Let's be honest—you're researching hibachi catering cost in Los Angeles because you want the experience but need to know if it fits your budget. I'm Rumla, founder of Love Hibachi, and I'm going to give you straight answers without the runaround. After three years of serving LA County, I've priced hundreds of events, and I know exactly what people want to know: what am I actually paying for, and is this reasonable compared to my other options?
Here's the deal: quality hibachi catering in Los Angeles typically ranges from $60-$85 per person for a full-service experience. That's not just food—it's professional-grade equipment delivery, expert chef entertainment, premium ingredients, complete setup and breakdown, and zero work on your end.
The LA market is flooded with catering options, but most people comparing prices are comparing apples to oranges. A taco truck charging $15 per person isn't offering what Love Hibachi delivers—a theatrical dining experience that transforms your backyard, living room, or event space into a private teppanyaki steakhouse.
Our pricing structure is transparent. For standard events (birthdays, family gatherings, casual celebrations), you're looking at around $70 per person with a typical minimum of 10 guests. That covers everything: the chef's time and expertise, all proteins (filet mignon, chicken, shrimp, or a combination), fried rice, vegetables, our signature sauces, professional flat-top grills, propane, serving equipment, and the full teppanyaki show. Corporate events or weddings with additional service requirements may run higher, but we'll tell you that upfront.
What drives cost variations? Guest count is the biggest factor—larger groups benefit from economies of scale. A 50-person corporate event has a lower per-person cost than a 12-person party. Location within LA County matters too; we serve everywhere from Downtown to the beaches, but events requiring extended travel times to remote areas may include a travel fee. Menu customization is the third variable—if you want all filet mignon instead of mixed proteins, or you're adding lobster tail birthday, that affects pricing.
Bottom line: you're paying for convenience, quality, and entertainment that restaurants charging $40-60 per person can't match because you're not dealing with parking nightmares, splitting checks, or hoping your party of 15 gets seated together.
Here's what I see constantly in LA: people assume catering means compromise. They think at-home service equals lesser quality, that real teppanyaki requires a restaurant setting, or that "mobile" means downgraded equipment. All wrong.
Our mobile hibachi service uses the exact same commercial-grade flat-top grills you'd find at Benihana or any high-end teppanyaki restaurant in Little Tokyo. Our chefs have 15+ years of experience—many trained in traditional Japanese steakhouses before joining our team. The filet mignon we're grilling in your Pasadena backyard is the same USDA Choice or Prime quality being served at $50+ per plate in Beverly Hills restaurants.
The difference? You're not paying restaurant overhead. No building lease, no front-of-house staff, no table turnover pressure. We bring the entire operation to you, which means better value and zero stress on your end. While Angelenos are fighting weekend traffic to Glendale or Hollywood for mediocre hibachi, you're hosting an event where everyone arrives in five minutes, parking is free, and the chef's full attention is on your group—not juggling three tables simultaneously.
Let's bust another myth: space requirements. I've done Love Hibachi events in Studio City apartments, Malibu estates, Venice Beach rental properties, and even Downtown LA lofts. You don't need a massive backyard. A 10x10 space—garage, patio, large living area—works perfectly. We bring extension cords, adapt to your layout, and make it work.
Los Angeles has phenomenal Japanese restaurants—I'm not knocking them. But here's the truth: trying to book weekend reservations for 15+ people at a quality teppanyaki spot in LA is a nightmare. You're looking at 3-4 week wait times, split seating, rigid time slots, and the inevitable chaos of coordinating everyone to arrive on time across LA traffic.
Then there's the cost comparison people miss. That $45 per person menu price? Add tax, tip, drinks (because restaurants make serious money on beverages), and parking fees. You're suddenly at $70-80 per person anyway—and you did all the coordination work, dealt with the stress, and half your group couldn't hear each other across the restaurant noise.
When you book Love Hibachi for your LA event, here's exactly what happens:
Complete Equipment Delivery & Setup: We arrive with professional propane-powered flat-top grills (the real deal, not camping equipment), all cooking utensils, serving dishes, and propane tanks. Setup takes 20-30 minutes—your only job is showing us where you want everything.
Premium Ingredients Prepared On-Site: Your menu includes your choice of proteins—USDA Choice filet mignon, premium chicken breast, jumbo shrimp, or combinations. We're also grilling fresh zucchini, onions, broccoli, and mushrooms. Our signature fried rice is made from scratch during the show. Everything is prepared fresh in front of your guests, not reheated from containers.
Professional Chef Entertainment: This isn't just cooking—it's a performance. Our chefs deliver the full teppanyaki experience: knife tricks, onion volcanoes, egg rolls, spatula juggling, and audience interaction. They're reading the room, engaging guests, making kids laugh, and ensuring everyone feels included in the show. The entertainment value alone justifies the investment.
Zero Work for You: We handle everything. You don't shop, prep, cook, serve, or clean. We bring our own water supply if needed, manage all the cooking, serve guests directly from the grill, and when everyone's done, we pack up, clean the cooking area, and haul everything away. You transition from party host to party guest the moment we arrive.
Flexible Service Areas: Love Hibachi serves all of LA County and surrounding areas. Whether you're in Santa Monica, Burbank, Long Beach, or Calabasas, we come to you. Check our service area coverage to confirm we reach your neighborhood—we probably do.
