Teppanyaki

The Logbook — Real Guest Soundings

Depth Sounding: This is a composite account from multiple guest experiences, edited to our venue standards for clarity. Individual sailings vary by ship, itinerary, and crew.

Teppanyaki Review: Dinner and a Show at the Grill

Introduction. NCL's Teppanyaki is equal parts dinner and entertainment — chefs juggle spatulas, build onion volcanoes, and toss shrimp into the air while cooking your meal on a flat-top grill. You're seated communally around the hibachi with 8–10 other guests, which means this is a social experience whether you planned it that way or not. At around $45–50 per person, it's a fun splurge — but go in knowing what you're signing up for.

Food & Drinks

The filet-and-lobster combination is the most popular order and the right call for a first visit — the steak arrives with a clean sear and the lobster tail is buttery and well-timed. The chicken is reliable but not memorable. Fried rice gets cooked right in front of you and somehow tastes better than it should. The miso soup starter and edamame are simple and solid. Honest assessment: the food is good, not great. You're paying as much for the performance as for the plate. The proteins are quality but seasoned simply — this is hibachi, not omakase. Sake and Japanese beer pairings work well here; the cocktail list is less inspired.

Service

The chefs are the stars, and the good ones make the meal. An engaging, funny teppanyaki chef turns a dinner into a highlight of the cruise; a quieter one makes it feel like an expensive meal you could have cooked at home. There's genuine variability here. Drink service from the table waitstaff is attentive — they know you'll be sitting for 60–90 minutes and keep glasses filled.

Atmosphere

Communal seating around hot grills means this room runs loud and lively. Families with older kids love it. Couples seeking a quiet romantic dinner should look elsewhere — Le Bistro is down the hall. The tables seat 8–10, so you'll be dining with strangers. Most people find this charming; a few find it intrusive. The room itself is simple and functional, designed around the grills rather than décor.

Conclusion

Rating: 3.8/5. Teppanyaki is a great time and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for families and groups. The food is solid hibachi — not groundbreaking, but well-prepared and fun to watch being made. It doesn't quite reach the top tier because you're paying specialty-restaurant prices for what is fundamentally a performance with food attached. Worth doing once per cruise, especially with kids or a lively group. Tip: book an early seating — the chefs tend to have more energy at the first show of the evening.

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