Teppanyaki is worth trying at least once in a lifetime. It is truly a one-of-a kind experience to watch a skillful chef cook top quality ingredients right in front of you. However, this exclusive style of Japanese cooking comes at a price, and you can easily end up paying a small fortune.
I had been wanted to have Teppanyaki for a little while, but the prices of the most reputed Japanese steak houses in Tokyo kept holding me back. I came across Teppanyaki 10 at some point in my search and it seemed to be the best compromise in terms of quality and budget.
The Atmosphere
Teppanyaki 10 is located on the 6F of the Ginza Six shopping complex. It has a counter in front of the cooks, but it also has regular tables. If you are planning to eat there, make sure you request a counter seat to watch the chefs cooking while you eat.
The Food
For dinner Teppanyaki 10 has four different courses ranging from 8,000 to 15,000 yen. They also have free drinking plans for groups of 4 people and more. I went with the recommended 9 course menu, which costed 10,800 yen. Its only difference with the most expensive menu was the type of beef in the main course, which was still a very good premium Japanese sirloin steak.
Appetizer: Crab meat and Flying Fish Roe Salad
Although the appetizer was good, I was not exactly impressed by it. The crab meat and flying fish roe salad was fresh but a bit too simple.
Sea Urchin and Salmon Roe Temaki
The creamy sea urchin was served on a bed of fried rice with an egg yolk, and it was topped with salmon roe, creating a delicate combo of ocean flavors. Even though I enjoyed it a lot, the seaweed (nori) was too small to properly wrap all the ingredients together so it got a bit messy.
Grilled Spiny Lobtser
The Grilled Spiny Lobster was absolutely amazing. The meat was tender and cooked perfectly. It came served with lemon, pepper and pink salt to accentuate its subtle flavors.
Grilled Abalone
The abalone was also fantastic. The meat was slightly more rubbery than I expected, but still tender. It was served with a celery purée for additional flavoring. Although it was well done, I found it overpowered the delicate taste of the abalone, which was better complemented by a simple seasoning of lemon and pepper.
Today’s Specialty: Cheese and Tomato Crêpe
The Cheese and Tomato Crêpe tasted much better than it looked. Honestly, it was not exactly the transition I would have expected between the seafood and the meat, but I would be lying if I said I did not enjoy it. The balsamic vinegar added a nice sweet touch.
Fresh Melon Juice
After the crêpe, I was served a glass of fresh melon juice. Its sweetness and freshness was just what I needed to digest the first part of the meal.
Wagyu (Japanese beef) Sirloin Steak
The meat was extremely tender and melted in the mouth. Frankly, it exceeded my expectations — probably because I expected entry-level meat. Even though the sirloin steak turned out to be a good surprise, I was disappointed by the vegetables it came with, which lacked flavoring.
Today’s rice: Garlic and Whitebait Rice
The shirasu (whitebait) rice was good. The flavors were subtle and the amount of fish was quite generous.
Dessert: Watermelon Crumble Topped with Fleur de Sel Ice Cream
The dessert of the day was a watermelon crumble with mango and raspberry sauce. It was topped with fleur de sel ice cream. I found it refreshing and easy on the stomach after the big meal, but not particularly amazing.
The Drinks
Calvisson Les Vignerons Cabernet Sauvignon
If I had to find a weak spot to this dinner, it would be the drinks. In fact, there is quite a good and varied drink list at Teppanyaki 10. I had a glass of sparkling wine with the seafood and moved on to a Cabernet Sauvignon for the rest of the meal. Unfortunately, I found it too bitter. It is true that it was the cheapest bottle from the menu (3,800 yen), but I would expect a better entry-level wine at a place like this.
Overall
The service was really quick throughout dinner; the plates came one after the other. I know that this is very common in Japanese restaurants and that it is a sign of great service, but I am still having a hard time getting used to it. I felt a bit rushed at times, but that would not stop me from going back!
Teppanyaki 10 is a great option if you want to eat teppanyaki without breaking the bank. The quality you get for the price you pay is very good. Dinner was not perfect and there is room for improvement compared to other Japanese steak houses, but I think it can be justified by the lower price point of this restaurant. If you are planning to go, make sure you request a counter seat to fully enjoy the experience!
* All the prices included in this article are excluding taxes (10%).
Teppanyaki 10
Opening hours: Open every day from 11:00 to 15:30 (lunch) and from 17:00 to 22:30 (dinner)
Website: click here
Address: GINZA SIX 6F, 6 Chome−10−1, Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo, 104-0061
Telephone: 03-6263-9899
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