Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Benihana in Burlingame

4.1 (199) 1496 Old Bayshore Hwy, Burlingame, CA 94010, United States

Categories

Japanese restaurant

Location on the map

Burlingame, San Mateo County, California, US

Phone: +1 650-342-5202
Site: https://benihana.com/

Opening hours

Monday:11 AM–10 PM
Tuesday:11 AM–10 PM
Wednesday:11 AM–10 PM
Thursday:11 AM–10 PM
Friday:11 AM–11:59 PM
Saturday:11 AM–11:59 PM
Sunday:11 AM–11 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.1

199 Reviews for Benihana 2024:

Review №1

2023-11-10 02:04:07

Large party of 9 so seating was real tight. Its a fun long dinner experience especially for kids. Chef was playful with fun shaped food and knife tricks. The food quality was meh - ordered the seafood platter stir fry but the shrimp was less fresh vs the calamari. Would rec the surf n turf with some red meat instead. Plenty of cocktail options.

Review №2

2023-08-29 15:02:44

Food was flavorful. Our chef, David, was funny and he looked like he loves his job! Service was a bit slow, it took about an hour after being seated before we got to eat.

Review №3

2023-10-11 14:43:13

First time at Benihana, it was highly recommended. The location is great for the scenery, the greeting staff and the chef were great. The food is ok, compared to other restaurants just like this one it is behind on customer service and flavor. The price is fair considering the location; however, i ordered the haiku colada and it was weak. Spoke with our server and was happy to bring a shot to fix it. To my surprise I was charged for the shot, that for me is my deal breaker, my rating for this business is based on comparisons with other Hibachi Restaurants and my experience.

Review №4

2023-05-07 20:32:49

I like to go to Benihana. It is an event when the chef cooks for you at the table. The food tastes really good.I usually have a set menu. There is a soup beforehand as well as a salad. In addition, a course shrimp.Afterwards there is the chosen main course.Most of the time it is very crowded and a reservation is necessary or you have to wait for a seat. The staff is very nice.I can recommend going to Benihana, but it is not cheap.

Review №5

2023-11-14 06:26:57

Best experience at Benihana’s I’ve ever had and I’ve been coming for 10+ years. Our servers name was James and we came for my father’s birthday. He was great and the food was incredible. A great laugh and a great time. Highly recommend James thanks for making my dads birthday!

Review №6

2023-06-18 20:40:57

The experience at this place is like no other. Very expensive though and the food isn’t anything better than typical takeout but still worth going. The parking was valet only and the prices online are less than the actual menu which is understandable due to the location. Best to have a party of 8 I believe so you have your own table and chef. Highly recommended.

Review №7

2023-06-05 07:10:38

Wow, I have been to Benihana for birthdays, special occasions, and just dinners for over 20 years now. I can say without a doubt that was the best meal and experience I have ever had. My friend and I sat down for a meal at 9:30 pm on a Sunday night after a long international flight. Our chef James greeted us kindly and made us feel at home. James asked if we had been prior and said that he might have to work extra hard to impress us given how many times we had been. James cooked our food to perfection and even was able to tailor the meal more to our liking by making little tweaks to some of the sauces by adding fresh lemon or extra seasoning! James made it feel like he was cooking for a group of old friends and chatted with us the entire time. I can safely put this benihana experience as my top of all time. I can only hope that my meals will always be this way and that great chefs like James are praised for their wonderful cooking skills and great attention to customers and details. Thank you very much for a memorable meal!!

Review №8

2023-10-24 03:52:36

Don’t ever get take out from here. Tried twice and both times were epic fails. Food is never on time, always waiting an extra 15 plus minutes from scheduled pick up time. Chicken is dry and overcooked, shrimp extremely over cooked, and fried rice is bland. If I wanted over cooked dry chicken/ shrimp with bland fried rice I would’ve gone to Panda Express. Waste of $140 both times. I do not recommend this place by any means for takeout.To the backup chef who makes the to go food…. DO BETTER!

Review №9

2023-09-25 02:46:53

We didn’t have a reservation but got lucky to get a table right away. Very busy for a Thursday. Good was very good and the drinks even better.

Review №10

2023-10-23 22:52:08

Very fun as a kid, now its starting to seem less novel, and some chefs are less enthusiastic or skilled than they were a few years ago (likely smaller staff post-covid, which is totally reasonable). The food is yummy, and it is fun to watch the chef cook in front of you. If you havent been before, you should absolutely try it at least once.

Review №11

2022-11-22 02:11:43

First time experience in historic Benihana with significant Hibachi style cooking. Food are cooked in front of you and fresh! The chef 👨‍🍳 is very entertaining and shows tricks as well as engaged with guests specially with kids. Loved the hot soup at the beginning and green tea ice cream after food.

Review №12

2023-11-14 21:50:51

Can you get better Japanese-inspired grill elsewhere? Probably. Can you beat the atmosphere, service and view? Nope. Good spot for special occasions or a date, complimentary valet, bay view. The food runs a little salty for my taste, so tell the chef if thats a concern for you.

Review №13

2023-03-10 04:21:57

One of my go to spots. I just recently learned its best to go after lunch and before dinner. We were able to walk in without a long wait and had a good view.We ordered the following items1. Pan fried gyoza dumpling - so tasty. It was crunchy in the outside but so soft on it inside.2. Lobster roll- Ive never had this before but wasnt sure to expect. It was a lobster tempura lightly battered. It did not lose its flavor or texture from being fried. I love that there was a lobster roll and 2 hand rolls. Definitely worth it. This alone and the gyoza was filling enough.3. Ribeye and lobster with 2 chicken fried rice- I always order this because I can eat now and have some for later when I get home. Ribeye is tender and juicy. Lobster is the perfect partner to compliment the meal.3. Ribeye and colossal shrimp with 2 chicken fried rice - Sure when its cut up it looks tiny but its so flavorful.Honestly, there is nothing here this Ive ever tried that I didnt like.

Review №14

2023-12-04 20:46:37

Fun place with table side entertainment. Not a place for a quiet romantic meal but great for kids. Food is standard fare. The chef show was not as elaborate as it used to be but still fun.

Review №15

2022-12-28 10:00:39

It has a nice view of the SFO runway. It was too bad that we had lunch there. I think the nice view must be very nice. The food is great and people are friendly. I had fun.

Review №16

2022-03-18 14:12:26

This place has heritage and history. Been in bay for a long time. Lot of parking available. You probably better off going with a group so you can have a table to yourself. The chef tricks are amazing and are very popular especially with kids. Sushi was very tasty. The view was amazing and the windows overlook the bay shores and the sfo airport. Staff is very friendly. The only downside is this place is very expensive. So be prepared to look at an expensive menu. Food quality was amazing but 5 stars for ambience and views.

Review №17

2023-05-08 19:29:01

Nice spot with complementary valet parking. Family friendly dining place for all ages. Food is okay but I love the cocktails. it is also more about the service and the show. Portion is huge.

Review №18

2023-10-15 03:19:54

Birthday celebration for my mom and myself. 8 total from family. Ruben our chef was fun and entertaining. Delicious foodI got the Trio...steak shrimp chicken. Comes with miso soup, salad with that delicious ginger dressing, appetizer shrimp, steamed rice but we always get fried instead for a nominal charge(on a side note, if you like spicy, ask for spicy fried rice!!! Delicious) entree, hot tea, and ice cream.On another note, they allow us to bring a cake in!! Awesome they let us bring in a cake from outside without a fuss!!We come every year to celebrate our birthdays.Thank you Ruben and staff. Another memorable celebration!Saturday 10/14/23

Review №19

2021-10-23 00:10:05

Great food. The chef is very skilled. Has been working in the same restaurants for 20+ years. The lunch menu is cheap. We had the two item meals with soup, chicken fry rice, and vegetable included. The chef did a lot of tricks in front of us. Quite impressive.

Review №20

2023-12-07 05:09:53

Had reservation for 6pm. Seated on time but waited over an hour for the chef. He was not friendly or animated at. No Benihana show. Just basically cooked and left the table

Review №21

2023-06-15 17:41:26

Always such a good time at Benihana’s with great food and amazing entertainment! Big shout out to James to Chef. He cooked amazing and such a great guy.! we love the conversation, and most importantly the way he cooks!

