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57th St-6th Ave (F)
5th Ave-53rd St (E, V)
57th St-7th Ave (N, Q, R, W)
"I went for their 50% off all meats special during the month of September. When I went into the website to make reservations, I was surprised…" read more »
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Flipped egg on your head?
You think you're better than me?
I hate that you're right.
My 2 coworkers and i all got the Lunch Boat Special, which is basically a sample of everything on a boat. It came w/ soup, salad, edamame, sashimi, sushi, salmon, tempura, rice, and fruit. It only costs $9.25!!!! Since we ordered the salmon, I ended up getting 3 pieces of salmon sashimi and 2 pieces of cooked sashimi w/ teriyaki sauce. Really good deal!
The food was okay. Mixing sushi, sashimi, and cooked foods on the same plate gets a thumbs up for presentation, but compromised actual freshness and taste. The tempura included 2 pieces of shrimp, but the batter, which coated the shrimp and vegetables was neither flaky nor crispy enough. The sashimi was at room temperature, but getting 5 pieces was awesome. The cooked salmon was ok, but could have used more sauce. Additionally, the bowl of rice they gave us was the kind they use to make fried rice on the teppanyaki grill, meaning it was probably leftover rice from the night before. It was dry and hardly edible.
Overall, nothing stood out as being exceptional, but I do believe with all the food you get, you do get your money's worth.
Beni, you don't mind me calling you Beni right? good. You're ehhhhhhhhhhhhhh in my book.
Came here for Valentine's Day, bad choice because right after dinner we had a broadway show to go to and boy did we smell like food not Beni's fault, that was our bad. Poor people that were sitting next to us, we probably made them salivate from how good we smelled (insert sarcasm here)
Anyways, entertainment wise it was ok, our chef was actually talking under his breath so we barely heard what he was saying. I think the people we were sharing a table with was more entertaining, they made us laugh a lot! His cooking tricks were blah, I could do the tricks he did and I don't even cook. Sorry El Mac Mud*, maybe next time.
My boyfriend and I both had the shrimp and filet mignon plate (it probably has a special name to it but I clearly don't remember) and we both liked it, the rice omg it was just amazing, I think that's the only reason why I gave Beni 2 stars. I knocked three stars down because I had to ask our waitress twice to make my drink stronger, I say vodka with a splash of cranberry for a reason, if I wanted a fruity drink, I'd ask for a strawberry daquiri. thanks.
Maybe just maybe if there's a next visit, I won't be as bitter.
*P.S. Our cook's name really wasn't El Mac Mud, in fact I don't even know his name but I know it was close to that.....maybe it was mohammad? I don't know.
Atmosphere is a cross between Chuck E. Cheese and Times Square.
Good for a decent quick lunch in the "midtown." Please take note and do not try to do a romantic "sushi" dinner here. Everything is fake, nothing is fresh, better off going to an offset LES spot sorry.
I went to Benihana for my birthday, just like half the restaurant.
It is best to make a reservation beforehand in order to avoid the wait.
The food was good but I felt overpriced. That is because you also get the little show your chef puts on as he cooks your food. The party next to us apparently ordered more than us, so when they received their food first, I couldn't help but notice my stomach was growling.
I feel Benihana is a place you go once for the experience because you are paying for the showmanship of your chef, if you are lucky to have a good chef.
I've been to a few Benihana's before, and even to this particular location once before, so I was familiar with the concept, the food, and the service.
I guess for this visit...2 out of 3 ain't bad.
We came in during dinner (just missed their Summer Twilight menu - pricing for meals is comparable to the actual dining experience = cheap as in $14.25 cheap), so oh well. The hostess was nothing short of rude and really, if you're talking to me, a paying patron, you could at least talk to me and not to the piece of paper you have in your hands. She obviously needs a trip to Customer Service school because her bad habit continued as she brought us to our table and all the while, keeping the back of her head to our faces.
We sat at a table with 3 other couples...in true Benihana fashion and was entertained by our waiter Tu and served by 2 other waitresses whom obviously were not Japanese, but refreshingly pleasant compared to the hostess.
