Not Impressed with Tepan Edo

[CandleontheWater]

We had dinner at Tepan Edo on December 13th and I have to say that I was disappointed. I know that this restaurant has gotten a lot of positive reviews, and has become something of a "darling" of the internet community, but I'd like to share my experiences. We had a 7:15 ADR, and we were a big group, we took up a whole table. We checked in at 6:45 and we were finally sat around 7:45. I didn't think this was too big of a deal, we were a large group so that is understandable, but I could see how it would tick some people off.

We were seated and the server came by pretty quickly to get our drink orders, and overall the service was pretty great. We ordered the sushi sampler as an appetizer and it was alright. It wasn't anything amazing, and I'd say it was same quality sushi and nigri as you would find at a strip mall sushi buffet. You got one piece each of shrimp and yellow tail nigri and two california rolls, which I think is a pretty small portion for $8, but then again you are at the World, so it goes with the territory.

One thing I didn't particularly like is how everything is a la carte. In most hibachi-style restaurants (even the strip mall variety) soup, salad and rice are included in the price of the entree. At Tepan Edo if you want any of those things you have to pony up extra cash, and call me crazy but a bowl of Miso soup at $3.00 is highway robbery! What is included in the meal is whatever meat (or tofu) you order plus noodles and veggies. I would have preferred rice to noodles, but it didn't make that much of a difference.

They put on a decent show, it wasn't any better but it also wasn't any worse than a typical hibachi restaurant. Our server built the largest onion volcano I have ever seen, which was pretty cool, but unlike some places, it did not shoot out fire but only smoke, due to fire codes.

The food itself was really nothing to write home about. I ordered the Ebi, which is shrimp and DH ordered the shrimp and chicken. The shrimp didn't have much taste to it, and I thought mine should have been cooked just a little longer. The meals were served with three dipping sauces, ginger, soy and the ubiquitous white shrimp sauce. These were the saving grace of the meal because it gave my shrimp some much needed flavor. The noodles were OK, and the veggies were the typical onions, zucchini and mushrooms. My friend asked not to have the mushrooms included in her meal (taste preference, not an allergy) but even though they confirmed at the start of the meal that she didn't want mushrooms, the cook must have forgot and she was served them anyways. It wasn't too big of a deal, she just picked them out and gave them to my DH, but I expect Disney to stay on top of things like that.

When the check came we handed them our Tables in Wonderland card (the discount formerly known as Disney Dining Experience). The waitress politely informed us that they do not take the TIW card at the restaurant, so I ran down the discount gamut, Annual Pass- no, Disney Visa-no, DVC-no, - no discounts at all at Tepan Edo. I know I should have checked before I made the ADR, but seriously, restaurants inside of the theme parks should take the Disney discount card!! I also was really shocked when my friend (who is a castmember) tried to get her castmember discount and was denied. I’m sorry but a restaurant in a Disney Park should give Disney castmember their discount, its just bad juju not to.

All in all I have to say this was an overpriced pretty mediocre meal that we couldn’t even get a discount on. If you have even a basic hibachi restaurant near you save your money and go there when you get back, there are much better places to dine at Epcot. If you are looking for Japanese food and you are in the Epcot area, I’d highly suggest heading over to Kimonos, it is far superior.

 

[MickeyNicki]

That is one reason why we will not go there, you can get much better prices and a lot more food (plus fried rice!) at our local joints

 

[notsogoofy]

Im probably years away from even attempting table service, esp at WS..

 

[BradyBz12]

If you're looking for really good sushi - and you don't need an ADR or a pocket full of cash - definitely check out the Kona sushi bar at the Polynesian.

DH and I ate their twice in the last 2 weeks - both times the quality was tops. They don't have a large menu, but everthing there was delicious and well prepared. The Volcano Roll was our favorite and there's enough there that I could make a meal of that alone ($14). And try the Tuna Poke for something different and delicious with a little zing.

They're open from 5-10pm, and the best part... you just walk up and take a seat! There were plenty while we were there and we got our food VERY quickly. Also, they bring you the full Kona Cafe menu that you can order off as well (love that Kona salad!) Oh - and the Longboard Lager was great!

