Iron Chef Comes to Puyallup! (Finally!)

So anyone that has spent any amount of time driving around South Hill over the past year or so, may have noticed at the back of the old Safeway building, the sign to the right. Yes, FINALLY, South Hill was going to get a Japanese Steak House! First The Rock, now a Japanese Steak House, could life get any better? (OK, when someone opens an Indian restaurant, my life will be complete, but I digress) But it seems like we've been waiting, and waiting and waiting for Iron Chef to open. Well, finally last Thursday, open they did!

Teri and I decided to drop by last night and see how it was. Walking into Iron Chef, you're greeted by a vast room with about 16 Teppanyaki stations, each seating 8 - 10 people, a bar and not much else. The floor is concrete and coated with something similar that you might find at Home Depot. The decor was sparse to say the least. And somewhat cold, both in feel and temperature. But you don't go to a Japanese steak house for the decor, you go for the food and the show. So we were not in the least deterred.

As is customary, we were seated with others who were waiting. They will wait until they have between 6 - 10 people waiting and then seat them all together in a "U" shape around the Teppanyaki grill. Our waitriess was dressed in traditional Japanese garb and very attentive the whole evening. After taking our order, she brought us our salad which was dressed in a sesame dressing. There was a bit too much of it for my tastes, but it was VERY good, so I'll live. I ordered the steak and shrimp and Teri ordered the Chicken and Shrimp.

After eating our salads, the chef rolled the cart in and began by making some jokes and starting his show. Now I've been to a few Japanese steak houses in my day, but this guy was by far the best Teppanyaki chef I've ever seen! His name is "Mike" (Fine Japanese name!) and if you go, you should ask for him. He was flipping all kinds of things (including flaming bowls of who knows what) into the air and catching them in his hat. Spinning lemons and slicing them while they were spinning. And of course, who would miss the traditional flaming onion volcano!

My steak was cooked perfectly (medium rare) and my shrimp were to die for. Teri said her chicken was a tad dry, but enjoyed the shrimp as much as I did. The fried rice and veggies were very good as well. And of course there was sherbert for dessert.

Overall, I'd say our experience with Iron Chef was a positive one. They still have some kinks to work out (that even Mike admitted) but I think once they get them worked out, you're going to have to have reservations for this one! If last nigth (Sunday evening at 7:30) was any indication, you may by this weekend, kinks or not! I would have liked to see a little less industrial decor and Teri would have liked for the temperature to be warmer (as would I) but I think those were really our only complaints. The food was great and the entertainment was AWESOME! I'd give Iron Chef two thumbs up! We will definitely be back!

Iron Chef
4301 South Meridan Street
Suite A
Puyallup, WA 98373
(253) 848-3794