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Benihana Monterey in Monterey

4.4 (199) 136 Olivier St, Monterey, CA 93940, United States

Location on the map

Monterey, Monterey County, California, US

Phone: +1 831-644-9007
Site: https://benihana.com/locatio...

Opening hours

Monday:12–10 PM
Tuesday:12–10 PM
Wednesday:12–10 PM
Thursday:12–10 PM
Friday:12–10 PM
Saturday:12–10 PM
Sunday:12–10 PM

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Total reviews rating 4.4

199 Reviews for Benihana Monterey 2024:

Review №1

2023-11-25 16:44:17

Great for that exquisite time for your family gathering. The service is great and food is beyond your expectations - order right though! And the chef is always prepared for some much laughter. The wait can be exhausting, so be prepared - reservations are highly recommended. But enjoy your experience with strangers looking for the same experience as you are seated with others to accommodate space and experience.

Review №2

2023-11-28 23:22:21

Had an absolute blast! The food was amazing! Service was fantastic. We came here for my daughters birthday and they did NOT disappoint! Would highly recommend but not if youre on a budget!

Review №3

2023-09-04 05:33:22

This restaurant cooks on the spot, and the performance is impressive. The vegetables were fresh and the beef was tender and delicious. However, the unfortunate thing is that the surroundings are noisy and bustling. The sound of the chef at the other table performing was heard at the next table, so communication was a bit difficult. And they think you should pay attention to hygiene.

Review №4

2023-07-07 22:42:58

Its BENIHANA! It is an experience. If you havent dined hibachi style here, you definitely want to try. It is fun for adults and kids. The food is good, predictable and very fresh. The atmosphere is perfect and great for large crowds. Definitely a tourist-y destination especially the one in Monterey, but none-the-less a great experience. Reservations recommended as it can be tough during peak times and seasons.

Review №5

2023-07-14 14:23:23

I had a good time, but the food didnt taste like it used to. I understand everyone is cutting costs,,, but for those prices they shouldnt be cutting anything but the food they are cooking!

Review №6

2023-08-25 05:49:22

Service and atmosphere is nice for a mainstream sushi place. Prices and the sides where pretty bad. Loose a star for the packets of name brand soy sauce. Yuck, what a way to cheap out your customers! Not to mention trash on my table the whole time Im eating. Take that savings to the bank Benihana! Gives it a McDonalds feel. Oh wait McDonald upgraded to little sauce cups for dipping and condiment pumpers at least!Loved the staff and the manager, but have to add my two cents easy fixes:Whatever that salad dressing was looked like poorly mixed miso with soy sauce and garbage flavor. Lettuce was the white ends of the head of lettuce like the bad part of the plant to eat.Miso soup was... not good... strange brown color and had a burned taste like no other sushi place I have been to. Just a watery mess.The sushi and tempura was good but had to share my case about that soup and salad. Wow. Havent paid that much money for food that bad in a while. Three stars for not messing up the entre.

Review №7

2023-05-23 17:20:43

It was fun! But when the meal was done and we all sat around waiting for the bill after waving down two different servers, we just called the restaurant on the phone to talk to the host to ask for the check 😂😅. It was a Thursday and not busy.

Review №8

2023-10-29 17:13:51

This place is a fun way to spend a special occasion! The food is good, and entertainment great. Make RSVP! The birthday song, and photo was a nice touch! 👌Make sure to buy their cup for a keepsake too!

Review №9

2023-08-26 06:15:39

Very delicious, good customer service. The rice is addicting. You can order the rice spicy which makes it that much better.

Review №10

2023-06-09 22:15:23

Make reservations would be my advise. Gets packed real quick. Food was A+. Service was great. Drinks were great. 5 stars

Review №11

2022-03-30 18:20:59

Excellent service and food. We had the fillet mignon for $31. You get rice soup, salad shrimp with your grilled meat. They also gave us a scoop of ice cream for free. The Teppan table sits 8 people. If your party is less than that you most likely will have to share a table with other groups. Its all about the show the chef puts on in preparing your food. I noticed some chefs are more skilled and personable than others. Its pretty much the same show and food that I remember them putting on 45 yrs ago.

Review №12

2023-10-14 06:24:04

We were in town and looking for somewhere to eat dinner. It was our first time at Benihanas, glad it was in Monterey. Our kids loved it! We went on a Tuesday, so it wasnt crowded, I imagine it gets crowded on weekends, so reserve table if planning on going. Its steps away from the fishermans wharf, where we walked after for dessert.

Review №13

2022-06-10 06:39:08

We had a great time at Benihana, I appreciate the fact they accommodated our big family. We had 2 tables next to each other, in which we had to reserve before arriving. It was a last minute thing and thankfully they had room for us. Yes it’s expensive especially if you start drinking 🍹. Overall we all enjoyed our food and they serve you large portions and with a scoop of ice cream 🍨 for dessert. Do come with an empty stomach. My Sake 🍶 hit the spot!! We parked our cars at he Heritage parking garage down the street, take your parking ticket with you so they can validate your parking. Great service, great time, delicious food thank you!!!

Review №14

2023-09-08 20:18:41

It’s good food, but outrageously priced. I got a kids meal with a lemonade and a vegetable plate/shrimp with a coke and it was over $70…….. and service took over 45 minutes even though we were the only people in there

Review №15

2023-08-28 20:56:38

Great! Just great! Food was delicious, people who work there are really nice and the chefs are incredible! The food is also really good and the drink selection is exquisite! I will be back ~ but on occasion (a bit pricey LOL)

Review №16

2023-09-25 23:05:36

This place would have gotten 5 stars, but the aerivice was very poor and unprofessional. I made a reservation for 8pm, I showed up and they said they couldnt seat me, so I patiently waited. Literally 45 mins later they said they can finally seat me. Other than that the food was amazing!

Review №17

2022-11-20 04:10:39

Not great. Not good. Save your money. There are a ridiculous amount of better places to eat steak and sushi. The sushi rolls look like they were purchased at a gas station and brought here in the dishwashers trunk. Also found a hair in my ginger. I dont think having one sushi chef on a Saturday night is ideal.

