I had an evening out with the boys again, exploring some of the new menu items. Unfortunately, the Teriyaki Chicken Bowl was a major letdown.
The dish completely missed the mark in both flavor and balance. The teriyaki sauce, which should have been the star, was overly sour and lacked the sweetness and depth that one expects from a well-made teriyaki. It overwhelmed the dish rather than enhancing it.
The bowl itself was poorly constructed. It contained an overwhelming amount of cabbage, making the dish feel cheap and unbalanced. While cabbage can be a great filler, the sheer volume made it seem like the focus was on cutting costs rather than providing a satisfying meal.
Worst of all, the chicken—the highlight of the dish—was practically nonexistent. There were just a few small, dry pieces scattered among the sea of cabbage, making it feel like the protein was an afterthought. A well-executed chicken teriyaki bowl should have tender, flavorful chicken as the centerpiece, but this dish failed to deliver on that promise.
I ended up picking out the meager bits of chicken, leaving behind the unappetizing pile of cabbage, and ultimately sent the dish back unfinished. It’s rare for me to be this disappointed by a meal, but this one left a lasting impression for all the wrong reasons.
This was a truly disappointing effort from Cactus Club Cafe, and I wouldn’t recommend this dish to anyone.
3/10