How "authentic" is Teppan Edo?

[Mrs. Charming]

We've got a local Benihana, and a local hibachi-style restaurant. DH wants to try Teppan Edo. Is it more or less Americanized than say, Benihana, or about the same?

 

[ROEDISNEY]

I think it's very Authentic. All the CM's are from Japan. Love it a must do every trip.

 

[MHSweb79]

I think you'll find it very very similar to Benihana. We have a local hibachi-style Japanese restaurant and I find it more "authentic" than Teppan Edo.

That said, we love Teppan Edo and try to eat there on every trip!

 

[BriarRosie]

I've been to a variety of hibachi style Japanese places. I didn't realize there was a difference between Benihana and any other place. IMHO, they are pretty much interchangable.

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Thanks!

I'm just so torn, we already eat in the places at home, will it be just like doing it at home? There are so many other restaurants, and I don't want to use up a dining credit on Teppan Edo when there's somewhere else (like Marrakesh!) that we really enjoy instead. (The closest Moroccan restaurant is well over an hour away.)

::sigh:: Choices, choices. At least I still have a month to decide!

 

[Goofy4]

I know nothing about how authentic it might be, but I completely enjoyed our meal Saturday. All the ladies (lady chef too) were beyond pleasant and the chef was very entertaining.

 

[disneyag]

Very much like Benihana. In fact, our chef was from Dallas!

 

[MarilIncredible]

Exactly like any local hibachi-style place in anytown, USA. The food is just fine, but not unique to me. I actually like my local Fuji Japanese Steak House better.

I will admit, I don't really find the WS restaurants to be terribly unique in general. For the most part, I find them to be like your typical chain places, some a little better [Le Cellier] and some a little worse [San Angel]. But I can by and large get better food and service at home. It is more about the experience when you are at Disney, IMHO.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Actually, from a historic perspective, the "Benihana of Tokyo" chain originated in New York City. They are the ones who originated the concept of the grill built into the table. And a few years ago I walked past the restaurant in Tokyo, where the name actually was "Benihana of New York".

 

[Luv4Disney]

Last time we went to Teppan Edo, the chef was American - blonde hair, blue eyed. Not "authentic" by any means lol. My husband and I kind of looked at each other like, "seriously?"

 

[KarenC]

In Tokyo, the Benihana is called Benihana of New York. As I understand it, teppanyaki is pretty much an American creation. That said, Teppan Edo is one of my WDW favorites and it's on our "must do" list for every trip.

 

[medman]

If you live near a Benihana, don't bother with Teppan Ido, in my opinion. Use your credits elsewhere. Also, when we went, it was very warm outside, about 95 degrees, and absolutely boiling inside. The A/C was not working well at all. By the time the meal was over we all felt nauseated and didn't want to see the rest of world showcase.

I hope that this problem has been fixed, but I won't go back because there are better restaurants to use credits on.

 

[chartle]

In Tokyo, the Benihana is called Benihana of New York. As I understand it, teppanyaki is pretty much an American creation. That said, Teppan Edo is one of my WDW favorites and it's on our "must do" list for every trip.

If you read this it pretty much explains that teppanyaki, the correct name for the cooking style, may have started in Japan in 1945, but quickly became a Japanese/American style of cooking. Not as bad as Chop Suey or the Fortune cookie but close.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teppanyaki

 

[sahummel]

I thought it was more authentic than any of the similar hibachi style restaurants I've ever been to.

 

[DbleTheFun]

It is authentic, if you are comparing it against the Americanized Hibatchi Benihana style restaurants that have sprouted up across North America. However, it is not authentic in the sense of something that you would find in Japan. My mother is of Japanese descent, and we are purposely going on the night after she leaves (She is with us for 5 nights, while we are there for 7) because she doesnt find this type of restaurant "real Japanese food"... that being said, it's excellent and we love it... it's just not traditional Japanese food! For that I be would be more inclined to reccomend Tokyo Dining.

 

[91Coupe]

We went there last Oct. and loved it. It is very similar to Japanese Restaurants in our area. I bet you will never find an Onion Volcano stacked as high at a local restaurant. I don't remember any fire so as not to scare toddlers I would guess. If you go you will not be dissappointed. This has joined our list of must do along with Cape May and Donald's Breakfast and Sci-Fi Theater for dinner.

 

[nytimez]

We went there last Oct. and loved it. It is very similar to Japanese Restaurants in our area. I bet you will never find an Onion Volcano stacked as high at a local restaurant. I don't remember any fire so as not to scare toddlers I would guess. If you go you will not be dissappointed. This has joined our list of must do along with Cape May and Donald's Breakfast and Sci-Fi Theater for dinner.

I lived in Japan for many years and still go back often.

I have to say that Benihana-style restaurants are not very common. Usually you find them in the big Western tourist hotels or outside the U.S. military bases. What I'm trying to say is, whether it's Benihana or Teppan Edo, whether the staff is Japanese or not, it's not an "authentic" Japanese dining experience.

The counter service place there, on the other hand, is actually only slightly Americanized -- it's very much like a Japanese take-out place you might find in Tokyo. The funny thing about that one, though, is that it's called "Yakitori House," but serves no yakitori. Those are skewers of chicken, basically bar food in Japan.

 

[Belle5]

Most of the complaints I have seen about Teppan Edo (Teppanyaki in the day) over the years have been from people who frequent Benihana-style restaurants at home. The people who seem to be the most satisfied are those who do not frequent those kinds of places. Teppan Edo is a treat to them--something "different" and so tasty. I think folks who regularly have this kind of food have an idea of what things should be like or taste like or what should be included with the meal.

Having said all that, we love Teppan Edo!

 

[stormtracker]

We have no such places near us so Teppan Edo is a must do for us. Authentic or not, it is darn tasty food with a nice little show.

 

[rani8600]

i also lived in japan...and im not saying it does exist, BUT i never saw such a place while i lived there. I did not live in a touristy city though