For drinks we opted for the Benihana Punch, which I guess was their version of a Mai Tai, and the Beni-tini. Interestingly enough, one would assume the punch to be more fruity and the martini to have the kick...but it was quite the opposite. The Beni-tini was too too sweet for me. And punch....yeah, it will hit you later in the evening, so watch out.
I forget the dinner combinations we ordered, but suffice it to say, my filet mignon was nice and tender and both our steaks were cooked exact to our liking. My scallops were a bit overdone and hard, but the seasoning was great. And the shrimp....always a crowd pleaser, and for me, particularly because of the lemon addition.
And really, who could or would complain about the chicken friend rice. I could probably eat that all day.
The entire dinner, which included ice cream for dessert, 2 drinks each, came out to about $60 per person. Seemingly somewhat expensive as this isn't your fine dining experience...but more of a FUN dining adventure.
But minus the completely rude hostess, the food was great, our chef was entertaining, and we left with our bellies satisfied.
So yes, I am a fan of the food...but of course not of that hostess. I would recommend to go there during lunch or during their twilight menu (which I think just happens in the summer), just to be nice to your wallet. And really, this place is pretty casual and I think best for groups instead of two-somes or a party of three. That is unless you don't mind sitting at a table with a bunch of strangers. If not, you can always try to sit at the corner of your table.
I have to preface this review by saying that one of my the things I don't understand (among multitudes) is why people come from all over to visit New York City and then come to Benihana for dinner. That said, there's just something about this place that keeps me coming back a couple times a year. Perhaps I'm a big fan the concept - put a bunch of people around a table that doubles as a grill, serve them Mai Tai's and various other liquor in volcano bowls and then, once they're warmed up, give them copious amounts of steak, lobster, shrimp and chicken to eat. DON'T come here if you're visiting NYC. DO come here if you live here and can't figure out where you and your friends should go to dinner while simultaneously catching a buzz.
The Benihana in Edison, NJ is much better.
I had a reservation for 20, which the lady on the phone was hesitant to take because she claims that people will reserve 20 and 5 people show up.
Not my problem, I'm a new customer.
Reservation for 20 at 6pm on Sunday. I had the number 14 in the definite confirmed section of my brain by 4pm. That's still two tables for us.
I get there at 5:30p in order to be there before my guests (for my bday). Two of my guests were there already.
Everyone else was late. Like crazy late, I was pissed. More so pissed when one of the employees approaches me at 6:12p saying that they only hold the table for 10min and then they forfeit the reservation. I remained seated. He walked away. Then returned to say, "your ten minutes is up."
I got up.
Nobody mentioned this when I made the reservation. As this encounter takes place, 5 more of my guests show up. Not enough for two tables. They are still adamant about closing my reservation.
A very long story shortened; I basically complained until we were all seated, at the two tables. And there was 16 of us.
The sake sangria is horrible. Too much ice. The food was good, as expected.
At the request of a very special guest of honor for a milestone birthday, the celebrant and six of her closest friends went to Benihana for what was to be a legendary experience every step of the way.
We had made reservations well in advance for 9:30 p.m. on a Friday (to accommodate those of us who were traveling from out of town for the occasion) so it was a little surprising that once our party had all arrived, we were given a window of an hour wait. (Seinfeld fans, unite! - "You can take the reservation, but you just can't *hold* the reservation; and that is the most important part, really. The *holding*!")
We were placed upstairs in a room that felt like it was half bar/half holding space. We plunked ourselves down in a corner and squeezed on in, and perused the drink list, which had some very interesting choices, to say the least. I ordered myself a cocktail that was bright blue in color (and presented very nicely!) and was a little taken aback by the price of blue drinks at Benihana these days. $10.00... wowza. But before I could even take the first expensive sip, we were told our table was ready.
Perhaps next year the staff will receive watches for their Christmas bonuses. Stay tuned....
Any hibachi veteran knows the deal, but for those who haven't had the experience, it goes something like this: you and your party are seated at a large rectangular table, and depending on how many people are in your party, you will likely be eating alongside many other people and groups. In the middle of the rectangle is where the chef will cook right in front of everyone, and sometimes each side is filled to capacity so there will actually be two chefs, and if you are really lucky, they'll compete with one another for an unmentioned creativity title.