Review №22

2021-09-22 21:44:53

Great experience with our chef. You get to see how your yummy food is being cooked in front of you and you get to catch up and chat with friends while waiting. Humor and camaraderie overflows as you were being entertained by the host.Ambience is superb. Place is neat, presentable and calm both inside and outside.Highly recommend 👌Oooopsies...if your appetite is like for 3 people like me.. this is not the right place for you.. other than that, overall rating is 99.9%

Review №23

2023-08-07 16:36:41

We waited 30 minutes longer than the reservation time. The table we sat was greasy and sticky, and we had to wait an additional 40 to 50 minutes for the chef to arrive. The smoke from the cooking was everywhere in the restaurant. This restaurant needs to improve ventilation system to ensure a comfortable dining experience for its guests.

Review №24

2023-09-06 05:37:49

Had reservations, but it still took 45 min to get a table. Once seated, it took approximately 45 min to an hour before the cook came out and started. The food was good. Our chef did a good job once started

Review №25

2023-01-22 17:32:34

It was nice but a little too expensive. It was 3 people I our party and our bill was around 250$. My Grandmother enjoyed it !!! It was her 89th Birthday 🎂.

Review №26

2021-07-30 02:05:25

Happy Hours for the win. Price of Happy Hours sushi rolls range from $6-$11 average. Decent size. Love the view of the Bay. Self park instead of valet pre-pandemic which is understandable. Services and food came out a bit slower than usual but once the food comes out I forgot all about the wait. Remember guys, happy hours are only on the bar side. :)

Review №27

2022-10-08 00:16:20

Came here with wife for new job celebration. We were the first ones to arrive at lunch, empty seating. Noticed the seats were dirty and can see sticky stains -1. Opening up the menu to more sticky wet pages stuck together -1. Ive grown up in the bay area since the 90s and have been to many BenihanaS; according to wife, this is one of the oldest locations with more updated furniture. Our waitress was young but thoughtful and attentive +1. She recommended the Exotic Mojito, great choice. Chef was charming, energetic and playful +1. We got extra food since the other party at our table declined a few items. The view of the serenely beautiful bay was priceless, watching planes lining up for take off while seabirds flew by. Calamari was top notch. Overall a good experience as usual, will bring family/friends back for sure!

Review №28

2023-09-29 13:52:15

This place used to be an iconic restaurant, so I figured I’d bring my family who was visiting for the first time. I was wrong bringing them here.We had a party of 9 which included two toddlers. The food was just ok but I’m more disappointed in our chef Saul and the disgusting condition of the griddle. He did the very minimum in showmanship while preparing our meal. He just wrote “I

Review №29

2023-05-31 01:08:27

Benihana is always a treat, no matter what city or state youre in. The branding automatically signifies Hibachi style cooking. All of the chefs are very entertaining and they enjoy engaging with the guests. The food is freshly prepared and always hot. And they serve the BEST Sherbet after dinner.

Review №30

2023-06-22 04:20:24

James from the Burlingame location made my uncle’s birthday just spectacular! I recommend asking for him when you go in.

Review №31

2023-11-11 04:48:12

I’ve been coming here for years. Unfortunately the service declined significantly. Despite waiting for an hour and getting assurance that we would be seated, it never happened. Then, we saw a patron get mad at the staff for not serving his family for awhile. We left. It’s sad to see this establishment be operated so poorly.

Review №32

2023-11-11 05:44:09

If first impressions are important, this specific Benihana really missed the mark, like by a galactic expanse. It’s busy, I understand, but to not even serve your customers water for over 40 minutes is horrible service. I would have given zero stars, but after having to inform staff, someone did come serve us. I couldn’t, in good conscience, give zero when that guy tried. I’m clearly not impressed with this specific Benihana.

Review №33

2023-03-25 02:58:42

I ordered pickup. My sushi came with no soy sauce, and there is no rice with the kids’ meal. When I arrived, I told the girl I was there for pickup. She said she will check and then disappeared! I told her the second time when she is back. She just kept saying she will check. Finally, another lady helped me find my order. I complained to her. She just said I am sorry. Good quality is bad at least for takeout order.

Review №34

2023-09-04 20:44:15

This restaurant has the worst service of any restaurant I have been to in recent memory. Benihana corporate should be ashamed of this location. We had a 6pm reservation and the hosts were rude and dismissive, refusing to tell my husband when our table would be ready. We waited until 6:40 to be seated. Once seated we ended up leaving at 7:40 because a chef had yet to come to our table to prepare food, nearly 2h after our reservation. When leaving I was insulted by a hostess who screamed that I was crazy for being upset by the service. You are better off going to one of the many other hibachi restaurants in the area because this place is a disaster.

Review №35

2023-01-10 00:48:59

Benihana is definitely more than just food. They have personal chefs for each table who cook the food right in front of you. They also perform tricks that makes it a fun experience! The food also comes with soup and rice. Although the food is on the expensive side, it is worth it for the experience. The franchise in Las Vegas is my absolute favorite. We requested extra spicy fried rice and the chef didnt disappoint. It was the absolutely delicious and mouthwatering.

Review №36

2018-02-19 18:14:36

Had a date night with my boyfriend, it was my first time going and I really enjoyed the experience. The server and chef were really nice and patient since we were one of the last tables of the night. We shared the table with a mom and her kids, the kids were very energetic and the chef was very patient and professional throughout. The food was good we had the teriyaki chicken and the Benihana special, it was all cooked really well and the way we wanted. We also had the Mt. Fugi Margarita punch bowl, it was expensive but well worth it.

Review №37

2023-08-22 14:50:05

This was one of the most catastrophic dining experiences we’ve had in a long time. The service is pure chaos! We arrived 10 minutes before an 8:45 pm dinner reservation and we ended up being the last ones to leave the restaurant at 11 pm!! From the wait to get our table, to the wait to get our drinks ordered to the time to get our drinks (about 25 minutes after taking the order and after having had to track down our server who had disappeared) to finally having the chef show up over an hour into our time there to having to rectify the completely messed up order that the incompetent server had communicated to the chef, to being told no possibility of getting a second beer as the bar had closed at 10 pm to having to wait over 10 minutes at the cash register to pay due to the personnel not being able to get the machine to work and waiting for the sullen-faced manager to show up. A miserable experience from A to Z. Avoid at all cost!!!

Review №38

2023-08-29 16:16:54

I’ve enjoyed Benihana for years for the experience and the food but this time we had the worst experience. We had a reservation at 7:45 and didn’t sit down at the table until 9:10. We ordered quickly and didn’t have a chef come to the table for another 30 minutes. When he did come our chef, Joe, was rude and kept insulting the waiter that he wrote the order down wrong for 3-4 minutes straight. We said we didn’t care because we were waiting over 2 hours for food and we would eat whatever he had ready to cook. He continued then to be rude to us and ruin what was a night of celebration like so many others do at Benihana. They finally switched the chef to Rueben, (after another long delay) which ended up being nice. We found out they were short two chefs that night and clearly Joe needed to be let go too because he was worthless. Most of this bad review is for having bad management that didn’t staff the chefs correctly, poor response from the manager that only marginally did anything to address the poor service from Joe and Joe’s poor attitude to his colleagues and guests. Food and other staff were good.

Review №39

2019-05-25 07:48:17

Great service. Definitely felt like the staff was attentive and wanted us to enjoy ourselves. Delicious food. Cut of filet mignon tasted fresh and juicy. Busy evening so the wait was 1.5 hours but it was a Friday night.

Review №40

2023-07-12 21:42:07

Been to better In Arizona. This one was not Up to par the table was dirty When we were sat down Even the grill was dirty and had to be cleaned before we could start. Forty five minutes before we even got our drinks served. Never got the ice cream after dinner

Review №41

2022-03-03 06:13:15

It was ok but they were so over crowded it was crazy. I believe the server had multiple tables because it was taking extra long for everything. He kept forgetting drinks. It took about 45 minutes to get started with the meal and one of our items was not ordered thankfully we werent charged for it. If it wasnt under staffed I believe the service wouldve been really good. I just wont be coming for dinner anymore. 😒 Unfortunately this was the only picture I took I was tired by the time we started.

