Restaurant Review: Teppan 101 (Le Charme Suites, SMBA, Zambales)

Teppan 101

Back in our hotel after a whole day of exploring Zoobic Safari and Ocean Adventure, we had dinner at Teppan 101, the only Asian-fusion restaurant in Subic and the most exciting teppanyaki grill in town. 

Located at the ground floor within the same building where Le Charme Suites Subic (Teppan 101 is its fine dining F&B outlet) is, teppan is derived the Japanese word meaning “iron plate.”  Teppan 101 is equipped with three griddles and two teppanyaki dining areas that can accommodate 20 persons.

Check out "Hotel and Inn Review: Le Charme Suites Subic"

Our chef

Teppan 101, opened in 2013, focuses on using fresh ingredients (all-natural without extenders), with beef from Argentina and seafood from Bataan, and cooking them the teppanyaki way.  

We all sat down on a big hibachi  table which can accommodate up to 15 people.  The hibachi  grill is a charcoal brazier used traditionally in many Japanese households.  Now more widely used in performance cooking, we had front row seats as our engaging chef prepared and cooked our food on a flat grill right in front of us.

Thai Chicken with Cashew Nuts

Eager to please us with his cooking expertise, the adorable chef, with his infectious smile, performed an impressive cooking exhibition with some razzle dazzle that added to the total and good dining experience. 

Prior to cooking the food, he entertained us with his cooking instrument skills by throwing kitchen utensils mid-air and catching it (just like what bartenders do except that they used kitchen utensils here), as he prepared Chicken Teriyaki, Spicy Korean Pork and Beef Salpicao which was served with Japanese Fried Rice and Mixed Vegetables, all finished in an aesthetic presentation. 

Overall, the live teppanyaki style of cooking experience was pretty amazing and the outcome was food preparation turned, not only as an art, but also as a performance.

Our expert teppanyaki and hibachi chef was trained, to the highest of international standards, by head Chef JM Lim who studied at Center for Asian Culinary Studies in Subic.  JM Lim worked under well known Taiwan master Chef Mori who has a chain of Japanese and sushi restaurants.

The menu has a lot of unique dishes, from starters, appetizers, main courses as well as the desserts.  Some of its popular dishes include Thai Chicken with Cashew Nuts, Shrimps with Asparagus and Seafood Kare Kare.

Teppan 101 also has a a gaming area, ideal for groups of friends; and a VIP room and a bar for drinks and socializing, both open until 11PM. The very cozy bar has a good selection of wines and a projector area where they show videos. 

The private VIP room, a cigar and lounge deck at the mezzanine, can hold ten persons, perfect for small gatherings or meetings.  Subject to availability and accessible only to hotel guests, it has a required minimum order of Php 5,000. The fancy-looking couches, where desserts are served while watching race updates or sports broadcasts, are nice and comfortable seats.

Teppan 101’s teppanyaki concept, where the world of performance cooking is coupled with delicious and great teppanyaki and surf-and-turf (wherein seafood is paired with red meat) fusion cuisine at affordable prices, is fresh, new and unique in the Subic area. 

With its nice and relaxed atmosphere, you will surely not get bored here.    A great place to eat when staying at Le Charme Suites, it is also worth a visit and a must try if you stay elsewhere in Subic. The servings were generous and the ambiance was perfect. Depending on your appetite, you can choose from a three-course meal (PhP399), five-course meal (PhP699) and a six-course meal (PhP1,299). 

The author (left) with Mr. Francisco Dacuycuy and blogger Ms. Maria Rona Beltran

Teppan 101: G/F Bldg. 1131, Palm St., Subic Freeport Zone, Zambales 2222.  Tel: (047) 250-0870. Open daily, 11:30 AM - 3:30 PM, 4:30 PM - 10:00 PM.  E-mail:  reservations@teppan101.com. Website: www.teppan101.com.  Facebook: www.facebook.com/Teppan101/