Konnichi wa (こんにちは) and welcome to the Japan Pavilion in EPCOT! Since the reopening of the park, the pavilion has operated without its guest-favorite table-service restaurants, including Takumi Tei and Tokyo Dining. Thankfully, Teppan Edo, the pavilion’s popular hibachi restaurant, has reopened today with social distancing measures.
Teppan Edo – Arrival
Teppan Edo is located above Mitsukoshi, on the second floor of the pavilion. Just outside the department store, the pavilion’s dining kiosk shows updated signage for the restaurant.
Teppan Edo is open daily from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM, or park close. Guests must proceed upstairs to check-in, but can scan a QR code to read the menu ahead of time, available in English, Spanish, French, or Portuguese.
Upstairs, the Chefs and Cast Members of Teppan Edo had a special reopening ceremony for guests. Given the shortage of Cultural Representatives due to travel restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the staff is comprised of both Japanese nationals and Cast Members from around the World Showcase. While our chef and chef’s assistant were from Japan, our server was from Mexico, originally stationed at San Angel Inn Restaurante.
After the ceremony, guests were escorted to the dining room area of Teppan Edo for the first seating of the day.
Teppan Edo – Modified Seating
Tables are now outfitted with plexiglass dividers to keep parties separate. However, guests are still grouped together within tables. The dividers can be moved around to accommodate different group sizes.
Guests can once again scan the QR code for the menu, or view a disposable paper menu. Jars are available with soy sauce.
Teppan Edo – Menu
The menu hasn’t seen many changes, with the same overall items available.
A variety of cocktails, sake, wine, and beer are also available.
As is customary at all Mitsukoshi restaurants, a hot wet towel is brought to your table for you to freshen up before your meal.
Teppan Edo – Hibachi Experience
The Hibachi experience starts with a Disney twist, as the chef makes a Mickey shape with the cooking oil.
From there, the chef skillfully lays out all of the ingredients for each guests’ meals, starting with the veggies, which take longer to cook.
In the middle, you’ll spot a sushi roll—a bit more on that later.
Chefs wear face masks and safety goggles while preparing your meals.
Besides the plexiglass dividers and face masks, this otherwise feels on par for your average hibachi, with sides and sauces all doled out in a timely manner as the dining experience progresses.
Teppan Edo – Specialty Cocktails
Momo Whiskey Sour – $12.00
Perfect Harmony of Whiskey, Peach Schnapps, and Sour Mix
Shochu Squeeze – $12.00
Your choice of – Freshly Squeezed Grapefruit, Lemon, or Orange Juice mixed with a cold glass of Crisp Shochu on the Rocks
This one’s a fun, hands-on cocktail, with your choice of freshly-squeezed grapefruit, lemon, or orange juice over crisp, cold sochu. We opted for orange and got a small juicer to juice the fruit ourselves and pour it over on top.
Nigori Mimosa – $12.00
Unfiltered Nigori Sake, Orange Juice, Grenadine, and Sparkling Water
Teppan Edo – Entrees
Sunomono Salad
This Sunomono Salad comes with every entree, and varies depending what’s in season. Here, we have fresh cucumber and marinated seaweed, sprinkled with toasted sesame seeds.
Volcano Roll – $18.00
Grilled California Roll topped with Shrimp, Scallops, and Volcano Sauce
Remember that sushi on the grill? This is it! It’s grilled, then stacked, doused in creamy-spicy volcano sauce, and topped with plenty of shrimp and scallops.
There’s a reason this is a guest-favorite sushi roll here—it’s seared, so those averse to raw sushi will be more open to trying it, and those who love sushi (and aren’t too snooty to admit that spicy mayo is delicious) will love each tasty morsel dripping in shrimp.
And now, we’re back to the main spectacle—the onion volcano!
A hibachi trick that never fails to wow the table… especially in the absence of nighttime spectaculars.
Next, the chef moves on to the thick udon noodles that are served as a side. Some guests like to wait until the main proteins are finished to mix everything up, but if you’re like me, you scarf them down while they’re still piping hot.
Once all the sides are done, the chef moves on to the meats and seafood.
Each item is kept separate. If you have any kind of allergy (like shellfish, fish allergies), your meats are made separately as well.
Filet Mignon – $38.00
6 oz cut served with sunomono salad, udon noodles, vegetables, and steamed white rice
Asakusa – $37.00
steak and shrimp
Nihonbashi – $36.00
steak and chicken
All three dishes were excellent, with tender, perfectly cooked-to-order steak, juicy seared chicken, and plump shrimp. Douse it all in the sauces provided and you’ve got a perfectly customizable meal that’ll please any palate.
Teppan Edo – Dessert
There’s a separate menu just for dessert, including an all-new dessert: Matcha Tiramisu!
Matcha Tiramisu – $9.00
Green Tea Cream with Raspberry and Baumkuchen
If you’re a matcha fan like me, it’s hard not to opt for a new matcha dessert, but keep in mind that the flavors here are very delicate and light—and not cloyingly sweet like the green tea frap you get at Traveler’s Cafe.
The Baumkuchen, or tree cake on top is especially delightful, a traditional pastry of many European countries, and also a popular snack and dessert in Japan.
Teppan Edo – Overall
Whether you miss the whole hibachi experience, or miss dining at the Japan Pavilion in general, you’ll love a meal at Teppan Edo, and leave fully stuffed. The service here is always immaculate and super friendly, and if you don’t feel comfortable dining at your local hibachi joint, you can rest assured that Mitsukoshi will provide a safe, clean, and pleasant dining experience.
Our server was great. As always, everyone in the Japan Pavilion always goes the extra mile to show us top-notch hospitality. The chef told us how happy he was to be back at work, and it really felt genuine and heartfelt. While dishes can be hit or miss for some at the Japan Pavilion, the service is always attentive beyond compare and so welcoming, which is why we always return.
You can make reservations for Teppan Edo at the Japan Pavilion in EPCOT by clicking here.
We’re happy to see this staple of Japanese dining open again at EPCOT. Do you love Teppan Edo? Let us know in the comments.