Review №42

2018-10-18 02:03:38

This was not the best hibachi ive tasted, nor was it the most spacious restaurant Ive been it, but it is one of the best views and a good bar area in which to wait. The bartender was quite nice, and the wine was decent. I enjoyed the appetizer menu.

Review №43

2022-03-08 16:12:00

Me and my girlfriend went here as we were craving hibachi. Overall very good experience. I’ve been to two other hibachis one in Phoenix Arizona and one in Syracuse NY. So far this was the best one. The guy that did our hibachi was hilarious and drew a chicken from one of the eggs. Highly recommend! 👍🏻

Review №44

2023-09-30 23:43:41

The chef spent the entire time talking to the 4 individuals at the other end of the table in a foreign language. Additionally the other group ordered hot sauce with their rice which the chef cooked in our end of the grill and caused both my baby and my husband who has COOD to go into a coughing episode.

Review №45

2023-10-16 11:39:58

Great for show. Food is just ok. Steak and fried rice are great. Chicken, scallops and shrimp were over cooked and dry

Review №46

2023-09-13 21:05:56

Some Benihanas are looking a bit dated nowadays and this is a perfect example. Was in town from Miami here at the San Francisco location, and was not overly impressed by the food or condition of the restaurant. For the food I got the steak and shrimp with fried rice and the steak was half fat. The shrimp tasted like pre frozen bagged shrimp. The facility looked like the rafters had dust and it wasnt overall clean or looking up to date. The view however is very nice. The one we have down in Boca Raton, Florida is much nicer. I feel alot better about spending $80 at the Boca location. I try to be fair. Three stars, could be far better.

Review №47

2023-11-04 04:48:59

They are totally idiots. We are two families with two small children andwe have a reservation at 21:00 .after 50 minutes of delay we leave this stupid place. They make overbooks to keep the restaurant full.stay away.

Review №48

2023-08-14 12:20:17

The mens room needs a major upgrade and hourly maintenance. The server came and asked if I wanted another drink at the end of the dinner. Food & show was good!

Review №49

2018-07-11 19:37:37

Entered here to celebrate, but exited with disappointment. Quite sad. I suspect they are severely understaffed in all areas. Drinks took a very long time. Server was absent for long periods. Our chef showed up 40 minutes after our drinks arrived. I understand they only had 8 chefs for 20 tables. Lets be clear, I wasnt here for just the food (which was mediocore). Its the jovial atmosphere that would have made up for it. Not sure if this is the norm - I was hangry- but Im almost willing to give it another try...yet Im reminded how much was $pent for this experience.

Review №50

2019-11-15 00:47:08

First time at benihana and the service did not disappoint. We were seated promptly, and shared a table with a nice couple. Our server was quick to keep our drinks filled and help us with anything and our cook was very personable and funny, talking evenly with everyone at our table!

Review №51

2023-07-05 22:50:44

This place needs to be town down. So nasty and dirty. Went here for lunch right when they opened. Bathrooms were still uncleaned from the night before. Fingerprints and grease marks on the front door glass. Menus were disgusting and dirty. My seat had food and grease on it. Absolutely filthy when you look around. Dont know how the health department hasnt issued fines.

Review №52

2023-06-01 05:53:46

Despite having reservations for 7pm, we werent seated until 730. Which was lucky for us because we were able to enjoy the talents of our chef James. He was very friendly, entertaining, and showed us new hibachi tricks we have never seen in all the times we have been to benihanas! We thoroughly enjoyed his sense of humor, the show, our meals, which he put his own spin on, and the company we met. Will back again soon! And definitely requesting Chef James!!!

Review №53

2023-05-01 01:27:20

This place is struggling. Tried to do a walk-in, party of two, couldn’t make it happen at 5pm. Observed a lot of unhappy customers waiting to be seated, asking when their reservation would be honored, another stated they were waiting an hour and wanted a refund. We understood that we didn’t have a reservation and decided to eat at the bar area.Bar area wasn’t even a desired area. Very back of the house like feel, bar tenders were very inexperienced. Smelled of dirty restaurant floor and fruit flies.Ginger salad…I’ve had better, soup was above average. Steak, chicken and chicken fried rice had an elevated flavor compared to other teppanyaki/hibachi style restaurants. No white sauce, however.Oh, and no self-parking. Valet only, though they say it’s complimentary. Tipping is expected.Food was okay, experience due to service could use some work. Don’t recommend this establishment unless management makes some changes for the better.

Review №54

2021-02-28 02:06:29

It was our first time ever going to Benihana, I must say it was a great experience. We are celebrating my birthday early. The general manager as well as all staff were amazing and made it a very memorable experience. We will definitely be back.

Review №55

2022-12-12 06:13:50

The true Teppanyaki style restaurant with the Benihanna flare. Festive atmosphere that is loud with bithday singing, clanging of utensils from the chefs performance and people laughing and clapping all around. Great for corporate functions, family gathering or big birthdays. Its a 5 or 6 course meal that is prepared live and enhanced with a little show performance by the chef. Everyone has a front seat. Seafood are fresh. Overall servings are a bit on the salty side but delicious. Plenty of parking. Restrooms are clean. Dress appropriately as ventilation is limited so clothing will carry the aroma long after leaving the restaurant.

Review №56

2023-09-22 05:17:39

James was the best chef we’ve had in 35 years of coming to this location. We’ve always enjoyed it but tonight was a dining experience

Review №57

2023-07-03 05:08:21

This restaurant is about the show. The atmosphere is fun. The food is healthy in one way as there are lots of vegetables. On the other hand everything is cooked in oil and salty. Remember to tip the person that cooks at your table.

Review №58

2023-06-28 03:11:46

In town for a conference and decided to walk over to Benihana - short walk from the Marriott. Had great service and a delicious meal (thanks to Ken for all of his yummy suggestions!) Highly recommend the Las Vegas rolls, shrimp tempura, rainbow rolls and hibachi chicken!

Review №59

2023-06-29 06:11:04

Ive had the worst experience ordering take out and being a guest. The food wasnt seasoned, the chef got food everywhere, the plates were late after we already waited an hour. When I order take out they messed up my order, they were really skimpy with the meat, they gave me steam rice instead of chicken fried rice and I bought two, no utensils, I like Benihanas but I will not be going back to this one...ever in my life. When I brought to the Mgrs attention about the shabby service she just brushed it off as a complaint they dont have to worry about because they have so many patrons they dont have to worry about those of us that work hard. I was trying to surprise the love of my life with a good meal because she had a horrible day...and then they stiff me at the door with a messed up order and dirty shrimp...thanks alot.

Review №60

2019-12-28 00:06:29

Great food!!! Service was a little rushed due to it being Christmas day. Our poor chef had to leave the table because the chef behind him kept taking his things from our table and the cart wasnt fully stocked for him to do his job. Reuben you did an awesome job and you deserve 5 stars.

Review №61

2019-09-05 17:52:19

This location of Benihana was fabulous!!! The view at night time was gorgeous! My Cook was very funny kept my group laughing and full. It was my birthday and everyone was very nice. The food was delicious and perfectly cooked. The bathroom was clean. The only bad thing was we had reservations and it took more than 15mins to get our table. Other than that I say this is one of the best location of Benihana.

Review №62

2022-01-23 03:46:07

First thing I notice is mandatory valet parking. I never do valet parking normally so this was a little unexpected but actually nice. The valets thankfully had someone that drove stick.Our cook Caesar was really nice and gave us a good show. I was watching really closely to see any techniques I could pick up, but the whole thing ended up being a fancy stir fry. Not necessarily a bad thing.Caesar also did some tricks that were entertaining to watch.First up was the mushroom and onion soup which was delicious and made up for the salad that was a bit bitter.Main course was the Filet mignon. Tender, juicy and well seasoned. The flavor went well with the buttered onion and mushroom. Chicken and shrimp were also juicy and delicious.Cocktail drinks were a little too sweet but not bad. Had the passion fruit and berry smoothies.Only thing I disliked was that the table was packed and we were closer than I would have liked to other people.

