If you like Benihana then you really haven't experienced good hibachi - so you don't know any better - its not your fault. :) But really.... try someplace else. This was my second time at Benihana (I give everything at least 2 attempts). As I found out on this second time, it wasn't simply just a bad first time or an off day --- it is just bad.

Taste like Hibachi 101 - not good, at all. The "chefs" don't even really season anything themselves table side or use a mixtures of sauces, everything is assaulted with a pre-made seasoned butter they throw in giant clumps on everything. (might have even been in my drink)

The table chef did not do one single act that you would expect to see even a new hibachi chef in training do. (oh wait - he did lightly tap his spatula on the grill when he poured the eggs from a bowl onto the grill, he may have even grunted a bit) The one trick he did attempt is a standard fare hibachi classic - The Onion Volcano! So your expecting a nice onion tower and some kicking flames then a sprinkle of salt or something over the flames to create sparks - not! All we got was a sad stack of onions that fell quicker then the smoke could billow out with no flame and then it was done - kind of sums up the entire experience. Found out that the chefs at the place we went to aren't allowed to light the onion volcano! -LMAO.

Vegetables--You better like onion and squash because that is the only choices no substitutes. I wanted to sub for carrots or broccoli - nope. I even told them I would pay extra and to just bring it on the side and they still couldn't. They said they don't have any! I guess they don't stock fresh vegetables.

The Hibachi Fried rice is usually my favorite part of hibachi but at Benihana's it is just clumpy soft white rice with (again) a giant heap of that seasoned butter and no real hibachi flavor. I would say it was the worst hibachi fried rice I have eaten, its not bad and it is edible but it fails miserably when held up against real hibachi when done right. It even falls short of that 90 second microwaveable rice.

The Table cook was incredible boring, unfriendly and the food had the worst pacing I have ever seen at any hibachi place. One of our guest ordered the steak and chicken combo, but don't be fooled because even though you pay more to add the steak portion, for some reason they decide to give you half the chicken portion. So you pay more money but between the steak and chicken it actually looks like less food. The steak is incredibly thin and just barley passes for being ok. The rest of us ordered just chicken and the chicken should have been put on the hibachi earlier.

Since the cook didn't have to tend to such tasks as seasoning the food or trying to amazing us with even the simplest of hibachi tradition tricks he should have then had no problem cooking the chicken in order to get it to us somewhat close to when the rice and vegis were finished (and I say somewhat, I know it is hibachi and that is how it goes). The chicken wasn't thrown on the grill until everything else was finished and on our plates. When the chicken did hit the grill it was all left as a whole breast and not cut up like typically done on the hibachi. So we were all staring at the chicken on the grill waiting for it to cook through for about 8 -10minutes as typical for a full chicken breast. The cook was just ho humming and turning over the chicken here and there, he even cut an end off a breast because it wasn't cooked all the way and I think even he was tired of waiting. The cook finally placed the chicken on our plates, I only wish I had some more rice or that fancy squash and onion medley to go with it! In the end for all the wait and poorly timed food prep the chicken was..... chicken, albeit with a massive clump of seasoned butter melted on top during the cooking. The chicken was not hibachi flavored , not worth the wait not worth the money -- definitely not worth sitting at the table staring at that non flavoring no trick cook.

3rd time - no chance!

The worst restaurant experience we ever had. 12 of us went to benihana in San Diego for a birthday party celebration which was ruined by the staff. After waiting for 1 1/2 hrs, we were told we were going to be seated in two tables next to each other. The hostess indicated that 6 people were going to be seated first and the next 6 two minutes later. The second group got seated 15 minutes later and in a different room. We complaint even to the manager who said he could not guarantee seating even thought they were two tables together when the first group was seated. It looks like the other customers are first for them. Everyone in the first group was texting and calling us to find out if we were seated. Let me note that the waiters and the cooks were great. The food was good. Not seating together was horrible!

