Mr. Stirfry thrives on variety

How about more than 100 different items?

Mr. Stirfry, which opened Jan. 22, is a Hibachi grill and buffet located in the former Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts store and just around the corner from Hobby Lobby at Southern Square Mall.

"The owner is You Li," explained restaurant manager Wendy Huang. "He and others thought this area was a good one to locate the restaurant because it was so accessible to people in the three-state area of Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota."

The name references the style of food preparation, Huang said.

"Stirfry refers to the Hibachi grill and Mr. refers to the owner and our chefs," she noted. "Mrs. wouldn't fit because stirfry is usually associated with a guy who is accomplished with the stirfry style."

Mr. Stirfry is the largest restaurant in Sioux City and the surrounding area. The buffet features 10 free-standing tables in an area 100 feet wide by 120 feet long. The restaurant seats about 230 people.

"We have a wide selection of favorite foods, including Chinese, Japanese, American, Italian and Mexican items on our supreme buffet," Huang said.

Traditional features include Mongolian Beef and Cashew Chicken. One island features Chinese appetizers such as egg rolls. Beef pies at one island might take a customer by surprise. Hot sour soup, egg drop soup and seafood soup are staples offered at each meal.

Entrees are enhanced with a variety of sides, such as green beans, corn, rice, noodles, potatoes, and fried dumplings

"Our fish offerings are extensive," Huang said. "We have muscles, salmon, baby clams, salt and pepper squid, crab, cool shrimp, and octopus.

For those who like to start their dining experience with a salad, the salad bar has the traditional greens and accoutrements with a variety of dressings. A presentation of sliced bananas dipped in a strawberry glaze is eye-catching.

To top off the meal is an extensive display of desserts.

"We have fresh fruit every day and different kinds of pastries and cookies," Huang said. "We also have individual cups of ice cream in a freezer."

The main feature of Mr. Stirfry is the Hibachi Style Grill.

"You can select your own meats and vegetables and have it cooked by a professional hibachi chef while watching your meal be prepared right in front of you," Huang said.

Customers can choose chicken, beef and/or pork and add bean sprouts, lo mein noodles, onions, and peppers, for their grilling pleasure.

If you're a sushi fan, Mr. Stirfry offers a daily sushi bar with a selection of freshly prepared sushi, including vegetable rolls and rolls with salmon.

"Typically, at lunch, we have eight varieties," Huang said. "At dinner we have as many as 16."

Huang felt Mr. Stirfry provided a healthy alternative to other restaurants in the area.

"We have fresh ingredients, delicious sauces and quick service," she said.

For those individuals who are vegetarian, the large salad buffet with many vegetables, many toppings and a wide variety of dressings made fresh daily work well for that choice, Huang said.

Like the menu, Huang said the customers are equally diverse.

"During the day we have business professionals and in the evening, there are lots of families, and on the weekends, we have many couples," she said. "People come to enjoy the many options we serve."

Among the most popular at Mr. Stirfry are the cheese wonton, the coconut shrimp and the fried fish.

"But most important is we want the customer to feel relaxed and comfortable in our restaurant," Huang said.