A Toddler at the Teppanyaki Table: Osaka Moments I Won’t Forget

Taking a toddler to a hibachi restaurant might not top most parents’ lists of ideal outings. Here in Arizona is a teppanyaki and sushi restaurant called Osaka. It has my go-to plum wine, great food, and a fun show. And this last time was the first time taking my son, Levi.

I will admit I was nervous to take him. The loud noise, the constant sitting, the fire—every part of a hibachi dinner felt like it could go either really well or really wrong. I imagined spills, tears, and maybe even a quick exit before the rice hit the grill. It was my boyfriend who reminded me why we were doing this in the first place. “We won’t know how he is unless we take him,” he said.

And he was right.

For all I know my son could be a perfect angel and have the time of his life. Who am I to stand in the way of that experience for him?

Spoiler alert, it was far from that XD.

Sitting down…

…Levi enjoyed his own seat, a booster provided. He flipped through the menu as if he was deciding what to order. He even handed me my own menu. Daddy on one side, I on the other, Levi looked around at the people; the loud noise of chatter and fire from other grills had him whipping his head around. He got his own lemonade and I had to forcibly take the straw out of his mouth otherwise that would have been his dinner. He LOVED the miso soup.

And then the chef came. He shouted hello, pulling his cart full of raw food to cook. Levi staring at him with curiosity. His eyes glued to the mini spatula show. And then the first big burst of flames appeared and his body tensed. I saw his eyebrows scrunch and a slow cry slipped out. He turned to me with arms out wide. I could not hold in the laugh as I pulled him into my lap. He buried his head in my chest. .

The second flame caused a louder cry and actual tears to come out. It was a short tantrum, stopping not ten minutes later when fried rice was dumped on our plate.

In The End

I was glad to take Levi to Osaka. He had a mild tantrum when he saw fire. He shrieked when he wanted the fork. I had to pry the lemonade out of his hands. And he kept trying to slide of the seat to get his steps in. A typical toddler time. And it was great. To see his eyes practically roll in the back of his head when he ate the fried rice. Hitting a milestone of him eating shrimp for the first time.

And the best part: it was another, memorable, family outing.

TINY SHOES BIG VIEWS