I'm honestly not sure why this place has so many bad reviews. I've been here three times this year with my boyfriend and his family to celebrate birthdays..and every visit has been pleasant overall. The only slight hiccup was back in April..we had a little trouble understanding our server..but we still made it through a great dinner and the food was excellent. We returned in July and again in August for two more birthdays..and both times were solid. My favorite chef so far has been Mike (July). He was super entertaining and funny and really put on a great show for us. The chef we had yesterday (we were celebrating my boyfriend's mom's birthday and my belated one) wasn't quite as interactive..but he was fast and efficient..and the food was still delicious. I always order the Samurai Treat..the six course meal with steak and shrimp. Extra garlic butter is a must! I like my steak rare..and the chef yesterday cooked it..or should I say undercooked it perfectly. The chicken fried rice here is consistently great..so flavorful and yummy. Service can be a little hit or miss at times..but the restaurant is usually busy..so it's understandable. Personally..I'd rather have a slightly slower pace server than a server who's rushing to turn the table and drop the check. It makes for a more relaxed and enjoyable dinner. Nothing is perfect..but we've had a good experience every time we've come. We'll definitely be back! read more

I'll start this review by saying my first experience here was good but on 8/22/2026 I had reservations to celebrate my boyfriends birthday. We had a 7:00pm reservation and upon entering this place, we noticed quite a few people waiting to be seated. I had never seen that many people waiting and not seated at any place locally I have been too. They were backed up and even though we had a reservation, we had to wait behind multiple groups that were seated and were likely waiting a long time and we were only two people. At no time did they tell us what the wait time would be. Later after going to the bar and being ignored for several minutes until a bartender came up behind us to ask if we needed help, we got two drinks and my boyfriend went back to the stand to be told we had 6 people ahead of us. I was pissed off to say the least because we waited there all the way until almost 8pm and were never seated. They never once said anything to us and we decided to leave. It was utterly chaotic and the worst customer service I think I had experienced. I don't know if I'll ever go back or give this place a second chance. They need to close or not allow reservations on open table if they are packed and busy. I booked my reservation in advance and not on the day of. Also do they expect people to wait hours to be seated for dinner on a Friday night? I suggest you do not go here at any point after 7pm, you won't get good service nor get a table even if you put in a reservation. This honestly ruined my night since we had drive to go somewhere else and we had not planned on that. read more

I've been to this Benihana location on several occasions, but the last two times have been very disappointing. Today I went during lunch time (at 11am, not rush hour) and the server wouldn't check on us for long periods of time. We had to ask the host for water and boxes. The people next to us also complained about the server. I got the Rocky's Choice, with 2 vegetable fried rice and he gave us chicken fried rice. The problem was that the cook knew I ordered 2 rices and only had enough for one on the grill. He then asked the server to bring me an extra rice from the back. When it came out it was pale, cold, and half way served. Nothing compared to the rice cooked in front of you. This happened to me the last time I went to as well. Not only that, but the cook was giving the others extra rice and barely had enough for me. Not to mention it's $9. I had my baby with me and I totally forgot my meal came with ice cream. By the time we got the servers attention after like 15 mins, he came to charge us and didn't mention anything about the ice cream. Overall the service and food left me completely dissatisfied. read more

Living in the Bay Area for 20yr plus but this is my first time trying Benihana and i really love the experience. The chef kept everyone entertained with the tableside cooking, and the food was fresh and flavorful. The portions were generous, and the fried rice was especially delicious. Service was friendly, though it can be a bit of a wait during busy times. Overall, a great spot for birthdays or special occasions, and I'd definitely come back. read more

