Benihana environment?

[EmperorIQ]

Hi,

For those of you have has been to Benihana how is it? What type of environment is it and is it worth the money? Is the food good? Do the chefs really cook in front of you? or is it a selected few, and does it cost more?

Thanks!

 

[iamwiz82]

We go there alot. We have only eaten at the restaurant once, though. Usually we go to the sushi bar. The food is good, fairly priced, and the cooks who do it in front of you are a hoot.

 

[Jzero]

Type of environment? Asian/Japanese? Not sure how to answer that. It's fairly casual.
The food is OK. The chefs do cook in front of you, it doesn't cost extra.

I would recommend going to an independent hibachi joint instead of Benihana.

 

[dquan97]

For those of you have has been to Benihana how is it?

> Good experience...would go again.

What type of environment is it and is it worth the money?

> Worth going every now and then.

Is the food good?

> Good food, ate mostly seafood.

Do the chefs really cook in front of you? or is it a selected few, and does it cost more?

> The chef cooked each customer's food separately in front of them. There is no additional cost to have the chef cook in front of you.

 

[EmperorIQ]

hibachi?

when i say environment i mean, are the workers usually upbeat? or are they a downer like most asian restaurants. the lighting, basically, is it a fun experience for first timers?

 

[EvilYoda]

The environment is pretty nice...the one by us has a very elaborate setup on the inside, and the workers are all pretty nice. The chefs barely speak english, but they're still nice (usually). The food is pretty good, but it's just a traditional cooked-where-you-sit kind of thing. It's fun for first-timers, and yes, the lighting is pretty dim.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: EmperorIQ
hibachi?

when i say environment i mean, are the workers usually upbeat? or are they a downer like most asian restaurants. the lighting, basically, is it a fun experience for first timers?

Hibachi is the generic term for that style of cooking. Benihana is a chain hibachi restaurant. It's The Olive Garden to your local Italian place.

But it's always fun. Some chefs are more animated than others, but it's always a good time, especially for first timers.

 

[MustISO]

I've had one bad experience at a Benihana. It can be expensive depending on what you order. I've been to some smaller non-chain places that were better. Definitely a good experience with a group of people. You sit with a group of people so if it's just two of you, you'll be sitting with some strangers.

 

[EmperorIQ]

sweet! thanks everyone for helping me out on my decision for Valentines day! I didn't want something that was peaceful, i wanted to find something that'll be fun for my gf. Thanks all!

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: EmperorIQ
hibachi?

when i say environment i mean, are the workers usually upbeat? or are they a downer like most asian restaurants. the lighting, basically, is it a fun experience for first timers?

hmmm I eat at a lot of asian restaurants I wouldn't say even some are a downer. The staff is pleasant and friendly. I eat at Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese places pretty often.

Benihana is fun, sometimes better than other times. Atmosphere is dark, like many steak houses. Chef is upbeat (supposed to be anyway) and usually the table is cheerful. Dress is casual.

Å

 

[Hammer]

i've never had a bad experience there.

 

[ggavinmoss]

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: EmperorIQ
hibachi?

when i say environment i mean, are the workers usually upbeat? or are they a downer like most asian restaurants. the lighting, basically, is it a fun experience for first timers?

Hibachi is the generic term for that style of cooking. Benihana is a chain hibachi restaurant. It's The Olive Garden to your local Italian place.

But it's always fun. Some chefs are more animated than others, but it's always a good time, especially for first timers.

I thought it was teppan, not hibachi. Hibachi is a small, portable charcol grill. Teppan means "griddle cooked." Although my response is completely based on speculation so I could be way off base.

-geoff

 

[Geekbabe]

It's good and a lot of fun,I've found though that you won't be easily filled up with the food though.

 

[amnesiac]

Originally posted by: ggavinmoss



I thought it was teppan, not hibachi. Hibachi is a small, portable charcol grill. Teppan means "griddle cooked." Although my response is completely based on speculation so I could be way off base.

-geoff

No, you're right.

Hibachi is table-top stove cooking. Teppan is what Benihana brought into the mainstream.

