Hibachi Etiquette - do you eat while the chef is cooking, or do you wait until the entire dinner is complete?

I've seen it both ways. One chef, after preparing the steak and still cooking the chicken said, "Eat, eat!" But I've seen people at some tables wait until the whole dinner is cooked and on their plate, including the rice. Of course by this time, the seafood (typically served first) is rather cold and rubbery. So do you eat while the chef is cooking, or do you have to wait until everything is finished?Hibachi Etiquette - do you eat while the chef is cooking, or do you wait until the entire dinner is complete?
.... explain these circumstances a little more? where are you that the chef is speaking to you directly?Hibachi Etiquette - do you eat while the chef is cooking, or do you wait until the entire dinner is complete?
I think it is kirabachi or tappenyaki - Japanese restaurant where you sit at a table where they cook your food at the table, right?



It is ok to eat while the food is being cooked. That is the chef's job, to cook the food for you there, he is not your host.



They usually cook the fish first, then you eat it, then the chicken or beef, then you eat that, they cook in the order they want you to eat it.
At Hibachi, I think the rule is to eat as it is served. Enjoy the show while you are eating. I typically wait until every one in our group (not the whole table) gets their part of each course. When they toss the shrimp at you, what are you gonna do? You are gonna eat it then, not wait for others.Hibachi Etiquette - do you eat while the chef is cooking, or do you wait until the entire dinner is complete?
I agree with everyone else. It should be thought of as a show with your meal, not show then "cold" meal. I've also watched this on the Public Access channels and that is the way they do it in Japan as well.
i love Hibachi and u can eat while he's cooking i know because i had the same issue. Another good japanese restaurant is Koto that place is really good also.Hibachi Etiquette - do you eat while the chef is cooking, or do you wait until the entire dinner is complete?
I would wait until everyone gets a serving of whatever comes off the grill, but definitely don't wait for the next course. That's the whole point: To eat while watching him cook the next dish.
Go ahead and eat while the chef is cooking at the table. Especially since the chef said, "eat, eat."