Hibachi Steak: Restaurant-Quality Dish For Cheap

If I could eat at Japanese hibachi restaurants every weekend, I probably would. 

But since that routine is way too pricey for my liking, my go-to alternative is to cook weekly hibachi steaks at home instead! 

So far, this strategy has been going so well that our friends are even visiting us over the weekends just to join the hibachi steak craze. 

In today’s post, I’ll share my unmatched hibachi steak recipe that always gets nods of approval and satisfied smiles.

🥩 What is a Hibachi Steak?

Hibachi steak is a term that refers to steak cooked on the traditional Japanese equipment called the hibachi grill, a small high-heat grill that uses charcoal as fuel.

Japanese chefs usually cook on hibachi grills directly in front of customers, showcasing not just their cooking skills but also their entertaining techniques. 

Now, in the West, hibachi grills aren’t really common. 

So, many Western-based Japanese restaurants simply use a flat-top griddle to cook in front of customers instead.

However, this cooking method has already been so closely associated with hibachi grills that hibachi steaks are still referred to as such even if you don’t use a hibachi grill.

❌ Common Mistakes to Avoid When Cooking Hibachi Steak 

Here are some of the most common mistakes people make when cooking hibachi steak.

If you can avoid these, you’ll get much better results from this dish!

Cutting Steak Before Cooking: Cutting the steak into cubes before cooking it prevents the meat from searing well. The juices released from the cubes will “boil” the meat instead of searing it. So, it’s best to avoid doing so. 

Not Letting the Steak Rest: You must always let freshly-cooked steak rest for about 5 to 10 minutes after cooking so it can redistribute its juices throughout.

Overcooking the Meat: Hibachi steaks must be cooked quick over high heat to stay tender. So, make sure to preheat the griddle before cooking and monitor the cooking time to guarantee that the meat won’t be too tough to eat. 

🍽️ Best Sides for Hibachi Steak 

To make the most of your hibachi steak, pair it with deserving sides that complement the taste of meat, including:

• Hibachi fried rice: Fried rice that’s also cooked hibachi-style. You may use a flat-top griddle or regular skillet as an alternative. 
• Hibachi noodles: Stir-fried noodles that usually use Yakisoba noodles. No need to use lots of toppings for this, as the steak and veggies will handle the flavors and textures. 
• Stir-fried veggies: This healthy, easy, and delicious side is the side dish I chose to include for the recipe below. 

If you want to make this recipe even fancier, you can even grill shrimp alongside the hibachi steak.

Hibachi Steak With Stir-Fried Vegetables

Yield: 2

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Here’s a Japanese steakhouse-quality meal that tastes and looks luxurious despite being so affordable! My favorite hack for cheap at-home date nights.

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Ingredients

For the Steak:

• 1 New York Strip Steak (6-8 ounces)
• Safflower oil (for cooking)
• Salt & pepper (to taste)

For the Vegetables:

• 1 medium zucchini (sliced)
• 1 large onion (sliced)
• 1 cup of white button mushrooms (sliced)
• 1 large carrot (sliced into thin rounds)
• 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon of mirin (optional)
• 1 tablespoon of sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons of avocado oil
• Salt & pepper (to taste)

Instructions

1. Heat a pan or a griddle over medium-high heat and add a splash of safflower oil.
2. Pat the New York Strip steak dry and season it with salt and pepper on both sides.
3. Put the steak in the hot pan. Using tongs, cook the fatcap side (fatty edge of the steak) for 1-2 minutes. Then cook each flat side for 2-5 minutes, depending on the doneness level you prefer.
4. Remove the steak from the pan and let it rest on a wire rack for 5-10 minutes.
5. It’s time to cook the veggies. So, while the steak is resting, heat avocado oil in the same pan or griddle over medium-high heat.
6. Add the sliced onions, carrots, and mushrooms. Cook them for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7. Add the zucchini to the pan and cook for 3 minutes more or until all vegetables are tender.
8. Pour the measured soy sauce and mirin (if using) into the veggie mix, stirring to coat the vegetables. Cook for another minute or two until the liquid reduces slightly.
9. Drizzle the vegetables with sesame oil and stir well.
10. At this point, you may cut the rested steak into bite-sized pieces. 
11. Add the steak pieces to the pan with the vegetables. Stir to combine the meat with the veggies. 
12. Give the dish a taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
13. You may serve this hibachi steak with veggies dish on its own or with a side of fried rice!

Notes

Image credit to ©phatboysushi.

Featured image credit to ©butterbeready.