text: It's a good thing that Kabuki has a fun, relaxed atmosphere, because the food is nothing to shout about and the service is a weird combination of hectic yet slow.\n\nTo be fair, Japanese food in Arizona is a dicey proposition at best, especially after years in Seattle have spoiled me forever for good Asian food. And at least the layout and feel of Kabuki is open and welcoming, allowing for both big groups and a small, more intimate setting. The free edamame before the meal is a nice touch (I enjoyed it) but not for everyone.\n\nSome would say that a good Japanese restaurant is made or broken on its sushi, and if that were true then Kabuki comes in with a resounding \"meh.\" The portions are nice and big but the sushi itself fails to thrill. For my money, though, it's the Katsu that's the mark of a great Japanese place, and once again Kabuki just doesn't impress. Their Tonkatsu (breaded and fried pork) is bland and unremarkable, with a katsu sauce that tastes a little too much like fancy ketchup.\n\nWe had a big group, but the service was much slower than it needed to be, yet the servers seemed to be running around pretty frantically the whole time, often forgetting which dish went with which person, and even better, occasionally forgot what they were carrying.\n\nKabuki has the feel of a new restaurant still trying to figure out what it's doing. Given some time and refinement of their menu, it has the potential to be that rare thing - a good Japanese restaurant in the desert. Until then, it's only average.