What Is Hibachi Catering?

Hibachi catering (also called mobile hibachi, private hibachi, or backyard hibachi) is a catering service where a professional teppanyaki chef comes to your location — home, vacation rental, beach house, or event venue — with a portable flat-top grill and everything needed to cook a full Japanese-style meal with a live fire show performance.

How Is It Different from a Hibachi Restaurant?

At a Japanese steakhouse, you go to the restaurant, sit at a shared table with strangers, and watch a chef cook. With hibachi catering, the chef comes to YOU. The experience is completely private, customized for your group, and happens wherever you want — your backyard, pool deck, vacation rental, or any outdoor space.

Think of it as bringing the Japanese steakhouse experience to your home, but better because it's private, convenient, and you can BYOB.

What Does the Chef Cook?

A typical hibachi catering menu includes:

Proteins (Choose 2 or 3 per person)

• Chicken breast or thigh
• New York strip steak
• Shrimp
• Salmon
• Scallops
• Tofu (vegetarian option)

Sides (Included with every meal)

• Hibachi fried rice with egg, butter, and soy
• Grilled mixed vegetables (zucchini, mushrooms, onions, broccoli)
• Fresh side salad with ginger dressing

Sauces

• Yum yum sauce (creamy, slightly sweet)
• Teriyaki glaze
• Ginger sauce

What Is the "Fire Show"?

The fire show is what makes hibachi catering more than just food — it's entertainment. The teppanyaki chef performs tricks while cooking, including:

• Onion volcano — stacked onion rings filled with oil, lit on fire to create a flaming volcano
• Flying shrimp — chef flips shrimp into guests' mouths (or tries to!)
• Flame towers — dramatic columns of fire from the grill
• Knife tricks — rapid chopping and spinning of utensils
• Egg tricks — cracking and flipping eggs with theatrical flair
• Sake/water tricks — squirting liquid in arcs across the grill

What Does the Chef Bring?

Everything. You literally provide nothing except the guests and a flat outdoor space. The chef arrives with:

• Professional flat-top teppanyaki grill with propane
• All fresh ingredients, pre-prepped and ready to cook
• Table & chair setup using your venue's furniture (+$10/person)
• Tablecloths and decorations
• Plates, utensils, napkins
• Squeeze bottles, cooking oils, and sauces

How Long Does It Take?

1. Setup (45 minutes): Chef arrives early, sets up grill, arranges your tables & chairs, preps ingredients
2. Cooking & show (60-90 minutes): Live cooking with fire performance
3. Cleanup (30 minutes): Chef packs everything up and leaves your space spotless

Total time at your location is about 2-2.5 hours. Your part? Just show up and enjoy.

Who Is Hibachi Catering For?

• Birthday parties — the #1 most popular event type
• Vacation rentals — the ultimate beach trip upgrade
• Bachelorette/bachelor parties — unique group activity
• Weddings — rehearsal dinners and receptions
• Corporate events — team building and client entertainment
• Family reunions — brings everyone together
• Graduation parties — celebrating with style
• Just because — why not?