In Japanese, Teppan means an iron plate or a steel sheet, and yaki means to stir-fry. Teppanyaki cooking is stir-fried meat, seafood and vegetables cooked and eaten off large, tabletop grills. It is a mouth-watering form of cuisine. In Japan, the preparation of food is an art form and Teppanyaki is no exception. During its 200 year history this form of tabletop cooking has developed into a highly refined and beautiful form of cuisine. Light seasoning and fresh ingredients are the keys to Teppanyaki cuisine, seasonings are usually limited to soy sauce, wine, vinegar, and salt and pepper as well as garlic and onions.

The chef only works on one course at a time so Teppanyaki is eaten leisurely. While veteran Teppanyaki-diners drink, eat, or converse while dining, first-timers may have difficulty taking their eyes off the private cooking demonstration going on in front of them.

The Teppans themselves are made of stainless steel of varying shape and size. A large Teppan, including the surrounding counter from which diners eat, can seat as many as 20 people, allowing diners to sit comfortably while watching the chef prepare their meal. Gyu King Teppanyaki has several small and large Teppans allowing guests an opportunity to dine with others or in small rooms with their own private chef.

Although it is one of the most popular Japanese cuisines in the West, Vancouverites were early embracers of the Sushi style and dumpling dishes and there are only a few restaurants in the Vancouver area that specialize in the Teppanyaki cuisine.

Gyu King Teppanyaki, although understanding the cuisine must appeal to the western taste, remains one of the few authentic Japanese Teppanyaki Restaurants retaining special unique Japanese dishes such as Usuyaki, a thinly sliced beef dish cooked very quickly and rolled with chopped green onions and a fresh crab dish where the crab meat is grilled and the shell then turned into a receptacle for a very special crab, egg and sake nectar.