People visit Benihana Japanese restaurants for their great food, but also for the added entertainment value.
Basically, all Japanese chefs are masters in the ancient art of teppanyaki grilling, and they’ve perfected it over the centuries.
Nowadays it’s often mixed with grills, but teppanyaki grills continue to be something very unique and specific to their cuisine.
However, it doesn’t just involve the grill itself but also the techniques and styles used to cook.
Literally speaking, teppanyaki stands for “grilled iron plate” in Japanese, but it’s actually so much more than just a simple iron plate.
First of all, it’s a solid and flat griddle, unlike a hibachi or traditional barbecue grills.
And unlike the last two that use charcoal for heat, teppanyaki grills use a propane flame.
Guests can sit around the teppan chef, so he or she can wow and amuse everyone with their fantastic grilling and flipping skills.
Starting as a dining style mostly for Japanese families, teppanyaki grilling grabbed the attention of America about 200 years ago, making its way and becoming a fascinating aspect for diners to this day.
Most Japanese steakhouses rely on teppan chefs to attract crowds for both the amazing flavor of their Japanese-style meals and also their showmanship.
Now imagine being able to have your very own teppanyaki grill at home so you can channel your Benihana in the privacy and comfort of your own home.
It’s simple but not any grill will do. That’s why we took the time to analyze the best teppanyaki grills that you can buy.
My favorite tabletop grill is this Presto Teppanyaki grill. I’ve been using it for a while now and really liked that one too. So you could check that out as well.
Read on to find out if this one is also the one for you or if you’ll be better off with one of our other options.
Teppanyaki hot plate Images
Best overall: Presto Slimline (view more images)
Best cheap teppanyaki hot plate: Quest Benross (view more images)
Affordable and durable: Zojirushi EA-DCC10 (view more images)
Best teppanyaki table: My Hibachi BBQ – Flat Top
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Best Portable Electric teppanyaki hot plate: Portable Teppanyaki Grill
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Large hot plate surface: CHEFJOY
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6 Best tabletop teppanyaki hotplates reviewed
It is possible to enjoy your favorite Japanese dish from the comfort of your own home.
You can now satisfy your cravings by giving yourself a spoil in the form of a teppanyaki dish.
The results you will witness when you prepare your favorite steak or shrimp using a teppan (teppanyaki grill) will leave you anticipating the next time.
Let’s get into the top 6 and why they are so great for preparing your meals on.
For every situation, there is a perfect grilling solution. Below are six of the teppanyaki grills that stand out from the rest, and should worth every dime.
So, now that I’ve made a short introduction into my choices, it’s time to get a bit deeper into the review of each individual one:
Best overall: Presto Slimline Electric Teppanyaki Table Top Grill
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Description:
The Presto Electric Teppanyaki Table Top Grill Griddle is ideal for anyone who loves BBQs, prepare breakfast and nutritious food without any struggle.
The griddle is portable and is perfect for anyone on the move. This makes it ideal for camping purposes.
One notable thing about this grill is that is it browns your meat and vegetables while still keeping it cooked and moist on the inside.
Its surface makes it easy to clean the grill, with just a quick swipe on the grill’s surface. So, you shouldn’t hesitate on buying this grill, especially if you love camping.
Features:
- The grill is versatile as you can cook different meals like fish, vegetables, meat, as well as fried dishes
- It comes equipped with anti-slip feet and cool-touch handle
- Adjustable temperature control
- Extra-large cooking area
- It comes equipped with 2 nonstick egg rings and 6 wooden spatulas
Check the latest prices here on Amazon
Best cheap teppanyaki hot plate: Quest Benross
Mark my words: best for your garden and home and this is probably the one I used first. It is very suitable for house parties and transportation is never a problem.
Its surface is flat and perfectly adapted to cooking various dishes while retaining as much moisture as possible.
(view more images)Multitasking is made possible due to ample cooking space. To add on top of that, the cooking station is made of non-stick material.
The cooking center is easy to clean, attributed to the non-stick plates and an oil drip tray.
Top-quality heating elements and cool handles are also incorporated within the make to have a better grilling experience.
For quicker cooking at an affordable price, this is the one to go for.
Check the lowest prices here on Amazon
Affordable and durable: Zojirushi EA-DCC10
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Description:
The Zojirushi Teppanyaki grill comes equipped with two nonslip egg rings as well as eight wooden spatulas.
