By Sana Rao · Editorial Lead, Tip a Chef
Reviewed · Covers chef tipping etiquette
Quick answer
Do you tip the chef at a Japanese steakhouse?
Yes, you tip the chef at a Japanese steakhouse. The teppanyaki or hibachi chef cooks and performs at your table, so 18–20% of the bill is customary, leaning higher for a great show. Many guests leave a separate tip for the chef in addition to the standard tip for their server.
18–20%
of the bill for the teppanyaki chef
At a teppanyaki or hibachi-style Japanese steakhouse, the chef is the centre of the experience. Tipping reflects that: 18–20% is the norm, and a separate cash tip for the chef is a common courtesy on top of the server's tip.
Tip-pooling policies vary, so if you want the chef to personally receive your appreciation, hand it to them directly. For a private teppanyaki chef at home, the full 20% should go straight to them.
Tip a Chef makes direct tipping simple wherever the chef cooks, from a steakhouse counter to your own kitchen.
Common questions
What is the difference between hibachi and teppanyaki tipping?
There is no real difference. Both involve a chef cooking and performing at your table, and both warrant 18–20% or more.
Do you tip the teppanyaki chef in cash?
Cash handed directly to the chef is the most reliable way to ensure they receive it, especially where tips are pooled.
Related tipping guides
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%.