“ You know what, I'm starting to get it... In the past, whenever I was asked about going to Benihana (or any teppanyaki joint like them), my initial reaction would typically be lukewarm. That's not to say I had something against them - I've always thought they were a fun idea for birthdays and special occasions. However, they also seemed to be more like a novelty. While I certainly enjoyed myself the few times I had been, the food felt secondary and overpriced, especially compared to what you could get at a "regular" restaurant (granted, you're also paying for the entertainment). Now that I've been more times in the last couple of years than at any point in the past, though, I can't help but wonder if it's my taste buds have changed or if (gasp!) I was just plain wrong! Compared to the other Benihana locations I've been to (Carlsbad in SoCal, SF and Burlingame in NorCal), the bar/lounge area at this one seems to be almost the same size as the main dining room itself, which is great if you just want to chill by the bar or eat without sitting in front of the grill. Otherwise, aside from how the vibe feels rather cozy (possibly because the lighter seems darker), not much seems to be all that different. As for the menu, it didn't seem to have any specials like the one in Carlsbad seemed to offer, but I was glad to see that it was otherwise the same, as I already knew what I wanted to get before I even sat down! After seeing one of my friends order it before, I was pretty much set on getting the LAND 'N SEA, which comes with Filet Mignon and Hokkaido Scallops Grilled in Lemon Juice, along with their usual House Onion Soup, House Salad, Habachi Shrimp Appetizer, Hibachi Vegetables, Mushrooms, Chicken Fried Rice (+$7.50 Upgrade), and Ice Cream ($53.50). Both the Filet Mignon and Scallops were quite tasty, but while I liked the latter (fairly plump), the former was better - very tender with a nice beefiness to it. As for the sides, most didn't stand out, but nothing was awful either. The Salad was unremarkable (the dressing is super acidic), but the Onion Soup was surprisingly decent, the Chicken Fried Rice was great (love their Garlic Butter), the Shrimp was fine for what it is, the Vegetables and Mushrooms were fresh, but a bit salty, and the Green Tea Ice Cream was a sweet way to end the meal. With regards to service, our server was friendly and came by often to check on us, but our chef was probably the best I've had. Not only was he engaging, but he deftly pulled off the usual tricks (onion volcano, the heart made out of rice, etc.) in a non-cheesy/corny sort of way. More importantly, he was just a good chef, cooking all of our orders just right. That being said, not all aspects about this Benihana were better. For one, finding a space in the lot can be really hard (we ended up parking a block away). Secondly, everything seemed to take a while - the wait for a table despite having a reservation, our cocktails from the bar, our chef to finish/arrive, etc. Not the biggest deal, as we all just sat and chatted, but fair to note, as we were here for almost three and a half hours. All in all, while I still think you can get a better tasting meal elsewhere for about the same amount of money, I have to admit that the food is starting to grow on me. At the very least, it's better than what I used to think of it. Pair that with how lively and entertaining my meals here have always been and I'd be lying if I said Benihana isn't a fun dining experience, novelty or not. THREE AND A HALF STARS rounded up. ”

“ My group came here to celebrate a birthday and we had a fantastic time! Chef Tam really made our visit worth it!! He cracked a lot of jokes and did all the tricks for us. Our meals came out delicious; we ordered the seafood diablo with lobster, wagyu, yakisoba noodles, and the lobster noodles. On top of that, we got the punch bowl to share. The amount of food was incredible, we all had leftovers to save for the next day. The only reason why I would not give this place five stars is unfortunately due to the wait. We had a reservation at 6:45 PM and didn't get seated until closer to 8, when they originally told us they were 15 minutes behind. We would've appreciated the honesty when it came to the wait times because we could've just arrived later on instead of waiting for an hour in a crowded lobby with little seating. ”

“ Best birthday/special occasion spot. Love the experience here, the staff are awesome and the cooks do a good job at making an entertaining. Plus the food smells so good as they cook it. Always love the fried rice here and the fillet mignon is really good. ”

“ I visited Benihana a few weeks ago on a Monday night and had the pleasure of being served by Angelina. Despite having reservations, there was a bit of a wait, but having Angelina as our server definitely made up for it. She provided excellent service throughout the evening. Angelina was attentive and very helpful with my questions and dietary concerns. She was quick with drink refills and made sure we had everything we needed. Her professionalism and efficiency made our dining experience great. I would highly recommend requesting Angelina as your server when you visit Benihana for a memorable dining experience! ”

“ We took our son here to celebrate his birthday and what an awesome celebration. We had filet mignon, cold water lobster, scallops, shrimp, veggies, grilled expertly on a hibachi grill. Our chef Arnulfo was excellent - entertaining, lighting fast with the knives and spatulas, and a delicious meal. The spirit of Rocky Aoki is alive and well here! ”

“ jojo was so sweet and awesome, saw her helping out other servers and staff but still gave us so much attention. ”

“ I love Benihana food is good service here is great and the cook always puts on a show I love the drinks and I always get extra garlic butter..lol ”

“ We had a wonderful time at Benihanas. Our chef, Pollo, was incredibly talented and entertaining. Pollo cooked our surf side to perfection, we loved the perfectly cooked seafood. Tyler, our server, provided excellent service and kept on top of refilling our green tea. :) Our table only had two other diners (maybe because it was the day before Thanksgiving). The intimate setting made the experience even more special and we got our food faster than usual! The soup was super salty.. but everything else was good. Make reservations. ”