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You are definitely going to be paying for an experience when you visit Benihana. Our chef (Wayne), waitress, and wait staff were all wonderful, funny, and kind. The pricing of the food is unreasonable given the amount of food given, however the food wasn't bad, it was just "okay" We ordered the Benihana Trio, along with other sides like the crispy calamari. Crispy calamari was great although it wasn't nearly enough to share between our party of 6. The fried rice is a good and fun option, although it tastes better the day after when the flavors have settled. Filet Mignon steak option was okay but I preferred the regular hibachi steak. Shrimps were good and the chicken was decent. Nothing mind blowing but honestly just mid. If not for the flair from the chef, the food itself would be quite bland, but again you're paying for an experience. We went earlier in the day and dodged the crowd but the vibe is fun. Lots of families, friends and, strangers getting to know each other. But as we left, around 7-7:30 or so, the line was way out the door with so many parties crowding the doorway. My advice, make a reservation and make sure your entire party is there on time. Benihana is a fun "experience" and not much beyond that. Obviously for special occasions it's enjoyable but it's definitely not my choice for an everyday meal. read more

Benihana - Cupertino - CRISPY CALAMARI - Steakhouses Near Me - Cupertino, California

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Came here for a birthday party. Still good food and fun vibes as usual. Always gotta get their fried rice. Service is pretty quick for a lunch. The prices gotten crazy though. It's now over $50 for the 6 course set read more

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My family lovessss Benihana! We've been a fan for many decades. We've seen a lot of the changes but also the consistency of the restaurant. I haven't been to this location much but probably one of the better ones in my opinion. Hostesses were all nice and welcoming. We had a reservation for 5 on a Tuesday evening and it was packed so be sure to make a reservation online. Luckily we were seated promptly when our entire group showed up. A walk in of 2 sat with us. Three of us ordered the 5 course and two ordered the 6 course. I just realized none of us got the hot green tea it came with. Be sure to ask for it if they don't give it to you. The price has gone up significantly and if I recall correctly, it was starting at $45+. I got the hibachi steak medium rare and it was delicious. The steak was a little over seasoned but it was fine. Of course upgraded to the famous chicken fried rice as well. The food was good as I remember but nothing to die over. The chef cooking was great and it was nice watching the nostalgic show. Overall, everything was how I remember. The food isn't outstanding and it's definitely hard to justify the price since the foods alright but you're paying for the hibachi show. We enjoy the show and the atmosphere which makes it a place we like to visit on birthdays or special occasions. This location was good in my opinion and I'll be back if I'm wanting hibachi! read more

