Introducing: Teppan Kenta, a new Japanese grill house at Bay and Wellesley
Name: Teppan Kenta
Contact Info: 24 Wellesley St. W., 647-345-0905, facebook.com, @teppankenta, teppankenta.com
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core
Owner/Chef: Kenta Taniguchi, the former manager at Guu Izakaya
The Food: Griddled meats and other quick-fried Japanese dishes, including okonomiyaki, a savoury pancake topped with pork, noodles, cabbage and egg. Among the more adventurous options: a cheesy shrimp melt served with croutons and edamame, and a potato pizza topped with pickled fish innards—best paired with beer, we’re told.
The Drinks: Sake, shōchū and cocktails flavoured with melon, mango and lychee. Sapporo and Asahi beers are available by the pint, bottle or pitcher.
The Place: A streamlined space with communal benches, an open kitchen and a window ledge crammed with colourful potted plants. A seat at the bar lets you watch chef Taniguchi at work on the griddle.
The Numbers:
• 50 seats, including 14 handmade bar stools
• 2 massive metal griddles, called tappan
• 1 dollar to add a scoop of ice cream to any cocktail
235589 <em>Teppan</em> is the Japanese word for a metal griddle and <em>teppanyaki</em> is the term for a restaurant that serves griddled foods. (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Teppan Kenta Introducing: Teppan Kenta https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-04-e1379424143774-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurants/slide/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-04/ teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-04 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
235588 The space, tucked behind the Rabba on Wellesley, used to be occupied by Nejibee, another <em>teppanyaki</em> (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Teppan Kenta Introducing: Teppan Kenta https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-03-e1379424131980-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-03.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurants/slide/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-03/ teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-03 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
235587 Chef Taniguchi trained in Japan. His motto: “No Teppan, No Life” (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Teppan Kenta Introducing: Teppan Kenta https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-02-e1379424116655-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-02.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurants/slide/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-02/ teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-02 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
235594 Tomato topped with pickled ginger ($4.50) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Teppan Kenta Introducing: Teppan Kenta https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-09-e1379424211353-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-09.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurants/slide/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-09/ teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-09 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
235586 Japanese pancake with pork, squid, shrimp, cabbage, noodles and egg ($15) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Teppan Kenta Introducing: Teppan Kenta https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-01.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurants/slide/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-01/ teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-01 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
235595 Potato pizza with pickled fish innards ($6) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Teppan Kenta Introducing: Teppan Kenta https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-10-e1379424225807-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-10.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurants/slide/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-10/ teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-10 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
235593 Grilled rosemary chicken thigh ($8) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Teppan Kenta Introducing: Teppan Kenta https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-08-e1379424199702-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-08.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurants/slide/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-08/ teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-08 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
235592 Shrimp and potato melt with croutons and edamame ($7.50) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Teppan Kenta Introducing: Teppan Kenta https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-07-e1379424186101-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-07.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurants/slide/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-07/ teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-07 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
235590 Strip loin served with wasabi, rock salt and soy sauce ($10) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Teppan Kenta Introducing: Teppan Kenta https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-05-e1379424156950-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-05.jpg 1000 667 [] https://torontolife.com/food/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurants/slide/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-05/ teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-05 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
235591 Melon-Chan (left): melon, Calpico (a milky Japanese drink) and soda ($6); Fairy Tail (right): lychee, mango, Irish cream and cranberry juice ($6.50) (Image: Renée Suen) Introducing: Teppan Kenta Introducing: Teppan Kenta https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-06-e1379424173335-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-06.jpg 667 1000 [] https://torontolife.com/food/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurants/slide/teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-06/ teppan-kenta-toronto-restaurant-06 0 0
(Image: Renée Suen)
I had a very enjoyable evening at Teppankenta with my date. Food was made with fresh ingredients. The place was full of vibe and it was a great place to hang out with friends after work.
Warm and friendly staff; wonderful food; always a good vibe – what more could a person ask?!! This is a super little hidden gem.