Guide
How Much Food for a Hibachi Party? A Menu Planning Guide
Two proteins per guest, with vegetables and rice, goes a long way. Here’s how to plan proteins, kids’ meals, starters and drinks for a hibachi party of any size.
After the price, the question we hear most is “will there be enough food?” Hibachi is a filling meal because the proteins come with hibachi vegetables and rice, cooked fresh and served hot off the grill. The trick is knowing what’s already included, so you add only what your group will actually eat. Here’s how to plan the hibachi menu for your party.
What each guest gets
What’s on each plate depends on the package you book:
- Basic Hibachi Experience ($70 per adult): two proteins per guest, plus hibachi vegetables, rice and our sauces. Guests choose from NY Strip Steak, Chicken, Shrimp, Scallops, Salmon and Tofu.
- Hibachi Table Experience (entrées from $79): each guest orders an entrée from the menu, with hibachi vegetables, steamed rice and sauces. Combinations come with two or three proteins, and you can upgrade to fried rice for $7.
- Hibachi Buffet (from $40.90 per guest, 50 guests and up): entrées, sides and sauces served buffet-style. The Classic Buffet includes teriyaki chicken, NY steak and broccoli, fried rice, steamed rice, gyoza, yakisoba noodles and hibachi vegetables; the Supreme and Deluxe tiers add more proteins and sides. See them all on the buffet page.
For most adults, two proteins with vegetables and rice make a full dinner. You don’t need to order “extra just in case” for every guest.
Choosing the two proteins
On the Basic package, every guest picks two proteins, and you can mix and match across the group. A few tips:
- One from the land, one from the sea is a classic pairing: steak or chicken with shrimp, scallops or salmon.
- Chicken is the safe bet for picky eaters and younger guests.
- Tofu covers vegetarian and vegan guests. On the Table Experience, the Hibachi Vegetarian entrée does the same.
- Send us the counts before the party (how many steak, chicken, shrimp and so on) so the chef preps the right amounts and nobody misses their first choice.
Tell us about allergies in advance too. Shellfish is a common one at a hibachi grill, and the chef needs to know before the day, not at the table.
Kids’ portions
- Basic: children 4–12 are $40, and kids 3 and under eat free. Most toddlers happily share from a parent’s plate.
- Table Experience: the menu has kids’ meals from $50: Kid Chicken & Shrimp, Kid NY & Chicken, Kid NY & Shrimp and Kid Filet Mignon.
- Teenagers count as adults (13 and up). Plan for their appetite accordingly.
Add-ons and sides worth adding
The included plate covers dinner. Add-ons are for big appetites, long parties and something to snack on while the grill heats up.
On the Basic package you can add Noodles ($8), Gyoza, 2 pieces ($6) and Edamame ($6). The full menu also has starters from $6 to $8, including House Salad, Miso Soup, Grilled Asparagus, Spicy Edamame and Chicken or Shrimp Fried Rice.
When they make sense:
- Big eaters and teenagers. Noodles or fried rice stretch a plate further than another protein.
- Guests who arrive hungry. Edamame and gyoza give people something to enjoy early in the evening.
- A smaller party under the minimum. On Basic, add-ons and extra proteins count toward the $700 event minimum.
- A splurge. The Specials on the menu include lobster, filet mignon, A5 Wagyu and a bone-in tomahawk for the guest of honor.
Planning by guest count
Here’s a starting point for the Basic package. Shared starters assume about one order for every two guests, and drinks follow a common party-planning rule of thumb: two per guest in the first hour and one per hour after that, so about four each for a three-hour party.
| Guests | Protein servings included (2 per guest) | Shared starters to consider | Drinks for 3 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 adults | 24 | about 6 orders | about 48 |
| 20 guests | 40 | about 10 orders | about 80 |
| 30 guests | 60 | about 15 orders | about 120 |
| 50 guests | 100 | about 25 orders | about 200 |
One chef cooks for up to 25 guests, so the 30- and 50-guest parties above get two stations and two chefs. From 50 guests, also compare the Basic package with our buffet packages. Our guide on what hibachi at home costs shows real totals for 12, 25 and 50 guests.
Three sample orders
A 12-adult birthday on Basic. Everyone picks two proteins, so the chef cooks 24 protein servings with vegetables and rice. Add about six orders of edamame or gyoza to share early on, and a few orders of noodles if there are big eaters at the table. Twelve adults reach the $700 minimum on their own. For the rest of the party plan, see our kids’ hibachi birthday guide.
A 20-guest family dinner on the Table Experience. Each guest orders an entrée, so collect the choices ahead of time: combinations for the adults, kids’ meals for the children and a Hibachi Vegetarian for anyone who skips meat. Fried rice upgrades are optional.
A 60-guest company lunch. This is where the buffet earns its place: one menu for everyone, served from chafing dishes and priced per guest from $40.90. Our corporate hibachi guide covers the logistics, and hibachi wedding catering covers receptions and rehearsal dinners.
Don’t over-order
- Rice and vegetables come with every plate. You don’t need separate sides for each guest.
- Not everyone eats a starter. One order per two guests is usually plenty for sharing.
- Kids eat less than you think, especially once the show starts.
- If you’re unsure, start lean. You can add guests with at least 24 hours’ notice, subject to availability.
Drinks and dessert
You’re welcome to bring your own drinks and cake. If you’d rather not shop, we offer soda, water, alkaline water and Japanese Ramune soda from $4 to $8, plus water glasses, wine glasses and sake cups. Keep a cooler near the tables so nobody walks past the grill for a refill, and see our backyard party checklist for the rest of the setup.
Frequently asked questions
How many proteins per person for hibachi?
On the Basic Hibachi Experience, two per guest, with vegetables and rice. On the Table Experience it depends on the entrée: a single protein, or two or three in the combinations.
Is hibachi enough food for big eaters?
Usually, yes. For a hungry crowd, add noodles or fried rice, or extra proteins, rather than a full second meal.
What do kids eat at a hibachi party?
On Basic, kids 4–12 have their own price ($40) and kids 3 and under eat free. On the Table Experience there are kids’ meals on the menu.
Do you have vegetarian and vegan options?
Yes. Tofu is one of the Basic proteins, and the Table Experience has a Hibachi Vegetarian entrée.
How do I know the total for my menu?
Get an instant quote for your date, guest count and ZIP code, or book online, where the total updates as you build your menu. Questions? Our FAQ has more answers.
