The restaurant had a fun atmosphere the food and people were awesome!!
(5)
Chrissy C.
We love birthdays here! If you sign up for their club you get a free dinner when you buy one worth $30! It's only good Monday-Thursday and you need to make a reservation. Usually it's packed, but I was surprised to see it wasn't as busy as it normally is. You can also sit in the bar if you want your food faster, but we like the show. Our chef was really funny. They do the same jokes, but I think they always put their own little spin on it even though they have done it hundreds of times. We have always had stellar service here. They keep our drinks full without even asking. They did run out of the red hibiscus tea, but we just switched to a different drink. I got the teriyaki chicken, but should just gotten the regular grilled chicken. I like dipping in the sauces and the teriyaki made it already flavored. They do up charge for the fried rice so this time I just got regular white rice. I love my meal came with a shrimp appetizer and soup and salad. I love the ginger dressing! We also got hot tea and my husband's came with ice cream. Plus they always sing and take a photo. I actually like having the memento to take home. The singing can be cheesey, but everyone at the table usually gets into it and that makes it fun. The coupon comes the first of the month so make sure to watch your email for it. You have to show ID.
(5)
Ron R.
It has been YEARS since I've been to a Benihana (like 10 probably) . I came here for a work function and we took over a full table which was fun since we had our own private cook basically. I've been to Hibachi style places during the last 10 years, but not a Benihana and I was very unimpressed with our cook. I'm used to seeing onion volcanos, shrimp flips, egg flips, spatula tricks and all kinds of fun stuff but we got none of that. Half the reason you come here is for the table side entertainment and we really didn't get that. I think we amused ourselves more than he did. The food was ok, nothing to write home about. I would say it was an average experience food wise to a Hibachi place. The fried rice was probably the best part and that's because he added like 3 tablespoons of garlic butter to it. If I'm in the mood for Hibachi, I think I'd rather go to Tomo, or Kazan.
(2)
Rachael J.
So I went on a Monday night at 6:30PM and it was extremely packed, which I thought was kind of weird? I only went because my friend had $30 off a meal, so we had to buy two entrees essentially for the total value of $60 and we would only pay $30. The food was a-okay. We got a vegetable roll, a salmon skin roll and a dragon roll, as well as the steak and chicken with chicken fried rice (which cost an extra $4 and was way too small). Their veggie options are actually terrible. It was literally a salad wrapped in rice, gross. If you're a vegetarian I wouldn't recommend going here. The waitress we had was terrible. In our section alone within 20 minutes, two families left without eating/paying because she messed their order up so bad. Being a college student, we weren't really pushy with time or service because when would be there otherwise if it weren't for that coupon? Anyway, a different waiter came up and was fixing everyone's order and he was super nice and didn't even charge us extra for the ice cream we got! The food is okay, and the service was terrible, and I'm hoping that was just a one time thing, but guessing from the other reviews on here, maybe it wasn't.
(3)
Rick G.
I like the food. I like the atmosphere. I like the show. I like the servers, and the chefs. Sadly, we had perhaps the worst hostess I've ever seen in my life. Smacking and popping her gum while talking to customers, talking on her cell, and carrying on with friends while folks were waiting to be taken care of. Overall, not a very good experience at all.
(2)
Suzanne W.
I mean. The food is always delicious in my opinion. Actually, the veggies. I could eat them all day every day with whatever that dipping sauce concoction is. But lets be real. You have to be in the mood for that kind of atmosphere. It's a bit over the top and obnoxious to anyone not part of a group or dragging along 3-5 kids. The birthday celebrations and goofy jokes from the "chefs" can give you a headache for days. That said...it's a pastime I remember fondly as a child so every now and again...I'll probably show my face, just for the memories.
(3)
Bethany S.
My mom and I had wanted to check out Benihana, so we made a reservation for a Friday evening. (We had tried going a couple weeks before on a Saturday, but discovered it is reservation-only; I'm not counting this against them.) She was on time, and I was exactly 6 minutes late - she was told they would not seat anyone until the whole party was there. Fine. But then we had to wait another 20 minutes once I arrived... Okay, that's annoying when you have a reservation. We were finally led to our teppanyaki grill table with a group of other people. Then got to wait a few more minutes for menus, place settings, etc. I scoured the menu to find the only vegetarian-friendly item: the Garden Delight. Fine, I'm used to only having one option, I'll go with it. The whole process seemed to take forever, but the chef was pretty entertaining while he was chopping and cooking the shrimp and vegetables for most of the table. The grilled asparagus, onions, and tofu were delicious and I enjoyed the meal for a solid 15 minutes. Then came the main dish, which is when I discovered that 8 different types of vegetables were steaming in a dish that whole time he was cooking, for my "Garden Delight". As I told my mom while I was attempting to eat these, they are exactly the reason so many people don't like vegetables - they were a great example of how NOT to cook them. Very oversteamed, limp, grainy and mushy, with no flavor whatsoever, and they didn't go with any of the sauces that were supposed to be for meat. I had the chef put some salt on them, but that barely helped. I could only try a bite of each before completely giving up, leaving most of it untouched. (By the way, the waitress who took my plate away noticed this full plate and said nothing - sometimes they can still save it at that point by giving a discount or free food, which I've had happen before) I was still pretty hungry, so I got chocolate ice cream, because all they had was plain chocolate, vanilla, or raspberry. So at least I wasn't starving when I left. My mom did enjoy her salmon, as well, so all was not lost. I can imagine why you'd want to bring kids here, but please, restaurants, don't put something on your menu that is so terrible, even if you feel like you should appease vegetarians. I'd rather not waste my time and money. If you love seafood and don't mind loud environments, indifferent service, or having to wait a lot, you may very well enjoy Benihana.
(2)
Adrian K.
Behinana is worth all the chatter I've been hearing. Benihana is an elegant and entertaining Japanese spot. I enjoyed every minute. I love how they cook right in front of you. Everything was exciting from the utensil juggling to the interaction between the chefs and attendees. Oh and don't get me started on the scrumptious food.
(5)
Thu N.
The best thing you can do is sign-up for the birthday coupon! Be a part of the club because they e-mail you a $30 gift certificate to use the month of your birthday! An average person will spend about $40-$50 dollars there. My favorite is the shrimp appetizer they have on the grill. It is sauteed with butter and lemon and is very good. The food is always yummy. Most of the meals come with soup, salad, tea, ice cream, shrimp appetizer, rice, and 3 dipping sauces. They start at $19 for just chicken. The "shrimp" sauce is very delightful and I put it on everything. They usually have to refill my sauce bowl 2-3 times throughout dinner. You can change the rice out for chicken fried rice which is $3 more but very good too, made fresh in front of you along with everyone's dinner. I've tried the sushi, chicken, shrimp, scallops, lobster, and nothing has ever disappointed. It is just rather expensive for a casual meal. For special events, they take a picture that they print out and give to you right away before you leave. If you don't want the table side cooking then there is a bar area where you can sit and order just sushi or pre-made food also. The chefs are asian, latino, caucasian....but most that we have are very quiet and I can always barely hear what they are saying or asking. Most of the jokes and tricks are the same from one teppanyaki style Japanese cooking place to another. They make the volcano with the onions and smoke comes out....they have the egg "roll", they flip the shrimp tails into their hat...make the fried rice into a beating heart, etc...amusing the first time but ya kind of know what to expect the next few times. Currently they are running a chicken and shrimp special with the soup, salad, ice cream, rice, tea, and shrimp appetizer for $36 for both people. If only 1 person wants that special the price is $23 per person. Supposedly every month the special will change.
(4)
Christine B.
We went here for NYE with friends and had a great time. Overall, I think it's a good deal for what you pay for. Most entrees for the hibachi come with a shrimp appetizer, soup, salad, entree, and ice cream dessert. The portions are a good size. For my husband and I, it was abotu $60 for the two of us ordering entrees with steak and one adult beverage. I think it's reasonably priced since you get some entertainment too. The place was packed for NYE and booked up way in advance. The food was good, tasted fresh, and I absolutely love the shrimp sauce. Also, the plum wine is very good too. Overall everyone had a great time. My only criticism is that the bartender in the actual bar area wasn't very attentive or friendly and I think the place needs to rework their exhaust systems to work better. While most of the people at the table avoided the steam and smoke rising up from the habachi, my husband and I were pounded with smoke and steam for most of the meal and smelled like stirfry all night. Other than that, its a great place to go for groups, holidays, and special occassions. I'm a fan! I did see a lot of people wearing jeans. It's just a personal pet peeve of mine, if you can afford to spend about $25 per person on dinner, you can afford to dress nice, at least on NYE. Everyone in my party dressed up, but it's not required. It is very pretty on the inside though.
