Dining at a teppanyaki restaurant is more than just being fed – it’s a whole experience, with the expertise of the teppanyaki chef, that really equates to dinner and a show!
I think a teppanyaki grill is a particularly kid friendly Japanese restaurant experience because of the theatrics and the fresh food cooked in front of you. Teppanyaki is likely to suit older children who are adventurous with their eating habits beyond the standard ‘kids meals’.
Here are the best places to experience teppanyaki Melbourne-wide! Make sure you book your teppanyaki lunch or teppanyaki dinner in advance to avoid disappointment.
What is teppanyaki?
Teppanyaki chefs specialise in cooking food quickly on a very hot grill. The Japanese word ‘teppan’ refers to the hotplate and ‘yaki’ is the grilled food.
Note that not every teppanyaki restaurant will have the whole ‘throwing food at you to catch’ theatrics. However I’ve found that visiting restaurants where a Japanese chef is cooking in front of you is a fun, interactive dining experience for kids, regardless.
teppanyaki restaurants melbourne
1. The Japanese Teppanyaki Inn, Melbourne CBD
Established in 1975, The Japanese Teppanyaki Inn Melbourne was the first Teppanyaki restaurant in Australia and it’s still going strong in Melbourne CBD.
It’s known as ‘The Teppanyaki’ by regulars, and offers a traditional Japanese Teppanyaki style meal, made by chefs with deft hands. This is one restaurant mastering the art of teppanyaki without the theatrics of throwing bowls or food at diners.
This Japanese Collins Street restaurant is tucked out of the way, so make sure you don’t miss the door! But, its reputation among the best teppanyaki restaurants Melbourne precedes it, so don’t forget to book.
Lunch or dinner is a set course, with your choice of protein, accompanied by fresh vegetables (cooked at the table), steamed rice and miso soup. You can order extras, drinks, appetisers and dessert.
The Japanese Teppanyaki-Inn, 182 Collins St, Melbourne, 03 9650 9432
2. Koko, Southbank
Koko at Crown Melbourne is a luxurious teppanyaki experience and offers arguably some of the best teppanyaki Melbourne has to offer.
With high-end surroundings, refined attention to detail and beautiful presentation, dining at Koko can mean a higher price point than other teppanyaki restaurants in Melbourne.
There’s both a la carte and teppanyaki menus for diners to choose from, including sushi and sashimi.
The four private teppanyaki rooms serve 6, 8, 8 and 12 guests. Seasonal menus are prepared by a skilled Japanese teppanyaki chef, and there are a couple of choices of set menu, both including multiple courses finished with a dessert. Alternatively, diners can build their own experience with menu items.
Amenities include high chairs, baby change facilities nearby in the Crown complex, and there is pram access into Koko. It also features its own serene Japanese water garden!
Koko, Level 3 Crown Towers, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank, 03 9292 5777
3. Ichiban, Doncaster East
If you’re looking for Japanese Teppanyaki in Melbourne there are plenty of set menu options (most require a minimum of 2 people) at Ichiban Japanese Restaurant. They include seafood, beef, chicken and lamb, but there is a vegetarian set. Set menus also include vanilla ice cream and green tea.
Note that teppanyaki is available at lunchtime with prior booking only.
The Kodomo Set has been specially designed for kids 12 years and under, and costs $38 per head. It includes the chef’s selection for an appetiser, Harumaki (spring rolls) entree, chicken, eye fillet steak, mixed vegetables, Japanese fried rice and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Ichiban Japanese Restaurant, 15 Andersons Creek Rd, Doncaster East, 0481 173 422
4. Miyako, Southbank
There are multiple dining areas at Japanese Southbank restaurant Miyako, with large windows and an outdoor balcony overlooking the Yarra river. Miyako‘s beautiful setting is what leads us to think it’s one of the best teppanyaki restaurants in Melbourne.
The teppanyaki dining area has chefs ready to give you a show (and perhaps test your hand eye coordination).
The teppanyaki menu has set menus as well as a la carte choices. There are multiple vegetarian options, and a mouth watering dessert menu – try the Japanese Lemon Citrus cake with yuzu cream and ginger crumble!
