What's the big deal about Teppanyaki?

[Mickeyluver37]

Everyone seems to love Teppanyaki on here. I'm trying to figure out if this is an out of this world Japanese steakhouse place, or no different than the ones we have around here. I think I also read that they don't have fried rice which IMO is one of the best parts about our local one! I would love to try every restaurant at WDW eventually, but wondering if we should take the time to do this one or if it's one of those things we can just do at home (like Rainforest Cafe). Am I right in assuming that maybe some people who rave so much about this experience don't have local Japanese steakhouses?

 

[Spine_DR]

I love Teppenyaki We do have japanese steakhouses in Chicago and some good sushi but while in WDW I always like to have sushi at Tep.

 

[toocooltobeMom]

I agree that Teppenyaki is not the greatest, however, it is more authentic than alot of Japanese steak house out there. At least I know the cooks in Teppenyaki are really from Japan.

 

[Ali]

It's so funny to me that people equate Japanese food with fried rice from a bag at the "show" resturants. Real sticky japanese rice is the best food in the world to me and if that's what they have at Teppanaki I better go there sometime to check it out. Thanks for posting this!

 

[ss0414]

FYI...when we at the restaurant in December 06, my daughter asked for fried rice and the cook told her it's a meal that originated in China and therefore, Disney will not allow the Japanese Steak House to serve it....

 

[shellbel]

For me it's not only the food (which is really good ) but the whole experience. The first year we went there, the hostess made DS a origami (sp) swan. That might be the very moment they won us over. Even if you're used to Japanesse Steakhouses, I think you'll still find this one to be the whole package.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

First of all - the place is under renovation right now - so depending on when you are going, it might not even be open. Second, when it does open, it will be different than it was - so in some sense, any reviews of it's past incarnation may be irrelevant.

Having said that, we weren't overly thrilled. The prices were fairly steep. I've been to better Japanese steakhouses in other places around the US. To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of them in general, but if you get a good quantity of food for the money they are fun. I prefer my sushi straight up (sushi's usually an afterthought at the steakhouses) - and prefer watching the skills of a good sushi chef over someone who can crack an egg over a spatula or flip a shrimp tail. (i.e. the quality of the food matters more to me than gimmicks and showmanship)

But if you don't have a good Japanese steakhouse nearby, then the one at Epcot is worth seeing. If nothing else, I think every American should at least get a hint of how others eat - like seaweed salad. I'm all for opening our minds to the rest of the world. Sometimes Americans are good about witnessing other cultures, and sometimes we're really narrow minded.

As far as the DIS, restaurant reviews sort of tend to cycle...sometimes a place is up and gets overly hyped, then folks who read the hype come back and say it wasn't all that, and how they hated the place...then it gets forgotten for a bit...then it gets hyped again (maybe). Sometimes places at WDW get new executive chefs, so that can impact a place - and it's reviews.(also the DDP, and the new healthy choice directive). Take any review with a grain of salt.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

It's so funny to me that people equate Japanese food with fried rice from a bag at the "show" resturants. Real sticky japanese rice is the best food in the world to me and if that's what they have at Teppanaki I better go there sometime to check it out. Thanks for posting this!

Interesting! But I do have to say that the stuff at our local Japanase steakhouse is sooooo good. It's certainly not from a bag. They bring out the white rice and add the sauces, veggies and raw eggs and cook it right there in front of you. It taste exponentially better than any fast food Chinese rice I've ever had!

 

[txmomto1]

Interesting! But I do have to say that the stuff at our local Japanase steakhouse is sooooo good. It's certainly not from a bag. They bring out the white rice and add the sauces, veggies and raw eggs and cook it right there in front of you. It taste exponentially better than any fast food Chinese rice I've ever had!

Fried rice is not Japanese, it's Chinese. That's why it's not in Japan.

 

[girli565]

I know many cities have Benihana's so it's a similar experience. Just with Disney factored in.