(5)
Robert C.
We took the kids out to here. You have to have a reservation or else you will wait forever. We ordered sushi. This sushi was good. My kids ate it as well. I ordered Calamari steak, shrimp, and Scallops Hibachi. The Calamari steak was unbelievable. We also ordered Salmon with Avocado Tarter sauce. This was good as well. Kids really enjoyed their food and the entertainment. Only bad thing is that they do nickel and dime you for everything. I have been to other Hibachi's and the fried rice comes with the meal whereas here it is $3 extra
(5)
Paul W.
I've been going here for 17 years and I have to say it is my favorite place to eat when I'm in Indy.
(5)
Anna Z.
I have been to a few hibachi restaurants in the Indianapolis area (TOMO and izakaya) but never had been to Benihana. Tonight I got to try it for a friends birthday. The menu had so many different hibachi entrees. I was used to just seeing teriyaki chicken/steak/shrimp/veggie. I'm not saying that's a negative but it just seemed to be a more complicated menu. I got the steamed veggie which came with rice, tofu appetizer, salad, and soup. The veggies were really bland. I guess I should have realized they would be since it said "steamed veggies". But they weren't seasoned or anything. Everything else was very flavorful and delicious. I just wouldn't recommend the veggies, even if you are on a budget. Oh, and if you want to upgrade to fried rice instead of white, it's an extra 3.50. Ugh, boooo. I'm going back to TOMO Or Izakaya. Oh! Something I did like though - a lady came and took a group photo of us and then came back 5 minutes later. She had printed it and framed it in a Benihana frame. I thought that was pretty cute and great for a birthday keepsake.
(3)
Beau A.
Really wish u could give a 2.5 star..I dont know how I feel about this place... WAY WAY TO LOUD. Food was editable, but kinda pricey for banging a salt n pepper shaker around and yes he made an i love u outta rice, but not much talent is needed for that. Fried rice, good. The zucchini n onions for my "seared vegetables" , ick, really, zucchini n onions, thats not a course. Dont forget The bag salad w ginger dressing, for 2 people to spend 120 buck, that included 1 sake each. Way over priced for cheap food. I guess u go for ur birthday, bc its free. Since its group dining, its a toss up for the people your forced to eat with. Cross ur fingers, it makes all the difference.
(3)
Nicki M.
We went to Benihana for my boyfriend and I's anniversary. I was so disappointed. The waiters and chef were so rude! I told them I was vegetarian and my waitress acted like I was the weirdest person she's ever met. I asked for her to tell the chef I do not eat eggs in my fried rice either and the chef put chicken in it... They made me a second batch but with eggs. At this point I said nevermind I don't want any fried rice. The chef gave dirty looks and seemed bored. Food was decent but I'm never coming back. Too expensive for the rude service, nearly ruined our anniversary
(2)
Gyamfua G.
When it comes to Japanese restaurants this use to be THE PLACE....now..its OK.. Not the best. The chef was slow and the vegetables were cold by the time the meat and rice was done cooking. The vegetable plate was mediocre.. With a small array of vegetables. Not my first choice for hibachi...
(3)
Holly G.
Benihana is always a good choice for "dinner and a show". It is one of my favorite "go to" restaurants for a special occasion, simply because the quality of the food is consistently outstanding. Yes, it is expensive - but Benihana is not a place you go every single day. it's a great place to share a celebration with family and friends.
(4)
Jennifer V.
I love Benihana. I love fried rice, I love the steaming onion train, and I love chef theatrics. No, this is not authentic Japanese cuisine. If that's what you're after you are in the wrong spot. It's a dinner show and it's fun. This location is always clean and the staff is friendly.
Going to Benihana used to compare to the likes of Christmas or New Years for me...Now I just feel like it is the adut equivalent of Chuck E Cheese. I only seem to go here on Birthdays. Somone ALWAYS orders the souvenir glass. There is a show (its just not animatronic). We recently went with a party of eight to celebrate two birthdays (natch) one of which was for a twelve year old (hes the one who picked the place...nuf said!) Pros Great staff that was very midful of our needs. Great Fried Rice Got us in and out ery quickly Cons We were close to another hibachi table that was full and I honestly felt that they were getting a better show! Better jokes, better food tricks, better onion volcano!! WTF?!?! If I am going to take part in this I want my crappy entertainment to be of the hightest caliber. The remainder of the food was forgetable except for the fried rice. I had some spicy chicken noodle thing that was too spicy just for the sakeof heat, not flavor. I didnt finish. ...and I cannot even remeber if we had dessert?
(2)
Julie W.
If you wonder how Benihana is still so popular, try it out. It is not exceptional food, but everything was well prepared. I had the teriaki chicken, and it came with a good onion soup, salad, rice and vegetables. The food is prepared right in front of you, so it doesn't sit under some heat lamps. The chefs are very entertaining. The place was packed on a Thursday night, for a good reason. A fun place, with good food, great service - well worth the money.
(3)
David S.
Probably would have been 3 stars except our server kept forgetting things and didn't refill drinks. The teppan chef was very good and it is definitely an eating experience. Food portions are a bit small. We were still a bit hungry after finishing dinner especially concurring the price. Overall it was a neat experience but next time we hope to get better service.
(2)
Roger S.
This location has certainly gone downhill since my previous visits. It used to be the place we most looked forward to going when we were in Indianapolis. On our most recent visit, the chef was so boring. We expected an exciting show, but the humor and tricks we were used to were absent. The meats and fried rice were excellent as always, but the vegetables were overcooked and the chef used too much sauce. Considering the experience of watching the chef was so boring, I would not consider the meal to be a good value. In my personal opinion, Benihana Indianapolis used to be the elite restaurant on its class, but the chefs they have now have critically destroyed their previously stellar reputation.
(2)
Stephana B.
We love Benihana's Restaurant. The experience the chefs create is entertaining, the food is amazing, and it's fun to meet new people who are seated together at the same table. I would love to give five stars, but unfortunately at our last couple of visits the cleanliness of the restaurant was disappointing, especially the restrooms.
(4)
Beth W.
Friendly staff and atmosphere is extremely relaxed... Enjoy watching the food be cooked in front of us... Food was excellent
(4)
Melissa T.
First time ever visiting Benihana tonight. We had a large party so we couldn't sit at the grill which was a bummer but understandable. Very nice restaurant. I loved the California rolls. However the rest was mediocre at best. Very expensive for mediocre. Our server was nice and polite but was very slow. I would try it again. I wouldn't recommend for large parties. We had 15 people in our party which I am assuming why the service was slow.
(3)
Honest C.
I am a seasonal customer here at Benihana's in Castleton. My family and I visit here for everyone's birthday. Today I stopped by to check out the lunch menu. My food was excellent as always but the service was poor. I sat for roughly 20 minutes with an empty beverage. My food was prepared and served to an empty glass. I wanted wine with my shrimp. My waitress brought me the wine towards my last few bites of lunch. The wine, was fine. However the glass, was covered in lint or dust! I was appalled because I did not inspect the rim of my glass until about half way through my white wine. Again... The food was great. But the service today was way below par....
(3)
J L.
One of my favorite places to eat for years now. Food is always good and top quality. My only complaint is that the service has gone down slightly over the years. Sadly, not much hasn't in this town.
(5)
Anita W.
1st time to Benihana. Went for a work function. Food was good, not great. Cook was entertaining. Was with a large group that had enough people to fill seats around one grill but no enough to fill two tables. We were split into two parties which made us feel like were not one group because one group was served and finished before the other was completely served.
(3)
T W.