Customization Options: Need to accommodate dietary restrictions? We handle vegetarian, gluten-free, and allergy modifications. Want to upgrade to all-filet or add lobster? We'll customize your menu. Planning a corporate event with specific timing requirements? We work with your schedule.
After hundreds of LA events, I can tell you exactly who gets the most value from hibachi catering:
Busy professionals who want to host impressive gatherings without sacrificing their entire weekend to party prep. You're probably already stretched thin—why add cooking for 20 to your plate?
Milestone celebrations where the event itself needs to be memorable. Birthdays (especially kids who lose their minds over the onion volcano), anniversaries, graduations—occasions that deserve more than standard catering.
Corporate clients who need reliable, impressive catering that works for team buildings, client entertainment, or company celebrations. The interactive nature breaks ice better than any trust-fall exercise.
Families bringing multiple generations together. Here's what I love: hibachi works for everyone. The 5-year-old is mesmerized by tricks, the teenagers think it's cool, and grandparents enjoy quality food and entertainment without needing to navigate a crowded restaurant.
Anyone tired of LA's restaurant scene. If you're exhausted by impossible reservations, parking nightmares, and mediocre service, bringing the experience to your space is genuinely liberating.
This doesn't work as well for extremely budget-conscious events where cost-per-person is the only consideration, or situations where you can't provide basic outdoor/ventilated space. Be realistic about your priorities.
Love Hibachi serves the entire Los Angeles metropolitan area and surrounding communities. We've done events from the beaches (Manhattan, Hermosa, Santa Monica) to the valleys (San Fernando, San Gabriel), from Downtown high-rises to Pasadena neighborhoods, and everywhere between.
Standard service includes LA County proper. We regularly serve: West LA, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Koreatown, Mid-City, Culver City, Mar Vista, Westwood, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Glendale, Burbank, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Encino, Woodland Hills, Calabasas, Alhambra, Monterey Park, Arcadia, South Pasadena, Torrance, Redondo Beach, El Segundo, and dozens more.
Some outlying areas (like Santa Clarita, Lancaster, or far eastern LA County) may include a travel fee, but we'll tell you that during booking—no surprises. Visit our locations page for specific service area details and to see if we've done events in your neighborhood.
Travel time within central LA typically runs 30-60 minutes depending on traffic (it's LA, you know how it is). We build that into our scheduling so we're never rushing or arriving late.
How much does hibachi catering really cost in Los Angeles?
For a standard residential event with 10-15 guests, expect $70-85 per person for complete service. This includes professional chef, all food (proteins, fried rice, vegetables, sauces), equipment, setup, performance, and cleanup. Larger events (30+ guests) often see per-person costs drop to $60-70 range due to economies of scale. Small intimate gatherings (under 10 people) may have slightly higher per-person rates or a minimum spend requirement. Custom menus with premium upgrades (all-filet, lobster tail) run higher. Request a detailed quote through our website for exact pricing based on your specific event.
Is hibachi catering actually cheaper than going to a restaurant in LA?
The math is closer than people think. Quality teppanyaki restaurants in LA charge $40-60 per person for the meal alone. Add 9.5% sales tax, 18-20% tip, $15-20 parking, and beverages (restaurants mark up drinks heavily), and you're easily at $70-85 per person anyway. Plus you coordinated everyone across LA traffic, dealt with reservation hassles, and spent 3+ hours including travel. With catering, everyone's already at your location, parking is free, drinks are BYOB at your cost, and the per-person rate includes everything. For groups of 12+, catering almost always wins on total cost and definitely wins on convenience and experience quality.
What's included in your pricing?
Everything. Professional teppanyaki chef with 15+ years experience, commercial-grade flat-top grills, propane and fuel, all cooking equipment and utensils, complete ingredient supply (your chosen proteins, vegetables, rice, oils, seasonings, signature sauces), the full teppanyaki show and entertainment, setup and breakdown, cooking area cleanup, and hauling away all equipment. You provide the space and guests—we provide literally everything else. No hidden fees, no equipment rentals, no surprise charges. The quote we give you is what you pay.
Do you serve areas outside LA County?
Yes, we serve Orange County, parts of Ventura County, and some Inland Empire locations on a case-by-case basis. These areas may include a modest travel fee depending on distance from central LA. Contact us directly with your specific location and we'll confirm coverage and provide complete pricing. We've done events in Irvine, Thousand Oaks, and Riverside—if it's within reasonable driving distance from LA, we can probably make it work.
Here's what I recommend: stop guessing and get a real quote. Every event is different—your guest count, location, menu preferences, and timing all affect final pricing. What I can promise is transparency. We'll give you an honest quote with everything included, explain any variables that might affect cost, and help you understand exactly what you're paying for.
The LA market offers plenty of catering options, but very few deliver the combination of quality, entertainment, and convenience that Love Hibachi provides. After cooking for hundreds of LA families, I've learned that people remember experiences, not just meals. The hibachi show your kids talk about for months, the birthday celebration that felt truly special, the corporate event where your team actually bonded—that's what we're really selling.
Get your custom quote today and let's talk about making your LA event something people actually remember. Real answers, fair pricing, and an experience that beats fighting for restaurant reservations any day of the week.
