Teppan Edo

No visit to Epcot would be complete without dining at one of the restaurants in World Showcase. Each country offers a unique experience and an opportunity to learn about another culture. Today I’m going to write about Teppan Edo, one of the eateries found in the Japan Pavilion.

Teppan Edo Sign

Your adventure begins on the second floor of Japan’s main building. If the stairs are a bit intimidating, an elevator can be found next to the front entrance of the Mitsukoshi Department Store.

Japan Pavilion Main Building

At the check-in desk, you’ll be given a pager and asked to wait in the adjacent seating area. This area also serves as the waiting room for Tokyo Dining, a table-service restaurant that shares this floor.

Check-in Desk

Waiting Room

Tokyo Dining

The restaurants open at noon. If you can arrange your meal at this time, you’re in for a treat. Before business commences each day, all of the servers and chefs line up in formation, as if waiting for inspection. Then two hostesses welcome you to Japan and their restaurants. The ceremony is charming and worth seeing. It helps set the mood for your meal to come. I don’t have any “still” pictures of this, but I did capture it on video (see below).

When your table is ready, you will be escorted down a long hall to one of five dining rooms. Each room has four tables that seat eight. So unless you’re traveling with a large group, you will be sharing your meal with other guests. But that’s okay. Teppan Edo isn’t about intimate dining. It’s about fun and showmanship. In no time at all, you’ll be conversing with your fellow tablemates. And if you’re shy, there is a surefire opening question you can ask to get the conversation going, “Where are you visiting from?”

Teppan Edo Hallway

Teppan Edo Dining Room

Shortly after getting settled, your server will appear and introduce herself. Drink orders will be taken and hot towels handed to each guest. Besides cleaning your hands, feel free to wipe your brow. If you’re like me, nothing is so refreshing as a clean face.

Hot Towels

Each place setting has a pair of chopsticks waiting for you when you arrive. However, forks are offered for those of you who need them. Also, your waitress can devise some “training” chopsticks if you’d like to try to learn how to use them.

The restaurant features teppanyaki style cuisine. Teppan means iron plate and yaki means grilled, broiled or pan-fried. Here, a chef entertainingly prepares your meal at the table, while you watch. The concept originated in 1945 as a way of introducing western-style foods to the Japanese. However, the concept quickly became more popular with foreign visitors than with the Japanese themselves. So as time progressed, the chef’s performances became more elaborate and amusing to continue attracting tourists.

Appetizers such as sushi, miso soup, soybean pods, and tempura are available. These dishes are not prepared at the table, but are brought out just prior to the chef arriving to cook your meal.

Shrimp, scallops, chicken breast, and sirloin steak are the meats offered here. They can be ordered individually, or in a number of different combinations. Accompaniments include Udon noodles, mushrooms, zucchini, and onions. In addition, everyone is served a bowl of steamed white rice. (Feel free to ask for seconds of rice.)

When the chef arrives, he or she is introduced to you by your server and then the show begins. As you can tell by the next picture, they are usually pretty jovial and ready to have some fun.

Jovial Chef

The first order of business is to give each guest some dipping sauce. These include ginger, mustard, and cream which the chef deftly pours into serving dishes.

Dipping Sauce

With that bit of business taken care of, the vegetables and noodles are introduced to the grill. The way these chefs handle their knives and forks make the hucksters on TV selling Veg-a-Matics look like idiots (not that they needed any help in this area). The chefs at Teppan Edo can slice and dice like nobody’s business. They have this technique down to an art form.

But the best part is the building of the onion volcano. Here, the chef skillfully separates ring after ring of onion and layers them one on top another, creating Mount Fuji. Then oil and water are poured into the center to create a smoking volcano.

Preparing Onion Volcano

Onion Volcano Eruption

Next, the meats are introduced to the grill. Once again, we see the magic of these talented individuals as they toss pepper grinders, fling bits of meat into the air, and continue to slice and dice — all the while keeping us entertained with a steady stream of chatter.

Slice and Dice

Seasoning

Tossing Shrimp

The vegetables will be ready first and the chef will use a spatula and dish a portion onto your plate. It always amazes me how they can accurately divide the large amount of steaming food into equal portions for each guest. Since your meat is still cooking, don’t hesitate to start eating or else your vegetables will get cold.

