Teppanyaki

Teppanyaki steakhouses in Japan are a popular way to sample authentic Japanese cuisine prepared right in front of your eyes. The method of cooking is referred to as "teppanyaki." Its name is a combination of the words teppan (which means "iron plate") and yaki (which means "grilled").

Teppanyaki adds an element of fun to the dinner table. You're seated around the chef's large grill plate, watching him expertly prepare your food right in front of your eyes. The beauty of teppan is the theatrical demonstration of the chef's culinary skills. Teppan chefs in many of the larger hotels actually perform incredible stunts, juggling razor-sharp knives, catching tiny morsels with chopsticks, and generally wowing their diners.

Teppan menus are usually course-based and feature some type of beef, ranging from the highly sought-after and expensive Kobe to lower grades. In most cases, vegetables, rice, and pickles are also included. The first modern teppanyaki-style restaurants opened in 1945, despite the fact that traditional Japanese dishes have been grilled on a flat griddle for many years. Tourists preferred these steakhouses over local Japanese diners because they combined Western and Asian cuisines.