Teppanyaki grill table | How is Teppanyaki different from other Japanese dishes?

In Japan, there are a variety of cuisines. One of the most popular is teppanyaki, a cooking style that uses a iron griddle on top of an Teppanyaki table to cook ingredients. This cooking style has been around since the 19th century. Today, teppanyaki can be found in various types of restaurants and is popular all over the world. Read on to learn how Teppanyaki differs from other Japanese dishes, and why you should try it.

What is Teppanyaki?

Teppanyaki is a Japanese style of cooking that uses a teppan griddle or teppanyaki grill table. In fact, the word teppan means "teppan plate" and the yaki means "to grill". The grill provides a very quick and even distribution of heat while being suitable for delicate tasks like lightly frying shrimp tempura. The grill can also be used as a stovetop surface for sauteing ingredients that require less heat handling, such as thinly sliced ​​onions.

Origin of Teppanyaki

While there are many different stories about the origin of teppanyaki, the most popular is that of chef Shigeyoshi Fujioka. Teppanyaki cooking was first introduced in 1945 by Japanese chef Shigeji Fujioka at his restaurant Misono in Kobe, Japan. After the war, Fujioka went to the shipyard, collected an iron plate, and made Omiya-yaki in a restaurant. When an American official entered Fujioka's restaurant, he thought he had picked the wrong restaurant because he noticed that there was no beef in the cooking.

In response to the American soldiers, Fujioka tried grilling beef on an iron plate. It is from here that modern Teppanyaki originated.

Fast forward to 1964, and teppanyaki was popularized by Hiroaki "Rocky" Aoki, who is recognized as the founder of the Benihana chain of teppanyaki-style restaurants. The company is now worth about $300 million a year and has impressively expanded to about 100 locations around the world. Today, Teppanyaki is an internationally popular delicacy that anyone who tastes this unique Japanese dish will love!

Ingredients of Teppanyaki

Teppanyaki has so many different dishes that hardly two chefs prepare it in the same way. While each chef's style may vary, there are four typical staples: steak; vegetables, such as onions or peppers; seafood dishes, such as shrimp and tempura; and a variety of sauces and pastas, such as Noodle.

Other traditional ingredients for teppanyaki include soy sauce, ginger root, carrots, cucumbers, water chestnuts; mushrooms (such as shiitake) and spring onions/scallions (cut into rounds).

The ingredients used in teppanyaki also depend on the region where you cook. Still, no matter where you come from, the Teppanyaki experience will be unforgettable!

What is unique about Teppanyaki?

Teppanyaki is unique because it's the only Japanese dish where the chef will be right in front of you, at a table big enough for 10, with fresh ingredients and a variety of sauces to make every bite All delicious!

Chefs use knives made specifically for the teppanyaki art form that are sharp enough to cut through ingredients without bruising them or leaving any rough edges. Beyond that, each restaurant has its own unique specialties that can give you a unique teppanyaki experience depending on which restaurant you visit.

Teppanyaki chefs are also very skilled and can perform exciting tricks like making onion volcanoes, tossing eggs in the air and landing with a spatula, and even flipping shrimp tails into shirt pockets! Teppanyaki is unique because it's not just a cuisine, but a complete culinary experience and art form.

Why should you try Teppanyaki?

Teppanyaki is often considered a more personal and interactive experience. Unlike traditional Japanese restaurants, where you order at the restaurant's sushi bar or teishoku (set meal) section, teppanyaki allows you to interact with the chef, who prepares your food on the electric grill next to your table!

By trying teppanyaki with friends and family, you will have fun, laugh together, and bond when you eat something delicious! Also, due to its communal nature, there is always room for one person at the dining table.

Teppanyaki is an absolute must try, so put it on your next bucket list now!

Final Thoughts

Teppanyaki is a different type of Japanese cuisine because it involves cooking on a iron griddle in front of guests. Teppanyaki is one of the most popular ways to cook in Japan because it's a fun way to share a culinary experience with friends and family! If you have a chance, try it!