Review №18

2023-07-19 07:32:06

Bad service, be careful with this restaurant, we ordered food for seven people and we noticed it was a lot of food, so we decided to cancel 3 of the plates that we ordered before they were cooked. When we were already done eating and asked for the ticket, we noticed they still charged us for the other 3 plates we canceled, and only gave us a small discount for each plate we canceled which they never mention that during the cancellation, The hostess was in a really bad mood. I will never go back.

Review №19

2022-10-23 12:03:32

If you want teppanyaki fried rice, this place cant be beat! Its so good! Now they have a spicy option too and it has a lot of heat! The chef was fun and friendly and other wait staff was very accommodating.

Review №20

2018-04-30 22:47:18

I had a very nice experience today on Benihana restaurant in Monterey! We wanted to celebrate a birthday and we wanted something special. So we choose Benihana. Veeeery welcoming staff! Awesome food even if it was quite expensive. 😨😳🤪Carlos offered us a wonderful show on the table, while he was cooking our food. We laughed a lot and we really enjoyed our time there. I definitely recommend this place!(I didnt take more pictures cause I was taking lives while Carlos was cooking).

Review №21

2023-10-05 19:19:38

Day shift in the lounge area was practically a joke. Employees were distracted and gossiping so loud the entire time. One woman even started mentioning her sexual experiences and racial preferences in front of us. If that wasn’t enough, the salmon was cut so poorly I’m certain I could’ve done a better job myself. Overall embarrassing for tourism, especially given its location. Prices were way too high for the quality and experience.

Review №22

2018-08-30 06:31:49

Its always fun to bring people here for the entertainment factor. Youre paying the price as the food portions are small for the price. Ive been to several Benihanas and the performance is very similar.Because of the entrainment factor, it will not be a quick lunch. Service is fun and friendly.If you park across the street in the lot, get a ticket to validate for a parking discount.

Review №23

2023-07-23 04:22:06

Food is alright. If you have a big party, then youll fit in this place.

Review №24

2023-06-24 02:14:54

Wow! Vegetarian food here is 🔥🔥🔥🔥! My son got the Teriyaki chicken and loved it. I got the Yakisoba meal vegetarian. Wow! Listen, I’m a fan of the open bar seating. I’m sure the tableside chef show is great but I come for the culinary experience and it delivers!!! We had fun chatting with the gregarious bartender and watching baseball by the open door with the fresh air. So much fun! Such a great experience!!!

Review №25

2023-06-07 13:17:28

Food was great and service was excellent however my beer was warm and my wifes Tokyo mule was made with sprite (way to sweet) the restaurant itself is in desperate need of a renovation. Not impressed if your in the Monterey area skip this place and go to Sapporo. Just my two cents.

Review №26

2017-05-15 04:13:52

The food is good, the cooks are awesome, they put on a great show in front of you. Its to bad the waitresses are not as good, once you get your drinks, they dont come back.

Review №27

2017-12-20 21:01:11

Love the habachi. They slice, they dice, they trow a shrimp in their hat. Good times. But, I really dig this place for the lunch specials, especially the lunch boat. Salmon. Boom.

Review №28

2020-10-14 00:48:14

Omg !! So was able to have benihana tonight I got the rocky combo steak and chicken no veggies and the other has veggies with a steamed rice . Door dash did deliver and it was a super fast process .

Review №29

2023-06-20 07:06:29

Really enjoyed the show and high quality of the food.

Review №30

2023-03-20 00:04:34

There was only one server for the whole restaurant and God love her, she was amazing! I always had my drinks filled, and our plates were cleared right away for the next course. I think her name is Maggie. Our Chef was very nice and had conversations with all of us as a group and individually to make up some new jokes and pranks to play. They have raised their prices some but we were there to celebrate Christmas, NYE, 5 birthdays and a wedding anniversary so our minds were on food and our hearts happy we were all together.

Review №31

2020-02-29 15:25:14

My first time here and I loved it! Ive been to Monterey a few times and I honestly didnt even know it was here. Its not listed on any of the dining brochures and not on the main strip but definitely glad when I found it. The food was delicious, my filet mignon was buttery and cooked to perfection. Service was great. We got everything in a timely manner and everyone was happy and friendly. You get so much food its worth the price. Youre also paying for the experience and they put on a good show. The tables usually seat 8 but we were lucky and only sat with 2 other couples for it gave us some breathing room. I can see if the table was full it can get a little crouded. Overall I recommend this place to anyone who hasnt been here and will definitely come back again!

Review №32

2019-06-05 05:21:51

Family and I dinned there to Celebrate my Nephews 8th Grade Promotion. We all Sure had a great experience.Its was like sitting in the Dinning area and in the Kitchen all at the same time or more like having a live cooking demonstration with a side show.We felt welcome from when we first entered the door way. The staff was Friendly and professional. They have a great selection food items to choose from.For sure I know well be returning customers.

Review №33

2023-05-03 20:44:34

We asked waiter that we dont want any shellfish on a plate. I hope she conveyed it to the kitchen but she brought us back plates with fish and shrimps. Redoing the whole order was was a matter of 10-15 minutes but overall impression was was getting sour.

Review №34

2019-12-31 04:30:14

Very pricey, but worth it. About $45/person. Had the hibachi experience on Christmas eve. No reservation but was fit in with a reserved table - awesome! Great food and performance. Sushi, filet mignon, chicken, shrimpy, rice, and onion soup were all great.

Review №35

2023-09-05 15:28:03

Great location. Didnt take long to seat us even as walk-ins on a busy weekend.

Review №36

2019-11-05 02:23:05

Absolutely amazing! Our first time there for my birthday and my whole family loved it. Staff was more than nice! Food was great! Would highly recommend this place to anyone.

Review №37

2023-01-21 19:57:44

We had never been to a Benihana before. The hibachi style cooking makes for a fun experience and the service was excellent. The food wasnt very amazing though. It seems like any meat you could cook at home with a little sauce sprinkled on. Would love to see the food be as tasty as the presentation of cooking it.

Review №38

2018-12-24 16:09:30

My first time visiting and wont be my last. This experience was unique and fascinating. Let me aslo include it was delicious. The cook was awesome and very friendly as well as professional. The food is a bit pricey but fits what you will enjoy as a meal. I would recommend it 100%.

