Kagen, a popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.

Kagen: The Darling of Shanghai’s Teppanyaki Restaurants (According to Expats)

This venue is now closed.

Read More: The Best Restaurants that Opened in Shanghai in 2022.

Kagen is a fiercely loved Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Shanghai. After an eight-month hiatus, it’s back with a swanky new space on Fumin Lu.  

Kagen, a popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.

The new location is massive, and the food is still topnotch and at great value. They also have a bar, and are working on a few specialty cocktails.

Kagen, a popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.
Kagen, a popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.
Cocktails at Kagen, a popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.
Kagen, a popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.

When the original location of Kagen closed in April 2018 (rent/landlord/government/military, pick one), the people really grieved.

Fans of Kagen were out in full force, expressing their allegiance to the brand by answering every WeChat group query of “what’s a good teppanyaki restaurant?” with “Kagen is the best, but it’s currently closed, and I hope it opens soon.” It was usually followed by a pledge that they’d rush back, chopsticks at the ready, the moment it reopened.

Kagen reopened in December 2018. If you haven’t been, you need to.

Kagen, a popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.

Reasons why Kagen is fantastic

All-you-can-eat for ¥358 per person, including free-flow sake and beer. What more do you want?

Food is high quality stuff. The beef is from northern China, and it’s good enough to order “blue rare”.

Fillet Mignon at Kagen, a popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.

The space is huge, making it the go-to spot for no-frills, all-inclusive group dinners. The new location seats 90-100 people, the largest table seats 20, or 24 at a squeeze, and sections of the restaurant can be closed off for larger groups or private events.

Kagen, a popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.

The people who run Kagen really care about offering quality, value, and good service.

Kagen is one of the restaurants under Hatsune, a restaurant group that started with a Californian-Japanese fusion concept of the same name in Beijing in 2001. Today, the group operates multiple locations of Hatsune, including other concepts Hana (fine Japanese), Karaiya (Hunanese), Shinkai (izakaya), and Kagen (teppanyaki) all over China.

Eating at Kagen, what to expect

Sashimi at Kagen, a popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.
Sashimi courses
Appetizers at Kagen, a popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.
Deep-fried Bacon & Cheese Roll
Sushi Rolls at Kagen, a popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.
Lucy Liu Roll – spicy salmon, tempura shrimp, avocado, shallot flakes, and unagi sauce
Seafood at Kagen, a popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.
Scallops and jumbo prawns
Filet Mignon at Kagen, a popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.
Filet Mignon
Hibachi at Kagen, a popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.
Filet Mignon at Kagen, a popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.
Filet Mignon “blue”
Beef at Kagen, a popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.
More beef
Hibachi Chicken at Kagen, a popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.
Hibachi Chicken – super yum
Vegetables at Kagen, a popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.
Veggies
Hibachi fried rice at Kagen, a popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.
Hibachi Fried Rice – with egg and butter
Flambéed Ice Cream at Kagen, a popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.
Flambéed Ice Cream with Bananas
Dessert at Kagen, a popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.
I love how you can see the vanilla bean in the ice cream.

In Summary

I can’t emphasize enough: ¥358 all-you-can-eat and drink is a great deal.

They also have other sets, and you can order a la carte, plus, they’re also open for lunch.

So bookmark this one for all your group occasions—birthdays, bachelor/ettes, farewells, etc.—and have yourselves a good ol’ time.

Kagen, a popular Japanese teppanyaki restaurant in Shanghai. Photo by Rachel Gouk.

Kagen
Address: 291 Fumin Lu, by Changle Lu 富民路291号, 近长乐路
Tel: 64333232
Hours: Mon-Sun 11:30am-2pm, 6pm-11pm

Book this restaurant now!

7 comments
  1. Do you have any new suggestions for all you can eat and drink sushi in Shanghai as it seems Kagen is closed? Going out tomorrow night for birthday dinner.

    1. Heya! There’s Wan Dao, multiple locations in Shanghai. ¥380 all you can eat.
      2/F, 400 Changle Lu, near Maoming Lu
      Tel: 54669717
      5/F, 480 Wulumuqi Bei Lu, near Huashan Lu
      Tel: 65656777

  2. Hello! Would Wan Dao be your recommendation for the best teppanyaki steak place too? I have had a bit of a look and loads focus on seafood but I am more looking for beef etc for my boyfriends birthday. Any pointer would be appreciated!

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