I brought my family to benihana and had a great experience! the food was amazing, and don’t get me started on the wonderful staff my new favorite spot, will definitely be coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
vikka maax
Dinner at Benihana is not just a meal - it’s a small theatrical performance with dinner included. If you’ve never experienced teppanyaki cooking before, this is the place where chefs turn the grill into a stage.
Guests gather around the large hibachi table while the chef prepares everything right in front of you - knives flashing, shrimp flipping through the air, and the famous onion volcano steaming dramatically in the middle of the grill. It’s part cooking, part comedy, and the chefs clearly enjoy entertaining the table as much as preparing the food.
The concept dates back to the 1960s when entrepreneur Hiroaki Aoki opened the first restaurant in New York. His idea was simple but brilliant: combine traditional Japanese teppanyaki grilling with American-style hospitality and a bit of showmanship. The result became one of the most recognizable dining experiences in the world.
The food itself is generous and satisfying - tender steak, shrimp, chicken, fresh vegetables, and that addictive fried rice cooked directly on the grill. Watching everything come together right in front of you makes the meal feel fresh and lively.
But the real magic is the atmosphere. Tables often fill with laughter as strangers quickly become temporary dinner companions, cheering the chef’s tricks and enjoying the show together.
A fun, energetic dining experience where dinner comes with a side of entertainment. 🔥🥢
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hunter Atchison
Eddie and Zach crushed it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eric Nguyen
Zach and Eddie crushed it - the perfect vibes for a birthday meal
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sam Varga
Zach and Eddie are the best vibes!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shannon Etts
Eddie is amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Neal Patel
Trevor killed it as our chef. Kept us entertained the entire he was cooking. A+ service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hope Murphy
Jake did great! We had so much fun, food was delicious
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Emily Schaffer
Trevor is the man! I would 100% request him next time I’m in. He had us laughing and smiling the entire time.
That said, management should communicate wait times with the host team, especially when chefs are running behind. After we were seated, our server let us know they were short on chefs, which I completely understand, but it meant about an hour wait before our chef came out. We were seated around 7 and the chef didn’t arrive until about 8:30.
Trevor was phenomenal, so absolutely no complaints about him. It would just be helpful if guests were told about longer wait times before being seated.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Riley Golden
Trevor is sick the dude needs a raise. Management seems like they don’t have it together but cooks and staff are great. Took a star cuz our entire experience took 3 hours and 15 mins
We made a reservation at the Carlsbad Benihana and arrived about 10 minutes early, thinking we were being responsible adults who plan ahead. We were seated about 5 minutes later, which seemed promising. Unfortunately that is where the good part of the evening ended.
First off, this location has really gone downhill. The building looks run down both inside and out. It just feels tired and neglected compared to what Benihana used to be known for. The whole place could clearly use some attention and updating.
Once seated, we waited about 15 minutes just to have our drink order taken. Then another 20 minutes went by before the drinks actually showed up. At that point we figured maybe they were just busy and things were a little backed up.
Then the salad and soup came out. The salad was fine. The soup, however, was cold. Not warm. Actually cold. By this point about an hour had passed and we still had not seen a chef or received any explanation as to why things were taking so long.
A staff member eventually came by and told us our server was going to give us a complimentary California roll or edamame for the wait. Nice gesture, but more time went by and still no chef, no food, and no communication from anyone.
After sitting there for about an hour and a half total, another couple at the table and we decided we had enough. We asked to pay for our drinks and leave. Of course, as we were paying and getting ready to walk out, the chef finally rolled up to the table like nothing had happened.
No greeting. No apology. No explanation for the extremely long wait.
Another couple at the table was there celebrating their anniversary and ended up leaving as well. They were clearly upset that their anniversary dinner turned into sitting at a table for an hour and a half with cold soup and no dinner.
Benihana is supposed to be fun and a bit of a show. Unfortunately the only show we got was watching the clock and wondering if dinner was ever going to happen.
Really disappointing experience. This location has definitely gone downhill.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Sachee Shah
Probably the worst place I’ve been to. We booked a reservation for 6.15 and ended up eating at 8.30pm. Food was oily and tasteless.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Christopher Lares
We waited an hour and a half just to GET a chef, who didn't even apologize for the wait or even seem apologetic, his attitude was poor, hardly spoke or interacted with our side of the table, and the food was lackluster and bland for how much theyre charging. I believe our chefs name was Daniel but I cant remember we'll. The only good thing about this place was our waitress, unfortunately I cannnot remember her name but she seemed to be only one who cared about getting us service as fast and best as possible. She was really sweet and thoughtful. Besides that, this place and experience was horrible ,would never come here again and I recommend that people avoid this place!!!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Creatively Disruptive Team
Waited over an hour to get soup and finally a salad-
I brought my family to benihana and had a great experience! the food was amazing, and don’t get me started on the wonderful staff my new favorite spot, will definitely be coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dinner at Benihana is not just a meal - it’s a small theatrical performance with dinner included. If you’ve never experienced teppanyaki cooking before, this is the place where chefs turn the grill into a stage.
