Hibachi Fresh in Front Royal offers Asian cuisine ‘without the show’ | Winchester Star

FRONT ROYAL — Dustin Finnell developed a love of Asian cuisine as a child, cultivating his skills at cooking authentic dishes as he got older.

When he became frustrated with a lack of restaurant options near a retail store he owns in Bridgewater, Finnell opened a food truck offering Asian dishes.

“I’ve been cooking all my life, especially Asian food. It’s my favorite, always has been. So I just got good at cooking it,” Finnell said. He hired professional chefs to work in the food truck, but working conditions — too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter — led him to explore the option of a brick and mortar business.

In December, Hibachi Fresh opened at 460 S. Commerce Ave. in Front Royal, bringing that dream to reality.

“I’ve always been a risk taker and had good support with my family. And here we are,” Finnell said from a booth in the airy restaurant.

Hibachi Fresh offers made-to-order cuisine “without the show,” Finnell said. The menu includes a wide variety of meals cooked hibachi style with fresh vegetables, no MSG and fully customizable to meet dietary needs like gluten intolerance and allergies. It also offers Asian dishes that are popular with Americans — General Tso’s, Orange Chicken and sweet and sour items.

Open seven days a week, the restaurant serves breakfast and lunch. Lunch specials are priced from $10 and offer a lighter alternative.

“With hibachi, I can eat it two or three times a week,” he said, adding that meals are made more versatile by using white rice, fried rice or lo mein. “And it’s not bad for you. You’re not weighed down after lunch.”

Online ordering is available, Finnell said, noting that about 90% of the restaurant’s orders are takeout. Hibachi Fresh will begin selling beer and wine when its ABC license is approved.

Finnell also plans to start hosting bands and events at the restaurant.

The business has been a labor of love.

Finnell and his father, Bobby Finnell, gutted the space, expanding the kitchen, replacing the floor and bathrooms and painting throughout. Custom graphic art and high, black-painted ceilings give the space a clean, modern look.

“It was a complete renovation — a lot of blood, sweat and tears,” Finnell said, noting that he hopes to franchise the restaurant. “Going into the next one, we know exactly what we’re doing.”

As with any startup, the restaurant has had some issues — from finding reliable employees to delays with its hood installation and air conditioning troubles.

Noting that the restaurant’s opening was highly anticipated, Finnell said he was overwhelmed with the initial response.

“The town has been great. People have been great,” he said, adding that he has had support from his family. “My dad has been a big part of it. He’s an idea guy.”

Finnell said he oversees quality control, striving to develop consistency in dishes.

Father to two sons, Finnell said “they’re a big reason I work so hard. I want this to be theirs.”

For more information, visit hibachi-fresh.com.