Benihana - Cupertino - Steakhouses Near Me - Cupertino, California

So we decided to go watch check out the San Jose Sharks in April and after the long drive from Sacramento decided we should probably eat before the game-after jumping on Yelp and looking for a solid spot we decided to go with an oldie but goodie-we headed to Benihanas in Cupertino. I've always loved going to Benihana-I remember the 1st time I ever went to one of their locations-dinner before my high school senior prom we went to the location in San Francisco-it was a magical meal and a great memory. Over the years I would frequent Benihanas whenever the itch for teppanyaki came up but sadly there are no Benihana locations anymore in the Sacramento area so now whenever I want to go to Benihana I have to travel to the Bay Area-that being said-I still really enjoy the Benihana experience and look forward to it whenever possible. So this location is located at a mall in the Cupertino area and when we got there we fully expected to enjoy the typical Benihana experience but I did notice it was happy hour and after looking at their offerings for Happy Hour I asked my party if they just wanted to do that instead and we did-was an easy switch up-we just grabbed a table in the bar area and we were good to go. When we sat down we started with some beer and they had really good happy hour prices at just $6.00 a glass and ended up getting a Sapporo and an IPA from Coronado Brewing. We started our meal with a bar only offering called Taste of Benihana($39.00).This item gives the following. Starter -choice of either Benihana Onion Soup or Benihana Salad Appetizer -choice of Edamame-California Rolls-Spicy Tuna Roll-Dragon Roll-Rainbow Roll-Hibachi Shrimp-Pan Fried Gyoza Dumplings-Tempura Shrimp or vegetable Entrees -choice of Hibachi Chicken-Steak or Shrimp Served with side of chicken fried rice or vegetables. I went with Onion Soup-Gyoza Dumplings-Hibachi Steak and Chicken Fried Rice. We added a Happy Hour pricing Spicy Tuna Roll ($6.00) and Spicy Salmon Roll($6.00) along with an order of their Black Pepper Teriyaki Tokyo Wings($12.00) I will admit we way over-ordered but I haven't been to Benihanas in more than a few years and just wanted to taste as much food as I could-especially at Happy Hour pricing. Let's rate it. -Onion Soup-delicious and comforting-7.9/10 item -Pork Pan Fried Gyoza Dumpling-pretty tasty and the dumpling itself had a nice chew to it-8.1/10 item Hibachi Chicken Fried Rice-just ok-lacked some flavor and didn't seem as fresh as I expected-7.2/10 item Hibachi Steak-decently tasting-seemed a bit thrown together but not in a good way-7.1/10 item Spicy Tuna Roll-rice was good but tuna didn't seem too fresh-6.4/10 item Spicy Salmon Roll-rice was good again but same thing-salmon didn't seem too fresh-6.4/10 item Black Pepper Teriyaki Tokyo Wings-Now these things were near perfect-I loved em-served very hot and with so much seasonings to give so much flavor-I savored these things so much-9.1/10 item When you eat in the bar the bartender does it all-takes the order-delivers the food and drinks and our bartender was excellent-I couldn't ask for better service. Parking at this location is plentiful as it's at a mall-so the parking is pretty much unlimited. In closing-Benihanas had me as a life long customer from the moment I walked in as an 18 year old senior in high school and they still got me today.Though I did enjoy the convenience of eating in the bar at the Happy Hour prices,the true excellence of this restaurant is truly sitting in the dining room and experiencing the excellence of their hibachi chefs preparing your meal in front of you-I will be sure to do that on future visits. read more

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The wait can be quite long, so either make reservations or come early to be prepared to wait. The table arrangement was small, so having 8 people was already crowded, so the couple that was supposed to be seated had to be taken to another table. Service was fine. Our server was fast and very thorough. I did not enjoy the upselling part. It's the same thing being said to nearby tables since I heard the same story a few times which was off-putting but other than that our food was good. The chef was amazing. The spicy tuna roll was delicious. I forgot which meal we chose but I chose the wagyu option. It was worth the extra money; so tender. My Diet Coke was refilled frequently which is so appreciated. For the wait and having to share a table, I would not come back. read more

I went to Benihana with one of my girlfriends to try their Power Lunch, which is more affordable than the regular dining experience. It's a quicker, more streamlined option, so don't expect the full teppanyaki show (no onion volcano here). The meal includes soup/salad, pre-cooked vegetable fried rice, and your choice of protein. My gf and I shared the protein: shrimp and fillet mignon. The chef prepares the protein right at the table and divided the protein for us, then moves on, so the service feels efficient and fast-paced. One nice perk is that if it's not busy, you might get your own table. It was just the two of us, which made the experience more relaxed. You typically have about 45 minutes to dine before heading out, which was actually plenty of time for us. We had a great time and didn't feel rushed. The ambiance was pleasant and noticeably quieter than the usual dinner service, which I appreciated. The staff were also friendly, which is always a plus. read more

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Bruh lemme tell you right now You know how bad a spot needs to be for me to whip out the negative yelp review? Our reservation was at 8PM. RESERVATION. We didn't get seated until 9:05. Our grill wasn't preheated so we had to wait even longer, and then our ice cream took 20 minutes to get here! I'm usually a patient person but like damn cmon now read more

Me too, like many other customers...I'm still waiting to be seated after an hour later. They sure suck! And this is a birthday dinner for our niece whose family came all the way from PA. They were impressed so far by every single meal in here except for this one. Now they are finally seating us and they are still missing a chair and seated two strangers next to us (we already have 7 people in our group). We had to ask for the missing plates for that missing seat repeatedly too. My SIL waited for half an hour for her cup of hot tea so that we could finally cheers. This is the reason why the last time I came here was 12.5 years ago and this is definitely the last time. read more

