Teppanyaki

Teppan means iron plate, and yaki means grilled. This form of cooking can mean anything cooked on a flat, iron griddle, but in the popular term, at least in America, it is a term meant for chefs who cook directly in front of guests, and features a flipping, slicing, dicing chef who makes a grand show out of it all. He will throw knives and salt-shakers into the air as well as a steak and lobster tail or two, make a flaming volcano out of an onion, bang on the grill to purposely startle guests, and perform ad-hoc to develop his own personal cache of tricks. Each chef has his own grill and is surrounded by separate pods of diners clustered around each of them. The quality of the show varies with the skills of the chef - I’ve seen some great ones but also some mediocre ones.

Teppanyaki restaurants are often called Japanese steakhouses and are always pricey affairs, with steak, lobster, shrimp, and scallops being the most popular items. Don’t count on a quiet evening, and be prepared to get a smoky smell on yourself and your clothing.

Japanese folks are often confused with the term teppanyaki, or Japanese Steakhouses, as they are used in America, because in Japan, teppanyaki simply means a Chef cooking on a flat grill before customers, and not necessarily creating a big show out of it all! Thus being the case, we'll stick with the American meaning for now. Other Japanese restaurants that cook on a large griddle in front of diners, but without the flambuoyant entertainment, include spots like Chibo, of the okonomiyaki section, Jinroku, of the Izakaya section, and Kaiwa and Suntory, both listed in the upscale Japanese section.

Tanaka of Tokyo. 3 locations: 131 Kaiulani Ave. at the King’s Village S.C. (map shown) in Waikiki, 922-4233; and 2250 Kalakaua Ave. at the Waikiki Shopping Plaza, 922-4702. Ala Moana S.C. location opening soon. Lunch and dinner daily. Prices: $$$$. Map.The most popular of the teppanyaki restaurants, Tanaka of Tokyo has a well-deserved reputation and following. A third location at the Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki has recently closed, but a new one at the Ala Moana Shopping Center may or may not be open by the time you get your hands on this book.

Benihana. 2005 Kalia Rd. the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort in Waikiki. 955-5955. Lunch and dinner daily. Parking at hotel. Prices: $$$$. Map.One of the largest resorts in the world also brings you one of the best teppanyaki experiences. The service, atmosphere, and food are all great and in line with the rest of the Hilton’s upscale dining experiences.

Kobe Steak House. 1841 Ala Moana Blvd. in Waikiki. 941-4444. Dinner nightly, late night sushi bar till 2am nightly. Valet parking only. Prices: $$$$. Map.The surroundings here are not quite as elegant as the other locations, but prices remain about the same. There are also a good variety of sushi choices, and special price menus are available after 10pm.

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