Once the meat course has been served, the chef will clean the grill, say goodbye, and leave. Shortly thereafter, your server will offer dessert. These include Soft Serve Ice Cream, Green Tea Pudding, and Chocolate Ginger Cake. Although obvious on the menu, I want to make sure I haven’t given you the wrong impression, appetizers and desserts are an extra charge.

I want to remind all of you with special dietary needs to bring this fact to your server’s attention. At my table, one gentleman had a severe allergy to shellfish. Our waitress relayed this information to the kitchen staff and the restaurant manager came out to our table to discuss his concerns. In this case, his meal was cooked in the kitchen to make absolutely certain that no shellfish contamination could take place on the show-grill. ALL Disney restaurants, including counter service establishments, will work with you to make sure you and your family’s needs are met.

Would I recommend Teppan Edo? Absolutely! I think this restaurant is a lot of fun and should be on everyone’s Epcot “must do” list. However, I think Teppan Edo needs to be experienced in moderation. Personally, I only need to visit every three to four years. Any more than that and the experience becomes old hat. I need time to forget all the little nuances that took place so it will be fresh on my next visit.

Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made online or by calling 407-WDW-DINE. The restaurant opens at noon and remains open during the remainder of the day.

I have prepared a four minute video highlighting the experience. Enjoy.

Related Links:

Teppan Edo Reader Reviews

Teppan Edo Menu

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46 Replies to “Teppan Edo”

  1. This post gave me fond memories of our October 2009 trip when our extended family ate at Teppan Edo. My daughter first drank through a straw at this restaurant. She loved everything about the show and still remembers the table is “hot.”

    If you have a 2-and-a-half year old who has to “go” when you leap from your chair and sprint out of the table/grill area, go right (instead of left toward the entrance) and the bathrooms are at the end of the hall.

    It was a learning experience for all of us. 😉

  2. We had one of the best meals of our honeymoon here back in 2002 (I think is was called Teppanyaki back then), it was just so delicious. We are vegetarian and as a previous person mentioned, they cooked our food first and then the rest of the diners’. Also another nice gesture, even though it wouldn’t have bothered us, was that we were seated at one end of the table and the chef made sure to keep all the cooking meat towards the other end. Very thoughtful and very gracefully done, they didn’t make a big fuss over having to accomodate veggies, there was no break in the flow of the meal at all. Wonderful 🙂

  3. Here in Chile a very similiar Restaurante, even the chef also do the onion volcano 😛

    What a pity!! A must do for my “upcoming” 2013 travel to the World…I hope they still have this Restaurante jeje

  4. Regarding the comment above about not offering fried rice, the last time we were there a gentleman asked where it was on the menu and the woman seating us reminded him that this was Japan, not China. She was also a little put out, I think. The man offered to dump his white rice on the grill and do it himself and she curtly replied that it would burn. So it seems fried rice would be a Chinese offering instead of a Japanese one!

  5. I booked this and the Beirgarten for my boyfriends bday. We love hibachi restaurants, and after this blog, i hope he picks Teppan Edo–it looks so yum!!

    P.S. i loved the humor about the infomercial knives :p

  6. We love Teppan Edo. We ate here last April for my husband’s birthday. They treated him to a special birthday hat, song and cake! The staff was so gracious. All three of my kids ages: 2, 8 and 11 loved it. We have all decided that eating at Teppan Edo should be a “must-do” on any future WDW trip! Thanks for all the great pics!

  7. The chefs definitely respect vegetarian and allergy needs. I am a veg who is allergic to fish and shellfish. Our chef cooked my meal first before anyone else on the clean grill then cooked for the rest of our table. I felt bad that the others had to wait but not too bad to eat my yummy Yasai. Thanks Jack for the review. We had the same lovely chef that you did. She was wonderful. Especially with the kids at the table.

