TEPPANYAKI IN JAPAN: HOW IS IT DIFFERENT TO WHAT YOU MIGHT EXPECT?
I get asked probably once a week about where to book a good teppanyaki restaurant in Japan.
The thing is…. casual teppanyaki where they throw the food etc. …. is ( I hate to be a a downer but…) is a borrowed idea by the West now.
I remember going to a teppanyaki place in Melbourne with a Japanese exchange student who thought the throwing the egg and catching the rice in the bowl thing was hilarious and entertaining but also commented that this has nothing to do with Japan.
So, what is the deal with teppanyaki in Japan then?
Teppanyaki in Japan is amazing. It is more about the culinary experience than entertainment.
It is the kind of dining treat you might save for a birthday or anniversary or a really special ( lucky?) date.
The price tag will most likely match the ‘ special vibe ‘ too and, if your budget allows, then I do recommend trying it.
For an amazing teppanyaki experience in Tokyo, I recommend :
– Aoyama Gyusai in Aoyama ( Lunch for 3000 yen, Dinner for 13,000 yen0
-Ginmeisui in Ginza (Lunch for 5000 yen, Dinner for 15,000 yen)
– Sekishintei in The Hotel Otani ( Lunch and Dinner from 10,000 yen)
– Keyakizaka Teppanyaki in the Grand Hyatt Roppongi ( Lunch for 6,000 yen and Dinner for 20,000 yen)
– Romantei in Azabujuban ( Lunch for 5000 yen, Dinner for 10,000 yen)
This place in Akasaka is also lovely.
Teppanyaki Sato. It is 5 mins walk from Akasaka Station (Exit 1) or 8 mins walk from Akasaka-Mitsuke Station.
I have written about how teppanyaki is probably different to what you are expecting here so please have a read before you make a reservation. For this restaurant you will need to budget around 12,000 yen per person. You wil definitely need to make a reservation here. It is cozy and cute and so yummy. It’s a really special place to eat at as a family.
They do accept credit cards here. Please note that there is a service charge of 500 yen for each person – and, just like in many Japanese restaurants, as a thank you for that service charge you will receive a small tapas size seasonal dish to try ( you don’t have to eat it if you don’t want to.) The entire restaurant is non-smoking. Children and babies are welcome (please let them know ages when you make the reservation.)
It’s a little bit hidden so leave time to go on a bit of a hunt for this place (with google maps in hand.)
It’s best to get your hotel to book this spot on your behalf.
TEPPANYAKI SATO
港区赤坂4-12-4 タンゴハイツ赤坂 1F
GROUND FLOOR, TANGO HEIGHTS BUILDING, 4-12-4 AKASAKA, MINATO-KU
OPEN MON-SAT 6PM-10PM
CLOSED SUNDAYS
See here for other family-friendly things to see and do in Akasaka.
See here for some Kobe options if you would like to eat Kobe Beef in Kobe.
There is also a beautiful teppanyaki steak place in Gion in Kyoto (children 10 years and older only, though)
My family-friendly Teppanyaki options in Osaka are listed here.
I also like this Teppanyaki restaurant near JR Hamamatsucho Station, Tokyo
Teppanyaki Seto Steakhouse. This restaurant welcomes children and also has space to store strollers while you dine. This restaurant is non-smoking and do accept most major credit cards. Budget wise: I would budget for approximately 3000 yen per adult at lunch and more like 13,000 yen at dinner time. Please note that there is a 5% service charge at dinner time. This restaurant serves Wagyu Hamburger Steak and Wagyu Fillet Steak with Foie Gras. I recommend making a reservation AND asking to sit at the counter so that you can watch your meal being prepared.
Here is a link to the Teppanyaki Seto lunch menu and here is a link to the dinner menu. This restaurant is 1 min walk from Hamamatsucho Station (South Exit.)
This is quite a high end restaurant so I recommend bringing some colouring or stickers for kids to play with while waiting for their food instead of bringing ipads.
TEPPANYAKI SETO STEAKHOUSE
港区浜松町2-6-5 浜松町エクセレントビル204
2ND FLOOR, 204 HAMAMATSUCHO EXCELLENT BUILDING , 2-6-5 HAMAMATSUCHO, MINATO-KU
OPEN FOR LUNCH 11:30AM-2PM (LAST ORDERS 1:30PM)
OPEN FOR DINNER 6PM-10PM
CLOSED SUNDAYS & NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
Are there cheaper ways to do teppanyaki in Japan?
Well as you can see from the recommendations above, it is definitely cheaper to go out for lunch over dinner.
Another option is to go much more local and choose more of a businessman style off teppanyaki, often where okonomiyaki (Japanese style omelette) and yakisoba ( noodles cooked on the teppanyaki hot plate) are also made, along with the teppanyaki meat and vegetables.
This definitely switches the genre from fine dining to family comfort food but it is still fun to see the food cooked right in front of you.
So technically this is no longer called Teppanyaki but the food is still cooked on the teppan (the hot plate) in front of you and is more about the bustling atmosphere and lively chat with food and drink in hand.
Read here for how to order a vegetarian version of okonomiyaki
Some Tokyo suggestions of mine are:
-President Chibo in Hiroo or Ginza (Lunch for 2500 yen, Dinner for 5000 yen)
– Teppan Baby in Shinjuku ( Lunch for 2500 yen , Dinner for 3500 yen )
– Sometaro in Kamakura or Asakusa ( Lunch & Dinner for 2000 yen)
– I also recommend the Botejyu chain. They are all over Japan. ( Lunch for 1500 yen, Dinner for 4000 yen)
– Kotegaeshi in Shibuya ( Lunch for 1200 yen, Dinner for 2000 yen )
– Hona in MotoAzabu ( Dinner for 5000 yen)
– Sazanka within the Hotel Okura ( Lunch for 5000-10,000 yen, Dinner for 11,000 – 16,000 yen) * Also available in Kobe & Nagoya.
And if you were mainly wanting teppanyaki for the ‘vibe’?
I honestly think that you would also be really happy at Gonpachi (aka Kill Bill restaurant) in Roppongi. This is not a teppanyaki or an okonomiyaki restaurant but the restaurant feels like you’re actually dining outside, it is bustling and noisy and full of sizzling food sights and has lots of different kinds of food on the menu.
