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January 01, 2005
Teppanyaki Vs Mr Teppanyaki
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I am sure fellow Malaysians will recognise these two restaurants, maybe Teppanyaki more than Mr Teppanyaki since the former is the more famous one, and always packed whilst admittedly Mr Teppanyaki is not that packed, and I always wonder why.
I am a fan of teppanyaki, those where they cook right in front of you, putting lots of pepper and I suspect Ajinomoti type of seasoning. I always order Green Tea (ice), gyoza (fried Sui Gau) and either Chicken Teppanyaki or a combination of Chicken/Beef or Chicken/Salmon fish. There is rice, some pickles, some meat (depending which one you ordered) and lots of taugeh. Small serving but filling, at a price range of RM6.90 to RM13.90, depending what kind of meat you ordered. Two main restaurants that serve these kind of food are Teppanyaki (the original one I suspect) and Mr Teppanyaki (the follower so to speak). Basically the food tastes the same, price range almost the same but in my very first posting for The Versus Section, I would like to comment about the atmosphere of the restaurants and service, since food and price range are similar.
I used to go to Teppanyaki a lot when I am alone shopping at Megamall whilst I always go to Mr Teppanyaki, again when I am shopping alone at Jusco, Maluri and Cheras Leisure Mall. But to be frank, I haven't been to Teppanyaki a lot these days. So when I went to Megamall yesterday on 31st December 2004, I thought since not much people, might as well have my lunch there. It was a decision that I regretted making.
The food was quite alright, it wasn't cheap, but the atmosphere, and more importantly the service were really not up to my usual standard.
We Malaysians are not a very demanding lot. When no one serves us, we serve ourselves by taking utensils and all, especially when it is a big big restaurant. And because of that we have spoiled the service industry. Restaurants are service industries, and we pay 10% service tax and sometimes I wonder for what? So that they will bring us out food and nothing more? It's time we expect good service and because of that I make Teppanyaki at Megamall my moot point.
THe atmosphere was not just cloudy, oily and crowded but yet not much people, I just can't pinpoint what went wrong except for perhaps that restaurant is in serious need of renovation and some new makeover because Teppanyaki's theme is white and white means more cleaning means more people should clean that place but everybody seems too busy to take care of the look itself. So perhaps service may be the reason you might thing?
I sat down and my table was dirty. No one came to clean it immediately, so I helped myself, took the dirty napkin on the table and wiped it clean. I waited for some time before a guy brought me the menu, but I learn it by heart already so I just ordered away. Then I saw Cawanmushi (or spelt as Chawanmushi) because I make it a point to try Chawanmushi at all Japanese restaurant that I will go to) and I ordered it.
And then I waited. My Chawanmushi came first which was quite fast, then my drinks and then I waited for my food. That was when the bitter aftertaste occured.
The cook was dressed in what I will term as greyish costume (it was supposed to be white). He cooked with relative speed, therefore not much care. I don't mind waiting as long as it is good and with some good presentation, if you know what I mean. Imagine my horror when he just dumped the whole taugeh onto the plate and when I say dumped, I say DUMPED. When it was serve to me, some taugeh was hanging by the place, which was very very unhygenic because it touched that dirty table I just wiped with a dirty napkin. Never mind, I thought, just eat. The man next to me asked for a spoon. I knew never ever ask for 1. refill of your Green tea and 2, spoon at Teppanyaki because it will take forever for these two to reach you. I think they may have a policy against giving out spoons, in this case plastic spoons because it's not by default and you have to ask a minimum 3 times to 3 different people. It can't be helped that some were Malays who can't speak English or even foreigners who can't speak Malay AND English so communication is a major problem and therefore you never get your spoons so what do you usually do? Walk right up to the utensils counter and help yourself. The only good thing is you can have the soy sauce to your heart's desire. Even when paying, it is self service, you walk right up and pay. Even when paying, not one smile, not one thank you. The experience let me wonder whether this is a restaurant with an attitude, because it might as well have been called Dato' Teppanyaki instead of the friendlier Teppanyaki.
My problem with this restaurant is not the food. It is the service, the atmosphere and the sulky depressed looking cook and waiters. I swear never to walk into this Teppanyaki at Megamall anymore, but I will try other branches, if there is one elsewhere, not until they renovate that place and give their workers some lectures on how to serve people.
Then today I went to Mr Teppanyaki at Cheras Leisure Mall. I always go to Mr Teppanyaki at Jusco because not much people although because of its closed surroundings, it is a bit stuffy in there. But in terms of food quality, service and atmosphere, these two branches offer the same standard, that is nothing short of excellent. It was always a pleasure to dine at Mr Teppanyaki. Like I said the food are similar, quality as well but the service is impeccable. The tables are always clean, once you seat down you're served within a second, maybe 3 if a lot more people. Yes, count 1,2,3 and you have your menu. There are good deals there so check out the flyers. Whilst the waiters are all Malay who can't speak decent English and the cook foreigners, communication is not a problem, you can point and smile and nod because unlike the other restaurant, the waiters here aren't as impatient to leave. You feel you're being served in a good way. But the service of getting your drinks, gyoza and food is painfully slow, but it was a joy to see the cook do the cooking. They take their time, they looked like they enjoyed their work though I know it is maybe for the waged but there may be some pride in their cooking. The cook had to do so many things, like take the meat and vegetables out of the kitchen, prepare the plates and more but he did it all with some concentration akin to an artist completing his masterpiece. Not one taugeh dangling, not one drop of oil dripping when served and it was all so clean! Plastic spoon is given BY DEFAULT, meaning you don't need to ask. When you do ask for extra soy sauce (nope, no bottle ready there but no big deal), you get it in a jiffy. Service is so very good, at both resturants. Food slow but at least the very basic demands are met. When it was time for paying, the waiter took my bill with both hands stretched out and with a bow and then the counter guy took my payment and smiled and I too smiled. I believe when served with a smile, your customer will feel so much more better. Of course there are some sulky customers but I smile back, all the time. The same could be said of my experience at Mr Teppanyaki at Jusco but the atmosphere at Sheras Leisure Mall is better in the sense it is brighter due to its open space concept but I like Jusco more because less people, less waiting time and everything is within reach. I rarely help myself at Mr Teppanyaki since I get what I want by just asking, once.
All in all, in this Teppanyaki (at Megamall) Vs Mr Teppanyaki (Cheras Leisure Mall & Jusco), I would say Mr Teppanyaki wins hands down. No competition, though some may prefer better food might go to Teppanyaki but really, the taste is the same anywhere. The reason why I am posting this is to comment on the sad state on what used to be my favourite restaurant at Megamall and now what is my first choice whenever I am at Jusco and Cheras Leisure Mall. If Mr Teppanyaki and Teppanyaki are situated next to each other, I don't think there is any doubt which one I will enter.
Well done to Mr Teppanyaki. Keep up the good service though it helps if the waiters can speak English better because I am sure foreigners do eat there. Give it a try. But don't try the Genting Highlands branch. The last time I went the food was cold and everything was horrible but service was quite alright.
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