Who are Benihana?
Benihana is a Japanese steakhouse that provides grilled meats, seafood, and vegetables. ‘Benihana’ means that which is in full bloom. It was named Benihana of Tokyo which has become its own restaurant chain with locations throughout the United States and several other countries. The New York-based Benihana for which the company derives its name opened in 1964 and now they are almost 58 years old.
When Benihana introduced the teppanyaki restaurant concept, it was a huge hit. Teppanyaki is an upscale Japanese steakhouse that features a style of cooking where food is prepared on a grill that is built into the table. This type of restaurant offers a unique dining experience that is perfect for special occasions.
Benihana is famous for its spectacular food, great atmosphere, and their talented chefs. The grill tables serve as an interactive cooking area where the chef will prepare your dish in front of you at your very own table. Before presenting the meal to you, they use special skills to create a show that is unlike any other restaurant experience. It’s not just about food; it’s also entertainment with Benihana!
Benihana is known for its outstanding service and authentic Japanese cuisine, which makes them so popular among guests around the world.
Important Update on COVID-19
In response to COVID-19, Benihana shopping hours can vary, or maybe the spot can be currently closed as a consequence of quarantine limits. Check out the specifics of delivery choices on the local website of Benihana.
Benihana tweaked their shopping hours to permit employees a little extra time to clean as well as resupply goods on racks. Added to that, numerous Benihana locations have recently set up distinct shopping hours for members of the at-chance class.
What time does Benihana open?
| Monday | 11:30 AM – 09:30 PM |
| Tuesday | 11:30 AM – 09:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 11:30 AM – 09:30 PM |
| Thursday | 11:30 AM – 09:30 PM |
| Friday | 11:30 AM – 10:30 PM |
| Saturday | noon – 10:30 PM |
| Sunday | 01:00 PM – 09:00 PM |
Other questions concerning their working hours
Is Benihana open on weekdends? – Yes, they work every day.
What are Benihana’s hours for today? – You can look through our tables and in case you need a certain store – examine the official webpage.
When does Benihana close? – It depends on the day, on Mon-Thu they close at 9.30 pm, on Fri-Sat they close at 10.30 and on Sun they close at 9 pm.
Are they open right now? – You need to look at the table above.
The history of Benihana steakhouse
In 1964 a man with the name Hiroaki Aoki founded the Benihana restaurant. Hiroaki was born in pre-World War II Japan, where he helped his mother make handcrafted jewelry to sell to American soldiers. Later on, after the war Hiroaki immigrated to America and opened up a dry cleaning business which didn’t go well since he had no experience.
He decided that it was time for him to finally try something new and chose to run an establishment that served Japanese cuisine because of his origins. As years passed by, Benihana became very popular thanks to Hiroaki’s idea of teppanyaki-style cooking where chefs prepare dishes tableside on grill grates inside of their cars right in front of you.
In 1968 he opened the first restaurant outside New York City and put in Manhattan.
In 1979, Benihana went public with its initial public offering of 500,000 shares at $16 per share.
Aoki already had 17 restaurants in 1995. It was a great success however, he saw it as an opportunity to reinvent his brand by introducing outside investors. His goal was to double the number of Benihana locations worldwide.
After the founder`s death, the company was bought out in 2012 by the private equity firm of Angelo Gordon & Company.
Benihana currently operates over 70 locations around the world including many places in Asia, Europe, and North America. Today there are more than 5200 employees working for the Benihana restaurant chain which makes it one of the biggest Japan-inspired restaurants.
Benihana Holiday Hours – Close
| DATE | HOLIDAY |
|---|---|
| January 01 | New Year’s Day |
| November 28 | Thanksgiving Day |
| December 25 | Christmas Day |
| December 24 | Christmas Eve |
| December 31 | New Year`s Eve |
Benihana Holiday Hours – Open
| DATE | HOLIDAY |
|---|---|
| January 21 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| February 14 | Valentine’s Day |
| February 18 | President’s Day |
| March 5 | Mardi Gras Fat Tuesday |
| March 17 | St. Patrick’s Day |
| April 19 | Good Friday |
| April 21 | Easter Sunday |
| April 22 | Easter Monday |
| May 5 | Cinco de Mayo |
| May 27 | Memorial Day |
| July 04 | Independence Day |
| June 16 | Father’s Day |
| May 12 | Mother’s Day |
| September 02 | Labor Day |
| October 14 | Columbus Day |
| October 31 | Halloween |
| November 11 | Veterans Day |
| November 29 | Black Friday |
| December 26 | Day after Christmas |
What are Benihana steakhouses locations?
