Teppanyaki is a style of Japanese cuisine that uses a large heated iron plate to prepare the food. The word teppanyaki means iron plate, and yaki means grilled, roasted, or pan-fried. In Japan, teppanyaki refers to dishes cooked using an iron plate, including steak, shrimp, okonomiyaki, yakisoba, and monjayaki.
Small bits of meat, chopped vegetables, noodles and eggs are some of the most common types of teppanyaki.
Modern teppanyaki grills are typically propane-heated flat surface grills and are widely used to cook food in front of guests at restaurants. Teppanyaki grills are commonly confused with the hibachi barbecue grill, which has a charcoal or gas flame and is made with an open grate design. With a solid griddle type cook surface, the teppanyaki is more suitable for smaller ingredients, such as rice, egg, and finely chopped vegetables.
