Hibachi restaurants, where meals are traditionally grilled or griddled in front of customers, can be a fun eating-out experience for consumers of all kinds. They’re theatrical, interactive, and offer more than a typical night out.
Hibachi, which literally means “fire bowl” in Japanese, is named for a traditional heating device that wasn’t originally used for cooking, but the meaning of the word in the context of restaurants is evolving.
Many restaurants now use the word “hibachi” to suggest the grilling method and the Japanese condiments that flavor the foods, even without the live show, reflecting the broader appeal of Asian flavors and live-fire cooking. Hibachi is also expanding through home grills and even meal kits, as consumers in the United States aim for an authentic taste of Japan both at home and in restaurants.
According to market research firm Datassential, “hibachi” appears on 1% of U.S. menus, and is familiar to 80% of the population, with 60% having tried it.
Click through the above slideshow to learn more about hibachi cooking, and to see how one restaurant in Reno, Nev., is using it on its menu.