The company has 116 branches, including 82 in the US and 34 abroad. They operate not only in the USA but also in Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia.
Benihana near me
What is Benihana concept?
Benihana teppanyaki restaurants are always an amazing place to dine in. The concept of this restaurant is that you sit around a big table where the Benihana chef cooks your meal right in front of you.
The chefs are entertaining the guests with their skills and jokes while preparing food, which makes the event even more special.
If you visit it for the first time, there are several rules you need to know about – make sure to check them out before visiting Benihana!
During your dinner, there will be many staff members working on the floor, who do everything from cooking food to bringing drinks and dishes right away after they see yours empty. It’s a fast-paced environment indeed!
What is Benihana’s business model?
Benihana has a unique business model which allows them to open new branches quickly in different parts of the world. The company focuses on opening branches in high-traffic areas with lots of foot traffic like airports, malls or entertainment centers. This way they are able to capture a huge amount of customers at once!
When it comes to their service menu – you will not be disappointed because chefs are friendly and the service is outstanding. Restaurant managers are always available for your needs and make sure you have a great dining experience at Benihana!
What are the most popular Benihana dishes?
Their menu is vast and it offers something for everyone’s taste. Among the most popular dishes are Hibachi Sizzling Chicken, Filet Mignon, Yum Yum Shrimp, Miso Butterfish, Lobster Dynamite Roll and many others.
Kabuki Kids
Benihana offers amazing dishes for the little ones. However, they also have their own menu which contains even more options to choose from so your kids can enjoy them as well!
This kids` menu has all the favorite dishes prepared in smaller portions that look just like their big brothers` and sisters`.
There is also a special side-dish menu that your kids can choose from. The portion of these dishes is just enough to satisfy them, but not too much to pack them! Also, they offer Shrimp and Chicken Flick-flacks – kids’ favorites.
Sushi Party Platters
Benihana provides its guests with many ways to enjoy their exquisite cuisine. They can be ordered as appetizers and they always come in a diverse combination of raw fish on rice, seaweed salad, and spicy tuna maki.
You can find in such platters:
Tuna Platter – Tuna, avocado and asparagus roll, tuna sushi and spicy tuna maki.
Salmon & Crab Platter – Salmon, cucumber and asparagus roll, salmon sushi and smoked salmon maki.
Shrimp Tempura Platter – Shrimp tempura roll, shrimp tempura sushi and shrimp shumai.
Spicy Tuna Salad – Spicy tuna mix with seaweed salad over a bed of mixed greens.
Tempura Sushi Combo – Golden shrimp tempura inside a California roll topped with spicy tuna mix on top of gari seasoned seaweed salad.
Signature Party Tray – Assorted hand rolls: California, Tuna or Salmon Roll; Nigiri Sushi: Maguro, Sake or Ebi.
Group dining propositions at Benihana
In case you and your friends or family would like to enjoy a great dining experience, Benihana has prepared various propositions for you.
This restaurant offers their guests an option of having a special dining area where they can sit back and relax. There is no need to worry if the children get loud because nobody will hear them! This room also provides entertainment for everyone – just choose how long you want it to be available.
The food in this type of group dining is the same as in other places, but there are some exceptions such as salads that come with miso soup and ice cream at the end. You can also order Sake bombs and shooters during your dinner here.
Party Time Package – includes:
- Benihana’s Salad
- Choice of Steamed or Fried Rice
- Hibachi Vegetables and Pork
- Hibachi Chicken and Shrimp, Filet Mignon or Scallops
- Ice Cream with your choice of Chocolate, Green Tea, Vanilla Ice Cream.