This means you can cook all your favorite food on this grill with the assistance of your friends and family.
In addition, the grill has an extra-large cooking surface, which is enough for a person hosting parties or guest gatherings.
Another notable thing about this grill is its nonstick surface, which means you will need little or no oil while cooking.
Additionally, the grill is equipped with a dripping tap that assists in draining excess fat or oil while cooking.
As a result, the Costway grill assists in ensuring that you cook low-fat and healthy meals. Furthermore, its non-stick surface makes it easy to clean your grill after you finish cooking.
One interesting feature of the Zojirushi Teppanyaki grill is its adjustable thermostat.
The thermostat has a 5-temperature setting, which allows you to cook food using the ideal temperature needed.
Therefore, you don’t need to worry about cooking different meals like vegetables, beef, fish, and chicken since there are temperature settings for all these meals.
With this grill, you will be able to cook every food into perfection.
The grill comes with insulated handles that allow you to move the grill around your backyard, kitchen or garden without any problem.
These handles ensure convenience and safety when handling the grill.
Additionally, the grill is fitted with non-slip leg pads that assist in ensuring that you don’t damage your cooking platform when operating the grill.
Furthermore, the non-slip pads ensure the stability of the grill as you cook your favorite meals.
Features:
- The grill has a large cooking surface, and this allows you to cook different meals at once
- The grill has a nonstick cooking surface which makes it easy to clean the grill
- An adjustable thermostat for temperature control
- Protective handles and legs
Check the latest prices and availability here
Best teppanyaki table: My Hibachi BBQ – Flat Top
If you truly want to get that teppan chef experience, this is the only option out there: the 3-in-1 sit around flat top teppanyaki griddle by My Hibachi BBQ.
You just need to take one look at it to know that it has everything you’ll need. It’s simply the best!
An all in one Teppanyaki griddle that will not only make your meals great but it’s also amazing to showcase your skills. Our personal favorite since it’s more authentic.
(view more images)With it you get one of the top teppanyaki grills out on the market, but also a great griddle that becomes the center of attention just like at a real Japanese restaurant.
Its chairs and the tabletop fold out and provide seating and the perfect place to dine around the grill.
And since it’s heated with propane, it’s the closest thing we’ve found to “at home” authenticity.
And not only do you get the change to practice your teppanyaki skills, but this grill also converts into a BBQ grill and a hibachi grill depending on what you feel like cooking at the moment.
Truly a great buy for the best experience out there.
It has a 27″ X 20″ Flat top griddle, 26″ X 19″ BBQ rack and 17″ X 12″ Cast iron stove top 10 mm thick, both made out of stainless steel. And the dual cast iron burner is 40,000 BTU.
If this is just too expensive for your particular needs or you simply don’t need something so extravagant, keep on reading to find our other options.
Check pricing and availability here on Amazon
Best Portable Electric teppanyaki hot plate: Portable Teppanyaki Grill
If you just love Teppanyaki grills and can’t bear the idea of going camping or attending a friend’s party without teppanyaki experience, then this might just be the one for you.
It lets you create fantastic and cozy grilled deliciousness without the hassle.
The best choice for portability and versatility since it’s electric and the dual handles make it super easy to carry.
(view more images)Since it’s electric-powered, you can take easily use it indoors or take it outdoors. It uses 1,200 watts and features an adjustable thermostat.
You can also cook on the grill plate or on the burners. It also has two handles that make it really easy to carry.
It also features a non-stick cooking surface that makes clean up a breeze.
Additionally, the large grease pan means that you won’t have to spend hours of your time scraping the grill after you’re done using it.
This is our top pick if you’re looking for portability and versatility.
You can buy it here on Amazon
Large hot plate surface: CHEFJOY
Next up we have the ideal grill for those who aren’t really looking to become a teppan chef at Benihana but still want to have a high-quality teppanyaki grill to work on.
Look no further than the Electric Teppanyaki Table Top Grill from Chefjoy.
The best option for beginners since it’s easy to use and clean up, and includes many accessories to get you started.
(view more images)It’s also perfect for beginners since it includes many accessories that will let you prepare various types of treats.
It includes two non-stick egg rings so you can make perfectly round eggs.
