Traditional Japanese sushi often gives people the misconception that carbohydrates dominate Japanese cuisine. In fact, Teppanyaki, a cooking technique that is filled with meat dishes, is also a part of Japanese culinary culture. Let’s take a look at some of the best Japanese teppanyaki restaurants in Melbourne and see if there’s one you’d like to pick!
The best Teppanyaki in Melbourne
Ginza Teppanyaki
We stumbled upon Ginza Teppanyaki, a teppanyaki restaurant in Chinatown, and decided to give it a try. The seating was arranged around the teppanyaki grill, so while we ate, we could watch the chef prepare our food right in front of us.
There were different set menus to choose from, and I went with the Meat Lover set, which included 3 appetisers and 5 main courses, all-you-can-eat meat. The content of each set menu varied, with higher-priced sets including more dishes.
The meat cooked by the chef was just right – tender and juicy, with the mayo sauce adding even more flavour. The sizzling sound of the teppanyaki grill and the visual and auditory combination immersed us even further into the experience.
In addition to watching the chef cook, he also interacted with us and played games, adding to the fun of the meal. Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience with an average price range of $80-$100. It’s best to make a reservation in advance!
Address: 139 Little Bourke St
Dohtonbori
At Dohtonbori, you can enjoy authentic Osaka-style monjayaki that you can cook yourself! The menu includes instructions, but you can also ask the staff for assistance. You can choose from beef, seafood, pork, and other flavours.
Monjayaki is made by first stir-frying vegetables and meat and then pouring a bit of batter into the middle. The mixture is then pressed with a metal spatula on the iron plate to create a crispy texture. They also gave us two small shovels to eat with, which was really fun!
The yuzu shaved ice is also highly recommended! It has a smooth texture, is not too sweet, and is paired with refreshing tea. It is really delicious!
Other than the portion size being a bit small, everything else was great. After finishing, I even thought about ordering more!
Address: 619 Doncaster Rd, Doncaster VIC 3108
Koko
We’ve been craving Japanese teppanyaki for a long time. After thinking it over, we decided to go to KOKO in Crown for dinner. It’s best to book a table a week in advance for the weekend. The environment is really top-notch. The Japanese water terrace in the centre of the restaurant and many small decorations are beautiful. It’s also great to pair sake with the night view of Yarra River.
The menu for KOKO teppanyaki is actually quite simple. There are sets of 120pp and 180pp, both of which include dessert.
We ordered shrimp, cod, sashimi, foie gras, wagyu beef, and green abalone. Our favourite was the foie gras with fried bread. Highly recommended! The shrimp and cod were very tender and flavourful, with the chef pouring the sauce on top after cooking on a hot plate.
For dessert, we highly recommend the peach dessert! It had a chocolate crust on the outside in the shape of a peach, and the inside had a very soft and creamy peach-flavoured ice cream mousse. It wasn’t too sweet and it is just right!
Address: Level 3, Crown Towers, 8 Whiteman St, Southbank VIC 3006
Japanese Teppanyaki Inn
Hidden behind an unremarkable storefront on Collins Street, walking inside reveals a hidden world. The place is quite spacious, and everyone is dressed very formally – many are there to celebrate their wedding anniversary.
Each table has a chef standing in the middle grilling and frying. This restaurant has a classic, traditional, and formal atmosphere, so there aren’t as many performances as you might see on social media, but the food is still delicious! Both the wagyu beef and seafood are excellent, and the service is great throughout the entire meal. The ambiance is also great, making it a perfect spot for celebrating birthdays and anniversaries.
Address: 182 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Kiwami
While shopping in South Yarra, we came across this restaurant and decided to check it out. It had only been open for a few weeks and was offering a 30% discount. They have an a la carte menu as well as set menus, and we decided to go with the Mizumi Set and Umi Set, which included a variety of meats (chicken, beef, lamb), seafood (salmon, squid, scallops, prawns), and teppanyaki fried rice. We also ordered matcha ice cream for dessert, which was delicious.
The chef was very entertaining, showing off his knife skills and performing tricks with fire and flying eggs. He even played games with us during the meal. The atmosphere was lively and fun, and the staff were very friendly and welcoming. Overall, it was a great experience and I highly recommend checking it out if you’re in the area.
Address: 536 Chapel St, South Yarra VIC 3141
Burwood Teppanyaki House
If you don’t want to go to the city but wanting to have teppanyaki, you can check out the Teppanyaki House in Burwood, right next to the Golden Palace restaurant. There are plenty of parking spaces at the front, with teppanyaki on the left and Golden Palace on the right.
We recommend going with a group, as it can be difficult to communicate with the chef if you’re alone. If there aren’t enough people to fill a table, you might end up sharing with others. On the day we went, there were three tables celebrating birthdays, which made for a lively atmosphere.
The menu has both à la carte options and set menus ranging from $49 to $159 per person. They offer a variety of grilled meats, seafood, and vegetarian dishes. The appetisers are the same for all sets, consisting of a four-grid salad, boiled edamame, tempura, and pickles. We particularly liked the dressing for the salad as it wasn’t too heavy.
We chose the salmon set, which came with prawns, and we added wagyu beef as well. The grilled prawns were delicious and didn’t need any sauce; they were well-seasoned and the ingredients were fresh. The salmon was cooked just right, tender and with layers of flavour.
Address: 145 Burwood Hwy, Burwood East VIC 3151
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