If Jiko was my best tasting meal of the trip, Teppan Edo was my best overall experience!
The last time I ate here was 2003 - when it was Mitsukoshi Teppanyaki. On my 2007 trip it was closed for renovations, so this was my first chance to try the new place out. I love Japanese Hibachi restaurants. When I got to California to visit family, my favorite place to go is called The Mikado which is at the Marriott in Palm Springs. You take a boat to the restaurant and overall you get the royal treatment from the staff. But I digress...
I arrived at Teppan Edo and the place was PACKED! Since it shares a waiting area with Tokyo Dining I imagine this is often the case. Despite the crowd, I checked in with ease and got my buzzer. I was buzzed about 15 minutes later and was seated with 3 other parties, two couples and a group of three (a couple and their friend). I sat between the wife of one of the couples and the friend from the group of three.
There were two waitresses serving us that night. One was the "head" girl who took the orders and the other helped with drinks and what not. I liked that they offered forks at the beginning of the meal to everyone. I don't think that anyone took one, but I often find that when people aren't offered one, they are too embarrassed to ask and then struggle to eat the whole meal.
We ordered drinks first and waited while the waitress explained the dining plan options to the two parties who were using it. It's funny to me that people don't know what's included, shows to go you that I spend wayyyyy too much time on these boards
We placed our orders for food and soon the chef arrived at the table. While he was cooking I talked with the other folks at the table and learned that two of them were from one town over from where I was buying my house. And their family owned a fish market that is down the street from me! The Chef, Tom, heard us talking and told us that he too had lived in that town at one time! It was so funny...3 people I had never met in my life and we all had so much in common.
For a starter I got the Crispy Sukiyaki Beef Roll. It's basically thin sliced beef and I think scallions (?) rolled up in rice like sushi and then cooked on the grill. It was delicious! I eat sushi, but usually only the vegetarian kind. This was a new one for me and I really enjoyed it.
For my entree I ordered the steak and shrimp combo. Not quite the Filet and Lobster combo I got back in 2003 (verified thanks to the awesome Internet Way Back Machine!!!) but you can't have it all, right?
Tom was all business when it came to cooking. He did not even attempt to put on a show like the others often do - except for the Onion Volcano of course
. But you know what? I didn't mind. We were all having such great conversation and a good time with him that I don't think anybody missed it.
The steak was cooked perfectly and the shrimp was seasoned just right. I'm not a seafood eater except for crab for the most part, but I love the way that shrimp and lobster is seasoned at the Japanese restaurants so I almost always end up getting it.
For dessert I had the chocolate ginger cake (no picture!) It was okay, but it was just cake. It didn't have a strong ginger flavor which I was hoping for.
I said goodbye to my fellow diners and attempted to leave the restaurant. Apparently I wasn't paying attention when we walked in because I got stuck in the restaurant! I didn't realize that you had to exit into the hall to get out. I kept trying to walk towards what I thought was the entrance, boy was that dumb! I couldn't figure out why the aisles were so narrow...
Eventually I made my way out, but it took me a while!
! I just can't help myself. At home, I have the fattest squirrels ... my SIL says I make all the animals around me fat ... I feed them too much!