Review №39

2023-04-21 21:42:44

It was great food! Service could have been better! But I would go again! My husband salmon was overcooked! Our Tappan chef wasnt very good veggies were overcooked.

Review №40

2016-11-21 07:09:41

Nice and friendly staff. Food was ok, they served pretty big portions so we had plenty to take home. We came on a Friday night and surprisingly it was not packed at all like some benihanas that are usually very busy this one isnt.

Review №41

2023-06-12 02:12:34

Unclean restaurant. The food was poor quality - Teppan. The entire place including the restroom needs a deep clean. Its really dirty. Its horribly dirty. I do not recommend this place.

Review №42

2017-09-15 02:27:58

Had a delicious steak and lobster dinner! My sister loved her hibachi chicken and the sushi I got was great too. Ill definitely be back soon!

Review №43

2022-12-29 06:00:27

The problem with this Benihana is that they seem to have booked way beyond their means. The food was great 10/10. Its not really a reflection of the people there, they were great as well. Not just seems that when paying a premium for a meal like this you expect to not wait for over 45min on a chef to come to your table. The staff made it right however it is still no excuse for the excessive wait times. Involved, IMO.

Review №44

2019-12-30 03:11:58

Fun place for a birthday, but my daughter was disappointed she did not get to catch a shrimp in her mouth. Something about previous lawsuits...still, it was a bit of a letdown...

Review №45

2019-04-21 04:08:02

So much fun! The chef was great. Fun with groups. Had shrimp and hibachi steak, delicious. And the chicken fried rice was amazing

Review №46

2021-09-06 01:06:36

This place is always great, from the cooks to the wait staff. If your really lucky you will get justin as your waiter and miguel as your cook, the primos! Lol

Review №47

2023-04-02 22:30:06

I love this place, unfortunately my partner does not because of the communal seating so we dont get there that often. It is an unusual dining experience, alot of fun.

Review №48

2023-07-11 06:54:55

The food was incredible, but communication was difficult with everyone because it was so loud in the restaurant.

Review №49

2022-12-23 03:33:35

It was not their best night. The manager tried to make it right, but making a six year old wait until dessert to get his meal was just wretched. (And that wasnt all that went wrong. All our orders were wrong). The cook salvaged the night.

Review №50

2022-03-21 01:56:33

Great food and and our chef was entertaining

Review №51

2023-02-12 21:45:31

Havent been to Benihanas for ages! Still as I remember it, tho. Great food. Great service. And always a great time. My 7 yr old love his first experience.

Review №52

2023-03-29 02:31:50

I had a wonderful time with my family the food was amazing the service was amazing, Alicia was my server she was very kind help me order what she thought I would like most and it was amazing will definitely be coming back!!!!

Review №53

2019-02-24 06:15:20

Had shisimi unfortunately not the freshest but great drinks has me feeling like I dont mind the lack of fresh catch of the day. SERVICE WAS GREAT THANK YOU MIGUEL!

Review №54

2022-03-17 19:49:06

Wifey and I accidentally walked into this place 30 min before closing. After we realized our intake we decided to stay for dinner. After a long drive we werent in the mood for hibachi so we asked for a regular table. We had the tuna tartar based off another review and it was so good! Great recommendation! Our server had some pretty rude customers so we made sure to tip her extra as she was really good to us.

Review №55

2022-08-13 18:49:02

Super great place to eat, took our kids aged 7,9 and 1 yrs and believe me when I tell you our 1 yr old was eating everything and soup, rice, meat and chicken. They even had more than enough food in case the kids wanted to try something for their first time. I would definitely be returning for years to come

Review №56

2022-03-03 03:53:29

Hanging out with Beni, killer food and drinks. Dig the show, good times. Thanks again to the crew. ✌🤙

Review №57

2018-12-07 14:23:22

Food is made fresh for you. They accommodate for gluten free customers. The chefs do a good job. I just prefer their local competition.

Review №58

2023-10-24 00:55:21

Wow this place was really fun and great food to

Review №59

2021-06-07 04:17:07

We came here tonight for a staff dinner. The service was wonderful. With everything by owner is going through with the pandemic. Her new staff was amazing. We will back and recommend to our friends. Be patient and kind. Your food service shows with the kindness one gives. We highly recommend.

Review №60

2022-11-12 16:04:18

The atmosphere is great. I loved watching all the food being prepared. Food wasnt the best for the price. Fun place to eat though.

Review №61

2023-03-28 02:47:28

We had a great dinner and super service. Great cocktails, too. Will come back again.

Review №62

2022-06-23 00:38:00

A normal Benihana, which of course means it a very fun experience. We had Miguel as our chef and he did a very good job performing, and the food was also very good. You should definitely make a reservation because it gets crowded during tourist season, and they validate parking at the parking garage on the corner nearby

Review №63

2021-04-05 03:17:24

The food was absolutely delicious. I dont like seafood but I even ate the shrimp that was included as an appetizer with my meal. The staff were all very kind and provided quality service. The experience is one-of-a-kind. Cant wait to go back again. They are taking health and safety seriously which is also really nice to see.

Review №64

2023-04-05 22:43:09

Shrimp Fried rice, Scallops, Colossal Shrimp and Lobster is a must try!

Review №65

2023-02-11 03:36:24

Excellent service and DELICIOUS food!YOU WON’T BE DISAPPOINTED!!!My server was JR & Cook Was Pedro De A Kilos, 😉😝👌🏽 They’re Very Nice, They Went Above & Beyond!!!!!

Review №66

2020-03-06 03:51:42

It was perfect from the beginning to the end. The food was delicious and the service was great ☺ definitely going back.

Review №67

2022-08-18 19:38:46

It was our daughters first time going. They loved it. Our server and cook made it extra special for them! Food was delicious.

Review №68

2022-01-15 19:41:15

I was a little worried to read some of the bad reviews of this place, but I shouldnt have been. Its well-staffed by people who are courteous and capable. Our host in particular was excellent, and our table chef was wonderful. I had a tuna tataki appetizer which was just as incredible as my chateaubriand dinner. Service was fast with no waiting involved, even though the restaurant was very busy. Wonderful ambiance too.

Review №69

2022-02-05 07:24:00

Great service and food, best day yet of this new year!