The menu has plenty of items to choose from, all a bit on the pricey side, but you do get lots to go with it: rice (and don't be a fool like me and order just the white rice; if they offer you the chicken fried rice and you are not vegetarian or adverse to chicken, GET IT. Seriously. You will watch your chef make it in front of you and your intrigue will turn to jealousy when you see other people at your table presented with their very own bowl of it and your consolation prize is some plain white rice.), mushrooms, onions, soup, salad, and samplings of other people's dinner choices (a shrimp might be tossed your way, is all I'm sayin').
I ordered the lobster tail and the filet (I figure if I'm going to go big, why not go as big as I can), and I was impressed with not just the portion I received but at how delicious it was. My friends ordered chicken and shrimp and scallops and beef, pretty much every possible combination one could find on the menu, and seemingly everyone else seemed as satisfied as I.
Not that I could have possibly saved room for dessert after a feast that large and oh-so-long (the experience took about an hour and a half), but after our plates were cleared we were given choices for ice cream, and the birthday girl was treated to a special ice cream dish with a candle and a lot of full and inebriated people singing "Happy Birthday" to her.
All in all, a very successful and fun night. I normally prefer to have hibachi at places other than chain restaurants, but the thing about Benihana is that it's going to be a sure thing no matter what. You know you'll get great food, you know you'll have entertainment, you know you will walk out feeling like you had a great time.
I've been to many teppanyaki places, and I relented to go to Benihana because a friend of mine had never been, and wanted to go.
After my experience, I was reminded why I don't ever consider going to ANY teppanyaki.
The reason for the two stars is the food was OK.
It was busy on a Sunday night - although we waited less than 10 minutes. We were taken through the busy dining room to our table and were shoehorned in elbow-to-elbow - not the most comfortable seating experience.
I ordered the $46 steak and lobster. It was good, but not worth the money. One reason is because our chef was barely entertaining. He barely spoke. And please for those who say teppanyaki is Japanese. STOP IT. It ISN'T.
I got full and everyone else at the table had leftovers, but for a place that relies on the experience to pull you in, this place has little in terms of that special pull.
I won't be going back anytime soon. I'm sure the next time will be when someone drags me back.
When I went it was with a group of friends we were flirting with the man sitting at our table trying to get him to pay for the bill but we didn't succeed but he did buy us a bottle of wine so our efforts went somewhere. I had fun but that was only because of the group I was with.
I enjoyed the food but as far as a show when the meal was being made I have seen better. Its a little expensive but not a much as I thought it would. Going as a group is best when going to these types of restaurants because I'm sure you wouldn't was to be on a romantic date sitting at the table with ppl you don't know.
I feel almost disloyal giving it 3 stars - as Rocky Aoki is my hero. Before Benihana - NOBODY in the US knew from nothin' of Japanese food. We owe Benihana an incredible debt of gratitude - and Rocky Aoki - it's founder - for bringing Japanese cuisine to the American masses.
Now that you can get Sushi in Penn Station and Teppanyaki (Hibachi) in strip clubs, Benihana in NYC seems a bit past it's prime - and the food is just OK. (Because we've SEEN it all before - we're JADED now.)
I am glad it is here and I hope it can re-invent itself and continue the legacy before it is lost.
Incidentally Rocky - who is part time in NYC and often in Hawaii - opened a GREEAT sushi spot on the Upper East Side about 5 years ago. Not sure if it
s still around. (Can';t for the life of me remember the name.)
Oh - Benihana is GREAT for family friendly entertainment. Kids love Hibachi.
Ok, if you're in NY visiting, this should be the last place on your list. Nobody should ever visit a chain restaurant, when there are unique one of a kind places to go to.
that said, if you live in the city or work nearby, i have always loved a good touristy hibachi dinner among friends. yea its overpriced and not terribly creative cooking, but it tastes great so i dont care. and its fun. especially if you go with the right group.
i make it a point to hit up bennihanna about once a year, and its always a great experience.
foodwise, LOVE the shrimp (extra garlic please) the scallops are always cooked to perfection and def get the fried rice, lots of ginger sauce, and some kind of fruity silly drink.