Review №63

2023-08-15 03:51:37

I ordered New York steak lunch special. I asked for medium-rare and was served medium almost well done. Friedrice no taste.

Review №64

2020-01-25 04:02:52

Delicious food, served fast! Didnt sit at the tables with the chef because we didnt book, but was great after a long flight!

Review №65

2023-06-26 18:21:41

The food was just “ok”, nothing special. Could definitely use more spices for flavor. Also, we reserved seats for 8:00, didn’t get seated till 8:30.

Review №66

2022-08-02 20:16:10

Awful place they make you wait for over an hour for a party of 10 !!! and we had reservations at 8 If they cant or want take big groups they should say so instead of wasting people time and by the time we where sit they split the group on 2 tables not recommended for average food and drinks and the bathroom are disgusting graphites stickers not the experience you want for such expensive place

Review №67

2023-08-25 04:13:28

Its amazing that this restaurant chain is still in operation. Its rather contrived and overpriced for just OK food. Our chef was not very experienced and overcooked the scallops.

Review №68

2023-04-25 04:11:22

Ordered delivery and it arrived cold. Now if I were 2-5 miles away I could understand, but nope. Less than 5 minutes away. Now maybe that wasn’t all their fault, but missing items is. Like appetizer and better yet utensils!!! Take my advise and spend your hard earned money elsewhere. This place seems NOt to care.

Review №69

2023-10-08 07:55:12

We had a delightful evening, our chef had personality plus, and the food was delicious.

Review №70

2021-08-26 06:24:20

We waited a full hr for a chef. The food turned out good but the management ( high turnover rate btw) should have done something earlier. It wasnt even a busy Wednesday night.

Review №71

2022-02-08 02:08:18

First time here for a Birthday dinner. Any or each meal is $35+. All just for ok Chinese food really...was really hoping for the food to taste incredible for the prices and I thought this place was supposed to be Japanese. ( How with only 4 options for sushi rolls? ) Literally cut shrimp and everything into tiny pieces like if feeding a toddler. I would think my meal should have around 8 full size shrimps but really got like 3 since it was cut down so much and shared with other meals...really know how to scam you. The little chicken in my picture literally was made for 6 ppl!! 🤯 I was very disappointed. They try to fill you up with hella Rice and veggies....while skimming on beef chicken and seafood trying to make a little go a long way.I get it they are supposed to put on a show for you but our cook was very boring. 1 of the seafood meal had 1/2 of tiny lobster, 4 Shrimp and 4 scallops for $50 + dollars! Thats crazy. You want noodles you have to pay....everything is add and pay. 5 Adults 1 kid bill was about $360 dollars. Im sure we could of ate Chinese food for all under $100 elsewhere lol. Only plus was the staff was very nice!

Review №72

2023-07-31 00:45:19

Best Benihana! Chef James was the best. The absolutely most delicious food by any chef we’ve had.

Review №73

2023-04-19 06:08:38

We had a great experience celebrating 2 birthdays in our group. Chef James was awesome and prepared our food with a lot of care. He was very entertaining and super accommodating with our requests which was highly appreciated. Ask for Chef James when you go!

Review №74

2023-08-17 03:57:30

Restaurant showing signs of aging. Food was average and service was slow. Maybe well hit them up again next year on the next birthday cycle...

Review №75

2023-05-23 00:44:04

Place needs a little TLC. Beautiful view of the bay. Waiter seemed like he did not want to be there. Chef messed up the order like twice lol. Food was decent, I really enjoyed the NY steak I got.

Review №76

2021-06-30 22:44:47

The food is always delicious always taste great The service itself could be way better it has gone down in a past couple years

Review №77

2020-01-14 05:46:42

Good hot food cook right in front of you. Very entertaining for children and adult alike. You either love it or don’t like it at all.You sit around a grill with 9 other customers. It’s best if you and your friends can go in a group of ten. This make it more private and fun. As with most Asian restaurants, this can be high in sodium - especially the fried rice. The good thing is that you can let the cook know right away.It can be very crowded. Best to make reservations. Noted that there is no point in show up earlier either.Parking can be limited. Luckily they provide free valet during busy hours.Limited menu for vegetarians.

Review №78

2023-05-14 23:44:53

I just love this place. If youre ever up north in Burlingame, stop by here. Food was great and the chef that we had was great, I think his name was Randy. But our waitress was great Shyanne, and patient...she had to be with the 18 guest super job. But all in all great food, great jokes with our chef and family..

Review №79

2023-08-07 17:32:11

Fun place, great show. Food is good but not exceptional. Price is fair.

Review №80

2023-08-12 05:18:02

They took a long time to come take our order. Looked like they were under staff but they kept sitting people.The bathrooms were really nasty,Overall, for what you pay, not worthy.

Review №81

2020-09-20 14:18:39

During Covid theyre wearing masks (be respectful and wear yours when they approach your table) and theyrewrapping silverware in plastic (touchless) with a romantic lit tent for outside dining. Bring a jacket!

Review №82

2023-03-22 19:06:50

The prices are OUTRAGEOUS! The quality is ok. The valet parking is nice and convenient, and the chefs are really good at their jobs. They could certainly use more servers since sometimes it’s difficult to waive them down because they’re so busy running around.

Review №83

2023-11-06 22:03:29

The food is prepared in front of you. Great experience for all!

Review №84

2022-03-19 05:16:11

One of a kind Japanese dining with great showmanship from chefs right at your table. Definitely worth a visit. Reservation ahead of time is a must.

Review №85

2023-11-24 06:37:58

Seated. Waited, waited and waited. Set on the table no server came forward so I just left.

Review №86

2023-05-10 05:21:19

My bill was $289.00 and gave a 5% tip due to my waiter telling me he did not care about our peanut allergies. When I arrived home noticed I was charge $353.75. Tried calling & keep getting run around about talking to the manager. Currently on hold for over 25 minutes and counting.

Review №87

2023-03-03 00:51:35

Fantastic food and a great chef. The reason why I gave it a low score was because of the wait times. I made a reservation for 6:15 and was seated at 7. Overall it took me from getting there to leaving +3 hours

Review №88

2023-06-23 14:11:43

It is good to see your food being cooked live.

Review №89

2023-06-09 18:34:10

Been going to this Benihana‘s all my life. Just recently had a chef named james who brought just as much personality as he did flavor. We asked him how he ended up here and he said his job brings him happiness and wouldn’t trade it for the world. Much love to james for taking care of my family and I

Review №90

2023-04-25 06:45:32

First time there. My girlfriend was pretty excited about going there. We made it to the bar for a couple of drinks before heading to our table. Bartender comes over and offers happy hour menu. We said Yes, we ordered, or at least we thought we ordered from HH onky to see our bill charged with 3 drinks made with different vodka, (which we never requested) we got charged and no one said anything. A server who noticed offer to talk to a manager about it, but nothing happened. Anyway, not going back.

Review №91

2023-08-31 08:16:38

Too crowded. get a bigger space everything else SUPERB.Even the Spanish speaking Japanese Chefs Jose and Miguel. Thanks Benni

Review №92

2023-05-15 17:27:21

Went to this restaurant on Mothers day with my 2 granddaughters, my son and his wife, my daughter and my wife. We all enjoyed the food, and presentation. But, my 3 year old and 6 year old granddaughters enjoyed it the most!!

Review №93

2023-08-24 17:46:33

Our chef was a little boring from what we used to get. But everything else was great.

Review №94

2019-08-11 02:03:30

The food was okay, but the cooking performance is fun.

Review №95

2023-05-03 03:16:10

The new manager, Rose is WONDERFUL! She resolved an issue for me dating back to our visit on November 22, 2022 when I was accidentally overcharged for the gratuity with our party of 10 guests. Benihana has been a family tradition of ours for over 20 years and the Burlingame location is by far our favorite. Weve always had excellent service and amazing food. We cannot wait to come back. Again, thank you Rose for being the ONLY person who took the time to reach out to me and fix this error. Much respect and gratitude to you for your understanding and professionalism.

Review №96

2021-07-28 08:43:31

Love Japanese food. On vacation here in San Fran came across this spot and sure glad I did! The staff was really nice and service was very quick.Highly recommend!

