There’s a reason why fast food is every college student’s best friend.
Craving a burger? Go to In-N-Out.
Chinese? Head over to Panda Express.
A fast fix of chicken teriyaki? Cue Roboto Tokyo Grill.
Roboto Tokyo Grill is located on the southwest corner of El Cajon Boulevard and College Avenue, two doors away from boba heaven, Tea Station.
From the outside, Roboto Tokyo Grill looks like any other fast food joint.
On the inside, it is every Asian food lover’s dream come true.
Patrons can choose from different proteins prepared spicy or hibachi (grilled in garlic butter grilled with teriyaki sauce).
This includes chicken, steak, shrimp, mahi mahi or tofu and vegetables for non-meat eaters.
Each entree comes with a side of rice and sauteed vegetables. The choices for carbohydrates are brown rice, white rice, noodles and fried rice.
The vegetables are sauteed to perfection, and though it is a Japanese fast food restaurant, kimchi is also served as a side.
The portions are sizable and served in a bento box depending on what the patron orders.
Roboto Tokyo Grill also offers an elaborate range of sushi rolls, which puts the restaurant in a completely different league of fast food franchises.
A complete meal without extra sides costs less than $10, while the sushi rolls are an additional $4.95 to $5.95.
“I’m usually quite picky when it comes to Asian food, but I couldn’t believe the quality and flavor at Roboto,” frequent patron Zian Ang said. “I’ll probably come back every time I’m in the San Diego college area.”
Another entree that worth mentioning is the bulgogi (another Korean flavor) beef set.
The menu describes it as thinly sliced ribeye, marinated in sweet garlic soy sauce.
While the Roboto Tokyo Grill chefs seem to have perfected the art of cooking steak, the bulgogi is a sublime choice for those who prefer a sweet and savory palate.
The highlight of the experience isn’t on the menu, but instead is called “spicy yum yum.”
It’s Roboto Tokyo Grill’s own concoction of delectable, spicy ranch sauce that customers can drench all over their steak hibachi.
It’s the small details such as this sauce and bento boxes that set Roboto Tokyo Grill apart from other fast food joints.