Made a reservation for 8pm in order to catch a movie next door at 10. Were not seated until 8:45 and were the only people left waiting for a table. Front staff seemed in great distress and disorganized. Were not entirely helpful in communicating that things were running behind or what the issue was. We finally approached to see what might be the issues and were told we were welcome to sit in the lounge? I make reservations to sit at the hibachi... Not lounge. Unfortunately this is not the first time the front of Benihana has given me this impression. I'm not sure if it isn't properly managed or what might be going on there. Food is good which is why it's unfortunate I'm now left feeling this way. I'm from Atlanta originally and that location in my opinion is far superior and fits the Benihana brand more accurately. Has more of an upscale vibe and is definitely ranking higher in cleanliness and professionalism. Corporate should probably pay a visit to check on things and get it back up to brand. I would like to point out that the ratings speak for themselves.
(2)
Sarah F.
I came here with a group with fairly low expectations based on previous visits to a different location and they were pretty much met. To be fair, I'm just not the type of person who enjoys the whole hibachi grill experience (too gimmicky for my taste and I prefer not to actually see the huge amount of butter that goes into every preparation). I decided the best approach would just be to order sushi, which was actually pretty good. Nothing particularly memorable about it, but seemingly fresh and well-executed. I also got the vegetable tempura, which I intended to have as a starter (since it was listed under appetizers), but didn't get brought out until just after my sushi was delivered. The tempura batter was fully awful--heavy and greasy and honestly inedible. Our hibachi chef was good, but his "performance" seemed very mechanical and perfunctory with no real enjoyment or personal connection with the diners (not that I can blame him too much, but it just makes for a rather uncomfortable experience).
(2)
Justin K.
My wife, kids and I went to Benihana yesterday for lunch. I have been to Benihana 100s of times and in multiple locations. This was the worst experience we have ever had. We were told that we would be sat with another party of 5 in a few minutes. After sitting around for 15 minutes they took the party back and seated them but said nothing to us. Three people walked in with no reservation and they seated them at the table with the group we where told we would be seated with. I believe it was totally race driven. Finally we get seated and the table was super dirty. I took a picture because I was surprised how dirty it was. The service was terrible. The waitress messed our order up. The food and cook was amazing as always.
(1)
David I.
I've been here before but this time wasn't so great. Slow and confused service, and the table wasn't cleared away the entire time we were there. Just sloppy compared with previous visits. I'll go back, maybe it was a new waitress.
(3)
Lulu I.
I've been to Benihana so many times but the last few times I've experienced the worst service ever! Servers were rude and inattentive. I think they got too comfortable knowing that they have a big clientele base! My advise.. Don't get too comfortable!
(2)
Marcie M.
I went here for lunch sushi with a client and while it was OK, I have definitely had better. The lunch special was a bit too much for me and there were too many fried items on my plate. It sounded like it would be more sushi, but it was a mix of a bunch of different items that didn't quite go together. The chicken was bland, and the sushi was not that fresh. I was disappointed. It was also a lot more expensive than other sushi lunch specials I've had lately. Our server was nice but not around much and for some reason, it was FREEZING inside the building. I think it definitely needs a facelift and a bit more trendiness. It's falling behind a lot of other restaurants in the area especially with the new renovation of the Keystone Mall. Time for an update Beni, as I won't be back until you do!
(2)
Susie D.
Birthday celebration with the $30 coupon was nice. Food tasted great. Filet was very tender as it should be. Chef was just ok, could have done a better show. Service was good. I really despise paying $3.50 EXTRA for fried rice. I mean come on when you pay $33.25 dinner it should be included. Children's menu very expensive and you also pay extra for fried rice on their menu. $13.50 for kids steak and shrimp...plus $3.25 for fried rice. Way overpriced. Plus the kids used to get soup and salad, now they get only choice of one or the other. If it wasn't for the $30 birthday coupon, we probably wouldn't go. Tomo on North Keystone near Walmart includes fried rice in their dinner price.
(3)
The Yelp-inator W.
You know what this is. It's fun, it is yummy, it is entertaining you get too much delicious food They do a great job here....
(5)
Eric F.
I had not been here for 20 plus years . We had a great experience with the service and food. We will return in the future.
(4)
Melanie J.
Went to Benihana for the first time on Tuesday and enjoyed the experience. I went for my birthday and they make a big "to-do" for your birthday especially if you sign up for the Chef's Table. Will definately be going back.
(4)
Thomas C.
With so many hibachi restaurants around anymore I would of thought Benihana would of still been the go to place. I was wrong took a friend there for her birthday seems like that's all this place is good for anymore. The food is just ok not great not something you'd crave just ok . Now most of these place are not super cheap but they are not crazy pricey either. Benihana is overpriced for the low quality you get. No real flavor you have to use the sauces they give to get any flavor. Don't waste a bill on subpar hibachi.
(2)
Ryan R.
Great food clean. Had the chef table coupon can't beat that. Sat at a full table great neighbors. Everyone there was for a special event and were happy to be there. The food quality was too notch. And service was great
(5)
Kaleb B.
Very mediocre.. The food was good but not made as I asked, service was terrible and slow. Then when we complained to the manager the compensation was down right insulting. He only made it right once we had to argue with him. I can say I won't be back. Save your money and go some where better.
(2)
Scott M.
OVER-PRICED, OVER-RATED This Benihana has seen better days. From the restaurant decor to the ingredients, you'll find they are cutting corners that other Japanese restaurants in the area are not. We would suggest Volcano just west of Allisonville Road at 116th Street. If you are limited by transportation or time Benihana is okay, but Volcano offers a better menu... better prices.
(2)
Tiffany C.
Worst visit ever, poor service, the manager even walked through as a couple was asked to leave the bar area because they were understaffed. The one time the waiter came over was to slam a beer on the table. When we left the clueless manager actually asked how our meal was . I looked at him amazed as he knew the lounge area was a mess and sat up there with two other hostesses. We will not be back nor recommend it to anyone unless they want to be treated poorly and ignored after spending over 120 dollars for 2 people
(1)
Rob P.
Great experience for a first timer. The food was good and it was fun watching the chef cook everything right in front of you(also performing small tricks every now and then like the onion volcano irruption) but it was torturous to watch him take his time while you're sitting there starving for the food to be served asap. They served a nice soup and the service was definitely great. Its a nice place when you want to vary from the usual eat outs and also the ambiance is pretty good for any occasion.
(4)
Aubrey A.
My first and only time to Benihana was for a friend's birthday dinner. There were about 11 of us in our group. They wanted to sit all of us on one side of a grill, which would have been almost impossible. After some persuasion, they allowed our group to sit at two grills that were facing each other. One problem, they only cooked on one grill at a time. So while the side that I was at was getting our meal prepared and we started eating, the other side was sitting there salivating as they watched us eat. The service was not that great, but I'm not a high maintenance diner, so it was fine for me. Other than that, I got the Hibachi Tuna Steak and it was literally the best thing I've ever put in my mouth. I usually eat very little, and even with the salad, soup, veggies and shrimp that come with the meal, I ate every single last bite. I washed it all down with a ginormous Saporro, and although I was almost uncomfortably full, I was as happy as a clam. Like I said before, this was the only time I've been here because after an appetizer, a meal for both my boyfriend and I, a beer for myself, and a beer for our friend, we spent over $100 after tipping our server. I will definitely be back, but only for special occasions. Unless I win the lottery, then I will eat the tuna steak for every meal until I die.
Pretty stellar dinner at Benihana but not without a few issues. My friends and I got the Habachi chicken ($17). It really didn't have a lot of flavor to it. I had to dip mine in some of the sauces to add some flavor. Personally, I think charging an extra $3 for fried rice is a bit excessive so I just had regular rice. Patricia K. got a kiwi drink that was delicious. It was clearly made with fresh kiwi since it had the seeds and some pulp in it. Amazing! My friends and I also split the spicy tuna rolls with cucumber, tuna and spicy sauce. They were delicious and $6.50 for 8 small rolls. We had an admittedly obnoxious group of girls at our table. They had to special order everything and they were pretty stuck up to our servers. Well at the end of dinner, they left a little early so naturally my girlfriends and I proceeded to talk about them. Well, as our server was cleaning up she joined in on our little bash. I know she was probably just venting but it was pretty unprofessional for her to rip on another customer to us no matter how obnoxious they were.
(3)
Stacy J.
