If you are a food enthusiast or a person who loves to cook, you’ve probably heard about the term ‘Teppanyaki cooking.’ If this is the first time you have heard this, you are in for an exciting discovery of a different cooking style. 

Teppanyaki cooking requires expertise, mastery, showmanship, and precision to maintain the highest quality standard of dishes. It is a craft that only chefs with intense practice and commitment can master. 

To appreciate teppanyaki cooking even more, here are the things you need to know about this cooking style:

What Is Teppanyaki Cooking?

Teppan means ‘iron plate,’ and yaki means ‘grill.’ As such, teppanyaki cooking utilizes a large, flat, solid iron grill fueled by propane/gas flames underneath it. It is a style of cooking that started in Japan in the 1940s, but it was not overly popular with locals. Once the US began embracing and learning about this cooking style, its popularity has drastically increased all over the States. People started recognizing this style because of the entertainment and amazement it gives. 

With teppanyaki, people can watch the chef while preparing their dishes. Customers find teppanyaki amusing because they sit down in front of a large teppan grill and watch a master chef at work. They are witnessing the chef’s intricate knife skills when chopping ingredients, their work with the flame, and their ability to keep the ingredients flying and catch them. Sometimes, it’s even more exciting when the chef engages with the audience by throwing food at them and expects to catch it in a bowl themselves. 

What Type of Food Is Found in Teppanyaki Cooking?

Since the teppanyaki grill is large and has a flat surface, chefs can cook all manner of big cuts of meat and poultry. The food choices are unlimited, but it still depends on the establishment or restaurant that offers teppanyaki cooking. Here are some other examples of the food that chefs can cook in a teppanyaki grill: 

• Seafood
• Assortment of Vegetables (whole and diced)
• Noodles
• Eggs
• Fried Rice
• High-Quality Meat Cuts
• Poultry
• Okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake)
• Sauce and Seasoning Accompaniments (soy, vinegar, chili, garlic, etc.)

What Makes Teppanyaki Cooking Unique? 

Unlike traditional cooking methods, teppanyaki is unique because it removes barriers between customers and food preparation. People can see how their dishes are being cooked and plated before serving. It is also distinct among other cooking styles because teppanyaki chefs must develop a supreme level of knife skills and keen skills in plating and presentation. Teppanyaki chefs also perform tricks, such as juggling knives and utensils, expertly throwing food into diners’ mouths or pockets, and flipping and catching food in various vessels.

Conclusion

Teppanyaki cooking is a must-try experience for anyone. Once you have experienced this cooking style, the food will taste so much better because of the enjoyment you’ve had while watching culinary experts prepare food right in front of your eyes. It’s a worthy adventure, especially if you’re a food enthusiast whose goal is to taste the world’s best cuisines.  

If the recent events restrict you from traveling the world to taste a delectable dish made by a teppanyaki chef, you can now experience it in the comfort of your home. Book a private chef in Charleston, SC with Food Fire+Knives today!