Before I start this piece I need to make a culinary confession: I love hibachi.

I moonlight as a professional magician and have always had a fascination with sleight of hand, jugglers, fire eaters, and other circus side-show acts. With hibachi you get the entertainment value provided by a juggler or fire eater, but at the end of the performance instead of applauding and going home, you get a piping hot meal that has just been prepared masterfully (in the best of cases) before your eyes. However, if you’re not already a fan of this intentionally over-the-top dinner theater, then odds are, as good as it is, Hibachi Sushi Ya , a new hibachi and sushi restaurant in Fairfield, won’t change your mind. But for my fellow lovers of the volcano flaming onion, twirling and flipping steak knives, Hibachi Sushi Ya is a not-to-be-missed high-end hibachi hotspot.

When it’s done right hibachi is fun, silly and ultimately sizzlingly delicious, and Hibachi Sushi Ya certainly does hibachi right. The restaurant opened its doors earlier this summer. The restaurant’s head chef is Alex, who is dedicated to presenting traditional Japanese ingredients in fun and creative ways.

The new restaurant is located in 111 Old Kings Hwy North Darien. As guests enter the first thing they notice is the koi fish pond, and a classic sushi bar space where guests can eat without the excitement or rigmarole of the hibachi dining experience. Beyond this space is the hibachi dining room. It’s wide and airy, The hibachi experience is expertly executed; there’s the roaring fireball flaming oil display that starts the experience (and singes your eyebrows if you get too close), the juggled and flipped steak blades, the kitschy but delightful jokes, the fun and awkwardness of sitting down next to complete strangers and watching as your shared dinner is prepared in front of you.Despite above-average performance presentation, where Hibachi Sushi Ya really separates itself from the competition is in the food that ultimately arrives on your plate. The food is well-prepared from excellent ingredients and tastes good without making you feel like you’ve swallowed a gallon of lard.

Beyond the hibachi experience Hibachi Sushi Ya also features a delectable assortment of sushi rolls, including chef’s special rolls which is very popular.

Whether you’re just trying the sushi or indulging in the whole hibachi experience, Hibachi Sushi Ya provides excellent Japanese fusion. It’s a particularly worthwhile dining option for those of you, who like myself, love the fun and theatrics of hibachi.