I am writing to share my disappointment with the experience my family and I had during our recent visit. We made reservations for 6:00 PM and actually arrived about 15-20 minutes early. Since happy hour was still being offered, I decided to place our order at the bar. Unfortunately, my two toddlers followed me to the bar, and I was informed that they were not allowed to be in that area. Because it was difficult to manage my children in that situation, I asked if I could instead order the happy hour items from our table. I was told yes, that happy hour was still available, and that I would just need to let the manager know. We were seated and waited for our server, who arrived at approximately 6:01 PM. I explained that we had arrived early and had been told we could still order from the happy hour menu. He said that would be fine but that he needed approval from the manager, Rebecca. While waiting, I could clearly hear the conversation between the server and Rebecca. Rebecca said loudly, "No, they had their chance at the bar. No, they cannot." She never came to our table, acknowledged us, or explained the decision directly. She also avoided making eye contact with us. This was very disappointing, especially since we arrived before our reservation time and only requested to order from our table because we were following the rule that children could not remain at the bar. We were simply trying to comply with your restaurant's policy while still enjoying the happy hour that we had arrived in time for. What upset us most was not only the denial, but the way it was handled. A brief conversation or explanation from the manager would have gone a long way. Instead, we felt dismissed and embarrassed. I hope you will review this situation and address how it was handled. We have always looked forward to dining at your restaurant, and I hope future guests are treated with more understanding and professionalism. Thank you read more

Benihana - Cupertino - Rude Manager - Steakhouses Near Me - Cupertino, California

Amazing food! We celebrated my Twins 8th grade graduation for dinner. We ordered the 5 Course Meals and had the: * BENIHANA ONION SOUP * BENIHANA SALAD * HIBACHI SHRIMP APPETIZER * HIBACHI VEGETABLES * MUSHROOMS * HOMEMADE DIPPING SAUCES * STEAMED RICE * Fried Rice * JAPANESE HOT GREEN TEA Protein: Filet mignon and chicken breast. Both were cooked well, and watching the chef prepare everything added to the experience. The meal is served in courses, so you eat each item as it is prepared rather than all at once. Everything tasted excellent! The onion soup was flavorful, and the fried rice was especially delicious. Service from both the chef and server was excellent. Although the meal is expensive for the food, the quality was high and much of the value comes from the dining experience and live cooking show. read more

We made reservation on weekday late dinner at 8pm, we arrived 15 minutes early, they didn't seat us till 8.15pm. They only will seat us until there's a group of 8 people to fill up the teppanyaki table. Once seated we ordered our drinks and food, and waited for one hour, yes one hour at the teppanyaki table for the chef to come. The chef was tired, he simply couldn't perform much cooking tricks, it's just a normal cooking routine. The food was good but the dining experience and the wait were disappointing. They also overcharged us, we ordered normal rice but was charged fried rice price. read more

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We brought my dad to Benihana Cupertino to celebrate his 78th birthday. Overall, it was a mixed experience, which honestly seems to be the norm here since every visit is a little different. Unfortunately, there appeared to be some kind of corporate event taking place in the front section of the restaurant, occupying the first several tables. The group was extremely loud. At one point, a woman screamed at the top of her lungs when the chef lit the onion volcano, as if she had just witnessed a disaster. It startled the two kids in our party and had everyone nearby looking around wondering what had happened. Our waitress seemed overwhelmed throughout the meal. Drinks were either delayed or never arrived at all, and another server ended up stepping in to help pick up the slack. On a positive note, our chef, Salvador, did a great job. The food was prepared correctly, tasted good, and the cooking performance was enjoyable. One recommendation: skip the gyoza. They were not good and definitely not something I'd order again. We do dine here fairly often, and every visit seems to be a different experience. Thankfully, we had a reservation and were seated relatively close to our reservation time. However, there have been previous occasions where we've waited 30 minutes or more despite having a reservation. Despite the ups and downs, we still come back, and we're looking forward to the new Almaden location opening. Hopefully it will provide a more consistent experience. read more

