How Much Does a Hibachi Chef at Home Cost?

With Hibachi Guru, a private hibachi chef at home costs $60 per adult and $30 per child under 13, with a $600 minimum per event. That price covers mobile hibachi catering from start to finish: the chef, the grill, the food, and the show. This page lays out exactly what you get for it, what can add to the total, and what real group sizes come out to, so you can budget before you request a quote.

The Short Answer: $60 Per Adult, $30 Per Child, $600 Minimum

• Adults: $60 each.

• Children under 13: $30 each.

• Minimum spend: $600 per event.

• Minimum guest count: none. A small group can book; the event just has to reach the $600 minimum.

These are our standard rates in the U.S. cities we serve. Ten adults is where the per-person price and the minimum meet, which is why ten to fifteen guests is the most natural size for a hibachi party.

What a Hibachi Party Costs by Group Size

Here is the math for common group sizes, before upgrades, travel, and tip.

• 8 adults: $480 in meals, so the $600 minimum applies.

• 10 adults: $600.

• 12 adults: $720.

• 15 adults: $900.

• 20 adults: $1,200.

• 10 adults and 4 children: $720.

• 6 adults and 6 children: $540 in meals, so the $600 minimum applies.

A worked example: twelve adults is $720. Add a 20% tip for the chef ($144) and the night comes to $864, or $72 a person, for dinner and the entertainment at your own house.

What Is Included in the Price

• A private hibachi chef who travels to you with the grill, the ingredients, and the tools.

• The show: onion volcano, knife work, and the back-and-forth with your guests. Plan on 1.5 to 2 hours depending on your group size and menu.

• Two proteins per guest, chosen from chicken, NY strip steak, shrimp, scallops, salmon, tofu, or other vegetarian options.

• Hibachi fried rice, grilled vegetables, a fresh side salad, and our signature sauces.

• A sake pour for guests 21 and over. You are welcome to bring your own drinks.

• Menu changes for dietary needs, including vegan, vegetarian, keto, gluten-free, dairy-free, halal, and kosher, when you tell us at booking.

You provide the space and the drinks. We usually cook outdoors; indoor setups are possible with advance notice in a space with high ceilings and proper ventilation.

Upgrades

• Filet mignon: $5 extra.

• Lobster: $10 extra.

• Garlic noodles: $5 extra.

What Can Change Your Total

• Travel fees. Generally, the first 20 miles do not carry a travel fee. Beyond that, a fee can apply, and your quote shows it up front.

• The tip. Gratuity is not included in the price. Most guests tip the chef between 18% and 25%.

• Upgrades. Filet mignon, lobster, and garlic noodles add to the per-person price for the guests who choose them.

• The minimum. If your group's meals total less than $600, you pay the $600 minimum.

• Deposit and payment. Deposits and cancellation terms are confirmed by your reservation manager after you submit a quote request. Most bookings can be paid by credit card or cash; in some cases it is cash only, and you will know before you book.

How to Keep the Cost Down

• Get to ten adults. Below ten you pay the $600 minimum anyway, so inviting two more friends costs nothing extra until you pass it.

• Count the kids correctly. Children under 13 are half price.

• Host inside the standard travel radius. An address within about 20 miles of the city you are booking in generally avoids a travel fee.

• Bring your own drinks. There is no bar tab. Guests 21 and over get a sake pour, and everything else is whatever you stock.

• Keep upgrades optional. Let the guests who want filet or lobster add it, and leave the standard menu for everyone else.

Hibachi at Home vs. a Hibachi Restaurant

At a restaurant, the entree price is only the start: drinks, tax, and tip get added, large parties often carry an automatic gratuity, and someone still has to get twelve people to the same place at the same time. At home, the per-person price is known before you book, the drinks are your own, nobody drives, and the chef is cooking only for your group. We compare the two in more detail in hibachi at home vs. the steakhouse, and our backyard hibachi party guide walks through planning the night.

Hibachi Cost FAQ

Is there a minimum number of guests? No. There is no minimum guest count, but every event has to meet the $600 minimum spend.

Is the tip included? No. Tipping is always appreciated, and most guests tip between 18% and 25% based on their experience.

Are there travel fees? Generally, the first 20 miles do not require a travel fee. Past that, it depends on your address, and it is included in your quote.

Do I have to pay a deposit? It is handled case by case. Your reservation manager confirms the deposit and cancellation terms after you submit your quote request.

How do I pay? Most bookings accept credit card and cash. In some cases it is cash only, which your reservation manager will tell you up front.

Does the price change by city? Our standard rates are the same across the U.S. cities we serve. What changes is the travel fee, which depends on your address. See every city on our locations page, including Nashville, Miami, Denver, Scottsdale, Austin, and Charlotte.

How do I get an exact price for my party? Request a quote with your date, your address, and your guest count. You get a price right away, including any travel fee, and a reservation manager follows up by text and email to answer questions before you book.