It also has a large grease tray that can catch any meat drippings and it comes with six wooden spatulas.
Every teppanyaki grill should have large cooking are so you can prep multiple meals.
This one delivers that and more since it’s 35” by 9” big and its non-stick surface is extremely easy to clean up.
You’ll just need to pass a damp cloth on it after cooking and you’re done.
Check the latest prices here on Amazon
Preeyawadee – Non-stick Electric Barbecue Grill
If you’re planning to entertain large groups of people you’ll also need a large teppanyaki grill.
That’s exactly what the Preeyawadee Non-stick Electric Barbecue Grill/Teppanyaki Griddle has to offer.
(view more images)This grill or plate is larger than your typical indoor grill but it’s also incredibly lightweight.
It’s very easy to cook on it and the heating tube makes sure that heat is distributed evenly across its surface.
The sloping design lets grease easily slide down to one side and the non-stick surface makes clean up a breeze.
It can also double as a smokeless frying pan or a barbecue grill.
Regardless of how you wish to use yours, you’re in to have a great time either at a simple dinner barbecue in the middle of winter or for more complicated events and affairs.
Check the latest prices here
Costzon – Electric Teppanyaki Table Top Grill
One of our all-time favorites is the indoor/outdoor 35” Electric Teppanyaki Table Top Grill from Costzon.
It features a super large surface that will let you easily feed the whole family in a single cook with its fantastic griddle. It’s perfect as a way to entertain others.
(view more images)It also features five heat settings so you can cook many types of food such as meats, fried food, fish and veggies.
Enjoy healthier meals, even on camping trips or beach cookouts by letting the grease slide off into the removable slide-out tray.
You can also easily transport it by using the temperature controlled handles and place it anywhere thanks to its anti-slip foot pads.
On top of that, it has two non-stick egg rings and six spatulas so you can enjoy an authentic Japanese dining experience.
You can a good teppanyaki experience at a more affordable cost than our preferred choice.
Check out the latest prices here
Netsc19 -Electric Teppanyaki Table Top
This amazing grill by Netsc19 definitely had the most intriguing design out of the bunch since the tilted design lets you cook at different temperatures across the grill.
The raised edges help keep food securely on the surface.
(view more images)To make space for the raised edges, the surface is wider so you have more cooking space.
It also has cool-touch handles so you don’t burn yourself while transporting it or if you simply want to adjust it while it’s already on.
You can easily cook anything on it since its non-stick surface can handle both fried foods and vegetables without any difference while also being able to cook fish and meat that remains juicy and moist.
Check it out here
Also read: the best rice cookers and rice warmers you can buy
Homesweet – Electric Teppanyaki Table Top Grill
This grill is able to feed the whole tablet, it’s none other than Homesweet’s Teppanyaki Table Top Grill.
You’ll be amazed at how long the grill plate is in order to accommodate many different types of food at the same time.
Easily place your veggies in one row and your fish on another one. Efficient and elegant.
(view more images)The plate itself is about an inch thick and can retain a lot of heat, which is great since this electric grill can handle a pretty good heat for great teppanyaki results.
It also has temperature controls that you can adjust to make cooking various plates super simple.
It also has six wooden spatulas and two egg rings to complete the set. Its non-slip padding can help keep the legs in place so you can chop and flip without any worries.
It’s great to entertain guests so you won’t have to cook up multiple batches before being able to join in on the fun.
It’s amazingly inexpensive here on Amazon
Also read about these top Yakitori tabletop grills you can buy
what is a Teppanyaki grill plate?
A teppanyaki grill plate is made from iron and is a common component of the Japanese cooking blueprint.
You will definitely notice how teppanyaki meals stand out from others thanks to their wholesome and delightful nature.
They have become a major point as far as a tourist attraction in Japan is concerned.
The site of marinated meats, vegetables or fish on sizzling hotplate makes the Japanese style of cooking noticeable anywhere in the world.
Teppanyaki grills are an important factor to give some thought when on a mission to come up with a teppanyaki dish.
There are varieties of teppanyaki grills in the market and you would want to make the best choice for your money.
Things to consider when buying a Teppanyaki grill
There is a list of factors that need some consideration before making a purchase on a teppanyaki grill.
You have to know how, where and what you will be cooking with your grill. With all these factors, you should always choose a Teppanyaki grill that promises to perform.
