations in Fuquay-Varina, Lillington and, soon, Raleigh. 

“We’re one of the best takeout restaurants on Franklin Street because we’re quick, we use nothing but fresh ingredients and we are always on point with our food and always receive positive comments,” said manager Kevin Griffin. 

Hibachi & Co. combines healthy and authentic Japanese food, made with crisp vegetables and freshly cooked rice or noodles, with the concept of fast food. Nothing at the restaurant comes in a can – the vegetables are cut and prepared every three hours and all of the sauces are made in the store.

And while the chefs take pride in providing customers' orders as quickly as possible, customers know the food is fresh because they can watch the cooks prepare the food in the open kitchen just behind the counter. Vegetables and a choice of meat with rice or noodles, cooked either hibachi or teriyaki style, comes out of the kitchen almost as fast as orders are placed.

“We work really hard to make sure that every order is as good as it can be for everybody, and I think that has a lot to do with why we won the award,” cashier Brittani Nicholson said. “We take our time to do everything as well as we can, and we always do what we’ve learned is best for our customers.”

Go try it for yourself and pick up fresh and delicious takeout in record time at Hibachi & Co. You can also choose to take your time and dine in at the restaurant at 153 E. Franklin St.