Best Hibachi Along The Peninsula & The South Bay

Hibachi-style cooking, also known as teppan or teppanyaki, often adds showmanship along with delectable food cooked right at the table. A true dining experience, the teppanyaki show may overshadow the food at some places. Here are five spots known for teppan-style cooking, but more importantly, for delicious food.

Kyoto Palace is a longtime Japanese steakhouse, serving in Campbell for 38 years. The theatrics of the teppan chefs (picture above) make Kyoto Palace a perfect choice for birthday, anniversary, graduation or other celebrations, as chefs "chop, dice, slice and toss" your selected food right before your eyes. Here entertainment comes along with the meal. Lunch or dinner gives diners the opportunity to experience teppan cooking, with a range of food options from vegetarian to seafood, chicken or steaks that can be ordered a la carte or banquet style. Visit the website to view menu choices. Early bird and happy hour specials are also available.

(credit: www.houseofgenji.net)

House of Genji
1335 N. 1^st St.
San Jose, CA 95112
(408) 453-8120
www.houseofgenji.net

If it's time for some "entertaining pampering" while you have a delicious meal, then House of Genji is the place to go. This well-liked teppan grill spot promises only the finest and freshest ingredients for your meal that is cooked right before your eyes, in the traditional Japanese teppan style. Teppan literally translates as "cooked on iron," which is the experience you will have at your table. In business for more than 30 years, the House of Genji offers steaks, salmon, seafood, chicken, tofu platters and combos cooked tableside by chefs with superb culinary skills, plus more than a few artful hand maneuvers. Also available are sashimi and sushi rolls. Visit the website to view the menus and for full details.

Sakura Teppanyaki and Sushi is fun place to go, particularly with a group of friends, and kids will enjoy the show. The huge menu listing includes a wider range than usual of hibachi dinner, combination and dinner specials ($16.95 - $40) including vegetarian choices that are actual dinners ($13.95 - $15.95). Lunch entrees can be served at either the teppanyaki tables or regular dining tables, plus in addition to the lunch menu, dinner menu items are available upon request. The restaurant offers an earlybird special Monday through Thursday from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. for 15-percent off your total bill. Valet parking is available.

(credit: www.odorisushistanford.com)

Odori Sushi and Teppanyaki
2111 El Camino Real
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 327-2222
www.odorisushistanford.com

Odori Sushi and Teppanyaki has a good selection of teppanyaki dishes and sushi offerings that are pretty well priced, a fact appreciated by the Stanford students stopping by. Teppanyaki dishes with chicken, steak, shrimp, salmon and a shrimp and chicken combo ($13) offer diners a preparation choice of teriyaki, garlic sauce or salt pepper, and come with soup, salad and rice. The restaurant also receives high marks for its sushi and sashimi, and fans are happy with the range of veggie sushi available here ($1.75 - $6.50, including hand rolls). Check the website menus for more information.

(credit: www.ahisushihibachi.com)

AhiSushi Hibachi
1784 Broadway St.
Redwood City, CA 94063
(650) 369-2299
www.ahisushihibachi.com

This combo sushi-hibachi spot may lack the theatrics of other higher-priced teppan grill restaurants, but it gets generally high marks for its sushi and well-priced hibachi dishes. AhiSushi and Hibachi offers hibachi lunch combos of chicken, steak, shrimp and filet mignon specials ($11.95 - $14.95), dinner hibachi combo specials ($18.95 - $23.95) and hibachi dinner plates of chicken salmon, steak, shrimp, beef, lobster tail or filet mignon ($12.95 - $19.95) served with soup, salad, hibachi vegetable and rice. The extensive sushi menu ($2.50 - $9.95) includes several veggie options too. Valet parking is available.

Melanie Graysmith is a writer, artist and educator based in San Francisco. She writes on adult education, art and lifestyle topics, and enjoys writing short stories and poetry. She is also a member of an independent filmmaking group. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.