Teppanyaki For Home | What is Teppanyaki?

Teppanyaki can be found all over the world these days, but what exactly is it?

Teppanyaki is a Japanese cuisine in which food is cooked on an iron griddle.

The word "teppan" means iron plate, and "yaki" means grilled food.

If you think this is an easy dish, then you are dead wrong. Teppanyaki is one of the most complex foods in the world, and it takes a lot of skill to master it.

History of Teppanyaki

In 1945, Teppanyaki originated from a chain restaurant called Misono in Tokyo, Japan. This makes teppanyaki a relatively new addition to the culinary world.

Interestingly, when Teppanyaki was first introduced, many locals didn't like it at all. Teppanyaki has been criticized as an inappropriate and unhygienic way of cooking.

However, because of the entertainment factor of teppanyaki, American soldiers (and later tourists) were very fond of this delicacy. This includes all the classic tricks like throwing a knife and "playing with fire".

Be aware that these types of tricks require incredible skill! I have a whole article here about some of the best teppanyaki tips you'll ever see, including a great video on knife techniques.

Misono takes advantage of this, focusing primarily on these entertainment factors. Chefs fiddling with knives and ingredients, performing dangerous stunts with blazing flames, and their rebranding is sure to pay off.

Teppanyaki blows over to the West

Teppanyaki is hugely popular in Western culture. Soon, restaurant chains specializing in teppanyaki were opening all over the world.

While these types of restaurants technically specialize in teppanyaki cooking, many people mistakenly refer to this type of cooking (in which the chef cooks in front of you on an iron grill) as hibachi-style cooking.

Teppanyaki is still popular today, and chefs still perform stunts for the entertainment of their guests.

You may be wondering if you can make teppanyaki at home, and you definitely can! While teppanyaki looks exquisite, if you remove the entertainment factor, you'll find that it's not that difficult.

Can you make your own teppanyaki?

With a little practice, you can enjoy teppanyaki at home.

There are plenty of delicious teppanyaki recipes to try here, with a wide variety of ingredients to choose from. Try meats like beef, shrimp, lobster, chicken or scallops with mixed vegetables. I have a lot of teppanyaki recipes on my blog that you can check out to get started.

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If you're a novice cook, start with regular beef or chicken. When choosing a side dish, a lot depends on the main ingredient and personal preference. If you're not sure what to choose, mixed vegetables are always a safe bet.

I also recommend using fire resistant gloves and keeping a fire extinguisher nearby in case of any accidents.