Review №70

2021-07-15 05:10:51

We had a reservation for 6 pm. We were seated shortly after, then waited 1 1/2 hours to eat. The service was horrible, they were understaffed with the cooks, obviously, and only 2 wait people to serve the entire room. The parking was 2 blocks away. My husband is very handicapped so this was so difficult for him. They have an elevator which didn’t work. So 2 flights of stairs. The food was good, but didn’t make up for the rest of the evening. The staff was friendly. Will not go back.

Review №71

2021-11-04 17:33:31

The chefs seem to enjoy their jobs beyond capacity. Staff go above and beyond to make your late lunch or dinner enjoyable. Looking out the window youll find a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean.Totally wonderful place to take your family or a date for dinner.

Review №72

2022-02-27 16:28:08

My nephews birthday. Excellent chef and waiter. They even took a picture of the family for us. We all had a great time. Would go again and recommend.

Review №73

2022-08-12 23:07:48

It was a fun experience and the food was yummy. The chef was very nice and was great at his job. He made sure he had interactions with all his guests at his table. I wish I had a benihanas near by

Review №74

2022-12-26 03:04:47

The service was great and the chef was nice with all his tricks & stuff but Ive never tasted food that was so bland. Not worth it for the price.

Review №75

2021-09-21 16:30:52

I have always loved Benihana. It was my boyfriends birthday and first time ever. He really enjoyed himself. Our waiter Nick provided excellent customer service. Our chef Mele was fantastic. We will definitely be going again.

Review №76

2019-11-27 22:05:57

This place is just okay. The staff doesnt seem to care that much. They seat you kind of cramped with a lot of other people. I get that they want more people in one table so to speak but I barely had enough room for a plate. Still, the food was tasty and the chef gave a good performance. They paid more attention to the young children which was pretty cool as it got them still and paid attention. Not a bad way to spend the night.

Review №77

2020-02-16 16:05:28

First time time, we enjoyed the place and dinner, good entertainment and good company.

Review №78

2023-09-28 09:12:03

Amazing employees felt very welcomed :)

Review №79

2017-11-26 19:24:38

This place is all about atmosphere, but the food is still quite delicious. The spectacle here is very entertaining, especially for kids. It might be a bit much for infants (I was there with an 8 week old for his cousins birthday), but there are lots of things to look at. The chefs are good at preparing food to avoid cross-contamination with allergens, which is helpful. I recommend a reservation, especially if youre going for a birthday with a group.

Review №80

2022-08-29 21:10:52

Really worth it. Me and my partner split a meal and it was just right in terms of portions. Make sure to call ahead otherwise it can be very hectic

Review №81

2021-05-31 02:54:38

My son and I love coming here, even tho they were super full this evening they let us wait a bit and gave us a table. I was really grateful since it was our first day out since the pandemic started. Very polite and courteous.

Review №82

2022-04-27 17:05:05

Benihanas is a nice experience. But the food is way over priced with little to no flavor. I think for $400/500 for a party of 8 with 2 drinks the fpod should be great not flavorless. I would go to Sapporo way better food.

Review №83

2018-12-05 00:05:22

When it comes to the special place we love to gather for our birthday celebrations a few times a year. This is the very best to celebrate your birthday with the ones you love. I look forward year after year, for decades now to always celebrate birthdays. The food is amazing but depending what chef you get the seafood can be over cooked. The service can be unpredictable depending on the server and Chef. Some are fantastic and some are not so good. The owner lady is sweet and her managers of the restaurant are always nice and accommodating for any problems that you might have. When you want something that last a life time this is the place, for your birthday they always make you feel special with a ice cream and a picture that says a thousand words.

Review №84

2021-11-18 04:52:56

Well.. the show was ok.. maybe our chef was training.. it wasnt the best.. the food.. well again.. maybe a trainee.. everyone is short staffed so I really hate to complain. Fried rice was good.. filet had no flavor.. I believe he forgot the garlic butter. To top off our less then perfect dinner.. they had no tempura chef to make tempura banana. So we were told...celebrating my sons 18th bday.. he still had a great time.

Review №85

2019-06-25 17:57:42

Food was delicious and watching the chef is always amazing. Table was crowded, however and it makes it a little difficult with multiple plates and bowls and glasses smushed into your tiny, designated section. Some people dont mind being seated with strangers and it can be a great way to spark up conversation -- we talked movies and binge-worthy shows with some of our table mates--but be prepared for others who only want to talk within their group. Also, everyone at the table will know if you have allergies or food needs when you order.

Review №86

2019-06-10 17:21:03

Dont get me wrong. The food was good. The experience was great. We had a large party most of which had got here at our reserved time. But the staff refused to seat us until the entire party was present. I feel like they could have accommodated us seeing how we had nowhere to sit and we were all anxious to eat and get a few drinks in us. They kept saying the show cant start until we were all present. Hello!? We didnt need the show to start right away we needed service! Bad management call if you ask me. However we werent going to let that ruin our night. In the end we all had a memorable night.

Review №87

2023-04-14 22:47:24

Our Chef Carlos was awesome.He did some Kool tricks with the food.

Review №88

2017-04-04 10:00:43

This is mine and my boyfriends go-to place for anniversaries & birthdays. We are NEVER disappointed. Great food, amazing atmosphere & chefs. Love that the chefs are always a pleasure to have theyre always nice and have a great conversation. Food, is delicious.

Review №89

2018-08-22 16:08:22

The wait was short. Waiting for our chef was lengthy. He also had a cold. The food could have been great, but my steak was way over cooked. It was a typical Benihana experience, food hot, drinks cold. It was unfortunate, but I believe the chef had a cold. Im not always comfortable with illness and cooking going together. It was an entertaining night out with my hubby. Enjoy.

Review №90

2021-02-17 02:30:59

Food was delicious. Bar staff knows how to mix their drinks! The Mai Tai was strong and on point! Got to sit with a nice group of people celebrating a birthday. Its always fun mingling with others and seeing what they order and sharing in the show and some good food!

Review №91

2019-05-22 01:07:17

Visited twice here now, once on my birthday, and the other for graduation. The 1st visit wasnt too bad, the food was well cooked and well seasoned, but the cooks overall performance felt lackluster and pretty plain. The 2nd visit was the exact opposite. We got a good show, but the food was slightly overcooked and hardly seasoned.