I've been to Benihana in a few different cities and it seems to be a hit or miss thing as to whether you get an entertaining teppan chef. Lately, I've noticed that most of the chefs aren't even asian anymore. All in all, it's always better to go with a group of 6 to 8 people and you'll have a better time. Benihana is overpriced and the food is nothing special, but where else can you get a souvenir Buddha drink cup with a hole in his bellybutton for the straw?!

Really just a waste of money, WAYYYYY OVERPRICED, food was mediocre, the service was absolutely TERRIBLE, the hostesses were NOT hospitable, chef diddnt do any real tricks halfway through we stopped paying attention to him , and they wont let you substitute ANYTHING like say you want shrimps instead of chicken NOPE , OVERALL just a BAD experience, just skip it.
I went to the one on butterfeild in Lombard, really dont go.

We just came from the Benihana in Washington D.C. and all I can say is what a disappointment! When we arrived we were a little late for our reservation because of traffic and parking. (We stayed 1.5 miles away from the restaurant and took 30 mins to get there) So when we arrived they told us that it would be an hour wait, and the place wasn't even crowded. They did end up seating us a little earlier then that so that was good. When we were seated they gave us glasses for water, and the glasses were dirty. They had lipstick residue on them and finger prints. Can you say Eww! So of course they gave us new ones, but with no apology for the dirty glasses. So then the food come, and we all were thinking at least the food will be good. Well that was not the case. The food was the worst part. The rice was soggy, and the chicken was dry. The sauces that they give you are ginger and some sort of mustard sauce. The ginger was just ok, and the mustard... Well lets just say I was done with it after one dip. I was with a party of six, and none of us were satisfied with this place. And the worst part of this is that we were starving.

El manager y El hosted son racistas; si usted es latino y lo hacen esperar por mas de 10 minutos debe preocuparse; este atento; puse un complaint en la administracion y lo unicoq paso fue q me enviaron un gift certificate como si eso fuera suficiente; no me van a comprar con eso; lo q no deseo es q otra persona pase por lo q yo pase, be carefully

The Benihana that I went to had a very bad manager that could not substitute green tea by anything else of the same cost with the excuse that it was not a chargeable item. The service was Ok and the waitress was nice. This one was in Minnesota, Maple Grove.

The Benihana in my area has friendly customer service and are quick to seat you. The performance is pretty nice and I enjoy seeing my meal made in front of me. The food is delicious.
The ambience is a little awkward. They have really, really low lighting and I don't particularly like the layout of the room. All the tables and sets of chairs are far spaced between each other. I suppose there's a good reason for that, but it just feels awkward to be so spaced out between the other guests.
The prices are way to expensive. They definitely deserve high prices, but not THAT high.

fancy

The service was extremely slow and the cook did not any special tricks. We were not impressed at all. Then to add pain to misery, they overcharged out credit card! we signed for one amount but noticed triple that amount charged to our card. They are thieves and criminals and if there were negative stars we would give it to them.

We took my son to dinner at Benhihana San Diego last night, and it was a disaster. The service was extremely slow, they brought out the wrong food for people at our table 3x and we had to ask them 4x to sing happy birthday to our son. In addition to the terrible service, our tableside chef did not put on show which seemed to annoy everybody at our table. We did see a glimpse of a few some great shows being put on at other tables, so we must have gotten a lame CHEF. We will not be going back again and it was really disappointing since this was my sons birthday and first trip to Benihana. Side Note: You'll have to vallet park since there is only a few self parking spots.

I dined at a Beni on the 79th street causeway in normandy Isle - that would skew it. Great view and company at the time made for a meal I do not remember!

I actually went to Benihana Chandler too on a Friday night and I had a wonderful time! The food was totally worth the wait. Our chef was so funny and really knew what he was doing with those knives.  My chicken teppanyaki was tender and fresh I also split their famous Las Vegas roll with a friend.  My friends and I had great drinks all night long; my favorite was the Benihana Punch! I thought it was perfect for a group to head out for dinner and would recommend it.