Review №97

2023-06-24 22:59:18

I WANT TO GIVE A HUGE THANK YOU TO JAMES THE CHEF… I HAVE BEEN COMING TO BENIHANA FOR OVER 20+ YEARS. & JAMES IS THE BEST FROM CUSTOMER SERVICE TO COOKING WAS ABSOLUTELY THE BEST. HE COOKS LIKE NO OTHER COOK. I HAVE NEVER BEEN ASKED DO I HAVE AN ALLERGIES TO FOOD. HE PUT HIS OWN SPECIAL TOUCH ON MY FOOD AS IF IT WAS MADE WITH LOVE.. I RECOMMEND HE BE REQUESTED ON EVERY ARRIVAL . 20/10 10 STARZ. WHILE IM WRITING THIS REVIEW IM HERE AGAIN I HAD TO BRING MY FAMILY TO BE ABLE TO HAVE HIS EXPERIENCE AT THIS BENIHANAS …

Review №98

2023-04-05 16:15:35

I ordered Benihana Trio which has, Steak, Chicken and shrimp. Everything was good, but the chicken. The chicken was old and nasty. I was disappointed because it is a somewhat expensive plate and I expect everything to be yummy. Benihana is one of my favorite restaurants to go to.

Review №99

2022-11-30 16:21:43

The food was horrible! Not tasty at all. All the sauces were disgusting. The waiter added more stuff than we ordered the cook seemed like it was his first day on the job. I visit San Francisco a lot but ill never eat here again. My whole meal alone cost 61$ & it was not worth 11$. Everybody was really nice customer service was good but I would rather have rude people with good food.

Review №100

2020-03-12 06:29:29

Food was great! Luis the chef was super cool and kept us entertained all evening. Food was excellent and seafood was fresh. Definitely will be back!

Review №101

2023-02-17 03:04:20

If going there the advice is to be placed at the grill tables with bay side view. I made the “mistake “ to sit in the area with open seating. Staff is good, food is good however the public was horrific. Maybe wrong timing or just bad luck. I felt very very sorry for the staff who were completely unjustified scolded by customers who took clearly joy out of that. So if you go: sit up front

Review №102

2023-08-03 02:47:43

I went for a lunch pick up. When I got there the food was not ready, I had to wait an additional 25 mins. This is unacceptable when you have an hour for lunch and you came at the time said for pick up.

Review №103

2023-02-03 00:21:59

As i write this, I found a piece of hair in my miso soup. I informed the sever and he accuses me of doing it my own even though the hair in the soup was straight and my hair is curly. The manager has yet to talk to me. I guess he assumes i want my dinner to be free. Please watch what you eat. It’s safer to know your food is better prepared in front of you then it being prep in the kitchen. They took the bowl before i was able to snap a picture, as if they were trying to hide something.Edit: looks like Benihana deliberately avoids comments that aren’t 5-stars. Everyone take your business elsewhere. What kind of business do you want to support when it doesn’t even take it’s complaints seriously.

Review №104

2023-06-04 02:52:47

It was wonderful to eat thing and the show is always great job I love this place to eat and get very full and satisfied every time I go there

Review №105

2018-11-15 15:04:03

Its a fun place to go to with a group, the chef was entertaining and all but its overpriced for Asian food

Review №106

2023-06-02 01:44:53

The service was great and chef experience was wonderful. The staff was very nice and friendly. Its definitely worth a repeat patronizing Benihana!!

Review №107

2023-01-27 06:56:10

Sat under a table that leaked oil now and then from the ceiling in a dingy nook that needed some TLC. Food took forever to begin. Appetizers were good but Luke warm. Never got our ice cream. Have been to this place before and normally its better.

Review №108

2023-01-21 04:43:58

Always delicious. pro tip, if you just want the food and not the show then sitting in the bar area is much quicker. got a table immediately, service was great, food came out quick.

Review №109

2018-01-08 02:50:25

Food is good, show is good, fun place to go with friends. Very beautiful next to the water.

Review №110

2019-07-29 14:41:02

Great food and service. Cooking performance was fun enough and it makes us chat with smile.

Review №111

2017-01-08 15:58:09

Always a great experience. Authentic Japanese hibachi food with a fun and entertaining performance. Its not a quick experience - plan on 2 hours - but worth every minute.

Review №112

2023-02-10 05:46:07

Im personally not from San Francisco and I have nothing to compare Benihana to in the area, but relative to other Teppenyaki style restaurants I have visited in Eureka and Redding CA this was a major disappointment, on the food side of things the filet mignon was a petite cut 5 maybe 6oz and the mushrooms that came with it were raw, although it was well seasoned and cooked to my liking. Both the shrimp and scallops were cooked perfectly, the ordered chicken was extremely overcooked and under seasoned, and the fried rice basically only had soy sauce contributing to the flavor, I also ordered a milkshake that seemed to have a low quality Icecream used due to the large quantity of ice crystals in it. As for the service it was definitely a personal and situational experience but the chef spoke Spanish to a separate family at the table and almost seemed to avoid speaking English to my own for the entire time he cooked. The atmosphere is nice when it comes to decoration and visuals, but as a whole its very hectic and almost crowded with how many and how close the cooking booths are, with the exception of a few relatively secluded ones that are cut out of the walls. Its very loud and hard to hear someone right next to you with the number of people in close proximity. As a whole, it was not an enjoyable experience, but due to the nature of Teppenyaki, it could have been our own individual experience from that specific chef.

Review №113

2023-05-19 02:40:03

The place is old and kind of run down. Tables are really crammed together. Its very noisy. On the other side, the food is really good

Review №114

2023-02-28 05:42:01

This place has gone DOWNHILL! My family used to love this place, but now, every time we go, something bad happens. Sick stomachs, headaches, painful chest, etc. The ventilation is so bad, my asthma was acting up; its so noisy, you cant even hear yourself thing; the chef burnt the food; I got a headache; my boyfriend is near vomiting... And thats just from this time. This place isnt worth it, for 30-50 dollars a person youd think theyd try harder.

Review №115

2023-03-10 21:39:18

I love coming to benihana. Always an experience and the benihana trio is always delicious! By my God the wait service is terrible! Its my GFs birthday, so we take some family and go to benihana. My GF waited more than 30 minutes for her margarita to come out from the bar on her birthday. While everyone else at our table was drinking for well over 20 minutes by that point. I asked the server about her drink and all he could say was I dont have it yet. Cant even be bothered to go check on it? And goodness forbid if you finish your first beverage before the food comes. You will not get an opportunity to order a second one. We saw our waiter a grand total of 3 times throughout our visit. One to order drinks, once to order food, and once to charge us at the end. And unfortunately, the tips are split between server and chef. Chef was absolutely fantastic, but server didnt deserve a large tip. I love benihana as a place for the occasional dinner, but the service just isnt worth the exorbitant amount youre paying for the delicious meals. You guys do so many good things at benihana, but you have to get your service in order. I get it, the main event is the cooking of the food, but what if someone wants to order a damn soda or a glass of water?? We were unable to do so. Will make me think twice before coming back!

Review №116

2018-10-12 06:44:23

Been going her for years and the service and brand have suffered. Although I wouldn’t consider to be a upscale restaurant, it is pricy for many and perhaps not worth the wait. Only novelty of my family coming here is the chefs, but even that has slipped in quality.There are many more restaurants in Burlingame and Millbrae that will get you more for your money and are only a hop, skip and jump away.Save your money...

Review №117

2023-03-28 23:15:46

Sadly this location is severely understaffed for chefs and bartenders. Youll have to wait 45 to an hour after seating to get a chef.Not basing this on a single visit either. I hope this is fixed because I used to love coming here.

Review №118

2023-04-18 20:05:32

Philip and Emily and Manger Rose are wonderful staff. Food was exceptional fast cooked to perfection. Wonderful place to have Lunch Great quality food, friendly staff highly recommend

Review №119

2022-11-12 00:10:27

Really disappointed. Benihana used to be a great place. However, that has all changed. Portions were tiny, and really expensive, over cooked (forgotten). The service was good at first, then he forgot about us. No sauces, forgotten meals, added extra orders, couldnt keep things straight. Had to wait for my sons food 30 minutes after everyone finished eating. Definitely not worth going back

Review №120

2023-07-21 06:01:35

Good service from all the staffs, especially Rose. She went extra miles to make us comfortable.