I'm in Miami and of course we have Benihana's but aside from Benihana we have Samurai, a Benihana-owned teppanyaki restaurant that is gourmet benihana meals. They are absolutely exquisite! I can't sing their praises enough! I've been all three; Benihana, Samurai and Teppanyaki at Epcot and have to rank them... 1.Samurai 2.Teppanyaki 3.Benihana

If you're ever in South Miami, you MUST go to Samurai!

 

[gatour]

I have eaten at the Teppanyaki restaurant several times at Disney and would compare it to the same type of restaurants here in Jacksonville. While the one at Disney is nice, it is not someplace I would go out of my way to visit nowadays. When Epcot Center first opened Teppanyaki restaurants were relatively rare, we went to the first one in Jacksonville for special occasions when I fell in in love with them. Nowadays when I go to Disney I want to try something different than what I normally eat at "home". We go out for Tepanaki or sushi fairly frequently.

 

[crazykids]

I visit Benihana quite frequently in my hometown. We tried Teppanyaki a few years ago & it was ok, but not as good as Benihana. I probably wouldn't go back as I'd rather try the other restaurants WDW has to offer.

 

[Buttercup Roberts]

I thought the price charged wasn't in line with the quality of the ingredients. The steak at Teppanyaki was good, but not the kind of prime meat I'd expect for $25+ per entree.

Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't been dumb enough to order the shrimp/steak combo. I lived in New Orleans for many years, and now I live in coastal Maryland, and from that vantage point, seafood in central Florida is nothing to get excited about.

Who knows what it might be like after they redo the restaurant -- I'm going to give it another try next year, and stick to the red meat.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

It's pretty much exactly like a Benihanas experience...right down to the schtick. Luckily, I love Benihanas.

 

[jimmalru80]

We have Japanese steakhouses nearby but we enjoy Teppanyaki very much. It is a fun experience for us no matter how many times we go.

 

[shellbel]

That's why I love the DDP. You don't think "hmm, that was good but was it worth the money??" It makes it easier for us to just sit back and enjoy.

 

[shovan]

I have eaten at the Teppanyaki restaurant several times at Disney and would compare it to the same type of restaurants here in Jacksonville. While the one at Disney is nice, it is not someplace I would go out of my way to visit nowadays. When Epcot Center first opened Teppanyaki restaurants were relatively rare, we went to the first one in Jacksonville for special occasions when I fell in in love with them. Nowadays when I go to Disney I want to try something different than what I normally eat at "home". We go out for Tepanaki or sushi fairly frequently.

I agree, when we first visited Teppanyaki a Japanese "grill" or sushi rest. was a rarity in our area. Now you can find these on every corner, so we have chosen other rest. while at WDW. I will say we did eat there many times & have not had even one bad meal or experience.

 

[rockstargeisha]

Fried rice is not Japanese, it's Chinese. That's why it's not in Japan.

I was just going to mention this. :]

 

[Ali]

I know that at the Japanese show steakhouse down the street I have asked for plain white rice and have been told over and over - It comes all mixed in a package, we don't have any white rice. They pour the whole thing on the grill and add sauce to it but it is prepackaged. Haven't ever seen anyone do it with fresh rice and veggies.

Interesting! But I do have to say that the stuff at our local Japanase steakhouse is sooooo good. It's certainly not from a bag. They bring out the white rice and add the sauces, veggies and raw eggs and cook it right there in front of you. It taste exponentially better than any fast food Chinese rice I've ever had!

 

[Mickey-4-Me]

I know that at the Japanese show steakhouse down the street I have asked for plain white rice and have been told over and over - It comes all mixed in a package, we don't have any white rice. They pour the whole thing on the grill and add sauce to it but it is prepackaged. Haven't ever seen anyone do it with fresh rice and veggies.

Hmmm... That's interesting. We have several Japanese Steakhouse restaurants in our area. They all bring out plain white rice, but will make fried rice if you ask. They crack the eggs, stir in the veggies, etc. right there in front of you.

I had the same question as the OP. Our local chefs may not be from Japan, but they are definitely Asian. Teppanyaki is cooked on a hibachi grill with everyone sitting around it right?

Do you sit on the ground or in chairs? (We have both in our area) - Nashville.