Had a pretty great time with my whole family as we celebrated my brothers birthday! Made reservations and were seated pretty quickly. Waitress seemed a little distracted a few times which lead to a wrong dinner being ordered which was an ok substitution, but ended up costing about $7 more AND didn't get end of dinner tea! But she somewhat made it ok by getting us all (even though it came with some meals) complimentary ice cream. Each of our dinners were pretty good. Tuna special was REally good and cooked just right. The Ocean Treasure was great due to I was craving it... but other than that, it was just lobster, shrimp, and scallops... not all that special. A taste of the Teriyaki steak was good but glad it wasn't my meal because that flavor could become too much too quick! Taste of the Hibachi steak = New York strip AND the 'other' dinner which had filet mignon with shrimp was good, just nothing extraordinary. The soup was good, the salad was good though it could have used a little less of the ginger dressing. Like the fried rice a lot! Very tasty! And the sides/appetizers of shrimp, zucchini, and onions was also pretty good! Also had the spider roll (sushi) which was really tasty, but should have been a little longer - couple more pieces. But above all, what you are going for is the show! And as always, it is always fun!! Our chef had only been there a couple weeks, so his talent may not have been as refined as others... but is also wasn't as rehearsed as others! Had fun with him and enjoyed the show! Overall it is a great place for an occasion... also fun place to take the kids!
(3)
Kylee W.
Some people seem to have a superiority complex over Benihana as a chain of hibachi grill restaurants with a history. Well screw em. This place is fun as hell. Sure they have the same schtick every time, that's part of the fun. It's interesting to watch them cook and chop, and the food is pretty good. It's a fun date night every once in a while (or maybe a couple of times a year when you get your $30 birthday voucher!) Never had any problems with the service or food at this location. Always awesome.
(4)
Edward J.
The Hibachi Tuna Steak at Benihanas costs $22, but man, does it taste great! Medium rare and delicious, with a sauce made with tomato, avocado, edamame and garlic butter in a balsamic reduction and topped with fried onions. It's a fantastic mix of flavors that doesn't overwhelm the tuna and I was glad I went, even though I'm sick of the show and too low on funds to spend $22 + tax and tip.
(4)
Daniel R.
Great staff. Quality food. The lunch boat is a great value.
(4)
Chef Carolina C.
Great hibachi experience, very creative and entertaining hibachi cook and the food was all I expected it to be, great ambiance, a bit noisy but was totally expected for a room with several other hibachi tables and considering the fact that the place was packed full we still had a very peaceful meal. Very friendly and good service. Definitely recommend their Monthly Special Menu.
(4)
Chris S.
Waited 35-40 minutes after our reservation to get seated. Food was just okay, nothing special no seasoning. Won't be going back anytime soon.
(2)
Denise L.
OVERRATED! I went with a group of seventeen for a friends birthday. Unfortunately there was a person who was forty five minutes late that was in our group, & we had to wait to be seated because the cook only comes out once. Not benihana's fault at all. Just thought if you went with a large group you may want to know that. As we waited in the waiting area at one point I got up to move, & my flip flop stuck to the floor as I walked away. They had pictures hung of celebrities like John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Muhammad Ali at what I assume was other benihana's. As we were waiting, I looked into the dining room there was rice at empty tables; as if the staff was not sweeping the floor after the parties left the table. We were seated once the final person got there, & our orders were quickly taken. As we were walking to our table the floors were sticky.Our cook came out & made jokes & talked to us not a problem. Since we went so late I just ordered hibachi chicken rice, & a half order (four) of california rolls. As much as I've heard about benihana I was expecting the food to be taste like mana from heaven. Unfortunately it was just average. The thing turned me off the most about benihana's. My bill was $11.62 I gave the waitress $22.02 (I'm sure I gave her that because while waiting I realized I didn't have my bank card, & I had a twenty dollar bill, & some single ones) she took everyone's money to the back to run the credit cards & get change, not a problem. She came back & didn't have my change. I made mention to her of this, she gave everyone their change/cards & went back for mine. When she returned she told me that I owed her .60 because I only gave her $10.02 I advised her of the amount that I gave her, & she again told me I only gave her $10.02. After going back and forth a few times I asked that she get her manager. I was talking to a friend about the problem with my bill, the waitress then chimed in again & attempted to go back & forth with me. I again requested that she get her manager. She went to the back & came out & said her manager was in a meeting but he told her to give me my change. The waitress was too argumentative. Once I requested the manager that should have been it. Needless to say I was far from impressed with my benihanas experience Would I pay to go to Benihana's again possibly, but it would definitely be at lunch time. I'd be upset if I spent money on dinner & had a second horrible experience.
(2)
Amanda B.
I love this place! My family and I used to celebrate my birthday here every year because of the wide variety of food choices and for the entertainment aspect of the meal. Service is fast at this location and the food is always flavorful and tasty. Warning: you get a LOT of food here! Their onion soup is one of my favorites and I also enjoy their chicken fried rice. *You will smell like Benihana for the next day or so, but the tasty food makes up for it in my opinion!
(4)
Carey D.
Benihana is tasty, but I don't really think it's all that better than any other Japanese steakhouse. I haven't been back since they did their desperately-needed remodeling, and I'd like to go check it out now. The fried rice, shrimp and filet mignon are all tasty... a little on the pricey side for dinner here, but like any other Japanese steakhouse, you're paying for the show too. My main complaint about Benihana (and any other Japanese steakhouse) is that you leave there with more than a doggy bag- the scent of all that yummy food won't leave your clothes or hair until you've showered at least three times! When I used to work in an office building just north of Benihana, we went a time or two for lunch but were nauseated the rest of the afternoon from the stench!
(3)
Alyssa D.
The food is not as good as other Hibachi places I go to, but you go to Benihana for the show. We were really disappointed. It seemed like all the chefs were Mexican, so that was strange. He didn't do any of this tricks properly. The waiters were really great though. The Philly roll was really good and I like that you can order a half order.
(2)
Kelly K.
It's extremely unfortunate that my first (and LAST) trip in Benihana resulted in our party leaving---40 minutes after we arrived ON TIME for our 7:30 p.m. reservation. We were told they were waiting for a table to open up. Um, what is the point of a reservation if the table is not ready upon our arrival? Just before we decided to leave, we were told there were still two tables waiting to be seated ahead of us. However, people arriving after us were seated before us. Despite the nearly all-positive reviews I've seen for this place, I will NEVER go back. Talk about no customer service or any attempt to appease our 40-minute wait. We ended up going to a newly opened Japanese restaurant just down 82nd Street that was amazing, Taki. We WILL be going back to Taki.
(1)
Jon S.
A solid restaurant. It is overpriced as a chain. Every hibachi grill I have gone to has a fun, relaxing, and enjoyable atmosphere and it is the same at Benihana's. I'm just not sure this is on par with others around town. Good restaurant not great value.
(3)
Kay O.
Had the sushi. Waited a while because they suddenly had other orders pile up before ours. Sushi was fine, nothing amazing, I've had better. It's good to head to the sushi bar because the hibachi section is ALWAYS busy.
(3)
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
Address :8830 Keystone Crossing
Indianapolis, IN, 46240
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Sean S.
The restaurant had a fun atmosphere the food and people were awesome!!
(5)Chrissy C.
We love birthdays here! If you sign up for their club you get a free dinner when you buy one worth $30! It's only good Monday-Thursday and you need to make a reservation. Usually it's packed, but I was surprised to see it wasn't as busy as it normally is. You can also sit in the bar if you want your food faster, but we like the show. Our chef was really funny. They do the same jokes, but I think they always put their own little spin on it even though they have done it hundreds of times. We have always had stellar service here. They keep our drinks full without even asking. They did run out of the red hibiscus tea, but we just switched to a different drink. I got the teriyaki chicken, but should just gotten the regular grilled chicken. I like dipping in the sauces and the teriyaki made it already flavored. They do up charge for the fried rice so this time I just got regular white rice. I love my meal came with a shrimp appetizer and soup and salad. I love the ginger dressing! We also got hot tea and my husband's came with ice cream. Plus they always sing and take a photo. I actually like having the memento to take home. The singing can be cheesey, but everyone at the table usually gets into it and that makes it fun. The coupon comes the first of the month so make sure to watch your email for it. You have to show ID.
(5)Ron R.