I'm wondering if this is now a trend. With Rocky Aoki's death, I think performance quality control at the Hana has gone to the shitter. Our waiter barely even looked at us, and all the tricks were done with ZERO pizazz! I don't pay top dollar for frozen meat and shrimp, I pay to be ENTERTAINED.
A wag of the finger to Manhatten Benihana. Don't forget your roots.
We (my husband and I) went to Benihana for lunch on a Saturday afternoon, so we didn't have to wait for a table. We shared a table with a family from Spain (mom, dad and two adult sons) and our chief called himself Jose. Our chief was amazing! He was very entertaining compared to the other chiefs cooking at the other tables. I had the shrimp and steak which was very good. My husband had shrimp, scallops and calamari, I loved his scallops the most. My only regret is that I didn't get the fried rice, it smelled so good.
This is the house that "Rocky" Aoki built--the original Benihana! You can find pictures of his daughter, Devon Aoki, of 2 Fast 2 Furious and Sin City fame on the walls.
I feel like the other poeple that reviewed this place and are giving it decenet marks either a)because they've never had hibachi anywhere else or b)way too easily pleased.
I dont remember not likeing a place so much as to where I couldnt wait till my meal was over in along time, maybe ever. Maybe my expectations were set too high, expecting something special from the place that brought hibachi to america.Or maybe because I'm so spoiled by my fav. hibachi Arirang in bay ridge being so good ...but man did everything just suck.
No ambience or atmosphere whatever you want to call it what so ever.I felt like I was in some overpriced zoo. It was cramped, loud and obnoxious, and so hottt because of all the stoves, overcrowding, and poorr ventilation.
The table presentation was weak but I couldve cared less if the food didnt feel like salty, flavorless stir fry I could've accoimplished better in my own kitchen. The waitress came across as just another peron on the fcatory line and just plain old unpleasant.
I left hungry, broke, and bitter. I've been to so many hibachi steakhouses and this was by far the worst one ever...sorry
1 extra star in case it really was just a bad night
I rate Benihana for what I think it is: a strange time, sauce-drenched and sometimes overcooked food that still can hit the spot if you a.) love sauce b.) are drunk or c.) have never had hibachi before. The food is sometimes flavorful, but that in-your-face-flavor like how a Big Mac is flavorful, nothing subtle or complex here. The set comes with soup (very salty, but okay if you like that), salad (also salty with a tang), bbq shrimp cooked in soy and garlic butter (delicious, in a fast-food way) and then whatever else meat concoction you order, all with the chef flailing away with the food circus show.
1.) A strange time
This is not Japan, people. Try sitting at a table for eight with fellow not-as-skinny-as-in-Japan individuals who you don't know in a crammed setting, many of whom seem like they don't often eat out. To be fair, I did not say "a bad time." In fact, you can have a blast watching your fellow tablemates (on my most recent excursion to Benihana I watched the individual across me get into a yelling match with two different Benihana waitresses, which ended with the customer storming into the kitchen, when he was chased out by cooks). The guy next to me ordered lobster and proclaimed it was the best lobster he ever had (I haven't dared try...so I shouldn't comment, but I'm really itching to see how long Benihana freezes their lobsters for).
2.) Sauce Drenched:
Cook the hell out of shrimp, meat, chicken, whatever, load it up with garlic butter, toss in some soy, salt and pepper, and then put it on your platter, all to be dunked back in some sauces in front of you. This tastes delicious if you are pretty drunk or don't care that you're paying $20 for some pretty mediocre food...come on, this hits the spot every once in a while but definitely isn't fine dining. Or even mediocre dining. Or niche dining. It's Benihana.
The references to booze are pretty much to help you realize that 2 stars is so black and white, when in reality most things are 4 stars or better when you've had a few. So to reiterate: have a few beers at home if you want to experience the best of Benihana. Which, to me, has nothing to do with food...it's more about slapping each other on the back and saying, after sober, "haha, that was fun, let's not do that again any time soon."
As chefs cook your meal in front of you they perform some cool tricks. Great for children to introduce them to Japanese cuisine. The beer and sake is very good.
