With locations all across the U.S., Benihana is famous for its teppanyaki table experience and always delivers a good show. Prepared by chefs who are as much entertainers as culinary masters, the meals include a delicate Japanese onion soup, vegetables cooked hibachi-style, homemade dipping sauces and steamed rice -- or if you prefer, Benihana’s signature Hibachi chicken rice. For your entree, choose from chicken, beef or seafood, then sit back and let the chef entertain you as he plays with your food while cooking it.

Head to Sapporo Scottsdale (look for the giant torches outside, you can't miss it) for lively
atmosphere, fun cocktails and delicious teppanyaki prepared by the restaurant's good-humored teppan chefs. Entree choices include soy-glazed tofu, calamari steak, chicken breast, sirloin steak, kurobuta pork chop, salmon, scallops, halibut, New York strip, filet mignon, sea bass and lobster. Don't feel like limiting yourself to just one protein? Combinations are also available so that you can mix things up. Plus, each teppanyaki meal is accompanied by a shrimp starter, mushroom soup, house salad, fried rice, fresh seasonal vegetables and housemade sorbet.

Available for lunch or dinner, the teppanyaki at Ah-So is served with everyone’s usual favorites: hot soup, a salad, assorted vegetables and fried rice. Vegetarians can go the strictly veggies route, but if surf and turf is more your style, choose from the Gulf shrimp, a plate full of golden scallops, boneless chicken breast with flavorful teriyaki sauce, or the USDA choice strip sirloin or USDA choice beef filet mignon. Of course, you don’t have to get too choosy if your appetite calls for more: combos include chicken and shrimp; steak and chicken; steak and shrimp; and shrimp and scallops.

This downtown Scottsdale hangout is a favorite lunch spot among the 20- and 30-somethings who work in Old Town. Not unlike other Japanese restaurants in town, sushi is definitely an option here, but the teppanyaki is a fun experience for when time allows. Whether it’s lobster, chicken, steak, scallops or shrimp you’re hungry for, the table chef will slice, dice and sear his way through dinner service until you just can’t eat another delicious bite.

Although better known for its sushi, the teppanyaki at Hon Machi is not to be overlooked. Served with a house salad, soup and steamed or fried rice, the entrees of chicken breast, vegetables, jumbo shrimp, scallops, salmon, USDA choice beef or lean pork are high quality for a good value. The restaurant even offers combos allowing guests to enjoy both teppanyaki and sushi for their meal -- you have your choice of tempura or a California roll.