Walking out of Teppan Edo because there is no fried rice . . .

[Music City Mama]

I think this is beyond strange. A couple of weeks ago, we had an ADR at Teppan Edo. The other family sitting with us was studying the menu and asked if they had fried rice. They were told 'no', in Japan, it's customary to serve steamed rice and that they couldn't get fried rice. Well, not only were they disappointed with this news, but they actually made the decision to leave the restaurant. Needless to say, our service was slowed down while another family was shown to our table, they had a chance to review the menu, etc.

We were in shock that not having fried rice (doesn't everyone know this? ) was an actual deal breaker for them. Okay, deal breaker if finding out ahead of time, I guess, but a deal breaker after you're already seated? Just thought that was bizarre. What do you think?

 

[deedeetoo]

I don't think everyone knows what to expect at each restaurant. Not everyone goes to this type of restaurant regularly. It might be their first time. That said, I can't imagine leaving because they didn't have an expected menu item. I would just order something else.

 

[kaybird]

Since we first had kobe in Okinawa more than 30 years ago, we learned to eat it with the steamed rice. I never understand the reasoning of "having" to have meals a certain way. I was not raised to be a picky eater, and I did not raise my children that way. You miss out on so many experiences, and maybe new food favorites!

 

[KathleensKid]

Maybe that was their way of coming up with an excuse to leave after they saw prices so they didn't appear unable to afford it, or maybe they were weirded out by eating at a table with others?

Or maybe it was recommended by a friend ("Trust us! Try it! We love it!") and they are inexperienced nervous diners who genuinely thought Japanese/Chinese/Asian food was all the same and were expecting fried rice and General Tso's chicken?

Whatever the case though - they should have done their homework about the restaurant.

 

[sissy_ib]

The Disney restaurants have menus posted out front right? If you are doing ADRs I would assume you would look at the menu first, I do. But if I was a walk up I would look at the menu posted before deciding to eat there. I always look at menus before being seated if there is a wait, no matter where I am. But like PP said there were probably other reasons they left.

 

[nkereina]

We were in shock that not having fried rice (doesn't everyone know this? ) was an actual deal breaker for them.

I certainly did not know this - that they don't have it at Teppan Edo or that it's not customary in Japan. They serve fried rice at our local Japanese hibachi restaurant (probably because it's popular), so I think I would have expected it. It would not be a deal breaker for me though and I definitely would not get up and leave, that part is weird.

 

[MYD714]

The Disney restaurants have menus posted out front right? If you are doing ADRs I would assume you would look at the menu first, I do. But if I was a walk up I would look at the menu posted before deciding to eat there. I always look at menus before being seated if there is a wait, no matter where I am. But like PP said there were probably other reasons they left.

This is what I was thinking. I always look at the menu first. In fact, I check them when I make ADRs and again when we get there to see if anything has changed.

 

[mommycrawford]

I think there are a lot of pervasive steriotypes, and not everyone makes it their business to learn about different cultures...sometimes incorrectly assigning customs or practices, including cuisine, without really knowing or trying to know what someone's traditions are.

It would be great if everyone was open to new experiences, but we probably all have had experiences that show this is not always the case.

...for the people who walked out, I hope they got their fried rice.

 

[vettegirl]

Maybe they left and went over to 9 dragons in China

 

[carebee21]

To each their own. I certainly wouldn't spend the kind of money for a disney meal if I didn't see something on the menu that I wanted/expected. And honestly, although I usually check menus, there are some that I don't because I already know what to expect. And I'm sure that a hibachi style restaurant is so common that most people know what they're getting and don't neccessarily check to see what's on the menu. It's usually a given that you'll get rice or fried rice and then chicken, beef or shrimp.

Better that they left than stuck it out, been unhappy and then complain on Disney boards or to customer services how unaccommadating the restaurant was, how unhappy they were, how bad it was, etc.

 

[Mama Who]

While it wouldn't be a deal breaker for me, every Teppan place I've ever been to has had fried rice and if that's what I was craving, sure, I could see leaving if it wasn't available.

