Let's be honest—you're tired of the restaurant routine. Making reservations weeks in advance, driving to Portland, circling for parking, waiting even though you had a reservation, squeezing around a crowded hibachi table with strangers, splitting the check eight ways, and getting home past midnight. Sound familiar?
Here's the deal: backyard hibachi in Tigard solves every single one of those problems while delivering better food, better entertainment, and zero stress. I'm Rumla, and I started Love Hibachi specifically because I saw people spending $400-600 at restaurants for experiences they could get at home for less money and more enjoyment.
After three years and 300+ events across the Portland metro area, I know exactly what works and what doesn't. This isn't a sales pitch—it's practical information about how hibachi catering actually operates in Tigard, what you should expect, and whether it makes sense for your situation.
Mobile hibachi means a professional teppanyaki chef brings restaurant-quality equipment, premium ingredients, and full entertainment directly to your Tigard property. You're not getting a guy with a portable grill and some teriyaki sauce. You're getting the real thing: trained chefs with 15+ years experience, commercial-grade hibachi grills, and the same knife skills and showmanship you'd see at Benihana.
The service includes everything. Complete setup, all cooking equipment, professional-grade ingredients, full meal preparation and cooking, entertainment throughout the meal, and total cleanup and breakdown. Your only job is deciding who to invite and where they should sit.
Space requirements are smaller than most people think. I've done successful hibachi setups in Tigard backyards measuring 10x15 feet. Covered patios work. Garages work. Driveways work. If you have a relatively flat surface and access to an outdoor outlet, we can make it happen. The Bull Mountain homes with those smaller patio areas? No problem. The older neighborhoods near Cook Park with bigger yards? Even easier.
Cost runs significantly less than restaurant hibachi once you factor in the per-person expense. A party of 10 at a Portland hibachi restaurant will cost $500-700 before tip. Our mobile hibachi service delivers comparable quality with better entertainment value, no travel hassle, and you control the entire environment.
Let me bust some myths because people have misconceptions about how this works.
Myth 1: "It's just fancy BBQ." Wrong. Hibachi cooking uses flat-top grills that reach 500+ degrees, specific techniques for the signature seared crust, and precise timing that's completely different from grilling. Our chefs train for years to master teppanyaki. The food tastes different because the cooking method is different.
Myth 2: "Cleanup must be a nightmare." Actually, zero cleanup for you. Our team brings heavy-duty mats that protect your patio or lawn, uses drip trays for all grease, and leaves your space cleaner than we found it. I've done events on brand-new composite decking—no stains, no residue, nothing.
Myth 3: "You need a huge backyard." False. The minimum workable space is about 10x12 feet. I've executed hibachi events in townhome patios in Tigard without issues. We adapt to your space, not the other way around.
Myth 4: "Oregon weather ruins outdoor cooking." Partially true, which is why we offer covered patio setups and garage conversions. I've done winter events in Tigard garages that worked perfectly—you get the entertainment and food quality without weather concerns. April through October, outdoor setups work great. November through March, we go covered or indoor.
The chef arrives 90 minutes before your scheduled meal time. This buffer allows complete setup without rushing. Equipment gets positioned, ingredients get final prep, and the cooking station transforms your space into something that looks genuinely professional.
During the meal, here's what happens: Your chef cooks and entertains simultaneously. The onion volcano, the egg flip, the shrimp toss, the knife work—all the signature hibachi entertainment happens at your event. But the core focus remains on food quality. Proteins get seared at the right temperature for proper crust formation. Vegetables retain texture instead of turning to mush. Fried rice gets that smoky, slightly crispy quality that defines good hibachi.
Menu options at Love Hibachi cover the full range: chicken, steak, shrimp, salmon, scallops, filet mignon, and vegetarian combinations. We source restaurant-grade ingredients—the same suppliers that stock Portland's better Japanese restaurants. You're not getting Costco bulk chicken. You're getting quality that matches the price point.
Portions are substantial. Nobody leaves hungry. We cook to order, which means if someone wants their steak more done or prefers no mushrooms, we handle it. This flexibility doesn't exist at restaurant hibachi tables where everyone gets the same preparation.
Post-meal cleanup takes 30-40 minutes. We break down all equipment, bag all trash, wipe down surfaces, and restore your space. Many clients tell us they forget we were even there by the next morning—no lingering cooking smell, no sticky residue, nothing.
Tigard sits between Portland's restaurant density and the more suburban spread of Wilsonville and Sherwood. Most residents here know the drive to good hibachi means Washington Square area or downtown Portland. That's 20-40 minutes depending on traffic, plus parking hassles.
Local caterers in Tigard typically offer drop-off service or buffet-style setups. Neither provides entertainment value. Neither keeps food at optimal temperature throughout service. Neither gives you the flexibility to be present at your own event instead of managing food logistics.
Love Hibachi fills a specific gap in the Tigard catering market—premium quality with entertainment included, no travel required, and you remain the relaxed host instead of the stressed organizer.
Backyard hibachi in Tigard makes the most sense for:
Groups of 8-30 people. Below 8, the per-person cost increases. Above 30, logistics get complex (though we handle larger events with multiple chefs). The sweet spot is 12-20 guests where everyone gets front-row views and the experience feels intimate.
People who value experience over just food. If your goal is feeding people efficiently, order pizza. If your goal is creating memories and giving guests something they'll talk about for months, hibachi delivers.
Hosts who want to actually enjoy their event. This is huge. Traditional hosting means you're in the kitchen while everyone else socializes. Hibachi catering means you're present from start to finish.
Anyone tired of restaurant limitations. No reservation battles, no time restrictions, no strangers at your table, no rushed service because the restaurant needs to flip tables. Your schedule, your guest list, your environment.
Tigard residents who embrace outdoor living. If you've invested in your patio, deck, or backyard space, hibachi lets you use it for something memorable beyond typical BBQs.
We serve all of Tigard—Bull Mountain, Metzger, the neighborhoods around Cook Park, areas near Washington Square, everything. Service extends throughout the Portland metro area, including nearby cities like Beaverton, Lake Oswego, and West Linn . Travel is included in pricing for the metro area.
Booking timeline: minimum 2 weeks advance notice for most dates. Popular times (summer weekends, holidays) book 4-6 weeks out. Last-minute requests sometimes work, but don't count on it.
Weather contingency: We monitor forecasts and communicate backup plans. Light rain isn't an issue with covered setups. Heavy rain or high winds mean we discuss garage or postponement options. We've never had to fully cancel—there's always a workable solution.
How much does this actually cost? Pricing depends on guest count, protein choices, and event specifics. A typical party of 15 with mixed proteins runs $800-1200. Compare that to restaurant hibachi at $45-60 per person plus tip, and the value becomes clear. Contact us for exact quotes based on your situation.
What if we don't have outdoor space? Garage setups work excellently. We've done dozens in Tigard. You get all the entertainment and food quality, just in a covered setting. Many clients prefer this for weather certainty.
Can you handle customized dietary restrictions? Yes. Vegetarian, gluten-free, seafood allergies—we accommodate everything with advance notice. Each guest can get customized preparation.
What's the minimum space?
needed?** Roughly 10x12 feet for the cooking station, plus wherever you want guests seated. We've made tighter spaces work when necessary.
Bottom line: backyard hibachi in Tigard delivers better value, better experience, and way less hassle than restaurant alternatives. You get premium food, professional entertainment, and zero stress.
Visit Love Hibachi to check availability and get specific pricing for your event. We book up fast during peak season, so plan ahead.
