As one of the most famous methods of cooking in Japanese cuisine, teppanyaki is known for fusing performance art with delicious meals. The name combines the words “teppan,” meaning “iron plate,” and “yaki,” referring to something grilled, fried, or broiled. This leaves plenty of room for variation, so there are many delicious teppanyaki dishes. Below, learn about the most common dishes to order. 

What Are Popular Teppanyaki Dishes? 

1. Zensai 

The teppanyaki style of cooking usually involves multiple courses, and zensai is considered the appetizer. It might consist of light items common in Japanese cuisine, such as tuna, sea urchins, or horsehair crab, along with fruits or vegetables. Sometimes, it’s accompanied by soup and salad made independently from the teppanyaki grill. 

2. Okonomiyaki 

Although okonomiyaki was a staple Japanese dish long before teppanyaki became popular, it’s well-known for being cooked in the modern teppanyaki style. Defined simply as a savory pancake, it’s typically made of wheat, flour, and whatever else you want to put on it. Usually, it’s combined with an assortment of vegetables, pieces of meat, and sauce or oil. 

3. Seafood 

In a multi-course teppanyaki dinner, a seafood dish often follows the zensai. Crustaceans like shrimp, prawns, crabs, and lobsters are highly favored, but oysters, scallops, sea snails, and other kinds of shellfish are popular, too. Fish is often included as well, especially tuna, salmon, mackerel, and eel. 

4. Meat 

The inclusion of beef is an appeal to Americanized Japanese cuisine, but in teppanyaki, grease, oil, and fat are avoided in favor of a sensational sweetness. If you prefer chicken, however, most teppanyaki restaurants will gladly provide it. Either way, your meat can be seasoned with any of the various spices or condiments that are especially appealing to you. 

5. Rice or Noodles 

As common ingredients in nearly all Japanese dishes, it’s no surprise that grains like rice and noodles frequently find themselves on a teppanyaki grill. The rice is often fried alongside eggs, while the noodles usually become yakisoba. This dish consists of fried noodles mixed with vegetables and meat. 

If you’re ready to experience stunningly high-quality teppanyaki or other kinds of Japanese cuisine, visit Kyoto Scottsdale at the Waterfront, LLC in Scottsdale, AZ. Their chefs are experts in cooking and serving all kinds of authentic Japanese dishes that will satisfy your appetite. Whether you’re in the mood for some simple sushi or a full-course teppanyaki meal, they’re ready and happy to serve you. To find out what dishes they offer, call them today at (480) 990-9374 or look at their menu online.