By Noa Feldman · Senior Writer, Tip a Chef
Reviewed · Covers chef tipping etiquette
Quick answer
Do you tip a teppanyaki chef?
Yes, you tip a teppanyaki chef. Teppanyaki, like hibachi, features a chef cooking and performing on a flat grill at your table, so 18–25% of the bill is customary. For a private teppanyaki chef who comes to your home, tip 20% of the total directly to the chef.
18–25%
of the bill, for the tableside cooking
Teppanyaki and hibachi are close cousins: a skilled chef cooks in front of you on a hot surface and turns dinner into a performance. The tipping convention is the same, 18% to 25% depending on the show and the group size.
Where tips are pooled at a restaurant, a separate direct tip ensures the chef benefits. At home, a private teppanyaki chef should receive the full gratuity directly.
With Tip a Chef, you can send that tip to the chef from your phone, so it reaches them in full.
Common questions
How much do you tip a teppanyaki chef at home?
For a private teppanyaki chef at home, 20% of the total is customary and should go directly to the chef.
Is teppanyaki tipping different from a normal restaurant?
Yes, it runs a little higher, 18–25%, because of the tableside cooking and performance.
Tip your chef directly
Skip the cash and the tip pool. Scan a chef's Tip a Chef code and your gratuity goes straight to the person who cooked, who keeps 95%.