One may argue about what cuisine in the world is tastiest or healthiest, but there’s really no contest over which is most fun to watch someone make. Teppanyaki cooking is an exercise in showmanship, with a chef juggling ingredients, spice shakers, knives and sauce bottles as a meal is cooked on a huge flat griddle. This isn’t a cuisine you’re going to learn from a book at home. Fortunately you don’t have to, as the chefs at Banzai Beach are happy to make dinner for you. It’s an enthralling performance that also results in a meal that’s tasty and healthy, so you can enjoy a guilt-free dinner at the end of the show. — RF
934 Hermosa Ave., Hermosa Beach. (310) 374-3747
Runner-up: Benihana, 21327 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance. (310) 316-7777
