PICKY PICKY QUESTION!! Teppanyaki

[robinb]

When someone can say that the restaurant would be happier if we went somewhere else, yeah I will say whatever I want.

This is a moderated board and you can't just say whatever you want: http://www.wdwinfo.com/guidelines.htm

 

[AnaheimGirl]

I thought this was interesting...

I don't recall seeing ginger added at any of the Teppan restaurants I've been to so out of curiosity, I did a quickie little google search to see if I could find what kind of seasonings Epcot's Teppanyaki uses. Anyway, I had no luck, but came across the Asian Restaurant News, which listed as an advantage of Teppan dining...

Diners can tell the chef exactly how they want each dish prepared. Health-conscious customers can determine the variety and amount of seasoning and oil they want in each dish. With the chef working right in front of you, it is easy to make sure he follows instructions.

So, I don't know about Disney's Teppanyaki, but it seems that in general it's not a big deal in Teppanyaki restaurants to make special requests of the chef.

Oh, and it also says that seasonings are light and

usually limited to soy sauce, wine, vinegar, and salt and pepper. Garlic is used generously when preparing bean sprouts, meat and chicken.

Just FYI for Caramia.

Oh, and one more thing, my dd8 is fairly picky, but we've found that in "fun" restaurants, like teppan table and fondue, she gets so much more adventurous and will enjoy her food so much more because she gets into the fun of watching or cooking her own food. It's a fun experience, even if they don't eat much, and maybe they'll surprise you, like my dd.

 

[c&m]

robinb and momomonster...

I'm Asian and work with Japanese people, who have taught me a thing or two about Japanese food. They do marinate their meats with mirin, sake, ginger, and sometimes miso -- all of which create a very unique taste (all good, of course!). The staple marinades are with soy sauce, salt and pepper, but as you can taste, there's so much more flavour than that to it.

We've eaten at the Teppanyaki, and all the food is yummy. My fussy DDs love it. However, if you're not used to any of the above ingredients/marinades, perhaps your venue should be changed. Why go to a Japanese restaurant and not eat the Japanese food offered?

 

[LordAthens]

You don't say when you're going to WDW and you don't have your location in your profile, but if you and your family have time for a nice meal out and there is one in your area, you should give Benihana's a try before you head to Orlando.

It will be very similar (if not identical) to Teppanyaki, so you can get a feeler there to see if you will like it or not. Rather than the entire family, maybe you and a friend can do a inexpensive lunch there, rather than possibly wasting money and having a less-than-magical time at Teppanyaki.

I personally LOVE the Teppanyaki style (not limited to Teppanyaki at Epcot, but rather Benihana's, Sapporo, Nakama, Kobe, etc) and we try to hit up one of those resturants atleast twice a month.

HTH

 

[Meezers]

My family really likes Teppanyaki. I don't think any of the meats, seafoods or veggies are marinated....just cooked really fast with salt, pepper, butter, soy sauce and probably sesame oil.

The dipping sauces are really good and are served separate dishes on the side.

Oh...if you like your meat medium rare then order it rare....it is cut up and SO hot that is continues to cook even after it is on your plate.

Okay....I am really hungry for some steak and scallops now...scallops cooked this way are really yummy and VERY hard to duplicate...I know...I keep trying...

We now return to you to your regular programming....

 

[oots]

they added some sort of sesame seasoning the all the meats being cooked-I remember since the chef talked about all the ingredients being added-none of the meats or fish were marinated previously and the chef did ask how you wanted the steak cooked.

 

[elizke]

I have not been to this restaurant, but it is in the same style as Benihana's, one of my all time favorites. I've always been pretty picky, but my first time at Benihana's changed my mind, at least for Japanese food. Something about watching them cook it and the smells and the chef's happiness and his flair; by the time they flip the food on your plate even most picky eaters will scarf it down. The kids love the atmosphere too and trying to use chopsticks.

As for being seated with others, it's not at all awkward. The chef keeps everyone entertained and the cooking itself is noisy and you usually can't talk to others very easily even if you wanted to unless sitting next to them. It's more a dinner show.

I think most will love it.

E.

 

[IluvKingLouis]

Will you have a car? If so you might want to try Kobe Steak House. They have several locations around Disney, and they have an early bird special (or at least they did several years ago). The early bird special was very reasonable, and even the regular dinner menu is much less then Teppenyaki. If the stlye of food is not a hit, then you're not out as much $$, plus you can hit a McDonalds on the way back to the park if there are any in your party still in need of a bite to eat!

It it's a hit, then you can make a point of going to Teppenyaki on your next visit!

 

[crisi]

To answer the table question, the tables seat eight - four along a long edge and two on each end. There is a 12" lip where your plate goes and the rest of the table is the grill. The chef stands on the other side of the grill and cooks your food. The grill is less hot near the edges, but I personally, would be uncomfortable with a small child near the hot grill (burned my own fingers last time). Children are seated on the very ends, where the grill is coolest, although that means it may be difficult to help your children.

We ate here in October and our table mates had gluten allergies. Soy and the sauces contain gluten, as do the noodles they put in. Everything for them was prepped first, with special gluten free soy sauce and no noodles. Mushrooms were cooked seperately as not everyone like mushrooms, and mushrooms only went on the plates of the fungus eaters. The sauces the chef puts on are light, and you are given dipping sauces to use or not use.

They did not let the table across from us order the sushi as an appitizer on the dining plan (there was a loud discussion regarding this).

However, of all the restaurants I've been to in Epcot, Teppanyaki is the one where the staff speaks the least English. We've had curtious service, but it hasn't always been possible to make ourselves understood. So I think special requests need to be communicated clearly.

Edited to add: I like the restaurant a lot and we like going here, but I find its a difficult restaurant to carry on a conversation at. The table setup means no one is sitting across from you. And the tables seat eight, so if your party is larger than that, you'll be split up. For that reason, I think its a poor choice for a large party, regardless of pickiness.

 

[Sarnia]

Food cooked on the Tepan is usually not marinaded first. It is cooked in butter and seasoned with soy sauce, salt and pepper.

Basically it's pretty simple fried food, but it tastes damn good because it's cooked so quickly over a high heat, so doesn't dry out.

Even for picky eaters, i'd recommend trying the salad with ginger dressing, you never know, you might like it. It's not an overpowering taste, but very fresh.

 

[Mymatisse]

No one called you rude, so please don't put words in my mouth. (That is rude.)

But I will stand by my comment that it is WEIRD to want to eat somewhere when 1) you don't like ANY of the appetizers 2) you worry communal eating will be awkwark and 3) you don't like the salad dressing and they're not serving ranch or whatever it is you'd prefer. Early December is one of the least busy times at the parks and I can't imagine having a tough time to find someplace to suit your needs better.

I totally agree!