Japanese cuisine is world-renowned for its freshness, mouth-watering flavours, exotic ingredients, and elegant presentation. Teppanyaki is an iconic method of Japanese cooking. Break the word down, and you have Teppan, which refers to the large metal hotplate used for cooking, and Yaki, which translates to grilled or fried.
Teppanyaki is a fun style of Japanese cooking and is popular as it brings people together. Guests gather around the grill and watch chefs demonstrate their culinary skills. You can interact with the chef and describe how you would like your meal. If you fancy a gourmet spectacle, here are some of the best Teppanyaki restaurants in London.
Best Teppanyaki Restaurants in London Near You
For an outstanding experience where the food and the cooking are the stars of the show, check out six of the best Teppanyaki restaurants in London.
1. Benihana – The Japanese Steak House
Benihana claims to be the best Teppanyaki Restaurant London has ever experienced. Their success story began when former Samurai descendant Yunosuke Aoki and his wife opened a coffee shop in Tokyo. They named the small restaurant Benihana meaning ‘red flower’ in Japanese. In 1960, the couple’s eldest son Hiroaki arrived in the US with the Japanese Olympic Wrestling Team and decided to stay, eventually establishing the successful Benihana restaurant chain.
Today, Benihana has restaurants worldwide, including two in London, Chelsea and Covent Garden.
Benihana provides a fantastic experience from start to finish. The chefs are incredible and referred to as Ninjas with their tremendous knife skills.
The Hibachi Sirloin Steak is incredible at £36.95 and is a Traditional Dinner, coming with Onion Soup, Salad with Ginger Dressing, Prawn Appetiser, Vegetables, and Steamed Rice.
On the Speciality Menu, indulge in Chateaubriand, Scallops, and Lobster Tail for £69.50. The Speciality Dinners also come with the same extras as the Traditional Dinners.
Benihana provides a culinary show and makes an excellent venue for a special occasion. The service and all staff are friendly. But the chefs steal the show with a fabulous spectacle, and the food is excellent.
Address: 77 King’s Road, London, SW3 4NX
Telephone: 020 7376 7799
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2. Abeno – Okonomiyaki
Abeno is one of a kind and comes with a few firsts. It opened in 1993 as Europe’s first restaurant specialising in Okonomiyaki. They also claim to be the World’s first Okonomiyaki restaurant listed in the Michelin Guide.
Teppanyaki is a generic term for dishes cooked on an iron hotplate. Okonomiyaki is a particular dish to enjoy at a Teppanyaki restaurant. So what is Okonomiyaki? A traditional Japanese street food of savoury pancake with shredded cabbage cooked on a teppan.
At Abeno, chefs cook all the food on the hotplate in front of you. The eggs used in the Okonomiyaki are organic, with a wide selection of fillings.
The Osaka is juicy and comes with organic pork, kimchi, and prawns. The Deluxe size is £16.00, and Super Deluxe is £19.00.
Teppanyaki dishes include,
- Steak: £38.00
- Salmon: £22.00
- Tofu: £18.50
- Vegetables: £14.50
Abeno is a Sustainable Restaurant Association member committed to protecting the environment. They use organic meat from North Wales and sustainably sourced salmon.
There is a good selection of Japanese Sake, wines, and gins.
Abeno is a superb choice for an entertaining evening with excellent food that will make your taste buds feel like they are in paradise.
Address: 47 Museum Street, Bloomsbury, London, WC1A 1LY
Telephone: 020 7405 3211
3. Ginza St James – An Authentic Experience
For a truly authentic Japanese experience, Ginza St James provides a taste of a Teppanyaki restaurant in London. The restaurant offers three unique dining experiences with separate counters for Teppanyaki, Robata, and Edomae Sushi.
Some of the favourites on the Teppanyaki menu include,
- Wagyu Beef, which is perfectly cooked and delicious at £90.00. The meat is certified, proving quality and origin.
- The Chicken Teriyaki uses free-range thigh and breast cuts and is succulent at £28.00.
There is a set menu for lunch and dinner.
For lunch, a sharing menu priced at £74.00 is for two people, with a choice of mains from Baby Chicken, BBQ Salmon Teriyaki, or Grilled Nasu.
The evening menu is a Utage, meaning banquet or feast, for £150.00. The mouthwatering delights are a Sashami selection, Tartare, Lobster Tempura, King Prawns, Scottish Rib, Miso Soup, and Coconut Silken Tofu.
For a daytime treat, Ginza St James serves Afternoon Tea at £45.00 per person.
For an outstanding experience, Ginza St James is an excellent choice. Friendly and attentive staff, engaging and charming chefs, and amazing food served in a stylishly decorated restaurant. Some consider the price a drawback but understand you pay for quality and location at one of the best Teppanyaki restaurants in London.
