Ginza Ukai Tei: Theatrical High-End Teppanyaki

Ginza Ukai Tei (銀座うかい亭) elevates teppanyaki to a form of theatre. In a striking, antique-luxe dining room, chefs perform with high precision, transforming premium ingredients into a multi-course meal before your eyes. The experience is famously capped by a move to a dedicated dessert salon for the final course, making it feel like a complete evening's event.

Guests consistently praise the show-stopping house specialty: abalone steamed in a crust of rock salt. This is often followed by perfectly cooked wagyu steak, with many reviewers recommending the fillet upgrade. The garlic rice prepared on the teppan at the end of the meal is another highlight. The meticulous service and thoughtful touches for celebrations—such as custom dessert messages, a commemorative photo, and a single rose—are frequently mentioned, cementing its reputation as a place for a truly special occasion.

While most feel the performance and quality justify the cost, some diners find it expensive for the portion sizes. A few have noted that the service can feel formal or stiff, and a very small number of international visitors reported feeling that the service was slightly awkward. However, the overwhelming majority of reviews praise the warm and attentive staff.

Expect to pay around ¥15,000–¥19,999 for lunch and ¥30,000–¥39,999 for dinner. Reviewers in 2024–2026 reported paying between ¥13,200 and ¥19,800 for lunch courses featuring the signature abalone. Dinner bills can range significantly, with some parties noting costs of ¥55,000 to ¥75,000 per person for higher-tier courses. The popular fillet steak upgrade typically adds ¥4,400.

• Booking: Advance reservations are essential as the restaurant is often fully booked.
• Getting There: Located on the 1st floor of the Jiji Press Building, a 3-minute walk from Higashi Ginza Station (Exit 6).
• Seating: The restaurant offers both counter seats, where you can watch the chefs, and nine semi-private rooms.
• Children: Children are welcome, but those under the age of 12 cannot be seated at the counter.
• Payment: Major credit cards (Visa, Master, JCB, AMEX, Diners), electronic money (including Suica), and QR code payments (PayPay, d Barai) are accepted. A 13% service charge is added to the bill.
• Smoking: The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
• Parking: No parking is available.