  8. Hi Jack,

    I just wanted to add a little something about being a vegetarian. I have been one for over 5 years now and I very, very rarely have a problem at WDW. My biggest problem is that I don’t eat mushrooms! 🙂 Anyways this is one of my husbands favorite restaurants. The last time we ate there I spoke with the restaurant manager! WOW! Were we impressed!! Not only did the chef completely clean everything (utensils, grill) but she did “the show” with my vegetables and gave me my rice first before proceeding with everyone else! It made me feel so special!! We will definitely be going back! 🙂

  9. Hey Jack,
    I want to say how much I loved that restaurant I have eaten there before I did got to the country Japan it’s really beautiful.I love sushi it tastes awsome I even love fried rice especially with shrimp can’t wait to go back I would love to see the shops there I have made friends in Japan hope to make more friends there after all I am a #1 Disney fan.

    From a #1 BIG Disney fan, Catherine

  10. Thanks for the review, my daughter (7) just loves this type of restaurant. We have already booked Teppan Edo for dinner, on our 2nd night. Glad to see that we made a good choice!

  11. I love this restaurant! I eat there every year I go in the end of the year. When we go we usually have a large group with us so we take up two tables, which is 20 people. Its a fun experience and has the best food. I love Tokyo dining as well. Out of all of the restaurants in Epcot I would have to say Japan is my favorite.

  12. Jack, thanks for the great article and video on Teppan Edo. I’ve got reservations there for dinner this May and are positive now I made the right choice for me and my boyfriend. Thanks everyone for your positive comments as well. Can’t wait to see and eat that onion volcano!

  13. Hi Jack, great review! My wife and I ate at Tokyo Dining July 4th weekend. Our reservation was for 12:00 and we were the first to enter the restaurant. A family of six and us were the only ones to see the wonderful opening show. My wife and I were then seated at the corner table nearest the lake. It was an absolutely amazing view and a great meal. The whole experience was special including the warm towels. Since this was our first visit, our server brought us each of the sauces to try with our steaks. We are trying now to get up the nerve to bring our very picky 17yo and 11yo kids. Thanks for the memories!

  14. Hmm, this actually saves me a trip to this restaurant, because I have about 4 hibachi restaurants within 20 minutes of my house and they all do the same thing- even the onion volcano!

    Hibachi is fun, but I’d rather try Tokyo Dining instead when on my vacation.

  15. Thanks Jack,
    This has to be our favorite place to eat when visiting EPCOT. We try to eat there at least once a trip. Any time we bring someone who has never been there we make sure they get to dine here and get to experience the great meal and show that we love so well. This is the only place I can get my favorite drink. The one that is made with orange juice and the rice vodka.

  16. Hi Jack – thanks for the wonderful article, it made my mouth water. I have eaten there in the past, once at opening and loved the ceremony. So now, I try to eat there every time, even if I can’t make the opening. In fact, I will be dining there at noon in 13 days and can’t wait!

  17. Thanks for this blog, Jack! While this is similar to Hibachi restaurants in our hometown area, our teens LOVE this place! It’s a must do with each trip–sometimes we’ve gone twice!! Lots of fun and we always meet great tablemates. Thanks for sharing the pictures and video!

  18. We have an upcoming trip starting Jan 8th – 18th to WDW…of the 11 ADR we have this is the one that I am most looking forward to. Great food, atmosphere and service. My kids love it at the ages of 13, 7 , and 3 and they all have eaten here before. WDW here we come!

  19. Hi Jack,
    Our family of 5 (2 adults, 3 children) will be dining for the fist time at Teppan Edo at the beginning of February. Your review was timed perfectly! Thank you for the many details. My husband works for a Japanese company here in the states which gives us even more reason to look forward to this dining experience. I would love to see the video that you mentioned but it doesn’t show up on my screen. There’s a big white, blank space where I assume the video would be. I use FireFox – do you know if that would make a difference ?

  20. Hey Jack,

    Thanks for the great blog on Teppan Edo! Like you, my family and I only dine here occasionally. The last time we went, we were seated with a couple from Celebration. We’re from the Tampa area…a table of world travelers…lol. One of my favorite parts of the meal is the onion volcano. It never gets old! We have a few Japanese steakhouses in our immediate area, but none of them have the magic Teppan Edo has.

    I shouldn’t have read this blog near lunch time!