Because my mom is Japanese, I grew up with a lot of Japanese food. Benihana is definitely above-average. They have pretty stringent standards and very even quality throughout their chains. The comments about local teppan places being better is not necessarily accurate. I've been to small teppan restaurants and have had some sub-par food. Also, Benihana is very Americanized so it caters much more to most American palates.

Their sushi is not the best, but definitely not bad.

If you go to Benihana, it is pretty useless to not order something off the teppan grill, as that is the main selling point and the food from the kitchen isn't as good, IMO.

The environment is casual and fun, but also a GREAT date place.

 

[Dragnov]

Originally posted by: EmperorIQ
Hi,

For those of you have has been to Benihana how is it? What type of environment is it and is it worth the money? Is the food good? Do the chefs really cook in front of you? or is it a selected few, and does it cost more?

Thanks!

Benihana is alright.

Environment is casual.

It's not worth the money IMO.

Food is pretty good, not bad but nothing special you know.

Chefs cook in front of you but you go once and you've seen it all.

 

[amnesiac]

Geekbabe, how much do you eat???

Most dinners come with salad, soup, rice, vegetable appetizer, shrimp appetizer, main course, and dessert. I eat a lot and am usually STUFFED at the end.

BTW, make sure to order the fried rice. It's good enough to make you slap your mother.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: ggavinmoss

I thought it was teppan, not hibachi. Hibachi is a small, portable charcol grill. Teppan means "griddle cooked." Although my response is completely based on speculation so I could be way off base.

-geoff

hibachi = brazier. Teppan is closer to what many are, but regardless in the USA you ask for Teppan and you will get a blank stare...you say Hibachi, many will tell you where a benihana's is

Useless tidbit:
The S2000 driver, Devon Aoki, from 2F&2F is the daughter of Benihana owner Rocky Aoki.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: ggavinmoss

I thought it was teppan, not hibachi. Hibachi is a small, portable charcol grill. Teppan means "griddle cooked." Although my response is completely based on speculation so I could be way off base.

-geoff

hibachi = brazier. Teppan is closer to what many are, but regardless in the USA you ask for Teppan and you will get a blank stare...you say Hibachi, many will tell you where a benihana's is

Haha yep. I've known about Hibachi referring to a type of grill, but I've never heard Teppan used to describe this kind of place. Even the local place I frequent, when I ask for a table, they ask if I'm there for hibachi or sushi.

I think teppan is the correct word, but in we Americans usually care little about such details

Heck, here in the Philadelphia area, there is a smallish chain that is actually called Hibachi!

 

[RossMAN]

Overpriced and unsatisfying.

I would recommend Chang's Mongolian Grill instead but I think they're only in WA/OR.

 

[Jzero]

Mongolian Grill is not quite the same experience, but quite good.

 

[Vic]

Good food but overpriced. Sushi is decent and tasty but the portions are small and (once again) overpriced. The Teppan is hit-and-miss. Some cooks are better than others, some are funner than others. And the group environment is ideal for groups of about 5-10, so combined with all the above, my opinion is that Benihana is great for work outings where the boss is paying, but (IMO) not so good for dates.

 

[EvilYoda]

Yeah, the Mongolian Grill/Mongolian BBQ (very popular in MI)/Genghis Grill (Dallas, soon to invade MI) restaurants are very different from Benihana...I like Benihana much more, as the quality of food is so much better, and the cooks actually know what they're doing. At all the Mongol BBQs that I've been too (plus a few dinner parties catered by them), they just chop everything into little bits so you can eat them easily and so they make sure everything's cooked thoroughly. ick.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: Vic
Good food but overpriced. Sushi is decent and tasty but the portions are small and (once again) overpriced. The Teppan is hit-and-miss. Some cooks are better than others, some are funner than others. And the group environment is ideal for groups of about 5-10, so combined with all the above, my opinion is that Benihana is great for work outings where the boss is paying, but (IMO) not so good for dates.

Agreed.

If the boss were to take a dozen of us out to eat there, I'd enjoy it.

Otherwise for the misses and I, no thanks.

 

[dquan97]

Why wouldn't the place be a good place to go to for a date?

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: dquan97
Why wouldn't the place be a good place to go to for a date?

Cooking is done at group tables that seat 10 or more. A party of 2 will usually get seated with a larger party unless the restaurant is empty. Makes for a less than intimate atmosphere.