- Size: it is important to choose a grill that is of the right size. Go for a grill that corresponds to the number of ingredients and the serving size. Do not buy something for a big group when you will only use it to grill for family.
- Cleaning: cooking and eating is always enjoyable. However, the difficult task is removing the remnants left on the grill after cooking. Choose a Teppanyaki grill that is easy to clean and store to save up space.
- Temperature control: having absolute control of the cooking temperature is a must. Check whether the temperature of the grill can be modulated to have food prepared to your own specifications.
- High heat: cooking meat dishes require the outside part to be brown while having the inner meat well-cooked. Even on thin steaks, the grill has to be adequately hot. Charcoal grills are the best since the source of heat is just below the cooking center. Gas grills only attain such heat if they are equipped with infrared or sear burners. If you prefer gas grills, those are features that you should add to the grill.
The distance between the source of heat and cooking surface matters.
Charcoal grills perform better when closer but gas burners close to the surface and far apart will lead to hot spots.
- Material durability: only the best grills are made from cast iron, powder-coated steel, vitreous enamel bonded to steel, cast aluminum, and premium stainless steel. Heavy steel is impressive when it comes to heat distribution. Regular steel and cast iron are prone to rust. Painting with high-quality heat resistant paint is an option although the paint can chip and peel off easily.
- Power: electric countertop models have a standard outlet and are useable with power inverters and portable generators. Range models do not have an inbuilt source of power. They require heat from electric or gas burners, and thus induction grills cannot be suitable with such indoor grills.
- Safety: for minimal accidents, the Teppanyaki grill has additional components added to it. The surrounding fabrications are items that are tolerant of high heat. The electric cords are removable and this eases transportation and cleaning. Also, the handles, lids, and covers of some indoor grills are well insulated to prevent burns.
Improving the efficiency of your Teppanyaki grill
Teppanyaki grills are a wise choice when having guests over since they are not only made for commercial but also private use.
Invite your friends and family over and have a freshly cooked dish from the grill.
The advantages of an electric Teppanyaki grill are praiseworthy. In as much as they are cheap, they are also easily handled, reliable and don’t stain easily.
This grill is friendly to armatures. There is no hustle as seen on the charcoal and gas grills where meat is soot laden and rare.
This is not the case of electric Teppanyaki grills.
Safety is given the utmost priority.
No wrong can happen when grilling since almost all electric Teppanyaki grills come fully installed with a thermostat which modulates the temperature to suit your cooking style.
Tongs are very useful for placing the meat on the grill, searing and turning. Increase or turn off the heat on the cooking center at your leisure.
Ensure that the meat that’s being cooked has seared properly in the long run.
For starters, you can cut a slice through the meat and observe it as it cooks. This should avoid serving rare meat by seeing what someone else is preparing.
That’s what simple-human.nl does and they are very successful in the use of their pans.
Experienced chefs tend to steal the whole show. What used to be a boring formal dinner can be transformed and resemble the Japanese steak houses.
Cook the meal in front of the guests and have the vegetables pre-made. They can then be self-served and eaten right away.
The Teppanyaki cuisine can be integrated into any culture worldwide, as long as the food cooks.
Tips for cleaning electric Teppanyaki grills
- Manufactures say it is better to line it with an aluminum foil or absorbent paper towel prior to cooking.
- In order to clean the drip tray, dispose of any aluminum foil or absorbent paper that was used to line.
- Dispose of the collected grease, and wash ordinarily with dishwashing liquid and a wet sponge.
- Soak the spatula for a few minutes, if it is heavily stained with grease or food particles, in warm water and drops of dishwashing liquid. Wipe to remove the dirt with a scrubber sponge.
- Rinse both equipments thoroughly with running water and air them out to dry.
Places to buy a Teppanyaki grill
The below list shows places you can buy a Teppanyaki grill at competitive prices:
- Alibaba
- E-bay
- Wholesale Patio Store
- Amazon
- Cook-n-dine
- Dvorsons
Conclusion
Indoor grills are also similar to outdoor grills and can serve people as well as excluding the ability to cook in outdoor weather conditions.
Some models are also similar in function and look as outdoor grills as much as possible.
If using an indoor grill, regardless of the make, all food prepared is less in fat than other methods of cooking.
Read more: Japanese noodle types for hot and cold dishes