This is a good variant for groups that want to enjoy Benihana’s cuisine at their own pace without rushing or waiting for the food.
Gluten-Sensitive menu
Benihana always cares about its clients and their dietary restrictions. That’s why they offer a special gluten-sensitive menu that is cooked separately and it doesn’t contain any wheat, flour or other related ingredients. For those who look for the shapes or have some health problems Benihana offers such dishes:
The Sea and Land Bowl: your choice of meat – steak, chicken or shrimp served over rice with vegetables. It comes in a delicious sauce that is gluten-free.
Edamame: steamed soybeans which are beneficial for health, especially when it comes to blood pressure and cholesterol levels. They also contain many vitamins such as K, E, and B6!
What are Specialty\Signature drinks?
Benihana has created various signature drinks which are all worth trying. Among them you can find:
- Hibachi Mango Martini – delicious mango martini made of vodka, mango puree, and two types of orange liqueur shaken with ice and poured into an oversized martini glass with a sugared rim. It is garnished with a slice of candied lemon peel that looks like Japanese chopsticks!
- Strawberry Hana Liquid Nitrogen Martini – This drink is served in an elegant martini glass. The difference between this one and the former drink is that it contains strawberry puree, lychee liquor, gin, Cointreau orange liqueur and half-rimmed sugar crystals instead of the orange slice.
- Yuzu Cosmo – cranberry juice with vodka, yuzu liqueur and a tangy splash of sweet and sour mix (a lemon and lime blend). It is garnished with a fresh raspberry on top. Its lovely pink color makes this drink one of the most sought-after ones!
Happy Hour at Benihana
Every day between 5 PM and 7 PM you can come to Benihana for some discounted food. There are also some offers every night which prove that this restaurant is one of the most popular in America.
When it comes to sushi, many people think Benihana isn’t the best place to enjoy them in, but they actually have rolls that aren’t so pricey in their menu! You can find all sorts of sushi rolls there – spicy tuna roll for $9.95, shrimp tempura roll for $11.95 etc.
Cooks at Benihana always create amazing dishes when performing right in front of guests no matter how hectic the service gets! Considering that cooking outside is rather difficult, everything tastes even better than usual when the cooks perform their tricks right in front of you.
When dining at Benihana, you can drink sake – a Japanese rice wine served cold! This beverage is usually served in either boxed or mid-size bottles.
Gift cards – what are the benefits?
Benihana has its own gift cards that can be purchased online or in restaurants. This is a great chance to surprise your loved ones or business partners with a nice dinner at Benihana!
The benefit of these cards is that they are multi-purpose, unlike regular cash – you can use it for services, merchandise, and food.
Besides the fact that your customers receive 25% off their total purchase on every single tab, Benihana makes sure they have an amazing dining experience by providing them with quality food which is served within 20 minutes. Their Hibachi chefs make sure everyone swings around after dinner by performing mind-blowing tricks right at your table!
So if you want to spend time with friends, family or colleagues while enjoying delicious Japanese food, Benihana is the perfect place to go!
Franchising opportunities at Benihana
You can actually become the owner of your very own Benihana and be part of this big family! The franchise fee for opening a new restaurant is $50,000 plus other fees while you start setting it up.
Aside from that, you also have to pay royalties which are 5% of gross sales and can reach up to 8.5%. There’s another one called advertising fee which costs 3% of monthly gross sales.
Where is the original Benihana?
Benihana is one of the most recognizable names in the restaurant industry. It was first opened by Hiroaki Aoki – an enterprising man from Japan who had been working as a Benihana chef. In 1964 he went to Hawaii where he created his very own restaurant and eventually managed to expand it across North America, Asia, and Europe!
At the present time, there are over 135 restaurants that bear this name – some of them are owned by franchisees while other ones are run by the corporation itself.
Benihana manages its global operations from its headquarters which can be found in New York City. They have a rather large campus outfitted with recreation facilities such as tennis courts, golf courses, baseball fields, etc.