It has been YEARS since I've been to a Benihana (like 10 probably) . I came here for a work function and we took over a full table which was fun since we had our own private cook basically. I've been to Hibachi style places during the last 10 years, but not a Benihana and I was very unimpressed with our cook. I'm used to seeing onion volcanos, shrimp flips, egg flips, spatula tricks and all kinds of fun stuff but we got none of that. Half the reason you come here is for the table side entertainment and we really didn't get that. I think we amused ourselves more than he did. The food was ok, nothing to write home about. I would say it was an average experience food wise to a Hibachi place. The fried rice was probably the best part and that's because he added like 3 tablespoons of garlic butter to it. If I'm in the mood for Hibachi, I think I'd rather go to Tomo, or Kazan.
(2)Rachael J.
So I went on a Monday night at 6:30PM and it was extremely packed, which I thought was kind of weird? I only went because my friend had $30 off a meal, so we had to buy two entrees essentially for the total value of $60 and we would only pay $30. The food was a-okay. We got a vegetable roll, a salmon skin roll and a dragon roll, as well as the steak and chicken with chicken fried rice (which cost an extra $4 and was way too small). Their veggie options are actually terrible. It was literally a salad wrapped in rice, gross. If you're a vegetarian I wouldn't recommend going here. The waitress we had was terrible. In our section alone within 20 minutes, two families left without eating/paying because she messed their order up so bad. Being a college student, we weren't really pushy with time or service because when would be there otherwise if it weren't for that coupon? Anyway, a different waiter came up and was fixing everyone's order and he was super nice and didn't even charge us extra for the ice cream we got! The food is okay, and the service was terrible, and I'm hoping that was just a one time thing, but guessing from the other reviews on here, maybe it wasn't.
(3)Rick G.
I like the food. I like the atmosphere. I like the show. I like the servers, and the chefs. Sadly, we had perhaps the worst hostess I've ever seen in my life. Smacking and popping her gum while talking to customers, talking on her cell, and carrying on with friends while folks were waiting to be taken care of. Overall, not a very good experience at all.
(2)Suzanne W.
I mean. The food is always delicious in my opinion. Actually, the veggies. I could eat them all day every day with whatever that dipping sauce concoction is. But lets be real. You have to be in the mood for that kind of atmosphere. It's a bit over the top and obnoxious to anyone not part of a group or dragging along 3-5 kids. The birthday celebrations and goofy jokes from the "chefs" can give you a headache for days. That said...it's a pastime I remember fondly as a child so every now and again...I'll probably show my face, just for the memories.
(3)Bethany S.
My mom and I had wanted to check out Benihana, so we made a reservation for a Friday evening. (We had tried going a couple weeks before on a Saturday, but discovered it is reservation-only; I'm not counting this against them.) She was on time, and I was exactly 6 minutes late - she was told they would not seat anyone until the whole party was there. Fine. But then we had to wait another 20 minutes once I arrived... Okay, that's annoying when you have a reservation. We were finally led to our teppanyaki grill table with a group of other people. Then got to wait a few more minutes for menus, place settings, etc. I scoured the menu to find the only vegetarian-friendly item: the Garden Delight. Fine, I'm used to only having one option, I'll go with it. The whole process seemed to take forever, but the chef was pretty entertaining while he was chopping and cooking the shrimp and vegetables for most of the table. The grilled asparagus, onions, and tofu were delicious and I enjoyed the meal for a solid 15 minutes. Then came the main dish, which is when I discovered that 8 different types of vegetables were steaming in a dish that whole time he was cooking, for my "Garden Delight". As I told my mom while I was attempting to eat these, they are exactly the reason so many people don't like vegetables - they were a great example of how NOT to cook them. Very oversteamed, limp, grainy and mushy, with no flavor whatsoever, and they didn't go with any of the sauces that were supposed to be for meat. I had the chef put some salt on them, but that barely helped. I could only try a bite of each before completely giving up, leaving most of it untouched. (By the way, the waitress who took my plate away noticed this full plate and said nothing - sometimes they can still save it at that point by giving a discount or free food, which I've had happen before) I was still pretty hungry, so I got chocolate ice cream, because all they had was plain chocolate, vanilla, or raspberry. So at least I wasn't starving when I left. My mom did enjoy her salmon, as well, so all was not lost. I can imagine why you'd want to bring kids here, but please, restaurants, don't put something on your menu that is so terrible, even if you feel like you should appease vegetarians. I'd rather not waste my time and money. If you love seafood and don't mind loud environments, indifferent service, or having to wait a lot, you may very well enjoy Benihana.
(2)Adrian K.
Behinana is worth all the chatter I've been hearing. Benihana is an elegant and entertaining Japanese spot. I enjoyed every minute. I love how they cook right in front of you. Everything was exciting from the utensil juggling to the interaction between the chefs and attendees. Oh and don't get me started on the scrumptious food.
(5)Thu N.
The best thing you can do is sign-up for the birthday coupon! Be a part of the club because they e-mail you a $30 gift certificate to use the month of your birthday! An average person will spend about $40-$50 dollars there. My favorite is the shrimp appetizer they have on the grill. It is sauteed with butter and lemon and is very good. The food is always yummy. Most of the meals come with soup, salad, tea, ice cream, shrimp appetizer, rice, and 3 dipping sauces. They start at $19 for just chicken. The "shrimp" sauce is very delightful and I put it on everything. They usually have to refill my sauce bowl 2-3 times throughout dinner. You can change the rice out for chicken fried rice which is $3 more but very good too, made fresh in front of you along with everyone's dinner. I've tried the sushi, chicken, shrimp, scallops, lobster, and nothing has ever disappointed. It is just rather expensive for a casual meal. For special events, they take a picture that they print out and give to you right away before you leave. If you don't want the table side cooking then there is a bar area where you can sit and order just sushi or pre-made food also. The chefs are asian, latino, caucasian....but most that we have are very quiet and I can always barely hear what they are saying or asking. Most of the jokes and tricks are the same from one teppanyaki style Japanese cooking place to another. They make the volcano with the onions and smoke comes out....they have the egg "roll", they flip the shrimp tails into their hat...make the fried rice into a beating heart, etc...amusing the first time but ya kind of know what to expect the next few times. Currently they are running a chicken and shrimp special with the soup, salad, ice cream, rice, tea, and shrimp appetizer for $36 for both people. If only 1 person wants that special the price is $23 per person. Supposedly every month the special will change.
(4)Christine B.
We went here for NYE with friends and had a great time. Overall, I think it's a good deal for what you pay for. Most entrees for the hibachi come with a shrimp appetizer, soup, salad, entree, and ice cream dessert. The portions are a good size. For my husband and I, it was abotu $60 for the two of us ordering entrees with steak and one adult beverage. I think it's reasonably priced since you get some entertainment too. The place was packed for NYE and booked up way in advance. The food was good, tasted fresh, and I absolutely love the shrimp sauce. Also, the plum wine is very good too. Overall everyone had a great time. My only criticism is that the bartender in the actual bar area wasn't very attentive or friendly and I think the place needs to rework their exhaust systems to work better. While most of the people at the table avoided the steam and smoke rising up from the habachi, my husband and I were pounded with smoke and steam for most of the meal and smelled like stirfry all night. Other than that, its a great place to go for groups, holidays, and special occassions. I'm a fan! I did see a lot of people wearing jeans. It's just a personal pet peeve of mine, if you can afford to spend about $25 per person on dinner, you can afford to dress nice, at least on NYE. Everyone in my party dressed up, but it's not required. It is very pretty on the inside though.
(5)Robert C.
We took the kids out to here. You have to have a reservation or else you will wait forever. We ordered sushi. This sushi was good. My kids ate it as well. I ordered Calamari steak, shrimp, and Scallops Hibachi. The Calamari steak was unbelievable. We also ordered Salmon with Avocado Tarter sauce. This was good as well. Kids really enjoyed their food and the entertainment. Only bad thing is that they do nickel and dime you for everything. I have been to other Hibachi's and the fried rice comes with the meal whereas here it is $3 extra
(5)Paul W.
I've been going here for 17 years and I have to say it is my favorite place to eat when I'm in Indy.
(5)Anna Z.
