Teppanyaki vs. Hibachi: What’s the Difference?

Fans of Japanese dining have the delicious good fortune of choosing between teppanyaki vs. hibachi cooking as the format for their favorite dishes. Though the two terms are often used interchangeably and the methods involve a bit of overlap, there are distinct differences between teppanyaki vs. hibachi, both as cooking techniques and dining experiences.

So what is teppanyaki vs. hibachi dining and what does each style of food preparation bring to the table? We’ve crafted a simple guide covering the differences between teppanyaki vs. hibachi to help diners understand what separates these highly entertaining practices. From the history of each technique to their easily identified similarities and differences, we’ve made it easier to know what you get from teppanyaki vs. hibachi-style cuisine.

 Jump to Section

• What is Teppanyaki?
• What is Hibachi?
• What Are The Similarities Between Teppanyaki and Hibachi?
• What Is the Difference Between Teppanyaki and Hibachi?

What Is Teppanyaki?

Teppanyaki involves cooking on a flat griddle offering a 360-degree view of the cooking process. The word is a combination of "teppan" meaning “iron plate” and "yaki" meaning “pan-fried.” The theatrical factor of teppanyaki cooking provides a thrilling performance conducted by a highly talented showman chef.

Preparing classic Asian proteins, veggies, rice and eggs takes on an air of excitement, with the chef using tools and ingredients as props and even pulling diners into the act by launching fresh bite-sized samples in their direction! 

Comparing teppanyaki grill vs. hibachi cookery reveals that teppanyaki’s origins are a bit murky. Though some believe it’s a 200-year-old practice that began as family meal prep, Japanese chefs most likely introduced teppanyaki grilling to the NYC dining scene toward the end of the 1960s, with Benihana becoming one of the most familiar teppanyaki restaurants in the U.S.

Contemporary diners can find teppanyaki restaurants in cities around the world that provide spirited entertainment resulting in delicious Asian fare, offering a full-service dining experience unlike any other.

What is Hibachi?

Now that we've summarized the exciting culinary practice of teppanyaki, a thorough comparison begs the following question: What is hibachi? In contrast to the vibrant atmosphere of teppanyaki restaurants, hibachi, a word that translates to “fire bowl,” offers a more intimate setting while retaining some of the interactive aspects of food prepared while diners watch. The first hibachis are believed to have arisen in Japan between 794 to 1185 A.D.

Hibachi restaurants launched in the U.S. in the mid-20th century and made the format a popular alternative to the usual restaurant experience. Hibachis are usually powered by coal and wood, though many modern home-based hibachis use electricity to generate heat. These cookers have grated grill-style tops that let chefs prepare larger-sized elements and fire-cooked dishes filled with flavor, ready to serve hot off the grill to an eager audience. 

Having hibachi catering on hand for your special at-home events provides a fun and satisfying centerpiece that will inspire unforgettable moments of delightful dining. Whether you’re providing food for a milestone birthday or setting up a memorable date night, hibachi catering is an opportunity to provide gourmet-quality fun in your favorite setting. 

Why Do Americans Call Teppanyaki "Hibachi"?

The struggle to determine what qualifies as teppanyaki vs. hibachi is due in part to the overlap in restaurants that provide each experience. If you search for the differences between teppanyaki vs. hibachi cooking online, you’ll find mostly photos of teppanyaki chefs. When discerning teppanyaki vs. hibachi dining, it’s easy to visualize one method when thinking of the other.

The best way to keep teppanyaki vs. hibachi separated is to picture teppanyaki as a solid, flat surface and hibachi as a traditional grill. These differences in each cooker’s appearance can help distinguish what teppanyaki vs. hibachi dining offers you overall.

Restaurants often contribute to the confusion between teppanyaki vs. hibachi by not clarifying which cooking style is used. You may see the term “Asian grill” on the sign or in the name, or there may be no reference made to grilling or teppanyaki vs. hibachi at all.

Without realizing what the difference is — or understanding that there’s even a difference between teppanyaki vs. hibachi — diners can easily get the two terms mixed. The good news is that the more you experience both, the clearer the distinction between teppanyaki vs. hibachi becomes. 

What Are The Similarities Between Teppanyaki and Hibachi?

Though differences exist when exploring what is teppanyaki vs. hibachi cooking, there are obvious similarities, too. Aside from both methods being essential in traditional Japanese culinary culture, teppanyaki and hibachi both involve a chef cooking in front of patrons who watch their orders being prepared in real-time. Both processes also include a performative element that lets diners feel like a part of the show.

When it comes to the food on the menus at teppanyaki vs. hibachi restaurants, the options are virtually identical. The layout of teppanyaki vs. hibachi eateries also provides clear overlap, with both cooking surfaces allowing guests to be seated around the chef rather than at a separate table. This not only gives every diner an equal view of the performance, but it also creates a social atmosphere in which strangers can bond over a unique shared experience.

In the realm of culinary specifics, the difference between teppanyaki vs. hibachi cooking is similar to the difference between griddle vs. grill cooking, which impacts both the methods used and the finished results.

What Is the Difference Between Teppanyaki and Hibachi? 

1. Cooking Surface

Making a visual separation between teppanyaki grills vs. hibachi grills dining starts with the cooking surface for each. With teppanyaki, the solid griddle-top cooker provides a more traditional surface that heats food evenly. The flat top also allows the cook to utilize a variety of cooking methods for preparing an array of foods.

