Benihana, Inc.

Subject: Worst Dining Experience Ever – Benihana (8/22/25)

To Whom It May Concern,

On Friday, August 22, 2025, my party and I endured what can only be described as one of the most humiliating, stressful, and disappointing dining experiences I have ever had—not just at Benihana, but at any restaurant. What should have been a fun evening turned into nearly two hours of frustration, embarrassment, and regret. The total bill was $241.75, with a pitiful 10% discount grudgingly applied only after I pushed the matter with management.

The Timeline of Failure
• We checked in at 7:00 PM and were seated quickly. That was the last thing that went smoothly.
• Our chef did not begin cooking until 8:11 PM—more than an hour of sitting and waiting with nothing happening at the table.
• We didn’t pay until 8:50 PM, and didn’t leave until 9:10 PM. A meal that should have been enjoyable was dragged out and turned into a nightmare.

Service Breakdown
• Our waitress initially did her job correctly, taking everyone’s order—including our additional rice bowls—without issue.
• When Chef Gabriel finally arrived, it became clear our orders had been mishandled. Two people in my party were not served their meals correctly.
• The chef had to abandon his cooking station and run to the back himself to retrieve missing items, while the other staff stood idly by doing nothing. The result? Our meals came out unevenly, leaving half the table waiting while the others were already eating.

Chef Experience – or Lack Thereof
• Chef Gabriel admitted they were short-staffed, but that excuse doesn’t excuse the chaos.
• The famous Benihana “show” was nonexistent. Instead of the energy, fun, and atmosphere you’re known for, we got pure stress and scrambling.
• Even the food quality has dropped significantly. Garlic butter—something that used to be standard—is now treated as an “extra cost.” Corners are being cut, and it shows.

Management – The Biggest Disgrace
• I asked for the manager, Ivan, expecting accountability. Instead, I was met with arrogance and dismissal. His exact attitude: “Well, the food came out now, right?”
• No apology. No attempt to make it right. No professionalism.
• When the bill came, nothing was adjusted. Only after I pressed again through our server was a measly 10% discount approved. On a $241 bill, that’s about $20—a laughable response for ruining an entire evening. Frankly, it felt insulting, like an attempt to brush me off and shut me up.

Final Impression

This was not a small mistake or a rough night—it was a complete breakdown in service, quality, and management.
• The chef was put in an impossible position.
• The staff was disengaged and unhelpful.
• The manager showed zero care for customer satisfaction.

What Benihana promises—and what has kept me a customer for years—is a fun, memorable, entertaining dining experience. On August 22nd, what I received instead was disorganization, embarrassment in front of my guests, and the clear message from your management that customers don’t matter.

I walked away not just disappointed, but truly angry and insulted. After this, I will never return to this location, and I am seriously reconsidering giving Benihana my business at all.

No one spends over $240 to be ignored, mistreated, and dismissed. Benihana should be ashamed that this is the standard being allowed under its name.

Sincerely,
Larry

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

I have reached out several times and by phone to corporate and customer service to find out what happened to my birthday reward. NOONE has gotten back to me about my inquiry. My family and friends dine there often and are totally disgusted by their lack of courtesy and disrespect ignoring my question.

Service: 1

Sophia was so sweet and attentive. We had the best time

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Terrible experience

The worst hibachi restaurant ever. Employee (chef) was playing around too much because it’s was my birthday and squeezed oil in my eye. Benihana corporate hr Sara B. Is playing game with my doctor bills and not reimbursing me for the accident they caused. She just closed my case with the safety committee and I was in contact with them 100 percent. I understand why this place has 1 star. Sara B. You job is on the line and my left eye is still injured and not taken care of. This place is a joke and I’m sick of them. I will be hiring an attorney if this is not solved by today.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Our experience was so so, the drinks from 1 to 10 were 0 , I ask for a dirty martini and i just enjoy the olives, my company ask for a mojito and it taste like a lemonade, the licor was passing by an airplane, the chef left the table like 3 times for elements missing to cook, he just cook, they show they make is good but this one nothing, the waiter was very good with the attention, at the end the food was delicious but that's all.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 3

The service is HORRIBLE. I waited 2 hours to sit and nearly an hour for the cook to come.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Always love Benihana. What else can I say.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The Memphis location really need to be shutdown! I waited at the table to be served for at least an hour, and the waitress (Kaylen) took additional money from my credit card without my knowledge. I later discovered the additional deductions two days later. I have called and spoken to 2 managers, and I still have not received my money back! They haven't done anything about this matter. I will never eat, nor spend my money there again!!!!!! The food was basic, no show like I'd expected. This was just terrible for what I paid in the amount of $46.64 plus additional money that was stolen from my card.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Glad to see they brought this restaurant back after it was involved in some money issues and some distasteful history from the previous owners who started benihana good luck with the revival of this great establishment a second chance is well deserved

This location is one of my favorite spots...To order take out over 3xs and receive my chicken hibachi rice over cooked...Hard and discolored like the rice set there under the heat lamp for hours...Called the location to speak with an manager of course was on hold for an hour or more...Very patered Upset and wants my 29.81 work of fresh rice...I'm sorry81

I have been an executive in the shopping center and restaurant business for 20 years, this is absolutely the worst operated, reckless and negligent chain restaurant company in the business. I am ashamed I know some of the high level people here and they should be ashamed of the dangerous product they put out.

9/18/2022…my experience was something I had never experienced before. Reservations@ 3:00pm arrived at 2:50 a party of (7) seated an hour and 45min later. There was one sever! The manager failed to represent good leadership. It was 7:30 when we walked out. This particular day was my birthday???? my guest started to get displeased with the overall experience so did I which put an HUGE damper on the entire occasion. Finally there was NO communication unless I asked questions. I over heard a worker telling the guest hostess “not to seat anymore people because there was only one server” mind you there were people streaming in. Apparently your policy stated that certificates are used on certain days excluding weekends which my birthday happened to fall on a Sunday. I called to leave a complaint no one has reached out to me as of yet. Memphis location

This is the worst restaurant I have ever been to. The manager at this location is just terrible and disrespectful. I am appalled at how I was spoken to. I had a reservation for a party of 13 and more than half of my party arrived, they would not sit them, which I respect but that was not told to me when I made my reservation. I was told if half the party there they would be seated. This was my first time ever going there and I will never be going back.

I have been an executive in the shopping center and restaurant business for 20 years, this is absolutely the worst operated, reckless and negligent chain restaurant company in the business. I am ashamed I know some of the high level people here and they should be ashamed of the dangerous product they put out.