Teppanyaki

Teppanyaki: A spectacular entertainment of premium Wagyu beef and dancing flames playing out right before your eyes. A front-row seat to the intersection of Japan's finest ingredients and master craftsmanship.

What is Teppanyaki?

Teppanyaki is not just a cooking method; it is an immersive "experience." Hand-selected premium Wagyu beef and fresh seafood are transformed into ultimate delicacies on a searing hot, heavy iron griddle, accompanied by the chef's sharp, rhythmic spatula skills.

History & Origin

Often mistaken for an ancient tradition, modern Teppanyaki was actually invented in 1945 at a restaurant called "Misono" in Kobe. It began as a way to cook Western-style steak on a traditional Japanese iron griddle. The theatrical performances were later developed specifically to entertain foreign tourists who found traditional Japanese dining too quiet.

Local Variants

• Kobe Beef Teppanyaki: The ultimate luxury dining experience designed to maximize the sweetness and melt-in-your-mouth texture of world-renowned, beautifully marbled Wagyu.
• Okonomiyaki / Monjayaki: The complete opposite of high-end dining—these are casual, soul-food dishes where diners sit around a built-in iron griddle and cook their own savory pancakes.

Authentic Eating & Etiquette

• The Magic of Garlic Chips: A hallmark of authentic Japanese Teppanyaki. Thinly sliced garlic is fried on the griddle to a golden crisp. Eating a chip alongside a piece of steak magnifies the umami tenfold.
• The Garlic Rice Finale: At the end of a high-end course, the chef will use the rendered fat and savory juices left behind from cooking the steak to stir-fry a bowl of Garlic Rice directly on the griddle—a glorious conclusion to the feast.
• Saying "Itadakimasu": When the chef places the masterpiece on your plate, placing your hands together and saying "Itadakimasu" (I gratefully receive) is a beautiful gesture of respect.

Trivia

In the West, Teppanyaki restaurants are frequently mislabeled as "Hibachi." In Japan, a hibachi is actually a traditional, open-grate charcoal heater. Anything cooked on a solid, flat iron plate is exclusively called "Teppanyaki."

Taboos & Warnings