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The food…

Image: DisneyI once read a book by a Disney cast member who was a VIP Tour Guide. One of the things that she noted was that Tour Guides didn’t have to eat with families, but they could. Generally, this person chose to give the family alone time away from the stranger hosting them during the park visit. The notable exception was when the family had reservations for Teppan Edo.

That’s a recurring theme at Epcot. Out of all of the many wonderful eateries at the back of the park, Teppan Edo inspires an almost religious devotion from its ardent supporters. When Disney discussions crop up about the best food at World Showcase, anyone who excludes Teppan Edo from the list is deemed a mortal enemy. Some folks are that emphatic about the place.

Image: DisneyHaving eaten there, I certainly understand the hype. Teppan Edo is a table service restaurant with a familiar serving style, as long as you’ve eaten at Benihana or any other teppanyaki eatery. The meal is dinner and a show, as the chef comes out and prepares your food in front of you. What’s unique about the service is that guests frequently sit with strangers, as the large tables seat six-to-eight people. Unless you’re traveling with a large party, you’ll interact with people you don’t know as everyone ultimately enjoys one of the best meals in their lives.

Teppan Edo is legit, and I say that as someone who doesn’t like Japanese cuisine as a rule. If you’ve never eaten here, it should be on your Disney bucket list.

Of course, this isn’t the only restaurant at the Japan Pavilion. Tokyo Dining is a sushi place that isn’t quite on the level of Teppan Edo, but it’s still delicious. Plus, it offers a breathtaking view of Illuminations each evening, assuming that you’re fortunate enough to sit in the right part of the restaurant.

There’s also a Quick Service restaurant called Katsura Grill that offers a lovely perspective of the adjoining pagoda. It sits on the upper portion of the pavilion, giving it a serene backdrop for the meal, although the food isn’t on a par with the other options at the Japan Pavilion. Then again, I’m firmly in the Teppan Edo or Death group. I don’t understand why anybody would eat anywhere else at this pavilion. Who needs Plan B when Plan A is Teppan freakin’ Edo???

If you’ve read my other World Showcase pieces, you know that I’m relatively neutral in my evaluations of each one. They all have positives that make a visit to any pavilion worthwhile. Now contrast that to the drooling glee with which I describe the Japan Pavilion. You don’t need to connect a lot of dots here to know that I have some favorites at the World Showcase, and Japan is at the top of my list. What can I say? I’m a Kawaii guy.

 
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