The Difference Between Hibachi and Teppanyaki

One of the most common questions I hear is:

"Is hibachi the same thing as teppanyaki?"

The short answer is: No.

The longer answer is more interesting - and important - especially if you want to understand the craft properly.

The two terms - hibachi and teppanyaki - are confusing, especially in America. Restaurants, menus, and marketing have blended the two terms so much that the original has been lost.

Let's clear it up - simply, honestly, and from a chef's point of view.

The word hibachi comes from Japan and originally refers to a heating device, not a flat grill.

Traditional hibachi:

In Japan, what Americans call "hibachi restaurants" would actually surprise locals.

So why do we use hibachi in the U.S.?

Because language evolves - especially in the U.S.

Teppanyaki is the correct term for the cooking style you see in restaurants where chefs cook on a large, flat steel grill in front of guests.

Teppanyaki has two words in it. Teppan means iron plate, and Yaki means grilled or cooked.

This is the cooking method that includes:

From a technical and culinary standpoint:

Most "hibachi restaurants" in America are actually teppanyaki restaurants.

In the U.S. the word hibachi became popular because it was:

Over time, hibachi became the brand name, not the technical term.

As chefs, we understand this difference - but we also understand the reality of customer language.

So we adapt.

Here's the truth from the grill:

Whether you call it hibachi or teppanyaki, what really matters is:

The name doesn't cook the food.

The chef does.

Hibachi (Traditional):

Teppanyaki (Restaurant Style):

Knowing this difference helps you speak with confidence and respect for the craft.

If you're learning the craft, clarity matters.

Understanding that you're training in teppanyaki technique helps you:

Confusion slows learning.
Clarity accelerate mastery.

When guests ask me, I smile and say:

"In America, we call it hibachi - but the cooking style is teppanyaki."

That answer respects:

And it keeps the experience enjoyable.

The grill taught me something simple:

Titles don't matter as much as execution.

You can call it hibachi.
You can call it teppanyaki.

But when the food is perfect, the timing is smooth, and the guests are smiling...

The craft speaks for itself.

Understanding the difference between hibachi and teppanyaki makes you stay humble and informed.

And informed chefs cook with more confidence, more respect, and more purpose.

That's how mastery begins.