We rated the sushi here better than Puck's (which seemed kind of "off" this time around), and WAY better than Teppan Edo (I agree with your review there 100%). In fact, we put it right up there with Cal. Grill - just with a smaller selection of items.

 

[tr-ray]

We had ADR's at Tokyo Dining last year (the neighboring restaurant) and I have to say I was not thrilled, either.

I thought the food was bland, at best. We won't be returning.

 

[TarheelPrincess]

We ate at TE in October and it was really good, but you're right when you say that the chain hibachi places are just as good if not better. A small bowl of white rice came with our meals. Maybe that is no longer included. A man from another party sitting at our table was VERY upset they served noodles instead of fried rice and wanted the chef to throw his white rice on the grill with everything else. The chef stated that they don't serve fried rice b\c China does and they try not to overlap menus within the countries...maybe he ruined the rice for everyone!

 

[rentayenta]

I was thinking about adding this but maybe not now. The a la carte is a total turn off.

 

[SmallWorld71]

Sorry you didn't enjoy Teppan Edo. We ate there in August and really enjoyed it. The service was phenomenal and our chef did a nice job playing up the entertainment to the kids.

 

[segpm08060]

I ate at Tepan EDo in November, the service was very good, but the food was not as good a my local hibachi restaurant.

 

[lovndisney12]

We ate there on the 20th and all of us loved it. My brother in law and girlfriend ate there earlier in their trip and liked it as well. My DS 10 and DS 7 both picked it as one of their favorite meals of the trip. I didn't find it a la cart. We had the "meat", veggies, noodles, and a bowl of white rice all included. My DS 10 had the NY strip and said it was the best steak he had ever had - he already had the steak at Mama Melrose's and La Cellieur earlier in the trip!

Our service was good. The food was good. The enterainment was good. Prices were high just like all the other WDW restaurants we ate at the entire trip. For those who don't have a habachi grill close or want to keep the kids entertained without subjecting yourself to more characters - this was great.

 

[SpecEdismyLife]

We were happy with Teppan Edo last week, it was not the very best meal of our trip but definitely not the worst either. We have "strip mall" Teppan place down the street and we go there A LOT and it is by far better than Teppan Edo, but we did go into Teppan Edo with the expectation that everything was a la carte and there was no fried rice etc (from looking at the menus and reviews) so we were not disappointed. The food was good, fresh and ample sized portions, and our server was friendly. We might go back or we might not. I won't rule it our because it was not bad, but at the same time I see your point about getting better hibachi at home so maybe it would be best to try something we can't get here.

 

[cocowum]

We ate there on Dec 18th and really enjoyed it. We had great service and the food was delicious. Even my very picky DD14 loved it. As far as price, we were on the dining plan (free), so I can't comment because I really don't remember what it cost.

 

[w-family]

Thanks for the info. We have an ADR there in Feb and were planning on using our TIW discount. After reading this, I am going to change my reservations tomorrow. Paying for 5 dinners, we need all the discounts we can get!

 

[thatslygirl]

Strange that the cast member in your party wasn't able to get a discount, but I could think of a few reasons why it was declined. I work in the hospitality industry and there is a 5-star restaurant on our property. In order to eat and make reservations at the restaurant, employees have to submit paperwork and it has to be approved by HR. My employer is very strict about employees eating and drinking on property--I have heard stories about employees getting fired for drinking at the hotel bar.

Also maybe because the reservations were under your name instead of your friend's, and that's why they didn't get the employee discount. I have a friend who used to work at Nordstroms and one day I was buying makeup and she asked if she could use her discount. She got lectured by the makeup artist. It would have been different if she was the one buying the makeup, but using her discount for friends would result in her and the makeup artist getting terminated by the company.

 

[ShannonMB]

So glad I read this review! I wasn't planning on going to Teppan Edo on our trip in Feb, because as many have said, we have a great hibachi near us and I can't imagine it being any better at Epcot. Now I know I was right. I really believe in trying places myself to make my own opinion, but I want to go to places I can't try at home, let alone less of an experience than at home!

I think the part about the CM discount is ridiculous. I don't know their reasoning, but whatever it is, it's not cool.