Teppanyaki With Friends

Last night I went out to celebrate a friend's birthday. As you may be able to tell from the first picture, his chosen restaurant was one that specializes in Teppanyaki. If you're unfamiliar, your group sits around a large flat top grill called a teppan, and everything is cooked to order right in front of you. The onion volcano in the first picture is a staple of the American version of restaurants of this type. They stack the rings in descending size order, then make the thing shoot steam and fire out the top. This type of theatrical food presentation is a big part of the whole experience.

After getting sake squirted into our mouths from across the table, and a bit of flashy spatula spinning and flipping, the rice and eggs hit the grill.

Rice plus oil plus soy sauce plus heat over time equals...

...fried rice, served up hot to my plate.

Next the meats and veg were put on the grill. Starting from the back, we have veggies, chicken, scallops, and steak.

At this point, I put away my phone and started eating. So you'll have to trust me, but the food looked and tasted great. It was a great night out with friends. I would definitely recommend this type of dining experience if you get the chance.