Review №92

2021-10-30 01:08:24

Always nice, good food. I personally seat at the bar so the waiting time is usually zero. Great service, very attentive. Good place.

Review №93

2019-06-28 16:23:43

The food wasnt that great and costly. They seat to many people at a table. Everything was served by itself. Gave you your rice and maybe 15 minutes later you meat another 10 minutes for or veggies and another 5 t0 10 for mushrooms. Ill never go back. Much better Japanese restaurants for much less. Also their cooking show was very disappointing but them again Im a cook.

Review №94

2019-11-06 15:00:21

The food and the service are always great there.

Review №95

2015-11-12 11:44:08

My first and only experience at a Benihana and it was everything I could have hoped for. We had an excellent chef and the service all round was fantastic. The food was phenomenal (and such good value!) and my husband and I left knowing wed be talking about it for days. Please extend the chain to London, it would be incredibly popular here and I could come again without the 10 hour flight!

Review №96

2021-12-24 03:46:09

Double Birthday 🎉 🥳 celebration!Great dinner and a show for the whole family. Succulent perfectly cooked filet mignon, lobster busting with flavor, tender scallops, huge prawns, chicken fried rice, sesame crusted ahi tuna (rare), calamari steak and drinks and dessert!!

Review №97

2018-09-24 22:09:27

Louis was fantastic and put his personnel spin on the cooking. One of the best chefs we have had at the different Benihanas we have been too. We had a great time and looking forward to coming back to this location again!

Review №98

2019-08-16 07:13:03

Great food, service and show. Went there for our anniversary and took the grandkids. They were impressed. Loved the fact that they were using paper straws that held up the entire time we were there. Took a picture of us for our anniversary.

Review №99

2022-11-04 04:06:39

Service was very rushed. I had a drink from the bar and while I was talking the lady came & cleared it off the table, I wasnt done! Also, half way thru my salad she tried to clear that also. Very rushed to get us out of there. We were barely there 49 minutes from being seated to leaving the restaurant.

Review №100

2019-02-10 06:34:32

This place never disappoints. Great food and atmosphere.

Review №101

2018-07-02 04:32:40

Had reservations at 7pm. Did not even receive water until 55 min after sitting down and complaining about the wait. People that were seated over 20 min after us were served before us. The other two families sitting with us, one being a birthday, got up and left after we had been waiting for an hour. After a little over an hour sitting at the table the food finally arrived and was prepared. I ordered a six course meal that came with ice cream after. No one came to ask about the ice cream I wanted once my food was already eaten and the rest was in a to go box I flagged a busser for. I had to ask myself about the ice cream. This was my first and last experience at this restaurant. House of gengi in San Jose is WAY BETTER for the same cooked in front of you experience. $90 not well spent.

Review №102

2016-04-06 22:36:19

Stopped by for dinner on my last trip up to Monterey and although the food wasnt bad, it wasnt great either. Ive ate at several different hibachi style restaurants so that might be why I wasnt highly impressed with my meal or the act done by the chef cooking our meal. However, the main reason that my experience wasnt that great was due to the low quality of service that I received. We made a reservation and when we showed up, not only did we have to wait over 30 minutes - but the restaurant wasnt completely filled which makes no sense as to why we had to wait that long to be seated. Additionally, our server took forever to bring us our drinks and never asked us if we wanted a second drink until it was time to bring us our check.

Review №103

2018-05-09 01:49:04

This restaurant is my LIFE! They have amazing food like their shrimp, steak and chicken! I also have a tradition at every Benihanas at my birthday, so thats my considered bonus! Theyre respectful that I have a Gluten allergy and not putting butter on my food. I personally think that they should have at least one Dairy-free dessert, just in case - like dairy-free sorbet. But otherwise, I want to thank them for their lovely services and will plan onto coming back for more someday.

Review №104

2020-01-21 02:11:49

The cooks put on a good show, ours was very interactive with a bright neighboring 6 year old. I would definitely recommend you make reservations prior to walking through the door

Review №105

2023-05-07 22:25:35

Negelteced to tell my friend and I that it would be a 30 minute wait just to get a cook and didn’t get seated right away had to wait about 10 minutes

Review №106

2021-02-15 04:16:24

Today I placed an order at 5:58 and the online order said it would be ready ay 7:09, we arrived early around 7:00 and at 7:13 recieved a text saying our order was ready. I was standing out front waiting for the order as soon as we arrived, and the order was not called. I had to wait an hour after the order was supposed to be finished which was 2 hours after the order was placed. No food should take 2 hours. Most of the customers there were having a similar issue.

Review №107

2020-02-26 02:46:01

It is an average Japanese barbeque restaurant. Nothing too special except for the BBQ cook show? I have no idea what they call that. Anyway, it is a nice place to go for some grilled meat and enjoy a cook show that you probably will not be able to see anywhere else. Besides, it is a chain restaurant. So the food quality is not too bad, but dont have a high expectation in the meantime.

Review №108

2019-12-09 06:09:57

Worst experience in a restaurant ever. It took 40 minutes to get waters for the table, the chef wasn’t great. We had to keep going to the bar for our drinks because our server was no where to be found. The best was the server told us our cash was short when we leaving.

Review №109

2019-08-07 06:35:07

One of the best Benihana location Ive ever been. Came here for my birthday yesterday and sang me Happy Birthday, which was really great and the service was really great and the food was really great and fresh, Ive ordered the Seafood Diablo and it tasted really great and a little spicy but worth it. Highly recommend this Benihana Location. Also, really great to eat here for special occasions like your birthday. Finally, I would definetely come back here again.

Review №110

2012-06-03 17:45:41

The food was very good and the service was very good also! Having your food cooked infront of you is a great experience! Jorge was a awesome chef with jokes. If u can get past the fact that its a little smoky then youll have a great time.

