The email chain about our CEO’s 46th birthday was getting ridiculous. “Catered sandwiches in the conference room?” “Happy hour at that steakhouse he likes?” Then Jessica from accounting dropped the game-changer: “What if we brought hibachi to the office courtyard?” Three weeks later, we pulled off a Hibachi at home San Diego celebration that had our entire company talking for months.
The Hunt for the Perfect Corporate Hibachi Chef
Our office manager started with the obvious Google search: “hibachi catering San Diego for corporate events.” The results were overwhelming. We needed someone who could:
Work within our courtyard’s strict fire codes
Handle 50+ employees with diverse dietary needs
Keep things professional while still being entertaining
After interviewing six different companies, we chose Chef Kenji from Pacific Hibachi – the only one who asked insightful questions about our CEO’s personality and food preferences. “Does he prefer bold flavors or subtle ones?” “Any inside jokes we could work into the show?” This attention to detail sold us immediately.
Transforming Our Dreary Courtyard into a Hibachi Haven
The transformation was nothing short of magical:
We repurposed the rarely-used smoking area as the chef’s stage
HR approved moving six conference tables outside (with strict rules about returning them)
IT ran extension cords through the windows for the electric grill (fire marshal approved)
Chef Kenji arrived two hours early, turning our drab concrete space into an intimate teppanyaki theater with strategic lighting and his gleaming stainless steel grill.
The Show That Upstaged Our Quarterly Meetings
At 6:15 PM, we surprised our CEO with what he thought was another boring staff meeting. The look on his face when Chef Kenji ignited the grill with a three-foot flame was priceless.
Highlights included:
The “Spreadsheet Surprise” – Kenji arranged vegetables in an Excel grid before dramatically tossing them
A shrimp toss competition between departments (Engineering won, barely)
An onion volcano timed perfectly with the sunset over our office park
The Menu That Made Us Forget About Free Lunch Fridays
Chef Kenji crafted a corporate-friendly menu that still wowed:
Executive Appetizers: Truffle edamame and tuna tartare on crispy wontons
The Main Event: Coffee-rubbed filet (for leadership), miso salmon (for the health-conscious), and killer mushroom “steaks” (for our vegan team)
Office-Inspired Sides: “Group Project” fried rice with locally-sourced ingredients
Why This Beat Another Restaurant Reservation
Team Building Gold: Departments actually mingled instead of clustering in cliques
Memorable Moments: That video of our CFO catching shrimp in his tie went viral internally
Surprisingly Affordable: Cost less per person than our last holiday party
Pro Tips for Office Hibachi Success
Get Approvals Early: We needed sign-offs from facilities, fire safety, and even the landscaping crew
Plan for Weather: We reserved the lobby as backup (thankfully didn’t need it)
Consider Dietary Needs: Chef Kenji accommodated everything from gluten-free to keto
As we enjoyed post dinner drinks under the string lights, our CEO made an impromptu speech: “Best birthday in years – and I didn’t have to leave the office.” The HR director immediately started planning to make this an annual tradition.