The only reason I take off a star is because the lobster, which is my most favorite thing on the planet, lacked a bit of flavor. ARGH!
I went with my boss and her family, and we all ordered the Sirloin & Lobster combo. We had her 2 year old son with us, so we went since we thought it would be fun for him to watch food flying in the air..
The service is fantastic. We ordered white wine, and any time our glasses were empty, he ran over, took our bottle and poured us more wine! I almost felt bad and/or lazy, haha
It's a fairly small room, though there are about 14-16 "tables." But they crowd up fast! The soup and salad was excellent, the sirloin and shrimp was excellent, but the lobster... oy. Fell way short. That's a huge selling point for me. My boss actually said she liked the food at Kiku in New Jersey BETTER!
I guess I also take away a star since it's REALLY touristy. But it's a fun environment, and you're bound to have a good time, while also shelling out lots of money. I didn't pay but definitely saw my boss take a second look at the check! Eeesh.
DAMN!! our table got FRANKIE !~~ hes so boring lol... the table next to us got a very funny chef @_@ anway... our table ordered some hibachi steak, the taste was decent.. and even tho frankie was boring he did his job... *_* . so gotta give him some credit! the bill come out to be somewat expensive for a hibachi steak and a ice cream. expect atleast $30 a person if u go there
Dining here was exciting b/c i have the facebook app on my iphone not b/c "Frankie", our super boring vanilla chef, was anything more than the 8th string lunch chef called up from AAAA minors of the Benihana chef league. The only thing I learned from this meal was from the guy sitting at the other end of the table and that is to DOUBLE DOWN on the fried rice order!
I'm shocked to be giving this place 4 stars. I ate here with some girls I was babysitting, and was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food. We had hibachi steak, chicken and shrimp, and it was all good.
Was the place packed with screaming babies and teenagers (including the ones I was watching)- YES. Was it the best hibachi Japanese I've had? No, but this is a nice alternative to Chuck E Cheese if you have the cash to spend.
Our chef was entertaining, and going here was a fun experience. I went here with a group of six people. Ideally, you will get eight in your party, if you have less, they will seat extra people at your table, if you have more, the extras are going to sit across from you.
The matre d' was clueless, and when we were waiting to get our coats, he offered to seat us again.
Our waitress had a scowl on her face the whole night, and forgot several drink orders. She would bring out the next course before we finished the first, and we would have to find room for the extra plates.
We were able to bring in a cheesecake purchased from Juniors, and they did not charge us a 'serving' charge.
They food was tasty, but overly salted, buttered, and soyed.
Yep, your coming here to be enterained by a chef, and that can make it all worthwhile.
I'm a fan of the hibachi grill, but damn, we waited for so so long to get our table, the service was pretty bad, and the manager was just a dick. He had no idea what customer service was, he just seemed stressed and unhappy. Anyways, food was great, service sucked.. fix the service and place will be cooooooool
Ok, I'm a sucker for the japanese grills. Big time. Yeah, it is touristy. No, it isn't cool. And yes, it is so 1990. But, I still love it. The food is well cooked and predictable. The drinks are ok, but not great. The cooks aren't great entertainers as they are at some other grills. But I still go back. The fillet and lobster works everytime when I am in the mood for it.
It was lots of fun to have the super-friendly chef cook the food for us right at our table. The service is great from the minute you walk in. The food is fresh and delicious. The food is not as pricey as it appears to be.
i think i should work for TMZ...i saw 2 girls from Danity Kane, then Tracey Morgan comes through with his chic, the Clay Aiken!!how cute!!..it was a fun night, the wait is kinda long, but understandable...chefs are sweet, there so good to try and make every1 have an enjoyable meal!...bad thing is you come out smelling like everything that was just prepared for ya!!!
omg service was soooo good, i loved my waitress she was soooo sweet, she actually asked Clay Aiken if he could take a pic with my sis and i..
good place to go with a group of friends/family
This is ersatz Japanese cuisine, which is why I find it acceptable, because I'm not a fan of the real thing. Their gimmicky presentations make it more expensive than it's worth.