(Cupertino) Food: We ordered the 6 COURSE MEALS SERVED WITH *BENIHANA ONION SOUP (30 cal) *BENIHANA SALAD (90 cal) *HIBACHI SHRIMP APPETIZER (40 cal) *HIBACHI VEGETABLES (50 cal) *MUSHROOMS (20 cal) * HOMEMADE DIPPING SAUCES (10-170 cal) *STEAMED RICE (300 cal) *JAPANESE HOT GREEN TEA (0 cal) *ICE CREAM (90-100 cal) OR SHERBET (130 cal) BENIHANA TRIO (8.5/10)Filet mignon, colossal shrimp and chicken breast. Dish was cooked well. You get each part of the meal in portion so you eat depending on what he's cooking first not everything all at once. Food was well seasoned and tasted fresh. Green tea ice cream- 8.5/10 Onion soup- 8.5/10- very flavorful Ambience: has a bar and plenty of group sitting. Definitely make a reservation because the restaurant gets really full later in the day. They will combine small groups together if your party is too small. Service: great service. Server was really friendly and the chef on and off gives you a show while cooking your dish. We went for my mom's birthday and the staff was kind enough to sing her a happy birthday. Vegetables were also flavorful with its seasonings Price: It is very expensive for what you are eating. Although the food was delicious, you are going for the experience and show. Parking: plenty of outdoor parking in front of the restaurant read more

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Had an early birthday dinner here with my family and it was so pleasant! Our server Myceau was super kind, helpful, and attentive. He even took our photo at the end of our dinner and printed out a pic for us to take home! I ordered the yakisoba trio with fried rice and it was everything I wanted!! The sauce on the noodles has a subtle sweetness to it but it wasn't overpowering. The shrimp, chicken, and steak were cooked perfectly and so great with the noodles and veggies. The soup and salad appetizers were really delicious too. The dressing was tangy and umami! For dessert I had the green tea ice cream and it came with a little candle for my bday! So cute! We had reservations for 5:30 on a Friday and there was a short wait but it got pretty packed around dinner time. read more

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When I think of a birthday celebration, hibachi is what comes to mind. On a Thursday night, I was looking for last minute dinner plans to celebrate a very good friend. She had never been here before, and I love a great show with grilled meat. Thank you for living up to the hype! Christian happened to get our table, and have an old friend sitting with us. The energy was friendly, fun, truly engaging. Honestly, this is probably the best protein portions I've ever gotten at Benihana's. I can't believe how much butter was slathered on the grill, but...did I love every bite? I surely did. And while it took some time for the actual cooking to begin (I kind of think they were slammed on a random night, all the cooks walking away from tables looked like they had just gotten out of a really long surgery of some sort: tired, astonished they'd completed their job, and happy to be leaving the floor for the evening), our server was beyond friendly and attentive from beginning to end. I was appalled at the state of the women's bathroom, but as soon as I notified the hostess at the front, she rushed in to get the chaos under control. What a wonderful revisit of a place I've loved since I was a kid. Celebrating tonight was like getting the opportunity to celebrate MY birthday, which normally feels like a struggle to get through. Thank you for making this Sag's birthday one to remember. read more