Review №111

2019-01-20 04:36:36

Horrible service. Was turned away from the family style seating (with chef) over an hour before closing. Sat in the bar type area & had the worst service. Manager was working that area & she was extremely slow. Food came out cold, didn’t have utensils or anything to eat sushi with, rice came out over 15 min after the meal came out. Never coming back

Review №112

2017-01-22 19:55:47

We went to celebrate my sisters bithday hopeing for an unforgetable dinner.. Unforgetable yes not the way we were expecting. First took 30 minutes after ordering drinks to receive them by the time another waitress brought them the wiskey was watered down three drinks were missing and like the whiskey everything else was watered do to the ice melting. We sat down about 8:45 and didnt get a chef till 10 then the table across us sat down and had a chef in thirty minutes. The waitress was unatentive and didnt listen when I told her I wanted something different to drink and brought the same thing out to me I drank it trying to be polite and missed the bar do to the fact they close at 10 when we were barely being served. Yes the food was great and the cook was awsome. Mangment said they would take care of us but ended up seperating everyones bill so taxes were charged to everyone and the discount they had giving for bad service was almost none noticeable.. Overall we will most likely will not be returning wish I would had taken her to Bubba Gumps instead!

Review №113

2018-01-24 21:44:42

Went to this place with a Co-Worker for lunch. While eating our soup/salad the waiter came and took our food away from us. The bowl was right in front of us, as were holding our utensils, he just came and took it away. We had to tell him that we werent finish and he still took it. Waited over an hour for our food and ended up just taking it to go. Those who came in after us, and order the same thing were served before we were. Waiter was rude and seemed pissed off after our request to take the food to go. Asked for sauces to go as well and they only put one packet of sauce. Highly not recommended this place!

Review №114

2018-09-01 03:16:56

The food was cooked to perfection and the chef provided a great show. Everyone at our table was very happy with the experience. We would come back again for sure!!

Review №115

2021-12-03 19:14:54

Love it. Friendly costumer service. Food was excellent and the attention from them to you when your celebrating a birthday its unexpected.Thank you

Review №116

2019-10-31 01:29:52

Great people. Great service. Its a popular spot on the occasion so do Expect some delay in your food delivery time so dont freak out and enjoy yourself. They are awesome

Review №117

2019-02-11 05:32:11

My family and I decided to go to Benihana for dinner while we were visiting Monterey. We did not have a reservation but we were told it would probably be 30 min until some seats opened and we were ok with that. One hour later we finally got seats and then waited another 20 min until someone took our order and then another ten min until drinks came. Upon talking to other customers who had reservations and still had to wait a long time to get dinner, we came to the conclusion that it didnt matter if you had a reservation or not. Suffice to say we spent more time sitting around than eating and paid a lot of money to do so. Two stars because the cook was ok and the filet mignon was good.

Review №118

2019-10-25 05:20:07

Our chef Pablo was amazing!!

Review №119

2017-01-06 20:38:55

Came here Sat night to have an early dinner, looked on line and couldnt make a reservation. Said they opened at 5pm so showed up early expecting a little wait. I was asked if I had a reservation, Huh? Online said you didnt take reservations? She said they take day of phone reservations, Oh, ok. I know that for next time. Then was told their first available time for two would be at 7:30, WHAT!? You want me to wait two and a half hours?!?! I gave her my phone number in case something came up earlier and headed to the wharf to walk around.Ive eaten here before and the food and drinks are really good, the chefs arent quite as good as what I have had at other Benihanas, and the cost is always on the high side.I was called saying my table was ready at 8pm. Needless to say we just grabbed dinner on the wharf.

Review №120

2020-01-19 20:07:40

Food was ok, chef wasnt entertaining like Ive experienced at other similar restaurants. Experience felt like we were being rushed. Place was dark and needed a god cleaning. Go to Sapporo instead.

Review №121

2012-06-17 19:12:26

Mediocre at best. The soup was not good and the salad dressing was pretty bad (only one dressing option). I ordered the chicken and filet and both were very bland. The shrimp teaser was really good though (if I go back Ill be ordering the shrimp). The chef seemed unseasoned, he may have been new, and wasnt the best at theatrics. With Japanese Steakhouses, it all really depends on the chef I guess...

Review №122

2019-09-23 03:55:33

I always love coming here but today was especially good! I definitely recommend requesting Ray. Ive been here many times and this was the best cook weve had at the grill.

Review №123

2021-03-09 07:45:50

I’m never disappointed when I go to Benihana 🙌🏽

Review №124

2020-02-08 21:44:04

Hard to go wrong with Benihana! The sushi is just as good as their fried rice experience. If theres a long wait, hit the bar and have sparkling sake - its the best thing Ive ever tried and I only find it at Benihana!

Review №125

2019-10-09 13:38:50

I wanted Benihanas so badly that we went with our kids who were overtired. We had a table to ourselves, which is great, but my kids wanted food quicker than it takes the chefs to cook (which is fine). I was able to eat the chicken fried rice before my kids had lost their entire minds. I did feed my toddler some the salad and soup when it came out. Fast forward - my kid threw up in his sleep. There were particles of Benihana food. I was also very sick when we got home and just ate a Gas X. The next morning, my husband was gravely sick and had to doublefist Pepto. I do love going there but now it is just going to be a Never Again for us. Also, parking is atrocious since it is by the wharf.

Review №126

2023-04-07 13:59:20

Made a reservation, then waited 40 minutes without being seated. We finally left. This place employs people that don’t care.

Review №127

2017-02-08 22:52:01

The food here is extremely good; and for those who have not witnessed the excellent displays of culinary skills performed by the chefs-it is a must see at least once or twice. Love the chateaubriand and twin lobster tails.

Review №128

2018-03-05 17:32:29

We snuck in here late on a Sunday evening. First time at this location for us. We are Benihana veterans and have not hesitated to leave poor ratings for a few different locations in the Southern California region. This Benihana was a refreshing experience and a reminder that this is supposed to be good food with a show.

Review №129

2016-12-01 05:25:24

Geovani was our chef/cook and he was incredibly nice and set the ambiance. We came for a friends birthday dinner and Im not usually a big fan but geovani made it very enjoyable and I will be back and will request him. Great staff pick!

Review №130

2016-04-16 02:38:51

Super disappointed, especially after some great memories at other benihanas. We just felt robbed. We paid $10 for a kids meal that was supposed to come with 4 or 5 different items and we only got 1 time and had to ask for the others and even then they would not give us all that was advertised. I highly do not recommend coming here, especially with all the other good sea food options in the wharf.

