Chattanooga Has Fun 2.5

2200 Hamilton Place Blvd
Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: (423) 855-8204
Website: Kanpai of Tokyo

The style is teppanyaki, a Japanese cuisine that involves cooking food on an iron griddle. In America, the method is popular at many Japanese steakhouses and hibachi grills, including Kanpai of Tokyo; however, that is not the only reason this small chain of restaurants has managed to establish a loyal fan base.

Originally opened in Atlanta in 1973, Kanpai of Tokyo has evolved into a popular chain comprised of four restaurants throughout the Southeastern United State, with locations in Chattanooga and Knoxville in Tennessee, and Greenville and Spartanburg in South Carolina. In Chattanooga, the local branch first opened in Red Bank more than 30 years ago. In 1992, it made the move to the Hamilton Place area. “It was the place to be at the time and in some ways still is,” says local operations manager Todd Burgner. And though the location might have changed, the restaurant has not.

Essentially, Kanpai of Tokyo is a Japanese steakhouse, but instead of tradition Japanese fare, a more entertaining meal is provided. Teppanyaki cooking is flash and fun and unique, especially for first-timers. At Kanpai of Tokyo, they look for chefs with strong culinary backgrounds that include culinary school and previous work. The trainees must then practice for anywhere from four to eight months with the head chef before they begin to cook and serve on their own.

On top of the hands-on practice, a large amount of studying is involved. Since a chef must know how to prepare every item on the menu, they must be familiar with what sauces are needed, how much time certain items take to cook, and much more. “You have to be able to perform in front of people,” remarks Burgner, who claims that the hardest tricks are usually the throwing ones. Imagine how long it would take to learn how to crack an egg in mid-air or to toss a steak knife up and into your hat.

With all the show, some might expect the food to be lacking, but the restaurant prides itself on serving fresh, quality meals. Japanese-style food is cooked in front of the customer’s eyes so the meal is served fresh and hot every time. Hibachi chicken, seafood and steak sizzle up while the rice and vegetables mix together with any one of the special sauces, all of which are made from scratch. Also available is a selection of fresh sushi rolls and salads, and a variety of wines, imported beers, and the traditional Japanese rice wine, sake. There is even a kids’ menu, offering traditional hibachi meals as well as chicken fingers, hamburgers, and even French fries, which Burgner believes sets Kanpai of Tokyo apart from other Japanese steakhouses.

The fusion of cultures and ideas that go into making the food also set Kanpai apart. The fare is made in Japanese style—but with a strong blend of Korean, Vietnamese, and American influences, as well as the component of the chef’s cultural background. Many of the workers come from diverse international communities, and that mix helps to create special dishes, unique to the restaurant, such as Tofu Hot and Sour Soup and Thai Shrimp with Soba noodles. This also helps the restaurant “to stay new,” says Burgner, “ so people don’t look at you as just the same old menu.”

These creative dishes, as well as the teppanyaki meals, even show up on the menus for the Express lunch and the Dinner for Two deal. With the Express Lunch, your meal will be ready in under 10 minutes, and the Dinner for Two offers two meals for $13.99 several days a week. There is even an Early Bird meal that offers two entrees for around $15 if you come in the first hour they are open. (These specials are usually Monday-Friday only.)

Inside, tile flooring runs throughout the restaurant, which is separated into several dinning rooms and halls with a bar right off the entrance and a sizable atrium room near the back. In the front dinning rooms, roughly 40 people can sit comfortably, while the back rooms seat about 20, which is fortunate, considering that during the busy season nearly 800 people can pass through on a Saturday night. The atrium offers large windows and a skylight. The bar is separated by a hallway, and houses several squat tables in the shape of sumo wrestlers. The building is full of woodwork and Japanese-themed wall art, with soft music playing in the background.

Kanpai of Tokyo is certainly not a typical restaurant After all, the teppanyaki performances and the fusion-inspired food make being typical impossible. But it’s a restaurant with fun and excitement, and of course, quality meals at an affordable price.

Kanpai of Tokyo, 2200 Hamilton Place Blvd. (423) 855-8204.
www.kanpaioftokyo.com/chattanooga