I went to Benihana Chandler. The hostess that seated my husband and I was very nice, cheerful, and talkative. I enjoyed her. The chef was good and the food was okay. I was VERY disapointed at how rude and inconsiderate the manager was. HE quoted me a 45 minute wait and I was standing the the "lounge" for 1 hour and 35 minutes. I don't reccomend Chandler Benihana.

Benihana of Pittsburgh took a saturday night reservation of 8:30pm for my wife, friends and I. 35 mins later we were still standing with no apology and the sorry excuse that it was Saturday evening. We left without an apology. Worth it? Not a chance.

always tastes delicious and a good place to enjoy watching your food made to your liking. they practically invented "teppan-Yaki". not the most inexpensive but tasty

My first visit to Benihana in Minneapolis 9/23/06, and my last trip. A fair meal, WAY overpriced at $40 per person, cooking 'entertainment' for a serious diner does not outweigh the value of taste and presentation. The kids loved the 'flying'food, and the clanging noisy knives, but as an adult, once experienced, I will never return. YMMV

It's expensive...but it's fun. You'd be better off finding a non-chain Japanese steakhouse in your town, though.

I Went To Benihana In San Francisco Japan town Not Only Where There No Japanese People Working there The Chefs Were All Mexican...The Waitresses Were chineses And I( Got A Nasty Case Of Food Poisoning Which I Currently Have A Lawsuit for I Encourage you All PLEASE EAT SOME WHERE SAFE!!!!!!!!

The ginger sauce there is the BEST I've ever had. The other food is really good too as is the service and atmosphere. The only drawback, if there is one, is the seating. You may share a table with people you don't know.

Top-notch, fresh, great. Get a show with your food. Kids love it.

I love restaurants with the novelty of a Japanese hibachi grill at your table. Every chef I've encountered at the chain has been artfully dexterous and delightful to watch prepare food. The food is very salty, but pleasing. This isn't the place for when you want an intimate date, as it can get loud at your eight person table. Instead, it is a lively place to take a group of friends for a change of pace.

Consistent. I love the hibachi cooking. Great bang for the buck.

Always a great meal...Best Fried Rice!

Pure garbage. I got food poisoning from eating their dreck and will never go back again. You'd be better off going to a local Japanese restaurant. People are under the impression that because some 'schmo is slicing and dicing beef and onions in front of them, it must be good. Wrong.

Are you people all nuts?? I can live with you clowns saying Chi-Chi's is good mexican food and Little Caesar's has good pizza but this place is an abomination. In Japan, food not only has to look good, taste good and smell good it must be presented well and have pleasant texture once in the mouth. Get some good japanese food one day and you would be embarassed to go back into this place. In Japan, it would be paramount to sitting in front of the greasy, pimply teen flipping your burgers at McD's

Interesting dining experience. The chef's prepare your food right in front of you, which is entertaining. Lots of grilled meats and vegetables, very healthy food generally. Benihana's isn't a place to go every weekend, but it's decent.

Surprisingly pretty good.

Yummy, entertaining, and they have several healthy options

Another restaurant we do not have in my city. :( I've eaten there before and it's delicious. Tender, flavorful steaks, stir-fried vegetables. Of course the cooking at the table is fun. The chefs are very talented with the knives. I've always wondered if a knife has ever slipped out of their hands and a customer has gotten stabbed before. Excellent food though !!

What the heck is this place?? I've never heard of this place from anyone or anywhere. And for this they get one star because an obscure restaurant should in no way be second on this list.

The food is excellent. The atmosphere is exotic. It's an experience to remember!

Food hot and tasty. I actually go for the show though. I keep waiting for the meat to miss the hat.

Great food but HELLA EXPENSIVE!!!

Freshest ingredients, most tender steak I've had in a long time. Cooked to order!

If you want a show, it is fun.

Big portion but sucks