One of my favorite style of cooking is teppanyaki, a Japanese cuisine that uses an iron griddle to cook food. The word is derived from
teppan (iron plate) and
yaki (grilled, broiled or pan-fried). Besides always being delicious, teppanyaki is like a dinner show (see onion volcano picture on right). The only downer is the price of this all-inclusive meal, which does include soup, veggies and rice.
However,
Tsunami Steakhouse and Sushi Bar in Huntington Beach makes it an affordable "cheap date" with the following dinner specials on weeknights:
- Tightwad Tuesday: $13-18 Teppan specials (Regularly $19-23), $3 Coors Light, 1/2 Off Sushi Rolls.
- Flatbroke Wednesday: 2-for-1 (BOGO) Dining & Teppan.
- Anniversary Party on May 20th: $9.95 Teppan specials, $2 Coors Light, $5-7 Special Sushi Rolls. Click HERE for details.
Regular entrees are normally $16-28, so it's a great deal at half-off, $8-16 per person (click for menu
online here). As much as I love Benihana Restaurant (see
Cheap Date Idea #148), you can't beat this BOGO deal for teppan at
Tsunami. Parking is free here, but the lot is small. Thankfully, this restaurant offers free valet parking (a tip is always appreciated). It's first come, first serve (no reservations), so come earlier to check in and then enjoy the sunset (around 7:30 pm) at the beach right across the street from the restaurant. You can either walk along the beach or enjoy an easy hike around the
Bolsa Chica Wetlands (AKA an ecological reserve, a hidden gem in north Huntington Beach).
UPDATE 05/18/10: I came here for 1/2 off sushi rolls, which are generous in size, so don't order too many at first like I did. There is plenty of teppan dining space, so reservations are not really required, but it will probably be quite busy for the $9.95 teppan. I'm definitely coming back on Thursday!
Approximate cost of creative date idea = As low as $8 pp + Tip + Tax.
Actual value of the cheap date idea = Priceless.
