Osaka teppan yaki grill lobster onion and veggies with open flame

Here at Osaka, after 50 years of hard work to be not only the first but the best Japanese restaurant in Las Vegas, our commitment to excellence means providing an excellent experience for our guests, whether they’re seated at our lively sushi bar, relaxing in a quiet tatami room, or gathered around one of our exciting teppanyaki grills.

Teppan or Hibachi Grill?

Guests are sometimes curious about the difference between teppanyaki and hibachi. The confusion is understandable as both refer to grilling over open flame. “Hibachi-style” is sometimes used in the United States to refer to teppanyaki cooking. At some point in the past, English speakers in North America started to use the word “hibachi” to refer to a small and portable barbecue grill usually made of cast iron that featured an open-grate design. Hibachis typically use charcoal to heat food and are called “shichirin” in Japanese. Some contemporary models of hibachis in the United States are electric and are used to cook Japanese dishes indoors.

Old Japanese charcoal hibachi (charcoal brazier / fire bowl), isolated on white.

Traditionally, the Japanese hibachi is a heating device with an origin that may date all the way back to the Heian period (794–1185 AD). “Hibachi” translates to “fire bowl,” referring to the round or cylindrical shape of this open-top container designed to burn charcoal or wood for heat. The container is made from ceramic or wood and is lined with metal. Hibachis were sometimes also used as portable heaters or built into furniture for ready cooking. Many models are highly decorative.

Teppanyaki-style cooking, on the other hand, uses a solid, flat iron griddle to cook food, most often in a restaurant setting. These grills are typically heated with propane. Diners sit around these large, gas-heated hot plates and enjoy the culinary display of talent and skill as specially trained teppan chefs grill seafood, beef, pork, and chicken dishes to perfection. The flat surface is also well suited for cooking small and finely chopped accompaniments such as rice, vegetables, and eggs.

Teriyaki Cooking

What about teriyaki cooking, another popular Japanese food style? Teriyaki is a method of cooking with a sauce of the same name. Teriyaki translates as “glossy grilled.” During preparation, the meat is coated with this thin, light sauce that’s actually a sweet glaze made from soy sauce, sugar, sake, and mirin — a sweet rice wine. As the meat cooks, the chef continues to brush on more teriyaki sauce to keep the meat evenly coated and give it the very appealing glossy look. The result is a dish with a salty, slightly sweetened, rich taste. Teriyaki cooking is traditionally used in Japan to flavor fatty fish like tuna and eel, but its popularity in the US has meant it is also now also widely enjoyed with chicken, salmon and beef. Originally used only for cooking, a thicker version of teriyaki sauce is now popular on the Western dinner table as a dipping sauce.

Enjoy Osaka Japanese Bistro Teppanyaki Grill and Tempting Teriyaki Dishes

Osaka japanese restaurant teppan yaki chef over flame cooking lobster, steak and other foods

The Osaka teppan grill is a popular spot on any evening at Osaka Japanese Bistro. Our talented teppanyaki chefs grill up the most tempting and tasty freshly grilled dishes from steak and lobster to chicken, salmon and shrimp, along with a mouthwatering selection of appetizers, grilled vegetables, rice and other side dishes. Bring your family and friends and enjoy an exciting authentic teppanyaki grill experience.

Looking for great teriyaki dishes? At Osaka you can also enjoy enjoy chicken, beef, and pork dishes grilled in our own carefully crafted teriyaki sauce. One of our most popular selections is the yakitori: grilled chicken on skewers brushed with aromatic and perfectly seasoned teriyaki sauce. Our popular house combination dinners allow you to combine beef, chicken, or pork teriyaki with our delicious shrimp and vegetable tempura, or opt for the beef and chicken teriyaki combo dinner for twice the enjoyment.

Stop by Osaka Japanese Bistro on W Sahara in Las Vegas, or our restaurant in Henderson for a truly authentic Japanese meal, or give us a call to reserve a teppanyaki grill experience today.

Five Qualities of Top Sushi

8 piece futomaki sushi roll on a plate

A top sushi place is hard to find, but when you find one, you’ll know it. At Osaka Japanese Bistro we’ve spent over 50 years perfecting the art of great sushi. Our sushi recipes are perfected using traditional methods of sushi-making, prepared by classically trained and experienced sushi chefs, and using only the freshest fish and finest quality ingredients. This is why so many Las Vegas casinos depend on us to provide sushi to their guests at buffets and other venues. We think we know a thing or two about great sushi and we’d like to share that knowledge with you.