    -Kirstin

  21. We’ve dined here a couple of times and it’s always been excellent, as are the other two dining spots in Japan. The last time at Teppanyaki, our table chef was Irish! but didn’t lack for knife skills.

  22. I went last September with my 3 year old son, it was his birthday so they gave him a chef’s hat and sang happy birthday to him. He loved the volcano part the best. It was great food and a great show, I’d love to see it again. This article was a nice reminder of what a good time we had. Thank you!

  23. i love teppan edo! we have similar restaurants where were live, but it is always too much food. at teppan edo, it is just the right amount of food, that i can get through the whole meal (appetizer, main course, dessert) and feel full, but not stuffed. the staff is wonderful, and it’s fun to sit with other guests, especially if your party is small and gets seated with strangers. i always enjoy eating here.

  24. Teppan Edo is my favorite restaurant at Disney World! My husband and I have eaten there many times over the past few years.

    Alas, we have a 21 month old daughter with another baby on the way. While I know she would enjoy the food there, I just don’t think she would stay away from the hot grill ;). So we will have to sit this wonderful restaurant out for a few years.

    I do miss the free salad they used to offer before the meal. It was with a ginger dressing. I believe it is still on the menu, but you have to pay for it now.

    Thank you for another great blog!!!

  25. Can’t wait..my daughter wanted to eat in Japan and skip Norway this Feb for lunch. My girls are 6 & 8 and can’t wait…even though we have 2 Jap steaktype houses in our area..we have never been to those… maybe sometime later in the yr to keep the Disney memories alive!

  26. We have ADR there for this May and after watching your video and reading the review I am even more excited to try it. I think my boys 6 and 8 are going to love it…thanks for the info

  27. I was wondering if my mother and I could share a combination meal. We have been before a couple of years ago and could not eat it all. So i was wondering if we could just share. We are not going to be using the dining plan. Plus My kids don’t eat a lot and one kids meal would be enough for them could they share?

    Jack’s Answer:

    As a general rule, Disney does not have a “minimum” required when eating at their restaurants. However, I can’t speak for Teppan Edo. Since it is not operated by Disney, they may have different rules. In addition, this is a unique establishment in which they try to seat every chair at a table to maximize capacity. My only suggestion is to call Disney General Information: 407-824-4321

  28. Hi Jack! Teppan Edo is one of my families favorite restaurants in WDW. We ate there most recently in January 2009, and November 2009. I feel the service, show, and food are all very good. Plus, the Japanese pavillion is one of my favorites!!!

  29. This one has been on my to-do list after hearing about it on a pod cast I listen to regularly. The pictures and video you provided have made me more confident in this decision. Would you agree that most everyone could enjoy a meal here? My son and I are more meat and potatoes, while my wife and daughter enjoy a variety of vegetables with their meal. It seems there are options for everyone. Having been to this type of restaurant before, I am looking forward to experiencing the quality that Disney has to offer.

    Jack’s Comment:

    I think even a “meat & potato” guy could enjoy a meal at Teppan Edo. Even though everything sounds exotic, the flavors are really rather mild. For the most part, it’s the dipping sauces that spice things up — and most people love ’em. Give this restaurant a try. You’ll be glad you did.

  30. Is this restaurant included in the Dining Plan?

    Jack’s Answer:

    Teppan Edo is on the Dining Plan — which means reservations will be more difficult to secure so plan accordingly.

  31. This restaurant is good so no complaints there. But one question you may know the answer: my family and I eat teppanyaki once every couple of months in our hometown and are always given a choice of steamed or fried rice (which the chef prepares at the table). Why no fried rice cooked at Disney?

    Jack’s Answer:

    I have no idea why Disney doesn’t serve fried rice at Teppan Edo. I know I associate fried rice with Chinese cooking, not Japanese. Perhaps this is the reason. Maybe the other restaurant you frequent is just trying to appeal to a wider audience. Just a guess.

  32. We have been there two times & we plan to go back! My son is an extremely picky eater but he devours the chicken with the sauce! It is well worth it!

  33. We ate here last May and LOVED it. The food was great and the options would allow the most pickiest eater to dine. My daughter (3 years old at the time) loved this meal as well. The shrimp and filet were her favorites. If you have a little one, be sure to ask for the “children’s chopsticks.” They are very easy for the children to use and make for a great Photo Op during your meal!!! ENJOY!!!!

