At Tonys Japanese Restaurant

If you didn't already know, @Tony's Teppanyaki on Riccarton Road has been turning dinner into a show for more than a quarter century. Named after its founder, this certified piece of Ōtautahi Christchurch food legend has forged its reputation on fresh ingredients, sharp chefs and a show-stopping centrepiece kitchen that puts the whole operation on display.

Step in off the busy thoroughfare and find your place around the U-shaped teppanyaki counter. Stainless steel extraction hoods hang low over the grill; in front, a clean timber bench wraps around, providing front-row seats to the action. This is the engine room, where black-capped chefs walk the fiery line between precision and showmanship. Part theatre, part feast, Tony's is for those who want a meal with a side of stories to tell afterwards.

The kitchen plates pristine sashimi, sushi and crispy tempura alongside signature selections like seared fish fillets with citrus salsa over a vegetable purée, tender beef with lotus root crisps and kale, and delicate scallop and roe rolls given a final blowtorch flourish. Sake is poured properly from a ceramic flask, while izakaya culture is further honoured through a serious range of spirits and ice-cold beer.

Tony's famous All You Can Eat Teppanyaki remains the signature drawcard at lunch and dinner, a favourite for friends, work groups and families now several generations deep, all chasing bottomless plates cooked to order. The team caters to dietary needs and food allergies without fuss, and assembles sushi and sashimi platters for home parties and set menus for corporate events.

Equal parts flair and flavour, Tony's has taken centuries-old izakaya tradition and carved out a history of its own in the heart of Christchurch. Just be warned - an empty stomach and a keen thirst are expected upon arrival.