While good sushi may satisfy your palate, the best quality sushi is a delightful and exotic experience that ignites your senses. Rather than merely a meal, the best sushi is a unique combination of art and science, crafted with attention to detail that leaves a lasting impression. Each sushi order is made fresh, created specifically for you, the customer. The sushi chef’s years of experience, training, knowledge and passion are reflected in each and every plate of sushi that is served.

But what are the key factors that separate merely good sushi and truly amazing sushi?

Five Signs you’ve Found the Best Quality Sushi

1. Presentation

More than any other food, sushi presentation matters almost as much as taste. Visit the sushi bar itself where the work si done. You should immediately see an impressive display, the sushi chef’s iced case with his supply fresh fish full of luster and shine and never any fishy odor around. An array of other fresh ingredients should be neatly arranged in the display case. The same care taken to make ingredients visibly appealing is likely taken in preparing your dish. When your entrée arrives, a truly perfect plate of sushi will look fresh and carefully composed, full of vibrant colors and a purposeful presentation and overall artistry that demonstrates the chef’s careful use of his tools and ingredients to deliver a beautiful dish.

Nigiri fresh roe and shrimp arrangement

2. Sushi Rice

The rice is a critical element in sushi and never an afterthought. It is so important, that a master sushi chef may spend years learning to craft the perfect rice. Typically dressed with seasoned vinegar, sushi rice should have a glossy sheen.

Sushi rice has the perfect texture to play off the fish. It should be sticky so that it holds together as you take a bite, but should still separate into individual grains once in your mouth, delicate enough that it brings out the flavors of the other ingredients. No matter what kind of sushi is on the menu, the rice is the core ingredient and starting point for great sushi.

3. Fresh Sushi Ingredients

Daily access to fresh, high quality fish is the mark of a superb sushi restaurant. To put it simply, the fish should be extremely fresh, usually delivered daily. It should never smell “fishy” which is a sign the fish is no longer fresh.

tiger roll Osaka Japanese restaurant sushi roll

Each piece of sushi should have a clean taste, with a variety of textures that melt smoothly in your mouth. Ingredients like seaweed should be crisp, not soggy or rubbery. The restaurant should serve high-grade soy sauce that is mellow in taste, and should be made from freshly grated wasabi root.

4. Technique and Skill

The sushi chef is the heart and soul of the sushi experience. With years of training, a skilled chef will have excellent knife skills and manual dexterity, many years experience with a range of menus, flavors and recipes, and a personal, unique style that contributes to the uniqueness of the restaurant. In addition, the sushi chef’s commitment to the art of creating sushi is evidenced through a constant drive for self-improvement. An artist to the core, a sushi chef takes great pride in pleasing his audience.

Shinjuku sushi at Osaka Japanese Bistro Las Vegas

5. Creativity

The best quality sushi will reflect the restaurant’s unique style and personality. This will be reflected in the creativity of the menu. The sushi chef’s artistic vision should entice customers with a variety of culinary selections built around many types of fish and other ingredients. Many develop specialties using local ingredients or to please local tastes. Others perfect old classics with flair and extra touches to add variety and style. To truly appreciate a great sushi chef, look for the “chef’s choice” on the menu. It indicates that they are excited to inspire your palate with innovative cuisine. A changing menu is also a great sign. This means that the restaurant is constantly experimenting with new combinations to tantalize your taste buds.

Great Sushi is in How it Tastes

Of course, the final test of your great sushi experience will be when you actually consume the sushi. But first, a true sushi experience is more than just eating your food. It is an experience of many senses – visual, because a beautiful presentation will whet your appetite; your nose, because fresh and delicate smells will prepare your taste buds, and of course taste, the most perfect, melt-in-your-mouth sushi rice will make room for all the accompanying ingredients to deliver a wonderfully delicious sushi experience. The best quality sushi will always deliver fresh and exciting tastes that make you linger over the sensation and then go back for another bite.

Enjoy Top Sushi at Osaka Japanese Bistro in Las Vegas

The ideal piece of sushi combines a variety of fresh ingredients to achieve a delicate balance of flavors. While the taste should be fantastic, the presentation, chef’s expertise, and the originality of the restaurant’s menu and ambiance are just as important.

It is rare to find a sushi experience that meets each of these criteria, but here at Osaka Japanese Bistro we are proud to have achieved this feat. Try our unique menu and dare to be inspired!

Hibachi or Teppan Grill: What’s the Difference?