You might drive through, be

distracted by T.V.s behind your spouse's head, crack your own peanuts

or sip latte at a table in the corner. But there is nothing quite like

Japanese Hibachi.

This is not just dining, it's

entertainment. From flashing knives to blazing fires, cooking comedy to

juicy steak, E-KA Japanese Steakhouse is more than a restaurant.

A short drive from Fayette

County, E-KA is located on Bullsboro, also known as Ga. Highway 34. From

Fayetteville or Peachtree City, it's a matter of taking Ga. Highway

54 toward Newnan until it becomes Hwy. 34. And it's worth the drive.

Mike Callahan, a firefighter

in Brooks, and his wife Michele like to bring their three-year-old son

Bradley to E-KA.

"We love it," said

Michele. "Bradley eats well here. They're always friendly."

Her favorite dish is the filet

mignon, and she always starts with something from the sushi bar, usually

California roll.

The Callahans are regulars;

they are in every two weeks or so. "We've

never had any problem with

any of our food here," said Michele. "That's why we keep

coming back."

Mike is more likely to order

the scallops. "The food is great. The chefs know how to cook the

seafood," he said. "You can't get the scallops like this

anywhere else."

He usually asks for his favorite

chef, Leo Yi, the manager of E-KA and a hibachi chef for over 15 years.

Leo Yi emphasizes the health

aspects of the food over the entertainment. "You can see the food

as it cooks. You know what kind of meat and what kind of vegetables we

are using. Other restaurants may be using frozen beef.

"We use fresh oil with

every table," he continued. "Other restaurants reuse oil to

cook their food."

A far cry from the deep fat

fryer, the sushi bar is the best health bet in town. "I think sushi

is the best food for you in the world," said owner Lee Bradshaw,

Leo Yi's sister. "It's so healthy - lots of protein."

Bradshaw is quick to let customers

know that not all sushi is raw fish - the shrimp, crap, eel and octopus

are all cooked.

Master Chef Peter Yi, who formerly

was the number-one sushi chef in Manhattan, prepares all of the sushi

at E-KA. His hands fly through delicate cuts of the freshest fish -

some 20 choices. Leo Yi says that the criteria for a good sushi chef is

that "the sushi tastes good, is prepared fast and looks good. All

great sushi chefs have to be that way - all three, all the time."

E-KA, celebrating its third

anniversary, is a family-run operation. The family name, Yi, is pronounce

like a long "e." Ka means house or family. So when Lee Bradshaw

or Leo's wife Yuna greets you at the door, they are inviting you

into their home for dinner. And the hospitality follows.

Every meal comes with soup

and salad with a choice of two dressings made in house from Leo Yi's

recipe. All the sauces are homemade, too, with no preservatives.

Leo says that Americans love

their steak. "Our grill is quick and hot. Well done is still very

tender and juicy. And we don't use any MSG."

It's possible that people

come as much for the entertainment as the food. "The food is wonderful.

The showmanship is great," said Simone Lowin of SummerGrove. "The

kids love it."

Lunch prices start at $4.95,

with a Fried Rice and Chicken or Fried Rice and Steak special. Dinners

start at $10.95 for Veggie Lovers and $12.95 for chicken. The high end

of the menu is the Seafood Lovers meal at $25.95.

Tips are automatically added

to the check, although many customers choose to contribute additional

gratuity for a particularly good show and service.

Birthdays are big at E-KA.

Any person who comes in to celebrate this year's birthday, and gives

a mailing address, is sent $10 gift certificates in the following years.

That's E-KA's way. Many people will celebrate their anniversary

at E-KA as well.

E-KA has facilities for large

and small parties, including a full bar, sushi bar, karaoke room, and

three private rooms for hibachi. Lee Bradshaw said that they are currently

booking for Christmas. For more information or to book a party at E-KA,

call 770-251-0028

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