I have been to a few hibachi restaurants in the Indianapolis area (TOMO and izakaya) but never had been to Benihana. Tonight I got to try it for a friends birthday. The menu had so many different hibachi entrees. I was used to just seeing teriyaki chicken/steak/shrimp/veggie. I'm not saying that's a negative but it just seemed to be a more complicated menu. I got the steamed veggie which came with rice, tofu appetizer, salad, and soup. The veggies were really bland. I guess I should have realized they would be since it said "steamed veggies". But they weren't seasoned or anything. Everything else was very flavorful and delicious. I just wouldn't recommend the veggies, even if you are on a budget. Oh, and if you want to upgrade to fried rice instead of white, it's an extra 3.50. Ugh, boooo. I'm going back to TOMO Or Izakaya. Oh! Something I did like though - a lady came and took a group photo of us and then came back 5 minutes later. She had printed it and framed it in a Benihana frame. I thought that was pretty cute and great for a birthday keepsake.
(3)Beau A.
Really wish u could give a 2.5 star..I dont know how I feel about this place... WAY WAY TO LOUD. Food was editable, but kinda pricey for banging a salt n pepper shaker around and yes he made an i love u outta rice, but not much talent is needed for that. Fried rice, good. The zucchini n onions for my "seared vegetables" , ick, really, zucchini n onions, thats not a course. Dont forget The bag salad w ginger dressing, for 2 people to spend 120 buck, that included 1 sake each. Way over priced for cheap food. I guess u go for ur birthday, bc its free. Since its group dining, its a toss up for the people your forced to eat with. Cross ur fingers, it makes all the difference.
(3)Nicki M.
We went to Benihana for my boyfriend and I's anniversary. I was so disappointed. The waiters and chef were so rude! I told them I was vegetarian and my waitress acted like I was the weirdest person she's ever met. I asked for her to tell the chef I do not eat eggs in my fried rice either and the chef put chicken in it... They made me a second batch but with eggs. At this point I said nevermind I don't want any fried rice. The chef gave dirty looks and seemed bored. Food was decent but I'm never coming back. Too expensive for the rude service, nearly ruined our anniversary
(2)Gyamfua G.
When it comes to Japanese restaurants this use to be THE PLACE....now..its OK.. Not the best. The chef was slow and the vegetables were cold by the time the meat and rice was done cooking. The vegetable plate was mediocre.. With a small array of vegetables. Not my first choice for hibachi...
(3)Holly G.
Benihana is always a good choice for "dinner and a show". It is one of my favorite "go to" restaurants for a special occasion, simply because the quality of the food is consistently outstanding. Yes, it is expensive - but Benihana is not a place you go every single day. it's a great place to share a celebration with family and friends.
(4)Jennifer V.
I love Benihana. I love fried rice, I love the steaming onion train, and I love chef theatrics. No, this is not authentic Japanese cuisine. If that's what you're after you are in the wrong spot. It's a dinner show and it's fun. This location is always clean and the staff is friendly.
(5)Gern B.
I can't complain about the food... It's generally very good. The draft beer selection is surprisingly bad. My big complaint is the hidden up charge on the fried rice. When we each ordered the server would write down our entrée and then say "chicken fried rice?" almost like you either got steamed rice or the option she presented. She never said anything about it being an extra $4 so our family of 6 had an extra $24 charge. It was good... But please tell me when you are up charging.
(3)Linda M.
I went there to celebrate my birthday. If you sign up for their birthday club, you get $30 an entrée with the purchase of another entrée. So I got their Rocky's Choice (steak & lemon chicken) and their teriyaki chicken (bigger with this entrée). Both entrees came with salad (and the Asian ginger dressing and tomatoes -- dislikes) with carrots, etc., the mushroom and green onion soup (yummy), the onions and zucchini, (I gave away both shrimp appetizers to my male neighbors/strangers), and delicious rainbow sherbet. The frozen strawberry lemonade drink was refreshing. I got white rice and green tea for one entrée (I think the cook forgot it). However the cook was great with the entertainment -- heartbeat, eggroll. I like the way they squeeze lemon slices. Friendly staff throughout my visit. Not perfect but an excellent way to celebrate a birthday! I won't give away the birthday cheers.
(4)Stefan M.
Going to Benihana used to compare to the likes of Christmas or New Years for me...Now I just feel like it is the adut equivalent of Chuck E Cheese. I only seem to go here on Birthdays. Somone ALWAYS orders the souvenir glass. There is a show (its just not animatronic). We recently went with a party of eight to celebrate two birthdays (natch) one of which was for a twelve year old (hes the one who picked the place...nuf said!) Pros Great staff that was very midful of our needs. Great Fried Rice Got us in and out ery quickly Cons We were close to another hibachi table that was full and I honestly felt that they were getting a better show! Better jokes, better food tricks, better onion volcano!! WTF?!?! If I am going to take part in this I want my crappy entertainment to be of the hightest caliber. The remainder of the food was forgetable except for the fried rice. I had some spicy chicken noodle thing that was too spicy just for the sakeof heat, not flavor. I didnt finish. ...and I cannot even remeber if we had dessert?
(2)Julie W.
If you wonder how Benihana is still so popular, try it out. It is not exceptional food, but everything was well prepared. I had the teriaki chicken, and it came with a good onion soup, salad, rice and vegetables. The food is prepared right in front of you, so it doesn't sit under some heat lamps. The chefs are very entertaining. The place was packed on a Thursday night, for a good reason. A fun place, with good food, great service - well worth the money.
(3)David S.
Probably would have been 3 stars except our server kept forgetting things and didn't refill drinks. The teppan chef was very good and it is definitely an eating experience. Food portions are a bit small. We were still a bit hungry after finishing dinner especially concurring the price. Overall it was a neat experience but next time we hope to get better service.
(2)Roger S.
This location has certainly gone downhill since my previous visits. It used to be the place we most looked forward to going when we were in Indianapolis. On our most recent visit, the chef was so boring. We expected an exciting show, but the humor and tricks we were used to were absent. The meats and fried rice were excellent as always, but the vegetables were overcooked and the chef used too much sauce. Considering the experience of watching the chef was so boring, I would not consider the meal to be a good value. In my personal opinion, Benihana Indianapolis used to be the elite restaurant on its class, but the chefs they have now have critically destroyed their previously stellar reputation.
(2)Stephana B.
We love Benihana's Restaurant. The experience the chefs create is entertaining, the food is amazing, and it's fun to meet new people who are seated together at the same table. I would love to give five stars, but unfortunately at our last couple of visits the cleanliness of the restaurant was disappointing, especially the restrooms.
(4)Beth W.
Friendly staff and atmosphere is extremely relaxed... Enjoy watching the food be cooked in front of us... Food was excellent
(4)Melissa T.
First time ever visiting Benihana tonight. We had a large party so we couldn't sit at the grill which was a bummer but understandable. Very nice restaurant. I loved the California rolls. However the rest was mediocre at best. Very expensive for mediocre. Our server was nice and polite but was very slow. I would try it again. I wouldn't recommend for large parties. We had 15 people in our party which I am assuming why the service was slow.
(3)Honest C.
I am a seasonal customer here at Benihana's in Castleton. My family and I visit here for everyone's birthday. Today I stopped by to check out the lunch menu. My food was excellent as always but the service was poor. I sat for roughly 20 minutes with an empty beverage. My food was prepared and served to an empty glass. I wanted wine with my shrimp. My waitress brought me the wine towards my last few bites of lunch. The wine, was fine. However the glass, was covered in lint or dust! I was appalled because I did not inspect the rim of my glass until about half way through my white wine. Again... The food was great. But the service today was way below par....
(3)J L.
One of my favorite places to eat for years now. Food is always good and top quality. My only complaint is that the service has gone down slightly over the years. Sadly, not much hasn't in this town.
(5)Anita W.
1st time to Benihana. Went for a work function. Food was good, not great. Cook was entertaining. Was with a large group that had enough people to fill seats around one grill but no enough to fill two tables. We were split into two parties which made us feel like were not one group because one group was served and finished before the other was completely served.
(3)T W.
Made a reservation for 8pm in order to catch a movie next door at 10. Were not seated until 8:45 and were the only people left waiting for a table. Front staff seemed in great distress and disorganized. Were not entirely helpful in communicating that things were running behind or what the issue was. We finally approached to see what might be the issues and were told we were welcome to sit in the lounge? I make reservations to sit at the hibachi... Not lounge. Unfortunately this is not the first time the front of Benihana has given me this impression. I'm not sure if it isn't properly managed or what might be going on there. Food is good which is why it's unfortunate I'm now left feeling this way. I'm from Atlanta originally and that location in my opinion is far superior and fits the Benihana brand more accurately. Has more of an upscale vibe and is definitely ranking higher in cleanliness and professionalism. Corporate should probably pay a visit to check on things and get it back up to brand. I would like to point out that the ratings speak for themselves.