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Why?!? How could you do this to me Benihana?? Leaving this review is particularly painful only because I've patronized this specific location for over 26 years and though had a wide array of experiences both good and bad (completely normal for a long term review) I really liked this specific location. Sadly, I cannot hide the fact that this location has become an utter nightmare to visit and is made especially difficult due to their reservation booking system (Open Table). Within the last few years, trying to secure a table even when using Open Table long in advance has lead to at least and hour wait after our schedule reservation just to get a table. THIS IS UTTERLY UNACCEPTABLE...especially since we live in a digital age where scheduling in advance is simplified by using services like Open Table. The problem with this Benihana is not that the place doesn't have sufficient capacity or there's extreme demand. The repeating issue I've had is that the management CONSISTENTLY and INTENTIONALLY allows the restaurant to get over booked. All they have to do is limit the total number of available reservation slots. Good luck trying to book the restaurant on Open Table. The last time I went, I had a reservation at 8:45 which when I arrived they were busy still seating people from 7:30. There were more than 10 parties ahead of us yet when I went on the app I was able to book tables from 9:45 to close. In the restaurant, they were unable to give me an estimated timeframe of how long I'd have to wait before being seated yet they were still accepting reservations. When this happens, the honest thing to do would be to shut down taking reservations and not continue to fool people into thinking they have a shot at getting a table. Eyes opened...disappointed by the dishonesty. Sorry Cupertino Benihana, your Chateaubriand is spectacular but your dishonesty is spectacularly disappointing. I would have posted this review on Open Table but unfortunately I had to use my credit card to hold the reservation and the restaurant cancelled my reservation so I wouldn't be charged. read more

Benihana - Cupertino - Steakhouses Near Me - Cupertino, California

Idek what's wrong with this place, they have the worst service and employees that don't care at all, all the tables and plates are unsanitary and not cleaned, they didn't give us water until an hour later and that's honestly the bare minimum for a restaurant to make sure their customers have some read more

Benihana is always more about the experience than the food, and this visit was no different. I had the scallops and chicken -- both were okay, not amazing, but enjoyable enough. The chef did the classic volcano, cooked up the fried rice, and served zucchini on the side, which added to the fun teppanyaki show. Overall, not the best food, but definitely a fun night out if you're in the mood for entertainment with your meal. read more

I don't think it was made with sushi rice.. Super weird taste and texture. Service was disappointing.. Was told to come before 11pm And the food was ready just after 11:10pm Also- I find it ridiculous to charge $2 for sauce.. it's like they would charge me for ketchup when I get an hamburger.. I won't be back. read more

Benihana - Cupertino - Steakhouses Near Me - Cupertino, California

Not exactly the Benihana's from the 90's as it is way more crowded. The clientel, well when you let your kids run around and you are wearing your hat at the table, you see my point? The bar staff were more qualified for a beer only dive bar as they lacked true craftwork when it came to mixing cocktails and they had a horrible attitude. Our waitstaff, cook and other guests were great. I even leaned that they have their own hot sauce called "Devil Sauce" that stuff was awesome! Also, fix the parking lot, my god, not everyone drives a 4X4 to dinner. read more

I've been disappointed before, but recently had a decent experience here. Our group of 8 arrived for a reservation at 6pm. Once checked in, it was about a 20 minute wait for a table. Highly recommend making a reservation for an early dinner (around 5pm) if you don't want to wait. Our waitress was very nice and attentive and our chef was great as well. Our table ordered a mix of steak and seafood and everything came out well cooked. It was about $90/each including drinks, so a bit on the pricy side. read more

Benihana - Cupertino - Hibachi grill - Steakhouses Near Me - Cupertino, California

I finally checked Benihana off my list because I'd always heard the name and had never been before. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to the hype. The food was just okay, especially considering the price. The biggest issue was the pace--we were there for over 2.5 hours. If you're starving when you arrive, be prepared to wait because the service was painfully slow. The restroom wasn't much better. The water pressure was so weak that it was difficult to wash my hands properly. If you're looking for great hibachi in the area, I'd recommend Kyoto Palace in Campbell instead. In my opinion, the food is better, the experience is much quicker, and it'll cost you about half the price. Thank me later! read more