There’s plenty of space to accommodate several meal components at the same time, which keeps the chef busy from start to finish as your dishes come together. This also makes it very important for diners to specify eating restrictions beforehand; the chef can keep ingredients like eggs separate to avoid cross-contamination. 

The distinction between a teppanyaki grill vs. hibachi cooking surfaces is more obvious once you see a hibachi in action. Hibachi cooking uses a slatted grill that lets heat pass through more naturally, giving food a grilled appearance and flavor. This produces finished dishes with that smoky, soothing open-fire essence that flame cooking imparts.

For home use, hibachis are available in smaller sizes, letting domestic gourmets center the cooker on the table or counter for a similar presentation when cooking for family and friends. 

2. Heat Source

The differences between teppanyaki vs. hibachi cooking get fiery when it comes to the heat source used by each style. As a flat griddle cooktop, teppanyaki cooking utilizes a propane-generated flame as a heat source, which results in a more evenly heated surface similar to what’s used in short-order restaurants to cook a great deal of food all at once.

With a top that dependably distributes heat, teppanyaki chefs can manage a variety of tasks with confidence, making it easy to create a full spread for several guests simultaneously. 

Hibachi grills, meanwhile, use coal or wood fire as a heat source, resulting in real fire cooking the food. With a slatted iron-grate cooktop that lets the flame pass through just like a barbecue grill, food develops a smoky flavor and caramelized finish that adds depth and richness to proteins and vegetables alike.

This can be a huge consideration when deciding on teppanyaki vs. hibachi dining. If your tastes favor open-flame cuisine, hibachi is the style that is sure to win your gourmet heart.  

3. Food Presentation

Choosing teppanyaki vs. hibachi restaurants means deciding how lively an environment you’re looking for in your Japanese dining moment. Teppanyaki dining involves a very entertaining chef preparing your dishes with great ceremony and showmanship. These culinary performers add thrills to the dining table by demonstrating a slew of slick tricks using their utensils and tossing the food around as they prepare it.

The chef also invites interaction from diners by creating smoking onion volcanoes on the grill and launching test bites across the table. You’ll see rapid-fire slicing, chopping and mixing, as well as knife spinning and spatula flipping while your food comes to life before your eyes.

Between teppanyaki vs. hibachi eateries, hibachi is a much more subdued presentation. The experience is more like an indoor cookout conducted by a grill master who lets you watch their every move as they work. Your clear view of the cooking process gives you a window into the careful prep work that goes into making traditional Japanese fare. 

Since hibachi dishes may be cooked in a variety of ways, from indirect grilling in a pan to direct grilling on the grate to let the fire touch the food, you’ll end up with a range of flavors in your finished meal, all prepared to your specifications. You might even be able to pick up a few techniques to try on your own grilled creations.

4. Menu Options

For fans of Japanese cuisine, deciding between a teppanyaki vs. a hibachi eatery may come down to the options available on the menu. At most teppanyaki spots, you can count on a multi-course meal that includes seafood like prawns and scallops, though luxury selections like lobster are sometimes featured. High-end beef entrées may serve up aged wagyu beef or Kobe steaks prepared by a master of the steak game.

Add to this a rice dish created by a nimble cook who breaks the egg by tossing it in the air and catching it on a spatula and you have a simple yet enjoyable side. When you're ready for something sweet, desserts provide a sweet ending for the meal, in the form of pre-made cakes or light sorbets. 

Mindful eaters wondering is hibachi healthy? when choosing between teppanyaki vs. hibachi restaurants can rest easy. Hibachi selections are generally fresh and wholesome, well-chosen dishes that don’t require deep frying to achieve peak flavor. Grilled chicken and shrimp are likely to be the most frequent specialties you find on the menu at a hibachi restaurant.

Beef and seafood selections are also possibilities; a hibachi menu may feature steakhouse dishes like filets and even salmon. You’ll also find vibrant vegetables mixed with rice and eggs. You can keep your hibachi dining squarely in the nutritious zone by limiting your use of sauces and opting for lean proteins and veggies. Rice and noodles are also available at hibachi restaurants, so be prepared to enjoy them sparingly. 

5. Flavor

Though the dishes may be similar between teppanyaki vs. hibachi dishes, the flavors carry subtle yet notable differences. Teppanyaki’s solid surface provides uniform heat that finishes food evenly while allowing multiple stations to be filled at the same time.

With so much going on, it's reassuring to know that each dish gets the attention it requires, with every area set to the same temperature via propane flame, which ensures peak flavor. Oils and marinades are used to enhance taste and add crispness and texture to meats, while vegetables remain juicy and tender. 

Where the hibachi flavor veers off from the teppanyaki vs. hibachi balance is in the open-flame heating, which as any griller knows is trickier to work with. Depending on the distribution of the coals or wood briquettes, heat leaps between the slats in a more natural pattern, providing char and caramelization that requires careful attention to avoid burning.

This charring applies to both meat and vegetables, though when performed properly, all elements of the meal achieve rich layers of natural flavor that can make choosing between teppanyaki vs. hibachi eating a delicious dilemma! 

When it comes right down to it, choosing teppanyaki vs. hibachi depends on the type of experience you’re looking for. The high energy of teppanyaki vs. hibachi’s more subdued atmosphere is the prime aspect for deciding which is right for you.

If you haven’t investigated in your area yet, you can likely find equally exciting options when comparing teppanyaki vs. hibachi experiences available in your area. Whichever you decide on between teppanyaki vs. hibachi, you’re in for a tantalizing treat that’s bound to dazzle your senses while whetting your appetite. 

For even more ways to explore your favorite foods, check out other experiences happening on Cozymeal.