Review №131

2017-07-27 03:45:04

Waited an hour after getting seated for drinks. Also waited too long for food. This place sucks from the hostess at the front door all the way through. I cant imagine how bad it must be on the weekend. Garbage.

Review №132

2021-10-12 22:31:34

Service was great, even though it was packed. The food was okay for a hibachi. Showmanship was okay as well. The total experience was good as a whole.

Review №133

2023-05-01 01:33:06

You have to share table with extrangers. Not cool for having a quality family dinner.

Review №134

2014-06-29 02:35:17

Wow! Wonderful Anniversary Dinner. I had the Colossal shrimp with filet mignon and chicken fried rice, hubby had lemon chicken. Every bite was perfect. Shrimp was fresh with a lovely firm texture, steak was amazingly tender, juicy and flavorful. Chicken yummy. Served with Benihana onion soup, Benihana salad, hibachi shrimp appetizer, hibachi vegetables, homemade dipping sauces, steamed rice and Japanese hot green tea. The tea was excellent, even the green tea ice cream ended the meal just right. Of course our knife tossing chef was wonderful entertainment as well. For our Anniversary they sang to us and took our photo which they gave as a hard copy as well as posting on their website to download and share. The only downside is the gals that describe the menu options and take your order are so soft spoken you cant hear them over the hibachi fan noise.

Review №135

2022-07-22 17:23:11

Recently reopened after COVID. A wonderful experience. Great staff and family friendly. Slowly getting more customers. Pass the word!

Review №136

2021-06-05 00:25:07

Benihana never fails. Always great service and food. Owners are so cute and remind me of my grandparents. Ive never had a bad experience here ☺️.

Review №137

2021-10-25 02:54:15

Krisella was an amazing waitress with an amazing energy and fun spirit! My family and I were visiting from out of town and received nothing but amazing service and even better food! :)

Review №138

2023-03-03 02:09:47

No way to make a reservation online as they dont pop up. Got turned away because they have a large party.

Review №139

2022-05-27 01:45:29

Great service. The chefs here are always top notch and entertaining. Great experience overall.

Review №140

2012-02-25 05:14:05

I had dinner here with some family friends who go every friday and know the owner by first name, so I may have had the ideal time, but everything was great. Classy atmosphere, quiet, food came quick and the sashimi plate was great - huge pieces of sashimi, and the green tea ice cream was delicious. I would highly recommend to sushi lovers

Review №141

2021-07-26 05:05:52

Waited 1 hour to be seated. After being seated waited an hour for food. Food was under cooked & tasted horrible. Wanted to wipe my to tongue. Paid $200.

Review №142

2019-05-15 18:55:53

Being from San Diego and coming to Monterey its a huge shock with businesses. They only do take out orders of FRIED RICE nothing else. Ever. I was placing a order for 5 people. They lost over $150 in a order for whatever reason. Ive never heard of no take out orders in my life. We dont have time to sit in and eat and having kids with us hense the reason for to go orders. Who doesnt do take out orders!?!?!?!? Worst business decision they could make. For that I wont ever sit in and eat here again.

Review №143

2018-06-25 20:51:40

Delicious... Great friendly staff. Definitely coming back

Review №144

2018-05-20 01:36:56

We had made a reservation for a party of 11 my daughter just graduated from CSUMB the service from beginning to the end was superb and the food and appetizer were delicious. Job well done guys.

Review №145

2020-03-10 04:16:02

Not too bad of an experience. The drinks were ok, food was great. Definitely would like to try it again sometime soon.

Review №146

2011-08-20 05:45:36

While it did take quite a while to get a resolution, we couldnt be happier with the way things turned out. Our first trip to Benihana Monterey left a bad taste, but the owner, Rumi, invited us back to give Benihana another chance. They took excellent care of us this time. Our dinner was excellent and I cant wait to go back. I would recommend going at the start of the dinner hour because they can get pretty busy. Definitely ask for extra garlic butter, you wont be disappointed!

Review №147

2017-02-20 00:56:45

Came here for my wifes birthday. Excellent fun - great show and great food cooked to order. When I asked for extra rare steak thats what I got...rare to find that in california.

Review №148

2020-06-26 16:00:17

It just wasnt up to par..Ive eaten teppan yaki many many times..Ive heard all the big names talking about Benihana so I went and was not impressed. The hot and spicy was too dang hot without enough teriyaki sauce 😥 Sakura Chaya and EdoYa Japanese in Fresno CA is better..Im keeping my butt at home next time 😁

Review №149

2023-05-12 20:56:17

Get rid of your receptionist / she hung up on us when we called to make a reservation, called back and said “oh”

Review №150

2019-11-22 11:35:43

This place is awesome. The food is so delicious. They have two sections, the sushi and the tempanyaki where they cook in front of you. This section is my favourite for family dinner out.

Review №151

2022-08-18 14:02:13

Honestly, this was the worst experience Ive ever had at Benihana. The chef was unenthusiastic and listless. He over cooked everything. Well never be back.

Review №152

2021-03-15 03:20:16

Terrible March 13th 2021 my wife called several weeks prior then four days before our reservation to confirm the teppanyaki tables were open mind you this was her birthday we had eight people my ticket for three was $250 its not what it used to be not friendly service the food was cold no teppanyaki table no apologies no good service the lady wouldnt even smile cannot even understand her seriously if it wasnt my wifes birthday I wouldnt have paid total of 5 to 600 dollars between eight of us I will not be going back to benihana sapporos is better its a shame that we love this place was a family tradition started in Orange county to see The rundown patio with shower curtains hanging on a shower rod for the prices they charge give me a break would have been better off at Panda Express no pride in the restaurant whatsoever no service then they charge to 18% gratitude believe me I didnt leave any extra I hope they read this review save your money go elsewhere

Review №153

2021-08-02 12:28:20

Dont go with people you dont know. The chef gave away part of our meal (shrimp)to the others, that was ordered by my wife and I. But the food and show is great

Review №154

2014-06-16 03:05:47

Would not go back to this restaurant. The hibatchi chef gave a very poor performance. The veggies in the fried rice were burned. The floor was filthy between the grills. Wait staff service was poor; couldnt even get singer sit sauce with the meal.

