What Benihana is and how the dining experience works
Benihana is a casual dining restaurant chain where a chef cooks your food in front of you at your table on a large flat griddle. You sit with other guests around the griddle — typically four to eight people per table — and watch the chef prepare your meal while they talk and perform tricks with their cooking tools. The chef controls the pace of cooking and the meal, which usually takes 45 minutes to an hour from start to finish.
The restaurant operates in the United States and internationally, with locations in most major cities. You can find a Benihana location through their website or by searching for the nearest restaurant to you. Reservations are strongly recommended, especially for dinner and weekends, because tables fill quickly and the griddle seating limits how many people the restaurant can serve at once.
The menu centers on Japanese-inspired grilled proteins — steak, chicken, shrimp, and seafood — served with fried rice, vegetables, and soup or salad. You order your protein and any sides before you sit down, and the chef prepares everything to order on the griddle in front of you.
Key Takeaways
- You sit at a shared griddle table with other guests while a chef cooks your meal in front of you, which takes about 45 minutes to an hour.
- Benihana serves grilled proteins like steak, chicken, and shrimp with fried rice and vegetables, and you order before being seated.
- Prices vary by location and protein choice, but entrees typically range from the mid-teens to the low 30s in US dollars before tax and tip.
- Reservations are nearly essential for dinner and weekends because griddle tables seat a limited number of guests and fill quickly.
- The restaurant charges separately for appetizers, drinks, and dessert, so your total bill will be higher than the entree price alone.
Menu structure and what you order
Benihana's menu is organized by protein. You choose your main protein — filet mignon, New York strip steak, chicken breast, shrimp, scallops, or combinations of these — and your entree comes with fried rice, a vegetable medley, and either soup or salad. Some locations offer lobster tail as an add-on to any entree for an additional charge.
Appetizers are ordered separately and arrive before your griddle cooking begins. Common appetizers include edamame, gyoza (dumplings), shrimp tempura, and calamari. Drinks — beer, wine, sake, soft drinks, and specialty cocktails — are also separate charges. Dessert options typically include ice cream, cheesecake, and chocolate lava cake, and these are ordered and charged separately as well.
The chef's performance and cooking style are part of the experience, but the food itself is straightforward: grilled protein, fried rice cooked on the griddle in front of you, and steamed or grilled vegetables. If you have dietary restrictions or food allergies, tell your server when you order so the chef knows before cooking begins.
Pricing and what affects your total bill
Entree prices vary by location and by the protein you choose. Chicken entrees are typically the least expensive, followed by shrimp, then steak. Combination entrees — for example, steak and shrimp together — cost more than a single protein. Prices also differ between lunch and dinner service, with dinner entrees costing more.
Your total bill includes the entree price, plus any appetizers you order, plus drinks, plus dessert if you choose it, plus tax and tip. A single person ordering one entree with no appetizers or dessert might spend $25 to $40 before tax and tip, depending on the protein and location. A family of four ordering appetizers, entrees, drinks, and dessert could easily spend $150 to $250 before tax and tip.
Benihana does not publish a single menu with prices because costs vary significantly by location and change over time. To see current prices for your nearest location, visit the Benihana website, call the restaurant directly, or check third-party restaurant review sites that display menus and pricing.
How reservations work and what to expect when you arrive
You can make a reservation through the Benihana website, by calling the restaurant directly, or through third-party reservation platforms like OpenTable or Resy. When you reserve, you choose your date, time, and party size. The restaurant will seat you at a griddle table with other guests unless you book a private griddle, which costs significantly more and requires advance notice.
Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. When you check in, tell your server your name and party size. You will be taken to your griddle table, where you will meet the other guests seated there. Your server will bring you water and take your drink order, then hand you the menu so you can choose your entree and any appetizers.
After you order, your appetizers will be prepared in the kitchen and brought to your table. Once everyone at your griddle has ordered their entree, the chef will begin cooking. The chef starts with soup or salad, then moves to the protein and vegetables, finishing with fried rice. The entire meal takes 45 minutes to an hour.
Sharing a table with strangers and the social aspect
At Benihana, you sit at a griddle with four to eight other people you do not know. This is the core of the experience. The chef interacts with everyone at the table, and conversation between guests is common. If you are uncomfortable sitting with strangers, you can book a private griddle, but this costs extra and must be arranged in advance.
The chef's role includes entertainment — they flip food, catch it on spatulas, and make jokes while cooking. This is intentional and part of what you are paying for. If you prefer a quieter, more private dining experience, Benihana may not be the right choice for you.
Children often enjoy the performance aspect of the meal. Benihana is a popular choice for family celebrations and group outings because the shared table and chef's performance create a social atmosphere.
Dietary restrictions and food allergies
Benihana can accommodate some dietary restrictions. Vegetarian diners can order vegetable-only entrees with fried rice and vegetables but no protein. Gluten-free diners should inform their server, as the chef can prepare food without soy sauce or other gluten-containing ingredients, though cross-contamination is possible on a shared griddle.
If you have a severe food allergy, tell your server when ready when you order. The chef needs to know before cooking begins. Because multiple dishes are cooked on the same griddle, complete separation of allergens is not always possible, so discuss your specific allergy with your server and the chef.
Benihana does not publish detailed nutritional information or allergen statements on their website. Call your local restaurant directly if you need specific information about ingredients or preparation methods.
Timing, wait times, and how long the meal takes
A full Benihana meal takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour from the time you sit down. This includes time for your appetizers to arrive, time for you to order, and time for the chef to cook your entree at the griddle. The pace is controlled by the chef and the number of guests at your table.
Wait times for a table depend on how busy the restaurant is and whether you have a reservation. With a reservation, you will typically be seated within 10 to 20 minutes of your reservation time. Without a reservation, you may wait 30 minutes to several hours, depending on the day and time. Weekends and dinner service are busiest.
If you are in a hurry, Benihana is not a good choice because you cannot speed up the griddle cooking or the chef's pace. Plan for at least two hours from arrival to departure if you include time waiting for a table, eating, and paying your bill.
Payment, tipping, and special occasions
Benihana accepts all major credit cards and cash. Your bill is presented at the end of the meal. Tipping is expected and customary in the United States — 18 to 20 percent is standard for table service. Some restaurants add an automatic gratuity for large parties, so check your bill.
Benihana is a popular choice for birthdays and special occasions. Many locations offer a birthday experience where the chef and staff sing to the birthday person and may bring a complimentary dessert. If you are celebrating a birthday, mention it when you make your reservation or when you arrive.
Some Benihana locations offer gift cards, which you can purchase online or in person. These can be used like cash at any Benihana location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to sit with people I don't know?
Yes, unless you book a private griddle. Standard seating is at a shared griddle table with four to eight other guests. Private griddles cost extra and must be reserved in advance. Call your local Benihana to ask about private griddle pricing and availability.
Can I make a reservation online?
Yes. You can reserve through the Benihana website, through OpenTable, or by calling the restaurant directly. Online reservations are usually available for dates and times up to 60 days in advance, though this varies by location.
What if I don't eat meat?
Benihana offers vegetable-only entrees with fried rice and vegetables. You will not have a protein, but the chef will still cook your meal on the griddle in front of you. Confirm with your server that you want a vegetable entree when you order.
How much should I tip?
Standard tipping in the United States is 18 to 20 percent of your bill before tax. Some restaurants automatically add gratuity for large parties, so check your bill to see if a tip has already been included.
Can I bring my own cake for my birthday?
Policies vary by location. Some Benihana restaurants allow outside cakes for a small fee, while others do not. Call your local restaurant to ask about their outside cake policy before you visit.