(2)Sarah F.
I came here with a group with fairly low expectations based on previous visits to a different location and they were pretty much met. To be fair, I'm just not the type of person who enjoys the whole hibachi grill experience (too gimmicky for my taste and I prefer not to actually see the huge amount of butter that goes into every preparation). I decided the best approach would just be to order sushi, which was actually pretty good. Nothing particularly memorable about it, but seemingly fresh and well-executed. I also got the vegetable tempura, which I intended to have as a starter (since it was listed under appetizers), but didn't get brought out until just after my sushi was delivered. The tempura batter was fully awful--heavy and greasy and honestly inedible. Our hibachi chef was good, but his "performance" seemed very mechanical and perfunctory with no real enjoyment or personal connection with the diners (not that I can blame him too much, but it just makes for a rather uncomfortable experience).
(2)Justin K.
My wife, kids and I went to Benihana yesterday for lunch. I have been to Benihana 100s of times and in multiple locations. This was the worst experience we have ever had. We were told that we would be sat with another party of 5 in a few minutes. After sitting around for 15 minutes they took the party back and seated them but said nothing to us. Three people walked in with no reservation and they seated them at the table with the group we where told we would be seated with. I believe it was totally race driven. Finally we get seated and the table was super dirty. I took a picture because I was surprised how dirty it was. The service was terrible. The waitress messed our order up. The food and cook was amazing as always.
(1)David I.
I've been here before but this time wasn't so great. Slow and confused service, and the table wasn't cleared away the entire time we were there. Just sloppy compared with previous visits. I'll go back, maybe it was a new waitress.
(3)Lulu I.
I've been to Benihana so many times but the last few times I've experienced the worst service ever! Servers were rude and inattentive. I think they got too comfortable knowing that they have a big clientele base! My advise.. Don't get too comfortable!
(2)Marcie M.
I went here for lunch sushi with a client and while it was OK, I have definitely had better. The lunch special was a bit too much for me and there were too many fried items on my plate. It sounded like it would be more sushi, but it was a mix of a bunch of different items that didn't quite go together. The chicken was bland, and the sushi was not that fresh. I was disappointed. It was also a lot more expensive than other sushi lunch specials I've had lately. Our server was nice but not around much and for some reason, it was FREEZING inside the building. I think it definitely needs a facelift and a bit more trendiness. It's falling behind a lot of other restaurants in the area especially with the new renovation of the Keystone Mall. Time for an update Beni, as I won't be back until you do!
(2)Susie D.
Birthday celebration with the $30 coupon was nice. Food tasted great. Filet was very tender as it should be. Chef was just ok, could have done a better show. Service was good. I really despise paying $3.50 EXTRA for fried rice. I mean come on when you pay $33.25 dinner it should be included. Children's menu very expensive and you also pay extra for fried rice on their menu. $13.50 for kids steak and shrimp...plus $3.25 for fried rice. Way overpriced. Plus the kids used to get soup and salad, now they get only choice of one or the other. If it wasn't for the $30 birthday coupon, we probably wouldn't go. Tomo on North Keystone near Walmart includes fried rice in their dinner price.
(3)The Yelp-inator W.
You know what this is. It's fun, it is yummy, it is entertaining you get too much delicious food They do a great job here....
(5)Eric F.
I had not been here for 20 plus years . We had a great experience with the service and food. We will return in the future.
(4)Melanie J.
Went to Benihana for the first time on Tuesday and enjoyed the experience. I went for my birthday and they make a big "to-do" for your birthday especially if you sign up for the Chef's Table. Will definately be going back.
(4)Thomas C.
With so many hibachi restaurants around anymore I would of thought Benihana would of still been the go to place. I was wrong took a friend there for her birthday seems like that's all this place is good for anymore. The food is just ok not great not something you'd crave just ok . Now most of these place are not super cheap but they are not crazy pricey either. Benihana is overpriced for the low quality you get. No real flavor you have to use the sauces they give to get any flavor. Don't waste a bill on subpar hibachi.
(2)Ryan R.
Great food clean. Had the chef table coupon can't beat that. Sat at a full table great neighbors. Everyone there was for a special event and were happy to be there. The food quality was too notch. And service was great
(5)Kaleb B.
Very mediocre.. The food was good but not made as I asked, service was terrible and slow. Then when we complained to the manager the compensation was down right insulting. He only made it right once we had to argue with him. I can say I won't be back. Save your money and go some where better.
(2)Scott M.
OVER-PRICED, OVER-RATED This Benihana has seen better days. From the restaurant decor to the ingredients, you'll find they are cutting corners that other Japanese restaurants in the area are not. We would suggest Volcano just west of Allisonville Road at 116th Street. If you are limited by transportation or time Benihana is okay, but Volcano offers a better menu... better prices.
(2)Tiffany C.
Worst visit ever, poor service, the manager even walked through as a couple was asked to leave the bar area because they were understaffed. The one time the waiter came over was to slam a beer on the table. When we left the clueless manager actually asked how our meal was . I looked at him amazed as he knew the lounge area was a mess and sat up there with two other hostesses. We will not be back nor recommend it to anyone unless they want to be treated poorly and ignored after spending over 120 dollars for 2 people
(1)Rob P.
Great experience for a first timer. The food was good and it was fun watching the chef cook everything right in front of you(also performing small tricks every now and then like the onion volcano irruption) but it was torturous to watch him take his time while you're sitting there starving for the food to be served asap. They served a nice soup and the service was definitely great. Its a nice place when you want to vary from the usual eat outs and also the ambiance is pretty good for any occasion.
(4)Aubrey A.
My first and only time to Benihana was for a friend's birthday dinner. There were about 11 of us in our group. They wanted to sit all of us on one side of a grill, which would have been almost impossible. After some persuasion, they allowed our group to sit at two grills that were facing each other. One problem, they only cooked on one grill at a time. So while the side that I was at was getting our meal prepared and we started eating, the other side was sitting there salivating as they watched us eat. The service was not that great, but I'm not a high maintenance diner, so it was fine for me. Other than that, I got the Hibachi Tuna Steak and it was literally the best thing I've ever put in my mouth. I usually eat very little, and even with the salad, soup, veggies and shrimp that come with the meal, I ate every single last bite. I washed it all down with a ginormous Saporro, and although I was almost uncomfortably full, I was as happy as a clam. Like I said before, this was the only time I've been here because after an appetizer, a meal for both my boyfriend and I, a beer for myself, and a beer for our friend, we spent over $100 after tipping our server. I will definitely be back, but only for special occasions. Unless I win the lottery, then I will eat the tuna steak for every meal until I die.
(3)Belinda A.
We had a large party for my birthday celebration. I was little nervous at first but it might be too cramped... but it really wasn't as they gave us two tables which faced each other and wasn't awkward. I was also a little bit nervous that the cooks for each table would not be synced enough so one table would have to wait on the other to get their food. However that was not the case at all. I was pleasantly surprised by how orchestrated the chefs and the waitstaff were. I also really enjoyed the fact that the entrées came with a soup and a salad as well as ice cream and hot tea as part of the menu. The chefs did a great job entertaining the children. I ordered the shrimp and scallop hibachi. I thoroughly enjoyed every bite of my meal which was very filling. I actually still had enough for leftovers too which was great. My children were very happy and actually ate all of their food which I was also impressed with so it must've been pretty good! Another nice touch was a family photo that they did for us and they even printed off a copy and gave us a pass code for a free online copy of it as well.... great ending to a nice family dinner. Make sure to make a reservation though as it's not a huge space and the tables seem to fill up really fast. They have a birthday special if you sign up online to get a $30 birthday coupon so it really fills up during the week.
(4)Nick H.
What can I write? Whether it's a party of two or a party of 6, it's always a nice time at Benihana's. The cocktails are tasty, the Sapporos are big, and the food is delicious. As a non-alcoholic option, I recommend the Ramuné sodas (strawberry flavor is awesome!) My dish was surf and turf with a perfectly cooked lobster tail and steak. Don't forget to mix and match the sauces! They provide a flavor punch to anything they touch, even the rice. For dessert, one can never (I repeat, never) go wrong with green tea ice cream. If a smile doesn't cross your face after the first taste, I question your terrestrial origins. My only issue was that I wanted more, and the price was a bit high.