Review №155

2021-10-06 14:43:25

This is a great place to eat! Food and service were both perfect! One of my favorites!

Review №156

2012-12-19 00:45:37

Took my 24 workers for dinner they love it. They want to go there next year for our Christmas dinner again. If you want to impress a first date this is the place.

Review №157

2019-03-17 04:37:57

Amazing food, atmosphere, staff, and drinks!

Review №158

2023-04-01 04:10:52

The food was fantastic as always. Benihana never disappoints!

Review №159

2018-11-21 08:35:53

Always depends on the chef you get, but over all this place never fails you! Weather your at the grill tables or sit in .. ❤ Great soup and salad they start you off with!

Review №160

2016-10-11 21:02:30

Loved the food, chef was cool and fun to talk to, friends loved ut. Great experience. Satisfied every time I come!

Review №161

2019-09-29 03:22:28

Its all about the show and service. Food okay. Pricey, but you knew that already. We had a great time.

Review №162

2017-12-10 05:10:05

We had Miguel tonight. What a great chef. Also, we had a 615pm reservation and I guess the other party cancelled because it was just my wife and I at the table.

Review №163

2019-02-26 17:09:40

Dinner with a show. Our chef, put on a good one.Not a cheap meal.Japanese whiskey available. ( Very interesting ).You shouldnt leave hungry.

Review №164

2021-08-09 03:27:30

It was very good...food did take long and the cook could use some personality

Review №165

2022-04-26 13:07:26

I love the food here and the chefs are so entertaning.a little expensive but well worth it

Review №166

2021-10-30 03:32:20

Went there for my hubbys birthday have an excellent time and my two-year-old had a great time too.

Review №167

2018-11-08 20:41:57

Service is good. The food is typical, you know what you came for. It gets 4 because the scallops were tough and I added it. What a waste of money ok scallops.

Review №168

2021-09-05 03:25:01

We had a reservation at 8 and arrived 8:03. We waited til 8:24 before we are allowed in. I don’t understand what’s the purpose of having reservation if you needed to wait in lines anyway

Review №169

2020-02-24 23:56:14

Went to celebrate my birthday at this establishment and I was very disappointed with the decor and the food. I have been to other locations and have been satisfied.

Review №170

2022-04-30 04:34:34

Always a good time, great food and lots of fun! Go to spot for special occasions!

Review №171

2018-03-10 22:17:56

I cant say how the food was because we didnt get to eat there. We arrived at 2:05 on a rainy Saturday afternoon and their displayed hours state they close at 2:30. Apparently that means they close at 2:00 FYI

Review №172

2018-04-06 02:26:56

Always a good place to come for great food! Make your reservations in advance! The earlier the better! ENJOY

Review №173

2021-10-05 00:00:47

Never gets old, amazing spot in a good location...only thing is you have to pay for parking most likely since parking is limited there.

Review №174

2020-02-21 00:12:20

Always great atmosphere and food

Review №175

2019-01-21 22:45:58

Great experience, fantastic staff. Amazing food. Very accommodating. Parking sucks though.

Review №176

2017-09-22 05:19:25

Good place to eat. Had NY steak for dinner. Always got seafood before. Son got tuna steak, took bite surprise it was excellent too.

Review №177

2021-07-01 16:24:40

Food was great..took 25 minutes to get water after sitting down though

Review №178

2019-02-15 16:51:25

Always a great time here. The food is delicious and the show is very enjoyable to watch for the entire family.

Review №179

2022-04-23 04:23:26

Enjoyed my awesome birthday 🎂 experience here for the 10th year with Family and friends ❤️.

Review №180

2022-07-01 23:38:18

It was ok, just ok. Food did not have any taste... kinda of bland.

Review №181

2018-05-11 17:00:47

Good food, high price. Reservations usually not met, front desk isnt exactly the friendliest at times.

Review №182

2018-06-29 21:10:32

Excellent food and service. I just wish they had more seating for wait time, as there is almost always a wait

Review №183

2018-06-09 23:46:21

They make amazing food and put on a good show and now is a tradition in my family to go here during birthdays.

Review №184

2017-07-02 21:23:20

Took the family for Lunch Boat lunch in the sushi bar. Always love this deal. Service was good and food delicious.

Review №185

2018-11-22 04:45:37

Theybhave never failed me.... my husband and I come her about twice a year. Food and service is always on pint

Review №186

2019-11-01 23:04:23

Food was freshly delicious with so much flavor service is lovely everything was 100%

Review №187

2020-03-10 02:36:24

Fun place to go with the family

Review №188

2022-12-18 04:23:02

Family favorite for celebrating special events. Tonights chef Miguel, was great!

Review №189

2018-11-24 06:19:04

You can not go wrong with Benihana. Food is amazing, the cocktails are great and the show is fun times!

Review №190

2018-06-26 03:50:35

Got to the restraunt at 8:37, doors were locked, called them and told them we had a reservation at 8:30, and there was two people who haven’t even started the hibachi table, and said they couldn’t sit us there, and told us they couldn’t serve us when they close at 9pm.

Review №191

2022-07-31 17:33:01

It was delicious! Great service and great show 😊

Review №192

2022-10-29 06:30:31

Great Service! The food was excellent!

Review №193

2018-06-28 07:02:08

Good food and even better service. Waited a little longer than usual, but well worth it.

Review №194

2017-01-17 06:36:35

Loved it :) Amazing chefs and great prices when its happy hour tbh.

Review №195

2020-05-24 00:07:25

My favorite Japanese food I’ve ever had! Definitely get the chicken friend rice! It’s worth the extra price!

Review №196

2016-11-27 05:02:36

Bomb food, cnt complain. My girls love it here. Great place all around to come and enjoy the show 😎

Review №197

2021-08-29 02:32:17

Benihana was awesome loved the food everything was very delicious .. first time there I would come again .

Review №198

2018-08-31 03:49:26

A good,fun place for dinner, made a change from the usual caeser salad, burger, steak offer at most child friendly restaurants

Review №199

2019-06-25 03:53:42

Always awesome! The cooks are very entertaining. The food is delicious!