Review №121

2019-02-09 23:27:10

Great food and great cocktails drinks, I love coconut mojito there, great service, plus the cooking show that our cheff did was great 😉😁

Review №122

2022-07-15 00:35:35

I will start with the good stuff. We arrived for our reservation 45 minutes early and they seated us with minimal wait. Everyone was nice, service was good and the food was tasty.Slowly, all 6 of us have gotten sick since eating there. I called to let them know and the first woman told me we all need to go to the doctor and get notes. The next person I spoke to apologized and said he hopes we feel better. $400 on on dinner that made us all sick and thats the response. We obviously will not be back.

Review №123

2023-08-16 15:12:54

Good foodExpensive very bad service from manager long long wait on top of reservationExcelent service from busgirlFood prep show very basic for that priceManager with a very bad attitudeNot recommended

Review №124

2023-08-10 08:33:25

Amazing, fantastic food and service. Gotten too pricey these days though

Review №125

2022-08-01 18:26:26

Its always a good time to take someone who never been. Great for big parties. Food is good and can have your steak cooked exactly how you like it since its sitting right infront of you. The cook does cool tricks. I would say the sushi could of been better. Other then that you should definitely check it out

Review №126

2019-02-04 00:00:21

The food is always good, and the Chefs are entertaining in the way the cook your food at the table. Its a very interactive experience, and you meet some nice people sitting at tables for eight.

Review №127

2023-05-25 21:34:09

Very nice atmosphere and the food was great

Review №128

2023-03-18 23:12:38

Never ever again. First and last time. Noisy. Public. Expensive. Scripted. Make you wait forever because of their industrial model of food cooking and service. Theyre nice. But no. Not for me. Ever.

Review №129

2022-05-05 04:19:47

We were a party of 8 for a farewell party. We started at Happy hour with drinks and appetizers and our waiter was great and very accommodating! Drinks were really good and everyone devoured the sushi and the shrimp. Then on to the dinner area. Our chef was very entertaining and gave a great show. Everything was so delicious! We all enjoyed a wonderful night out at Benihanas and will definitely be back again soon!

Review №130

2023-10-06 02:07:06

Very Very bad, multiple reasons too many to go through.I complained to the manager and she didn’t care .I had to cancel the meal

Review №131

2020-12-05 07:42:50

I ordered one item. Vegetable fried rice. I’m a vegetarian. I took my dinner to go on a red eye flight out of SFO airport at 11pm and when I got on my flight to eat my dinner after a 13hour shift in the hospital with no lunch break I realized they decided to give me chicken fried rice instead of what I clearly ordered. My vegetable rice didn’t contain 1 vegetable. Just chicken and rice. 👎👎

Review №132

2022-07-04 22:14:14

Good food, good drinks with a tad of entertainment.

Review №133

2022-11-15 19:31:19

Excellent service and delicious food.

Review №134

2023-03-31 01:50:21

Husband made reservations for my birthday and we arrived early and not a single parking spot was open. Called from car on the way home to cancel. Disappointing. Restaurant next door takes up limited parking.

Review №135

2021-07-23 06:08:56

The best! I loved my seafood Diablo! Joaquin was amazing with his tricks and sense of humor. Loved it!

Review №136

2021-06-25 20:25:19

Nice experience. A little pricey, but youre paying for the show that the chefs put on as theyre cooking. Nice experience.

Review №137

2023-03-27 03:28:59

Order delivery on 3/26/23 and wooooow. 2 hours passed and nothing. I was willing to wait as I ordered so early. But wao. 2 hours when they are cooking the food in the kitchen and not the tables is unacceptable.

Review №138

2022-09-28 14:45:52

Our server was an amazing host, cant express the gratitude and the service that she provided to our table. The Sheff was also funny and really nice, meal was cooked perfectly. Best experience I ever had from Benihana!

Review №139

2023-05-06 06:39:02

Chef James cooked the best food and it was an amazing experience! We loved every moment! 100/10 Five star experience

Review №140

2022-12-21 15:17:09

Food was very good, but we did not receive any service until and hour after we were seated. At that point in time, I just wanted to get up and leave instead of waiting bc the prices were so high.

Review №141

2023-08-22 15:15:53

Pricey they charge extra for everything!!!Food was ok a little burnt.Inside smokey.

Review №142

2023-05-11 00:36:44

We had a wonderful experience at Burlingame Benihana. Our chief James was the best, friendly, funny and entertaining. We like to come back and ask for him again.

Review №143

2022-06-09 14:13:05

Bad 1st experience. Had reservation sit and still waited 15min after my set time. My party of 4 was seated with another party of 6. So everyone was elbow to elbow. Not comfortable at all. Would have been best if they left at least 1 seat open to have good distance from each other. Decided to move to the non reservation area and service was horrible no one came to us for 15-20min. We had regular soft drinks so had to pay and even for that request I had to get up 4times to have someone help me pay the bill. $18 for 2adult soft drinks & 1 kids drink......Ended up at Sakura in Redwood City, we got there and were seated immediately and had service right away .. Sorry Benihana not going back

Review №144

2019-08-16 03:51:50

Who doesnt enjoy the atmosphere and show of Benihana. Our group was big, we had two good cooks, one good server, one not. Overall, a fun time.

Review №145

2023-10-31 19:32:16

Still great fare, but can get crowded on weekends, which can affect server times…

Review №146

2023-10-24 22:02:15

Sushi was fantastic. It’s on the bay. Service top notch.

Review №147

2023-08-23 17:15:36

There food does not taste the same anymore, last two times . Not worth it anymore, for me. I will give the Cupertino Benihana a chance.

Review №148

2023-02-14 06:11:50

It was ok. I went for my niece birthday. Because of her and attendees is what made it enjoyable as it was the chicken broth soup that comes complementary with dinner dishes (i didnt order a dinner) but was given to me, anywho back on topic, that and my appetizer a crunchy shrimp roll(sushi 🍣) was the best thing, oh i will say that the shrimp just plain grilled shrimp was surprisingly delish. On second thought I think more so than everything else. Oh and my punch bowl that was actually just a cup with a tiny wine bottle and other garnishment inside with the drink a margatini or something like that a Santini

Review №149

2023-01-08 07:40:11

Fried rice was greasy. Rib eye steak was dry. Chef forgot to serve us the two dipping sauces until other clients asked for it. Salad did not look appealing & dressing tasted like vinegar with soy Sauce.

Review №150

2021-12-05 19:01:33

Amazing!!! I have to say since the pandemic service in restaurants have been horrible. There is still light at the end of the tunnel! My family and I enjoy our birthday dinner at this location last night and the service and food was SPECTACULAR. We all had a really great time the service was exceptional and the food was superb. Huge thanks to our cook Leo for putting on a great show and our Server who continuously exceeded his job duties. Thank you so much guys! We will be back again.

Review №151

2022-07-03 20:00:50

Placed an order over the phone, drove all the way from a San Jose with two hungry/fussy toddlers, in a minivan that only gets 19mpg and gas prices being at $7/gallon. I was livid when I got out there, just to get a phone call letting me know that 1. They hadnt yet made the food, and 2. They dont make what Id requested on the weekends. I explained my situation to the manager already, informing her of where I was coming from and how much gas was wasted and I have a hungry family in my car and all she said was, sorry about it, try to order it again during the week when we offer it. I dont know their system, so I wasnt aware that they only served what I ordered during the week. If that was the case, the employee shouldve been educated enough to know that to inform me and I wouldve picked something else. Very unprofessional AND inconsiderate. No longer will these restaurants be popular or relevant.

Review №152

2019-11-23 08:02:39

Very friendly staff food was great

Review №153

2021-06-24 12:56:56

Food was great, but service was poor. The cooks service was excellent. However we had a waitress take our drink order and then never return. Our cook also didnt receive any bowls from the waitress so he had to leave the table midway through cooking the rice. We had to ask another waiter to get our drink order. We were never asked for any further drinks for the rest of the meal. Once the meal was done it took another 30-45 mins to get the cheque. Would probably go back because the food was good, but perhaps to a different location.