I totally forgot this place existed. Probably for a good reason. It's cheesy and silly, but kinda fun if you have kids with you (nothing like a little entertainment to get them to eat their veggies!). I find it acceptable to eat here when you are not in a large city with a variety of cuisines. This one is in NYC folks, I mean seriously...
Let me first explain that I was here for a friend's 30th birthday who has a healthy love of kitsch. It was really fun! I had way too many mai tai's, and the food, while not the best I've ever had, was tasty and not obscenely priced. The drinks are a hoot though...old school tiki drinks like benihana punch and pina coladas!
What could be more fun...the food is cooked right before your eyes AND you can drink tropical cocktails from a porcelain Buddha!
I am not ashamed to admit that I have been to this place. After watching a Habiachi challenge on the Food Network, I happened to be in th area and had to go to this place again. Don't go for the entertainment, because not all of the chefs are interested in entertaining. And don't order calamari, unless you think grilled, tasteless cardboard is a delicacy. They don't cook it long enough. Otherwise, the food was tasty.
Hibachi has been my favorite since I drank multiple Shirley Temples and sat with my parents and strangers around the teppanyaki grill. I've since moved on to sake and those blue curacao drinks served with the umbrellas.
My favorite part of the show has to be the onion volcano. Everything from the salad with that orange-hued ginger dressing to the fried rice (with egg!) to the noodles is fantastic. As a difficult child who thrived on PB&J and pizza, Benihana chicken with sesame seeds was the only poultry dish (or major source of protein) I'd eat. Especially fantastic is the huge brick of butter that goes on the grill. Oh my!
You will savor the smell on your clothes for days, so be sure to dry clean anything you wear to Benihana.
the steak was great, the chef was entertaining, and it was an overall fun experience.... Only complaint was the lack of vegetarian friendliness (everything's cooked on the same grill without real cleaning.) But I myself don't eat seafood, and the appetizer is shrimp, so I had to tell myself to just not think about the fact that a bunch of seafood was lacing my steak. :/
Overall, a great place to come, decently priced, and a true experience. Not recommended for vegetarians or those who don't like seafood.
I'm a sucker for entertainment and not having to cook my own meals so this is a win-win situation for me. We took the whole family (grandmother, grandkids and kids) here before going to see a show for the holidays. Food was good and my 5-year old grandson loved watching the chef flip shrimp tails into his hat. it's more fun when you have your own group (8 people), otherwise they'll seat you with people you don't know.
Not that great, too much hype. Food was decent, but the show was lackluster along with the service. I have been three times to give them the benefit of the doubt the latter two times. Once during lunch, there was no show the chef just cooked and left the food for us (not a place to take a client to, go to Tao instead for a real treat). Then the other two times during dinner, again both chefs did not show off their skills and it took almost the whole meal to get one drink. I am definitely going back and probably will not try the other locations. It's pricey to be a disappointment.
I have never been to Benihana's and always wanted to try so the BF took me. My friends in the Bay Area love Benihana's and always give it good reviews so I assumed the one in NYC is just as good as the one in the Bay Area because it's a chain. Although I never tried the one in the Bay Area so I can't compare but what I do know is that this one sucked. I think one of the main reasons to go to a Benihana's is to see the performance. There were roughly 12 or so stations and as I looked around only 1 chef was entertaining. Majority of the chefs (including ours) kept looking around, looked really bored, and def were not trying to entertain anyone. They were there to half-ass the cooking and go home. I think a lot of our stuff was burned and the chef def favored a few of the individuals at the table and gave them the majority of the food and special treatment. The rest of us were confused as to why that was going on. The only reason this place gets 2 stars is b.c. the waiter was great and got all of the orders right and the fried rice was unbelievable. Don't get plain rice - get the fried stuff. Amazing. I will def not be coming back here again. They have a problem that every chain restaurant encounters - lack of personality and quality. It's all about moving volume and not so much customer service or quality of food.
It's been many years since I went to Benihana's in NY but I have to say that it was the best before it grew into a worldwide organization. Chefs were extremely skilled & food was quite authentic then. Service was always good though & surroundings quite pleasant. There are many better Japanese restaurants now but Benihana of NY will always be a sentimental fave since it was the first Japanest restaurant I ever went to.
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