Teriyaki Experience

In the 80’s when most Canadian food court locations were serving up the usual burgers, fries and pizza, Lou Donato had something more exotic in mind. Having established an Italian food franchise in 1981, he knew that food court patrons were ready for something radically new. And he looked East for inspiration.

In April 1986 Teriyaki Experience opened in Promenade Mall in Toronto with a sizzling show at the grill that included each meal prepared fast and fresh for each customer. Customer response was immediate. Clearly, Canadians were ready for a delicious and nutritious new taste experience.



Almost 20 years later, we serve nearly 4 million meals annually at over 100 locations worldwide in shopping mall food courts, street fronts, universities, hospitals, and theme parks. And Asian-inspired food… well, it’s the hottest new menu trend!

Lou Donato wanted to provide dishes similar to the expensive, health-conscious platters found at Japanese dinner houses. After three years of research and development, he opened Teriyaki Experience, incorporating the flair and drama of Japanese cooking.