 

[Lovlongdisneymama]

Yes it is strange! Although thats whats so great about the world showcase....They could take a short walk to China and have all the fried rice their little hearts desired!

 

[DisneySarah80]

We did something like this once. I'm a huge sushi lover, so on our honeymoon, I decided I wanted some, and convinced DH to take me to the Japanese in Epcot. It was over 8 years ago, so I don't remember exactly what happened, but right after we sat down, he said something that really got me (probably something about the price...), and I got right up, and left. So I guess people thought we were strange too!!!

 

[Music City Mama]

Hmmmm, I have eaten at Japanese restaurants (teppanyaki style and otherwise) for many years in many different states and I have never seen fried rice on the menu, but I can understand if they were used to having that on the menu where they're from, that that would come as surprise that fried rice wasn't on the menu there.

However, white/steamed rice is ALWAYS on the menu at a Chinese restaurant, so it's not like this was some new/weird rice that they weren't used to. Even the pickiest of eaters I would think would be okay with sticky white rice (I know my kids are! ).

Just surprised the heck out of me that they'd actually get up and walk out over it. I even asked our waitress if that was the reason just to make sure I overheard right, and she confirmed that it was. Now, that's not to say they didn't have other reasons and were just making excuses (price, etc.), but I got the impression that it was definitely over the lack of fried rice.

 

[Colleen27]

I think walking out is a little weird, but I can understand why they'd expect fried rice. Most hibachi places seem to serve it even though it isn't authentic, and someone who wasn't well-versed in Disney planning might not stumble across anything that clearly indicates otherwise even if they did take the time to check menus. On both the DIS and Allears menus it says entrees come with udon noodles & steamed rice but that might leave a casual visitor with the impression that fried rice is an upcharge rather than entirely unavailable.

 

[si-am]

I don't understand this at all. Were they ONLY planning on eating rice for dinner? Because I kinda thought Teppan Edo served other stuff too....

 

[ilovejsparrow]

I certainly did not know this - that they don't have it at Teppan Edo or that it's not customary in Japan. They serve fried rice at our local Japanese hibachi restaurant (probably because it's popular), so I think I would have expected it. It would not be a deal breaker for me though and I definitely would not get up and leave, that part is weird.

Hi neighbor! What hibachi do you go to in Buffalo?

I'm also surprised to hear that they don't have fried rice. One of my favorite local places to eat is a hibachi restaurant and they have delicious fried rice. So I'd be disappointed too, but I don't think I'd leave.

 

[clanmcculloch]

At every hibachi style restaurant we've ever eat at, fried rice was an option so I'm also quite surprised to hear they don't serve it at Teppan Edo. We've never eaten there and likely won't but not because of the fried rice (my girls and I all prefer white rice so clearly not because of the rice) but rather because one of my girls doesn't like hibachi style food and items my kids like are not safe and can not be made safe for their particular allergies. I'm just glad we have places like this at home that use different ingredients.

I'm guessing walking out really was about something different than just fried rice. If fried rice was the catalyst then I'm guessing the ADR was a compromise for one person who doesn't like this kind of food and planned to mostly eat the rice and this pushed that person over the edge of where they would agree to try it for the sake of their dining partner.

 

[nkereina]

Hi neighbor! What hibachi do you go to in Buffalo?

I'm also surprised to hear that they don't have fried rice. One of my favorite local places to eat is a hibachi restaurant and they have delicious fried rice. So I'd be disappointed too, but I don't think I'd leave.

Hi neighbor! Love Shogun on Transit, and Fuji Grill in OP. Arigato in Rochester is great too, but very similar to Shogun

 

[JimmyV]

Each of the half-dozen or so hibachi restaurants that I have been to has placed rice on the flat top, and added egg, sprouts and sauces to make fried rice. (In fact, one of the consistent "schticks" has been for the chef to toss the egg into the air and "catch" it on the side of his spatula, thus cracking the egg.) So I, too, would have been surprised at the lack of this feature at Teppan Edo. That said, fried rice has never been the raison d'etre for going to a hibachi style restaurant, so the lack of this part of the meal/show would never cause me to walk out. Maybe they just really had their heart set on seeing an egg cracked on the side of an offset spatula.