  34. Jack,
    Thank you for the great article. We have always eaten there on our trips to WDW. My children love the show, but they also eat the food, even though they are rather picky. Unfortunately, on our upcoming trip in March, I was unable to get a reservation there. Hopefully, I’ll be able to make one at the last minute, or else we will all be disappointed.

  35. Teppan Edo is one of my families favorite restaurants at Epcot. My children ages 11 and 7 love it. I would highly recommend to anyone.

  36. Hey Jack….
    A very good review of one of my favorite places to dine at the World.
    Since the large change that the dining options went through a year or so ago at the pavillion, I do have 2 negatives to share.

    You mention the option of sushi. Well the only options I was given was what was on the menu when I was there in August, which was a california and tuna roll I beleive. One would think that with Tokyo Dining connected (as you mentioned above) if you asked for more options many would be available, this was not the case as it was before the change.

    Second (and this could be due to the popularity of the Dining Plan and being cost effective) is that the only options for a combination meal was the chicken, sirloin and shrimp. I again asked if I could substitute scallops (which are on the menu) for shrimp and was told no. Again, before the filet, scallops and even for just $3 extra lobster was an option!

    Regardless, the food is cook fantastic and the grillers do a great job.

  37. Jack,
    I pose this restaurant question to you because you seem very informed on the subject. I will be visiting MK for a character breakfast on Jan 25. I was told that it will be held at Liberty Tree Tavern due to renovations occuring at Crystal Palace. What is on the breakfast menu? I only know that it is a family style breakfast. Your help and info is always appreciated. Thank you.

    Jack’s Answer:

    I do not have a positive answer for you, just an opinion. I believe that Disney would want to create the same experience at Liberty Tree Tavern as is at the Crystal Palace — or as close as they can. So I would think the menu will be very similar. Scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, rolls, etc, should all be offered. Since the Liberty Tree Tavern is not set up for a buffet, and they serve “family service” in the evening, it’s a good bet breakfast will be family style.

  38. Wow, this restaurant looks like so much fun! I’ve held off making a reservation here because I wasn’t sure if I’d like the Japanese food. Looks like the show is fun though, and I could probably handle the food! Thanks for the report 🙂

    Jack’s Comment:

    You should definitely try Teppan Edo. The food is very “Americanized” and you will have NO problem with anything offered. Only the most picky eater would complain here.

  39. I ate here in December and I loved it! My kids are 4 and 7 and ate this meal the fastest. Maybe it was the show, or the simplicity of the ingredients, but they loved the food! I also highly recommend the green tea pudding for dessert. I was pleasantly surprised and it tastes like a luscious decadent flan to me

  40. Thanks for the article Jack – my hubby and I visited here in October 2008 and was one of the high-lights of our trip – we’re going back next month! We’re planning on taking my parents in a year or so for a meal, but my mum is a vegetarian who is a bit picky when it comes to utensils used to prepare her food touching meat. Do you think the chefs would be able to prepare her vegetables separately like the gentlemen who had the shell-fish allergy?

    Cara
    Portsmouth, England

    Jack’s Answer:

    Absolutely! First, there is a vegetarian option on the menu so that won’t be a problem. And I’m positive they will take care of your mum by cooking her meal in the kitchen. However, since everyone else’s meal is cooked on the grill, she’ll still get the show. Just make sure to tell your server as soon as you arrive at the table.

  41. thanks for the review! Japan is the one country we’ve never eaten in. It looks like fun. We’ll be sure to try it out now. How is Teppan Edo different from Tokyo Dining?

    Jack’s Answer:

    Tokyo Dining is a table-service restaurant. Meaning, your server takes your order and brings you your food from the kitchen — just like any other restaurant. I believe that Tokyo Dining has a more varied and flavorful menu, but of course, it lacks the show.

  42. Hi Jack,

    Love this place! Went there on our last visit and really had a great time! We were seated with some guys from Hong Kong. They were totally unfamiliar with this concept. It was really fun to watch them and try to communicate. They spoke VERY little english.

    Thanks for another interesting post!