Teppanyaki Time

The food court offers limited choices, mostly dominated by chain restaurants and low-quality options for those with unrefined palates. As my tastes have evolved over the years, I find this establishment to be the best you can get in this setting, keeping in mind that it caters to budget-conscious students rather than food enthusiasts. If you choose to visit, go with an open mind—some aspects may pleasantly surprise you. Service here is quite efficient, although the waiting time can vary depending on how busy it is. You take a ticket and wait to be called; the staff are generally friendly, especially compared to others in the area. The décor and ambiance are typical for a food court—minimalistic—but this doesn’t hinder the hard work of the staff. One standout feature is the hot grill in front of the counter, where you can watch the chefs prepare meals with speed and skill. Teppanyaki Time offers a pan-Asian menu. A significant part of it resembles the typical ‘Chinese’ takeaway—an amalgamation of standard flavors from various Asian cuisines, all adapted for Western tastes. You can select a sauce from Japanese, Chinese, Thai, or Malay origins, choose your meat, and have it served over rice or noodles. However, I recommend avoiding this option; there are many better dishes available, some of which are quite good. They often have specials featuring more substantial dishes based on Malay cuisine, which I’ve found to be consistently reliable. You can also customize your meal with various vegetables, meats, sauces, and sides. For those in a hurry or overwhelmed by choices, there’s a hot box option available, though you’ll have to wait in another line. You should definitely try their pad Thai and char kway teow at least once. Be sure to order them as a combination. Both times I’ve had these dishes, they were generous portions with ample chicken, whole prawns, and barbecue pork mixed in. While they may not be the most authentic versions around, the generous amounts of meat and vegetables make them quite satisfying. I’m not usually one to repeatedly order the same items, but I’ve made an exception for their sweet and sour pork. My cravings led me to indulge in more fried foods, especially chicken, and this dish delivers a satisfying calorie boost. The sweet and sour pork is quite good, and the large size includes a generous portion of fried rice. The batter is light, and I’ve never experienced any greasy bits, which speaks to their consistent quality, as I’ve lost count of the times I’ve ordered it. Every time I visit, I find it hard to resist getting at least one or two of their chicken wings. At just a dollar each when purchasing a meal, it’s a bargain I can’t pass up. They are always delicious—tender and juicy, with a satisfying crumbed coating. A nice gesture occurred during my first visit when I asked for an extra wing, and they gave me the last one in the hot box for free. I’ve also tried their fried dumplings, which were decent, but they can’t compare to the chicken wings. Another specialty they offer is salt and pepper squid, which is prominently advertised at the front counter. Seafood is a good benchmark for any restaurant, and they did not disappoint here. They provided a generous serving, and the squid was tender and sweet, with just the right amount of peppery kick. Salt and pepper squid remains one of my favorite snacks. Lastly, I’ll mention the chicken katsu with rice and tonkatsu sauce. Moving forward, I think I’ll stick to having it with curry from specialized places. The amount of sauce was inadequate, and the chicken itself was more reminiscent of schnitzel than traditional chicken katsu, resulting in an off-balance dish. You can’t win them all, so I’d suggest opting for something else on the menu. Overall, this place is not bad. From the perspective of a hungry university student (which I still am as I write this), it has been a lifesaver. If you look at it through this lens, it certainly delivers what it aims to.

The restaurant offers made-to-order lunches and specials for under $10. Many dishes are priced at $9.90, but please note that they do not accept card payments for orders under $10. They are closed on weekends but are typically open most other days.

QUT is always a great place to satisfy your craving for Asian cuisine. They offer a nice selection of dishes, from noodles to dim sims and chicken wings! The portion sizes are generous for the price. It's also quite fascinating to watch your food being prepared right in front of you!

Great for value, better tasting than alot of other foodcourt foods in the CBD and readily available to all QUT students. Sometimes I even go inside QUT just to have Teppanyaki Time! Excellent quality even for any simple Japanese restaurant. I rate this fast food place 7.5/10

Ordered two dishes, curry Katsu and teppenyaki Katsu, both were delicious. The portions were very generous, and single large would have been enough. Will be sharing in future. Service was prompt and the wait time no more than 3 minutes. I will be returning!