For dinner Miyako has a kids menu available, at $35, with spring rolls, a teppanyaki mix of butter fish, chicken and mixed vegetables, fried rice, miso soup and ice cream. Otherwise the lunch menu offers good value and fewer dishes which would suit a smaller child’s appetite.
Other amenities include easy pram access, high chairs and disabled toilets within the Southgate complex.
Miyako Cuisine, Shop UR2 Upper Level, Southgate Arts & Leisure Precinct, 3 Southgate Ave, Southbank, 03 9699 9201
5. Ginza Teppanyaki, Melbourne CBD
Ginza Teppanyaki has been serving teppanyaki to Melbourne CBD diners since 1995 and is the only teppanyaki in Melbourne Chinatown.
They pride themselves on an impeccable standard of food and service, with skilled chefs. Food is cooked on cast iron grills, which they say helps boost iron intake.
Lunch and dinner menus differ, with more elaborate options available from the Ginza chefs in the evening. Among others, at dinner, there’s a Lobster Set (seasonally priced), and a Veg Set with aged tofu.
Under 12s are catered for with the Kids Set at dinner time, including miso soup, rockling fish, squid, maryland chicken, vegetable teppanyaki and fried rice for $39 per head. There’s also a smaller kids set for $26 at lunch time.
Ginza Teppanyaki, 139 Little Bourke St, Melbourne, 03 9663 1772
6. Kobe Teppanyaki, Doncaster East
Kobe Teppanyaki Doncaster is the biggest teppanyaki restaurant in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, with a teppanyaki and a la carte menu.
There are multiple teppanyaki set menus available – try the Wagyu set including lobster tail, wagyu steak and Japanese Hokkiado scallops. All set menus include homemade ice cream and Japanese green tea or coffee.
Kids (10 and under) are catered for with the Kid Ninja set, including garden salad, mini prawn spring rolls, eye fillet steak, chicken maryland, assorted vegetables and fried rice.
Kobe Teppanyaki, Shops 6 & 7, 261-265 Blackburn Rd, Doncaster East, 03 9864 1874
7. Burwood Teppanyaki House, Burwood East
Burwood Teppanyaki House prides themselves on offering the best teppanyaki in Melbourne’s south east. They serve fresh produce, cooked by chefs with great show skills for a fun meal.
The menu has been designed to reflect the seasons, and balance modern and traditional Japanese cuisine. There are banquet and a la carte teppanyaki menus, and a lighter menu for lunch time.
The lighter lunch menu can be a good option if you’re looking for cheap teppanyaki Melbourne. But if you haven’t experienced teppanyaki before, or want the full show, I suggest choosing from the banquet menu.
Burwood Teppanyaki House, 145 Burwood Hwy, Burwood East, 03 9887 6688
8. Yokohama Teppanyaki, Glen Waverley
Yokohama Teppanyaki is an authentic Japanese restaurant, using quality ingredients to create a memorable Melbourne teppanyaki experience.
There are lots of set menu options (try the lobster set for a luxurious and delicious dinner) including a vegetable option, and a kids set. The Okosama Set, for 10yo and under, is $23.50 per head, and includes deep fried chicken, vegetables, maryland fillets, fried rice and dessert.
Yokohama Teppanyaki, Shop 3, Century City Walk, 289 Springvale Rd, Glen Waverley, 03 9560 1117
9. Fuji Teppanyaki, Moonee Ponds
Fuji Teppanyaki is a low-key Japanese restaurant with a bar, traditional decor and chefs preparing teppanyaki at tabletop grills.
There are several teppanyaki grills within the restaurant, with each one seating around 12 people.
Watch as the chefs chop, toss, marinade, slice and juggle your food, even throwing it through the air to land on your plate!
Their lunch Teppanyaki Special starts from $38 per person and is available daily (though on Monday and Tuesday pre-booking is required).
Fuji Teppanyaki, 545-547 Mt Alexander Rd, Moonee Ponds 03 93702188
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