Review №154

2022-12-06 17:24:23

Exceptional service by waitress and food preparer. Re Atmosphere - manager litten up on staff, no ruling with an iron fist. The gentlemen did know where thr tsmborine got moved to bit they did sing happy birthday. Everyone heard the exchange. It was very painful

Review №155

2022-07-21 00:12:18

Food was so fantastic, and we were happy to get a corner table facing the Bay and to watch the planes take off. However, the service was subpar since we had to signal for a waiter several times after they seemed to forget about us. Still, the food was so good that Im giving an extra star for that.

Review №156

2022-02-16 05:09:59

I havent been here in years and was very excited to return. If I could put zero stars I would. Had a dinner reservation at 6:30pm with the lady to get out of the house for the night. We waited in our seats until 8pm until we decided to walk away, there was no communication of when the food was going to arrive and the whole table seemed restless. Not worth the wait.Heads up -This restaurant is no longer has a classy style, I was in dress shoes, polo with slacks, and felt like I was way over dressed compared to everyone. Shame.

Review №157

2021-08-09 14:34:45

Definitely a great experience. Im gonna have to do it again. Excellent service and our cook Ceasar was great.

Review №158

2021-12-29 03:59:08

We reserved a table for 5, but when we arrived we were asked to join in on a table with another customer with 2 small kids. We asked to be seated separately. The response was that they are short on staff and we had to wait. There were empty tables but instead we were asked to wait outside. We were not even offered to seat in and have drinks while we wait. The lady at the reception was not friendly at all. No one really cared. We left. Terrible experience.

Review №159

2023-09-12 14:17:18

Parking is horrible.

Review №160

2023-03-29 23:27:34

I would give this place no stars if there was such option. We have waited for 1.5 hour from the time our reservation till the time our chef came to the table. This location has a very POOR MANAGEMENT TEAM! The MANAGER THAN had a VERY BAD UNPROFESSIONAL ATTITUDE. She has no knowledge in customer service whatsoever! Very disappointed!

Review №161

2022-12-28 22:32:50

Visited on our anniversary, wanted to celebrate but the whole experience was pathetic! Rude front desk, no chef showed up on table for 50 minutes after ordering food. No tissues in bathroom! Its just gone downhill since my last visit. Would never visit again!

Review №162

2021-04-03 22:25:28

Amazing food & show. Super nice people

Review №163

2023-06-11 02:45:03

James was our Chef, he made our visit pleasant and enjoyable on top of the savory cooking!!

Review №164

2020-11-26 21:27:33

The location has COVID-19 protocols for safety, such as curbside pickup, outdoor dining, workers wearing masks, hand sanitizer, etc. The workers were helpful and efficient when picking up my to-go order.

Review №165

2022-08-25 04:46:45

I stopped by on a Wednesday night to place an order to go, first of all when I was paying for my order the guy didn’t even give me the option to tip. I thought that was weird and was prepared to make a generous tip and when I asked him why I wasn’t able to tip he said he didn’t think i would want to and put a zero for it… what?? why?? Second of all, he told me it would be 30-35 minutes. He took my phone number and said he would text me when it was ready. I sat in my car and waited, I realized it had been 35 minutes so I went back inside and sat down. Ten minutes goes by and he asks me if I’m waiting for a to-go order (he literally took my order), I said yes and then he walked away and brought it right out. I grabbed the bag and it wasn’t even warm… who knows how long it was just sitting there!! Also, why ask for my number and say you’re going to text me when it’s ready and then not??

Review №166

2022-03-18 16:52:24

We had the 5 course entry with chicken and spicy chicken and one only sea food. Every dish was very good. The Chef at our table put a nice show. Very talented. Very tasty. They took pictures of us and print some to give us.

Review №167

2021-11-21 08:34:39

What an amazing first experience. It was for a birthday celebration but our party unfortunately had to sit separately. This meant we had two chefs putting on shows at the same time, but it was awesome. Super fun, super exciting and thoroughly entertained! Chef Benito put on a wonderful show👏

Review №168

2022-01-16 04:52:16

Me and my husband decided to try this place for the first time expecting to have a good time. The food was good but the service of waitresses IRMA was very unprofessional. She seated us with 2 couples.. One couple was feeling uncomfortable because the waitress was forcing them to sit too close of us, with no distance at all. . Which the couple decided to leave. . After we got the bill The waitress IrmaPointed us that the minimum tip percentage was 18%=$22 something.. which i told her i just wanted to leave cash. We left less then what she mentioned, she went to the register and counted the amount of cash we gave her then came back and gave it back saying it wasn’t enough to cover the cost of her service and the cook. She gave us the money back with an attitude and told us to just keep it. Since whenYou are force to pay such a bad service for 2 ppl?

Review №169

2022-04-09 07:23:35

Ive been going to this Benihana in Burlingame for over 30 years. The food quality over the years has not changed much. Its still very flavorful and for the most part keeping recipes the same. The bar area is a good size to sit those that just want to eat without the chiefs entertainment. The bar tenders are nice and friendly and make good drinks. My favorite is the Sake Bomb. The chefs are fun to watch have have been cracking the same funny jokes for all these years and I love that. The one thing Im a little disappointed in is that the waitress/waiters no longer really teach you the Japanese If Youre Happy And You Know It song to its guest for them to sing along for birthdays. Fortunately Ive been going for all these years that I have learned it and sing along. But its sad to see guest just sit there not knowing the words and not being able to participate. For all the years I have been going, every time has been a great experience until just recently when I last went on 4/6/22. The waitress messed up an order for my party and another for the other party sitting at the table and it made the ending of our dinner awkward and upsetting. I felt bad for the other people who did not get what they asked for and I also felt bad for the chef. He looked so uncomfortable and even offered to get the manager because of the multiple wrong orders from the waitress. I did not deduct a star because of a 1 time in all my 30+ years going. I do hope it does not happen again, not just for me but anyone going. It really changed the vibe at the table from a fun night to a disappointing let down.

Review №170

2021-05-23 21:37:19

Took mom for her birthday. Made reservations for 12pm we were seated by 1150am. Our waitress was very nice and sang HBD to my mom at the end of our course served with ice cream. Very good experience. Food was cooked in front of us and it was delicious. Lobster, shrimp, steak, and chicken. Yum!

Review №171

2019-07-04 04:59:41

Great for groups and celebrations for all ages. Very busy location make sure to make a reservation. Excellent service and show included.

Review №172

2021-09-13 22:47:27

The restaurant was a bit pricey, around 200.00 for 3 adults but that did include 2 adult beverages. Per plate prices are entree with soup and salad. Rice is priced separately. You will be seated around a grill with other parties. Food was amazing and way more than I could eat. Our chef was so great and was very entertaining. It was a great experience, I would definately do it again.

Review №173

2023-03-30 16:40:18

Sub par food and staff. Way too expensive. Also, so crowded that you feel will surely walk out infected. Thank goodness they had vents running

Review №174

2022-09-06 02:47:49

This restaurant standards has reduced quite a bit. It does not have that special treat feeling anymore. Benihana,🎶You lost that loving feeling..oh that loving ..🎶The front reception staff were great & friendly😊. The bar staff were great & friendly😊 and the valet staff were great and friendly.😊The ambiance is that of the Sizzler now. The ladies restroom was dirty, we observed a food staff reach in the garage then shortly after touch another staff. Apparently by the unfriendly antics of one white waiter there, his amount of respect and great service given is surmised by the color of ones skinThe small six table dining room near the bar is not romantic or cultural but cozy. It is bare basic wooden chair & table with a very high ceiling. The room can get very loud according to guests enthusiasm. The view however is nice especially during a full moon and when the tide comes in. Watching the planes depart and land can be a soothing part of dining. Nearly everyone was in the new fashion norm–dress down friday.😝The chicken fried rice based on friends and previous reviews was better but is still good. We did not like the soft shell crab. The tempura shrimp was good but the egg rolls were fried too hard. I discovered that wakame is extra delicious with twist of lemon.🍋The prices are higher than what I expected🤑 and the food portions less but its the view, the fascinating table side culinary knife shows, the service and ambiance to enjoy in good company that we pay for. Unless you get the six course meal dont expect to leave with a doggie bag; a puppy bag, maybe.🐾Plan to return with the group to order one of each of the 6 course meals.