(3)Erin L.
Pretty stellar dinner at Benihana but not without a few issues. My friends and I got the Habachi chicken ($17). It really didn't have a lot of flavor to it. I had to dip mine in some of the sauces to add some flavor. Personally, I think charging an extra $3 for fried rice is a bit excessive so I just had regular rice. Patricia K. got a kiwi drink that was delicious. It was clearly made with fresh kiwi since it had the seeds and some pulp in it. Amazing! My friends and I also split the spicy tuna rolls with cucumber, tuna and spicy sauce. They were delicious and $6.50 for 8 small rolls. We had an admittedly obnoxious group of girls at our table. They had to special order everything and they were pretty stuck up to our servers. Well at the end of dinner, they left a little early so naturally my girlfriends and I proceeded to talk about them. Well, as our server was cleaning up she joined in on our little bash. I know she was probably just venting but it was pretty unprofessional for her to rip on another customer to us no matter how obnoxious they were.
(3)Stacy J.
Had a pretty great time with my whole family as we celebrated my brothers birthday! Made reservations and were seated pretty quickly. Waitress seemed a little distracted a few times which lead to a wrong dinner being ordered which was an ok substitution, but ended up costing about $7 more AND didn't get end of dinner tea! But she somewhat made it ok by getting us all (even though it came with some meals) complimentary ice cream. Each of our dinners were pretty good. Tuna special was REally good and cooked just right. The Ocean Treasure was great due to I was craving it... but other than that, it was just lobster, shrimp, and scallops... not all that special. A taste of the Teriyaki steak was good but glad it wasn't my meal because that flavor could become too much too quick! Taste of the Hibachi steak = New York strip AND the 'other' dinner which had filet mignon with shrimp was good, just nothing extraordinary. The soup was good, the salad was good though it could have used a little less of the ginger dressing. Like the fried rice a lot! Very tasty! And the sides/appetizers of shrimp, zucchini, and onions was also pretty good! Also had the spider roll (sushi) which was really tasty, but should have been a little longer - couple more pieces. But above all, what you are going for is the show! And as always, it is always fun!! Our chef had only been there a couple weeks, so his talent may not have been as refined as others... but is also wasn't as rehearsed as others! Had fun with him and enjoyed the show! Overall it is a great place for an occasion... also fun place to take the kids!
(3)Kylee W.
Some people seem to have a superiority complex over Benihana as a chain of hibachi grill restaurants with a history. Well screw em. This place is fun as hell. Sure they have the same schtick every time, that's part of the fun. It's interesting to watch them cook and chop, and the food is pretty good. It's a fun date night every once in a while (or maybe a couple of times a year when you get your $30 birthday voucher!) Never had any problems with the service or food at this location. Always awesome.
(4)Edward J.
The Hibachi Tuna Steak at Benihanas costs $22, but man, does it taste great! Medium rare and delicious, with a sauce made with tomato, avocado, edamame and garlic butter in a balsamic reduction and topped with fried onions. It's a fantastic mix of flavors that doesn't overwhelm the tuna and I was glad I went, even though I'm sick of the show and too low on funds to spend $22 + tax and tip.
(4)Daniel R.
Great staff. Quality food. The lunch boat is a great value.
(4)Chef Carolina C.
Great hibachi experience, very creative and entertaining hibachi cook and the food was all I expected it to be, great ambiance, a bit noisy but was totally expected for a room with several other hibachi tables and considering the fact that the place was packed full we still had a very peaceful meal. Very friendly and good service. Definitely recommend their Monthly Special Menu.
(4)Chris S.
Waited 35-40 minutes after our reservation to get seated. Food was just okay, nothing special no seasoning. Won't be going back anytime soon.
(2)Denise L.
OVERRATED! I went with a group of seventeen for a friends birthday. Unfortunately there was a person who was forty five minutes late that was in our group, & we had to wait to be seated because the cook only comes out once. Not benihana's fault at all. Just thought if you went with a large group you may want to know that. As we waited in the waiting area at one point I got up to move, & my flip flop stuck to the floor as I walked away. They had pictures hung of celebrities like John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Muhammad Ali at what I assume was other benihana's. As we were waiting, I looked into the dining room there was rice at empty tables; as if the staff was not sweeping the floor after the parties left the table. We were seated once the final person got there, & our orders were quickly taken. As we were walking to our table the floors were sticky.Our cook came out & made jokes & talked to us not a problem. Since we went so late I just ordered hibachi chicken rice, & a half order (four) of california rolls. As much as I've heard about benihana I was expecting the food to be taste like mana from heaven. Unfortunately it was just average. The thing turned me off the most about benihana's. My bill was $11.62 I gave the waitress $22.02 (I'm sure I gave her that because while waiting I realized I didn't have my bank card, & I had a twenty dollar bill, & some single ones) she took everyone's money to the back to run the credit cards & get change, not a problem. She came back & didn't have my change. I made mention to her of this, she gave everyone their change/cards & went back for mine. When she returned she told me that I owed her .60 because I only gave her $10.02 I advised her of the amount that I gave her, & she again told me I only gave her $10.02. After going back and forth a few times I asked that she get her manager. I was talking to a friend about the problem with my bill, the waitress then chimed in again & attempted to go back & forth with me. I again requested that she get her manager. She went to the back & came out & said her manager was in a meeting but he told her to give me my change. The waitress was too argumentative. Once I requested the manager that should have been it. Needless to say I was far from impressed with my benihanas experience Would I pay to go to Benihana's again possibly, but it would definitely be at lunch time. I'd be upset if I spent money on dinner & had a second horrible experience.
(2)Amanda B.
I love this place! My family and I used to celebrate my birthday here every year because of the wide variety of food choices and for the entertainment aspect of the meal. Service is fast at this location and the food is always flavorful and tasty. Warning: you get a LOT of food here! Their onion soup is one of my favorites and I also enjoy their chicken fried rice. *You will smell like Benihana for the next day or so, but the tasty food makes up for it in my opinion!
(4)Carey D.
Benihana is tasty, but I don't really think it's all that better than any other Japanese steakhouse. I haven't been back since they did their desperately-needed remodeling, and I'd like to go check it out now. The fried rice, shrimp and filet mignon are all tasty... a little on the pricey side for dinner here, but like any other Japanese steakhouse, you're paying for the show too. My main complaint about Benihana (and any other Japanese steakhouse) is that you leave there with more than a doggy bag- the scent of all that yummy food won't leave your clothes or hair until you've showered at least three times! When I used to work in an office building just north of Benihana, we went a time or two for lunch but were nauseated the rest of the afternoon from the stench!
(3)Alyssa D.
The food is not as good as other Hibachi places I go to, but you go to Benihana for the show. We were really disappointed. It seemed like all the chefs were Mexican, so that was strange. He didn't do any of this tricks properly. The waiters were really great though. The Philly roll was really good and I like that you can order a half order.
(2)Kelly K.
It's extremely unfortunate that my first (and LAST) trip in Benihana resulted in our party leaving---40 minutes after we arrived ON TIME for our 7:30 p.m. reservation. We were told they were waiting for a table to open up. Um, what is the point of a reservation if the table is not ready upon our arrival? Just before we decided to leave, we were told there were still two tables waiting to be seated ahead of us. However, people arriving after us were seated before us. Despite the nearly all-positive reviews I've seen for this place, I will NEVER go back. Talk about no customer service or any attempt to appease our 40-minute wait. We ended up going to a newly opened Japanese restaurant just down 82nd Street that was amazing, Taki. We WILL be going back to Taki.
(1)Jon S.
A solid restaurant. It is overpriced as a chain. Every hibachi grill I have gone to has a fun, relaxing, and enjoyable atmosphere and it is the same at Benihana's. I'm just not sure this is on par with others around town. Good restaurant not great value.
(3)Kay O.
Had the sushi. Waited a while because they suddenly had other orders pile up before ours. Sushi was fine, nothing amazing, I've had better. It's good to head to the sushi bar because the hibachi section is ALWAYS busy.
(3)