12.06.07
Where have all the hibachi places gone?
I adore hibachi/teppanyaki. Throw some meat on a fiery surface with lots of sauce and I’m a happy girl. I especially love the fried rice with crazy amounts of butter. Somehow beef, shrimp and lobster taste so much better cooked on a giant metal stove. I could do without the cheesy show, but the food tastes so good. So I don’t understand why these places keep going out of business!!!!
There was an upscale one on the upper east side maybe three years ago, which I tried to go to but it had just closed. I should have known when their phone sounded disconnected. The Boyfriend took me to Asia Hibachi in Gramercy in August, but then it was closed by September. It was really yummy and the chef was good at his tricks. I wanted hibachi again in October so we used Citysearch, which said there was one more in Tribeca. Of course when we called their phone was also disconnected. The only remaining option is Benihana, which is very cheesy and not as good, I recall from my hometown of Pittsburgh.
The only reason I can think of that good hibachis wouldn’t be able to stay in business is that maybe most people don’t want a guy juggling knives and setting things on fire when they’re on a date, out with clients, or trying to impress someone, regardless of how good the food is. I guess that makes sense. It makes me very sad though. I hope that another hibachi opens up soon – I don’t need the show, you could just cook the food on the giant griddle…
