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August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Everyday Life • Food & Drink

Teppanyaki

Teppanyaki is a Japanese style of cooking that uses a flat iron griddle, called a teppan, to prepare food.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Teppanyaki is a Japanese cooking style that uses a flat iron griddle to prepare food. The term combines teppan (iron plate) and yaki (grilled or pan-fried).

What it is

Teppanyaki is a post-World War II Japanese cuisine method that cooks meat, seafood, vegetables, and noodles on a large flat iron griddle. In Japan, the term covers a range of dishes including okonomiyaki, yakisoba, and monjayaki. Outside Japan, it often refers to restaurant-style cooking performed in front of diners.

Why it matters

Teppanyaki is widely recognized for its theatrical table-side presentation, where chefs prepare food on a griddle at the diner's table. This format has become popular in Japanese and pan-Asian restaurants in Canada, blending cooking and entertainment.

Key details

The word teppanyaki comes from teppan (iron plate) and yaki (grilled, broiled, or pan-fried). Common ingredients include steak, shrimp, fish, and vegetables. The modern restaurant style gained prominence after World War II. Note that teppanyaki is not the same as hibachi, which uses a small open-grate grill.

In short

  • Teppanyaki uses a flat iron griddle (teppan) to cook food.
  • The term combines teppan (iron plate) and yaki (grilled or pan-fried).
  • In Japan, it covers many griddle dishes; outside Japan, it's often performance cooking.
  • Common foods include steak, shrimp, vegetables, and noodles.
Canadian angle

Teppanyaki is common in Japanese and pan-Asian restaurants in Canada, where it is often presented as table-side or performance cooking.

Quick questions

What is teppanyaki?
Teppanyaki is a Japanese cooking style that uses a flat iron griddle to prepare food such as meat, seafood, vegetables, and noodles.
What does the word teppanyaki mean?
It comes from teppan, meaning iron plate, and yaki, meaning grilled, broiled, or pan-fried.
Is teppanyaki the same as hibachi?
Not exactly. Teppanyaki uses a flat iron griddle, while hibachi traditionally refers to a small open-grate grill.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teppanyaki
    Supports: Definition, Japanese usage, etymology, examples of dishes, post-World War II development
  2. Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/teppanyaki
    Supports: English definition of teppanyaki as meat, fish, or vegetables cooked on a large griddle, often at the diner's table
  3. Cambridge Dictionary — https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/teppanyaki
    Supports: Definition of teppanyaki as a Japanese dish cooked on a very hot metal surface in the middle of the table