Address: 15 Bury Street, St James’s, London, SW1Y 6AL
Telephone: 0207 839 1101
4. Hokkaido – Teppanyaki Grill Restaurant
Hokkaido opened their Teppanyaki grill in London in 2021 after establishing a highly-successful restaurant in Wakefield. So successful that former customers travel from Wakefield. Head Chef Master Hua has more than 30 years of experience in Teppanyaki and Sushi making.
The restaurant team is warm and welcoming and provides fantastic service. The chefs are exceptionally talented, and worth sitting at the teppanyaki table to watch the chefs’ skills in preparation and cooking. There are about 20 seats around the table, creating a friendly atmosphere with other diners.
Hokkaido offers four set menus, priced at £35.00 to £45.00 per person, an A la carte menu, and a range of Sushi.
The lamb on the set menu is a melt-in-your-mouth sensation, as are the perfectly cooked Sirloin Steak Wraps.
One set menu is vegetarian, featuring delights of Vegetable Dumplings, Sweet Potato Cake, Chinese Leaf Wraps, Bean Curd Rolls, Teppanyaki Egg Fried Rice and Beansprouts.
A visit to Hokkaido makes for a great meal, with plenty of entertainment with fire at the Teppanyaki grill. The service team is top-notch, aware when your glass requires a refill but not intrusive. The food is fresh, well-seasoned, and cooked perfectly.
Address: 160 Station Road, Chingford, London, E4 6AN
Telephone: 020 852 99 688
5. Defune Restaurant – Long Running
One of the longest-running Japanese restaurants in London is Defune Restaurant, located in the heart of Marylebone. Defune has more than 35 years of experience serving fresh Japanese cuisine with a contemporary twist.
Defune spreads over two floors for different dining experiences. A la carte menus are available, and Teppanyaki.
A popular lunch menu includes Teriyaki Pork with cooked vegetables, soup, fried beancurd, rice, and fruit for £27.00, which is delicious and recommended.
Also for lunch is the mouthwatering Chef’s Special Teppan at £40.00. Options are half a lobster and seafood or Scottish Sirloin, served with an appetiser, soup, salad, rice, and a dessert.
For evening meals at the Teppanyaki grill, the Wagyu beef is a hit. There is a Wagyu Sirloin Steak for £53.00 and a Fillet Steak for £54.00. A less expensive beef option is Scottish Sirloin at £38.00 and a Fillet Steak for £40.00.
Defune restaurant is an authentic Japanese Teppanyaki grill restaurant in London with an excellent vibe, impeccable service, and fabulous food.
Address: 34 George Street, London, W1U 7DP
Telephone: 0207 935 8311
6. Engawa – Kobe Beef Speciality
Engawa is an authentic Japanese restaurant that specialises in the prized Kobe beef. The meat is so distinguished it is often referred to as the caviar of meat. Kobe beef must meet some of the strictest and most precise guidelines to earn the endorsement of Kobe Beef. Engawa imports the entire Kobe cow, enabling them to serve various cuts and be creative with their sushi and sashimi.
The price for a Teppanyaki Wagyu steak is £95.00 for 100g and £50.00 for 70g.
There are two Tasting Menus where Wagyu beef is an option for the main Teppanyaki courses. Other choices are Black Cod or opt for Sushi as the main.
Tasting Menu prices for five courses is £95.00, and for three, it is £75.00.
Engawa is a small, intimate restaurant usually busy, so book in advance. Engawa is a place to visit to experience a taste of Japan and try Kobe, one of the rarest forms of beef.
Address: 2 Ham Yard, London, W1D 7DT
Telephone: 020 7287 5724
Tips on What To Expect at a Teppanyaki Restaurant
If you are new to experiencing Teppanyaki or want to know how to choose a good Teppanyaki grill restaurant in London, a traditional Teppanyaki meal consists of an Appetiser, soup and salad, seafood, meat, a rice dish, finishing with a dessert and coffee.
- Appetiser: It is usually cold, such as sashimi or carpaccio, but it can be a warm soup.
- Seafood is a typical Teppanyaki dish, such as tuna, salmon, octopus, prawns, and lobster.
- Beef usually takes centre stage at a Teppanyaki grill, particularly fillet or sirloin. High-end meat such as Wagyu is an option.
- Rice and noodles accompany a traditional Teppanyaki meal. Frying rice in an egg sauce allows chefs to demonstrate their extravagant culinary skills.
- Dessert is the final dish which most people are too full to eat. Typical desserts are sorbets and cakes or coffee.