Hibachi Thrills, Wine List Chills
West McKinney / Eldorado Pkwy · McKinney · Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed June 28, 2026
Wingman Metrics
Eleven bottles, all California, all names you've seen in the grocery store checkout line. The wine list here reads less like a curated program and more like someone grabbed whatever was on sale at Costco and called it a day. It's not offensive — it's just completely uninspired.
The entire list is a California greatest-hits package from the late 1990s: Kendall-Jackson, Robert Mondavi Coastal, Hess Select, J Lohr, Rodney Strong, and Beringer White Zin making a deeply unwelcome cameo. There's no regional diversity, no attempt at anything remotely interesting, and zero effort to match the wine program to the actual food being served — which, to be fair, is dramatic hibachi theater that deserves something more exciting than Black Stone Merlot. The list tops out at 11 labels with zero bottles above $44, which sounds budget-friendly until you check retail prices and realize the markups aren't doing you any favors.
All 11 bottles are available by the glass, which technically makes this an all-BTG list — but when the list itself is this shallow, that's not a win. Pours run $8 to $14.50, with Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio hitting the ceiling at $14.50 a glass, a price point that strains credibility for what amounts to a perfectly adequate but unremarkable Italian white.
J Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon — $38/bottle
J Lohr Seven Oaks is a reliable, food-friendly Cabernet that holds up against the bold hibachi flavors without embarrassing anyone. It's the most defensible bottle on a list that doesn't give you many good choices.
Hess Select Chardonnay
Nobody orders this, but Hess Select punches above its weight — leaner and less oakbombed than Kendall-Jackson, which makes it a cleaner match with sushi and lighter hibachi dishes. Overlooked for no good reason.
Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio
At $14.50 a glass or $43 a bottle, you're paying a significant premium for a wine that retails around $20. Santa Margherita is perfectly drinkable but it's one of the most overpriced wines in any restaurant, anywhere — and this list is no exception.
Cavit Pinot Grigio + Hibachi Shrimp
Light, crisp, and unobjectionable, Cavit Pinot Grigio is the least-bad option alongside hibachi shrimp — the wine's neutral profile won't fight the garlic butter and won't get bulldozed by the grill char.
❌ The Bottom Line
Shogun is a fun night out for the hibachi experience — but the wine list is purely functional and not worth overthinking. Order a sake, enjoy the fire show, and save your serious wine questions for somewhere else.
Stonebriar · McKinney · New American / Grill
Seasons 52 is a chain that takes its wine list more seriously than it has any obligation to, and the result is a reliable, if pricey, experience that outperforms most of its competition in the upscale casual lane. Send a friend here with confidence — just steer them away from the obvious bottles and toward the Petite Sirah.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Seasonal Rotation
Proper
Eldorado & US 75 · McKinney · Italian
Carrabba's McKinney is exactly what it is — a reliable chain with a wine list that gets out of the way and lets you have a decent dinner. The port selection alone edges it above lazy, and for a casual suburban Italian night, you could do worse.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
University Drive / US 380 · McKinney · Italian-American
The wine list at Olive Garden McKinney is a corporate afterthought that charges mid-range restaurant prices for grocery store-tier pours. Come for the Fettuccine Alfredo and the endless breadsticks — but if wine is important to your night, this is not your place.
Crowd Pleasers
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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