Guests gather around the large hibachi table while the chef prepares everything right in front of you - knives flashing, shrimp flipping through the air, and the famous onion volcano steaming dramatically in the middle of the grill. It’s part cooking, part comedy, and the chefs clearly enjoy entertaining the table as much as preparing the food.
The concept dates back to the 1960s when entrepreneur Hiroaki Aoki opened the first restaurant in New York. His idea was simple but brilliant: combine traditional Japanese teppanyaki grilling with American-style hospitality and a bit of showmanship. The result became one of the most recognizable dining experiences in the world.
The food itself is generous and satisfying - tender steak, shrimp, chicken, fresh vegetables, and that addictive fried rice cooked directly on the grill. Watching everything come together right in front of you makes the meal feel fresh and lively.
But the real magic is the atmosphere. Tables often fill with laughter as strangers quickly become temporary dinner companions, cheering the chef’s tricks and enjoying the show together.
A fun, energetic dining experience where dinner comes with a side of entertainment. 🔥🥢
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eddie and Zach crushed it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Zach and Eddie crushed it - the perfect vibes for a birthday meal
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Zach and Eddie are the best vibes!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eddie is amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Trevor killed it as our chef. Kept us entertained the entire he was cooking. A+ service.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jake did great! We had so much fun, food was delicious
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Trevor is the man! I would 100% request him next time I’m in. He had us laughing and smiling the entire time.
That said, management should communicate wait times with the host team, especially when chefs are running behind. After we were seated, our server let us know they were short on chefs, which I completely understand, but it meant about an hour wait before our chef came out. We were seated around 7 and the chef didn’t arrive until about 8:30.
Trevor was phenomenal, so absolutely no complaints about him. It would just be helpful if guests were told about longer wait times before being seated.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Trevor is sick the dude needs a raise. Management seems like they don’t have it together but cooks and staff are great. Took a star cuz our entire experience took 3 hours and 15 mins
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Trevor is the best! 100% worth the wait
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Where do I begin…
We made a reservation at the Carlsbad Benihana and arrived about 10 minutes early, thinking we were being responsible adults who plan ahead. We were seated about 5 minutes later, which seemed promising. Unfortunately that is where the good part of the evening ended.
First off, this location has really gone downhill. The building looks run down both inside and out. It just feels tired and neglected compared to what Benihana used to be known for. The whole place could clearly use some attention and updating.
Once seated, we waited about 15 minutes just to have our drink order taken. Then another 20 minutes went by before the drinks actually showed up. At that point we figured maybe they were just busy and things were a little backed up.
Then the salad and soup came out. The salad was fine. The soup, however, was cold. Not warm. Actually cold. By this point about an hour had passed and we still had not seen a chef or received any explanation as to why things were taking so long.
A staff member eventually came by and told us our server was going to give us a complimentary California roll or edamame for the wait. Nice gesture, but more time went by and still no chef, no food, and no communication from anyone.
After sitting there for about an hour and a half total, another couple at the table and we decided we had enough. We asked to pay for our drinks and leave. Of course, as we were paying and getting ready to walk out, the chef finally rolled up to the table like nothing had happened.
No greeting. No apology. No explanation for the extremely long wait.
Another couple at the table was there celebrating their anniversary and ended up leaving as well. They were clearly upset that their anniversary dinner turned into sitting at a table for an hour and a half with cold soup and no dinner.
Benihana is supposed to be fun and a bit of a show. Unfortunately the only show we got was watching the clock and wondering if dinner was ever going to happen.
Really disappointing experience. This location has definitely gone downhill.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Probably the worst place I’ve been to. We booked a reservation for 6.15 and ended up eating at 8.30pm. Food was oily and tasteless.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
We waited an hour and a half just to GET a chef, who didn't even apologize for the wait or even seem apologetic, his attitude was poor, hardly spoke or interacted with our side of the table, and the food was lackluster and bland for how much theyre charging. I believe our chefs name was Daniel but I cant remember we'll. The only good thing about this place was our waitress, unfortunately I cannnot remember her name but she seemed to be only one who cared about getting us service as fast and best as possible. She was really sweet and thoughtful. Besides that, this place and experience was horrible ,would never come here again and I recommend that people avoid this place!!!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Waited over an hour to get soup and finally a salad-
Service: 1
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