Review №175

2023-06-18 03:07:54

Great place for casual dinner or a celebration 🍾..very friendly staff

Review №176

2023-03-19 01:24:33

Ruben our chef was legendary, he made the whole night fun, however they where seriously short staffed and we waited like an hour if not more to be seated.

Review №177

2022-01-23 20:01:19

A great experience. We were seated within 5 mins of our reservation. Our chef, Benito, put on a great show and cooked our salmon and filet perfectly. Our 10-year old had a wonderful time - it was her first time there.

Review №178

2022-07-25 01:22:36

Total Shirt-hole! Avoid at all cost. I eat all over the world, literally, because I travel.Now I know why this franchise is going under. Worst service ever, my steak & seafood was cold when it was finally brought out. “Land & Sea” it’s not cheap, because they charge a premium for it.I was told they would remake it, they warmed it up then everything was way over cooked! It was disgusting! (Not to mention I waited over an hour.)Management should be FIRED!!!!This is a pathetic restaurant. I’m guessing if you sit at a hibachi grill, hopefully your experience will be different. Otherwise, you’ve been warned.

Review №179

2022-06-16 18:00:42

For the first time in years everything was perfect. They sat us down as soon as we were all there. We had a server that we have known for over 25 years, so needless to say the service was great. At one time he had there were 5 family members working there. We had a cook named Leo and he worked the table beautifully. We joked with him in Spanish.My dish was rockys choice, beef and chicken. It was cooked perfectly. It was our eldest son 48 birthday and the Burlingame location is where he wanted to go to. Everyone had a great time as well as a great meal. Ive been going to the Burlingame location since they first opened up in 1978. Luckily for me I only worked a block away.

Review №180

2021-09-04 04:40:22

Came in after 3pm and it was PERFECT.... my auntie and I went for my birthday, it was the most empty Ive ever seen the place (covid times) shared the table with a nice couple, the restaurant stuck to regulations. Our chef was funny and on point with the food. I asked for extra peanut butter sauce aka garlic butter to go for my left overs and got an extra ice cream so my auntie and I didnt have to share.Nothing made this a negative experience I enjoyed the serene environment. Thank you

Review №181

2022-03-09 19:54:01

I enjoyed it but they were very expensive. 150.00 for 2 of us. We could have easily shared. Way too much food left behind. The Hibachi rice online is included with the meal, but in store, it was extra. The soup and salad were basic and lousy; the chicken was very dry and shrimp a little overcooked. I liked the fried rice, the tempura sushi roll, and strawberry mochi. Likely, we wont return. Next door is Grand Harbor, which we love so we had to try.

Review №182

2023-01-26 15:39:43

I am 56 years old, and Ive been going to Benihana ever since I was 12. So please tell me what happened to the level of skill in showmanship? After all that is the main attraction.

Review №183

2021-07-01 19:45:10

What a disaster. I have never seen it as crowded or as LOUD as it was last night. We showed up early for our reservation and actually got seated w/i 10 minutes. Then the shortage or lack of training in the service staff reared its ugly head. Took 20 minutes to get the first course (soup). The another 30 minutes goes by without any sight of the 2nd course (salad) or the chef. The chef finally appears and sends up a flare and we finally get our salad. Chef starts to cook/perform. He is very personable (I think that must be a rule) but he seems unusually slow in comparison to past visits. He has to call for help as my steak cut was not in his prep inventory. He finishes and two customers advise their shrimp order was no where in sight. Did I mention how LOUD it was. Customers were literally YELLING AND SCREAMING. Birthday singing was out of control. So, BH simply is not ready for full indoor service. It can probably mostly be blamed on being shorthanded with serving/kitchen staff. I assume, with time, that will improve. Until that time, if I were you, Id steer well clear. If you choose to go anyway bring ear plugs.

Review №184

2019-05-12 04:39:40

This spot is always great. The wait time can be long I usually make a reservation and am seated in 15 minutes. The food is always delicious and the chefs are always social, funny and give us a good show. I mostly come here with parties of 5 or more to make it worth while. The view is nice and I enjoy seeing the planes land on the airport strip. Definitely a great location and valet parking is free.

Review №185

2023-05-02 19:36:08

James was an outstanding chef, definitely requesting for his service next time. Everything was great 👍🏽

Review №186

2021-06-06 17:46:56

Very pleasant experience overall, especially thanks to our chef. Unfortunately, the waitress had a terrible attitude and was not good at her job, but the food and the chef’s attitude made up for it. The seating situation is a bit too close to each other for COVID, might be a good idea to only let vaccinated guests in.

Review №187

2022-12-28 22:05:27

Im always love being in this place, but last time i didnt like the food my Sheff this time i was in training or something, its a place a little bit to expensive to have a really good experience especially with the food.

Review №188

2021-09-11 22:55:40

The food taste a little different. There were 8 people in our party, as I along with one of my sisters were celebrating our birthdays. We all commented that the food wasnt up to the quality and standards that it use to be.

Review №189

2020-02-23 03:28:49

Great food and great views right by the bay.

Review №190

2019-02-16 17:10:51

We showed up on time for our reservation and had to wait way too long to be seated.Food was good, but very few vegetarian options - all made on the same hot plate with the meat and fish juices, so if that conflicts with your diet, beware.Staff was nice. Cook seems board or annoyed, maybe not having a good day...The location has nice view of the water, but youre either seated with your back to the window, or too far away from it to enjoy the view.

Review №191

2020-04-04 15:41:02

Have been going to this restaurant since 2012 and it has went down in quality SO much. Disappointing. Spent over 130$ to get pickup and our food was not only cold it was WAY over cooked. The steak was burnt and the noodles were hard on top. I went and picked it up only 40 minutes after i ordered. No quality control. LOTS of oil. Burnt food. EXPENSIVE. Rice was great. Sushi was pretty good but i asked for extra ginger and didnt even get any at all. Pretty sad.

Review №192

2021-11-06 02:28:19

Who is reviewing this place? Rocky himself?This chain has gone down the tubes in such a bad way. We sat at bar to opt for faster service. Your fried rice is drawn from a urn of mass cooked and topped with garbage chicken. The service is slower than molasses. The manager is completely out to lunch, horrible experience and everone around was feeling the same way. Go here if you want to ruin a birthday or feel like u got kicked in the stones. If I could put negative stars, I would have.

Review №193

2023-10-26 04:16:54

Had a great time with someone I care about.

Review №194

2022-06-28 07:39:10

I Love Benihana, there food is worth the wait its umami flavored, every bite is delicous, the chef is super talented and fun to watch. The tables are shared so the seating is interesting. They are always crowded because there food is delucious and staff and workers are great too.

Review №195

2019-12-14 16:16:52

The food was good. But I had the worst chef ever he was so rude. If it wasnt my anniversary dinner I would of walked out. The one star was for himThe people in the bar were super sweet. And made up for it. But Im not sure Ill be back to this location even though we have a lot of memories here

Review №196

2022-03-22 02:49:46

TBH, the food was good, the service was terrible.I was served one drink then after the entire meal was almost over, someone came by and I let them know our entire group needed drinks. The waiter showed up by the time all of our food was finished. Very frustrating, he was not present during our entire meal.

Review №197

2023-01-07 02:29:02

Extremely rude, unprofessional and slightly racist attitude shown by management. Poor booking system and the Manager JAMES was very impolite while trying to resolve an issue. Been to many Benihana locations but this one in Burlingame just lacks the franchise standard of good service & management etiquette. Wouldn’t recommend to others!

Review №198

2022-06-25 01:11:19

Super fun! The staff was so nice. Great service. Even hugs at the end of the meal. Ive been to several Benihanas and this was the most friendly by far.

Review №199

2021-04-26 03:59:19

We had a great experience! We split the Las Vegas roll and the chicken hibachi.