What is the difference between Hibachi and Teppanyaki grills | Benihana (2024)

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What is the difference between Hibachi and Teppanyaki grills | Benihana? ›

Key Differences Between Teppanyaki and Hibachi

Teppanyaki is typically cooked with a small amount of oil, while hibachi is cooked with a large amount of oil. Teppanyaki is usually cooked with vegetables and seafood, while hibachi is usually cooked with meat. Teppanyaki is typically served with rice, while hibachi is typically done with noodles.

“Hibachi-style” is sometimes used in the United States to refer to teppanyaki cooking. At some point in the past, English speakers in North America started to use the word “hibachi” to refer to a small and portable barbecue grill usually made of cast iron that featured an open-grate design.

Taken from the Japanese translation of 'fire bowl', a hibachi features a grill plate that sits on top of a ceramic (or sometimes wooden) bowl that's filled with burning charcoal. As the food being cooked is very close to the heat source, it allows it to be infused with the smokiness of the charcoal.

Guests are able to sit around the teppanyaki grills so that they can view the skills of the teppan chefs while they grill chicken, pork, beef and seafood dishes. The teppanyaki grill's surface is also ideal for cooking finely chopped sides such as eggs, vegetables and rice.

It is commonly used interchangeably with the term hibachi, but they are two different styles of cooking. While both styles showcase live cooking, Teppanyaki focuses on individual or small group dining, whereas hibachi is often a communal and interactive dining experience.

You can serve pretty much anything for teppanyaki. Thinly sliced meats such as pork, beef and chicken, or seafood such as scallops or prawns, make delicious options. Any kind of vegetables can be cooked as well such as mushrooms, onions and bell peppers, and you can also grill eggs.

What's more, teppanyaki is a combination of Eastern flavours and Western side dishes. And while teppanyaki is a style of cooking, it's definitely more of a performance. In fact, it's a combination of ancient Japanese cooking techniques and modern performance art.

In the United States, teppanyaki (more commonly known simply as hibachi) was made famous by the Benihana restaurant chain, which opened its first restaurant in New York in 1964. Though Benihana cooks their food teppanyaki-style, they also serve dishes such as hibachi steak and chicken.

Benihana introduced the teppanyaki (colloquially known as hibachi) restaurant concept, which had originated in Japan in the late 1940s, to the United States, and later to other countries.

Why are hibachi grills so expensive? ›

On the other hand, some hibachi grills are made from high-end materials, such as cast iron. Some of these materials might be more expensive, but they will also last a long time and provide everlasting flavor on your hibachi foods.

Naturally, prices are higher due to the costly ingredients. However, the allure of teppanyaki lies not just in its expense, but also in its delicious taste. Iron griddles evenly distribute heat to the food and seal in the food's umami (Japanese savory taste).

Despite its drawbacks, hibachis are still great for grilling meat and vegetables. This is doubly true if you're working on a tight budget as even high-quality grills are generally inexpensive. Due to how accessible they are, these grills allow you to make scrumptious meals on a shoe-string budget.

Absolutely! The Duronic GP20 Teppanyaki Grill is designed for everyday use. Its ease of cleaning and healthy cooking method (requiring less oil) make it a practical choice for daily meals, from breakfast pancakes to grilled veggies and meats for dinner.

Hibachi embodies Japan's traditional way of grilling, while teppanyaki is a more modern, innovative approach. They use different cooking tools and techniques that produce food with different tastes (hibachi on the smokey side, while teppanyaki with juicier ones).

Back when we shared the reveal of the outdoor kitchen, I specifically raved about how the Teppanyaki flat top is ideal for making smash burgers, but you can cook practically anything on it: bacon & eggs, pancakes, grilled sandwiches, tacos, kebabs, and more traditionally, hibachi style stir-fry.

Hibachi (火鉢 – ひばち) is a Japanese word that means 'fire bowl'. Historically the original Japanese hibachi was conceived as an open-topped pot – usually cylindrical – into which charcoal was burned for the only purpose of heating a room. It is believed hibachi dates back to the Heian period of Japanese history.

The chef is the star, along with the restaurant atmospherics, the service staff, and other diners who often share the seating around the iron griddle table. Today, teppanyaki restaurants are increasingly popular around the world and very popular in Japan, Taiwan and the United States.