Been coming here for my birthday for the past couple of years because it's a fun experience and the food always tastes good! They usually have a $30 birthday reward but now has a new program called Friends with Benefits that offers a $50 reward, I recommend signing up! I always get the Benihana trio that comes with chicken, steak, and shrimp with the 6 course round and it is so good each time! I got the lychee martini to drink and it was perfect. Would reorder that again! Pro note: Ask for diablo sauce, they do charge for each sauce so get the pint as it is a better deal. It has a really good spice and flavor. You can use the sauce on pretty much any of their dishes and it adds extra flavor! read more

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I didn't actually get to eat here, because my party arrived on time for our reservation and they told us it would be a 30 minute wait. 30 minutes pass, they tell us another 30. It's been an hour at this point, they tell us it could be another hour. 1 star for the service. I would get it if we were a walk in, but we had reserved it weeks prior. read more

First time having lunch here. We normally have dinner at the teppanyaki. It was nice to sit in the bar seating area. They were kinda busy. But, the service was good, especially from the manager, Andrew. Thanks for your help with the luncheon bowls. The menu was different online from the restaurant but Andrew helped us out. HIBACHI CHICKEN BOWL: Chicken Breast and mushrooms, grilled with sesame seeds. Served on a bed of vegetable fried rice. HIBACHI STEAK BOWL: Grilled New York strip steak and mushrooms. Served on a bed of vegetable fried rice. read more

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Food is not bad. I ordered the set that came with chateaubriand and lobster. The filet was tender. However the lobster I did not enjoy as much. The shrimp is better. Lychee martini was yummy. Service was mixed. I asked if I could use my $50 birthday gift from Benihana, and the host said "this time you can" as if I was doing something wrong and they were doing me a favor. Then I had an issue with my phone and needed to connect to the WiFi in order to get access and no one would help me. I just ended up paying in full. Our chef and waiter were nice. So of course I still tipped %20 as I received full service and people are working hard, but overall i was a little disappointed by management. read more

Mother's Day 11:45 am... our experience was different than other times. Food tasted different. I love the fried rice but this time it was garlicky or something. I ordered hibachi chicken, it was not like before, sort of chewy. Lots of butter in our food it left my mouth oily. I never order a drink I drink water but this time I ordered a coke, was watered down . Been here so many times and always leave happy and full with our picture. Being Mothers Day, it didn't happen. Not returning any time soon until I forget what a let down this visit was. Oh! The shrimp was good! read more

Benihana - Cupertino - Fried rice with vegetables on the side . Got tons of onions - Steakhouses Near Me - Cupertino, California

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Exceptional service by the cooking crew who put together my Uber Eats pickup order, Made sure nothing was missing. Cheers to becoming the Next top chef at Benihana, Robertin! What a great team! read more

Benihana - Cupertino - OCEAN TREASURE BENIHANA ONION SOUP Hibachi chicken Fried Rice - Steakhouses Near Me - Cupertino, California

Huge disappointment! My daughter requested to come here for her 10th birthday! It's a huge milestone and she loved Benihana. We made a reservation but they were "over booked and short staffed," so we ended up getting seated 40 mins after our initial reservation time. We had a party of 7 so going elsewhere "nice" close to 8 pm wasn't an option. We had 3 elderly grandparents with us too. They were all starving. The menus were not readable, it was smeared in grease. Only 2 out of 7 were readable. It was disgusting. The hibachi chef's performance was so underwhelming. My son and daughter were so disappointed and asked what happened to the performance. The poor chef looked over worked and tired. He was probably just trying to get through the day. He wasn't engaging and he didn't hardly do anything besides just cooking the meal and giving it to us. It was the grandparents first time there and they asked why there wasn't any performance. They were also looking forward from the advertisements they've seen. Not tying to be mean but the lip ring on our server was not something I wanted to see before dinner. We are inclusive but that was a bit much for us. It was the size of a nickel and unsightly. I honestly thought for a minute at first that it was a huge wound. Also, if they are going to advertise Wagyu as an option, they should really hand out some sort or menu or pricing. Our server wasn't very good at explaining or offering more information. The fried rice was so small, my kids asked why it was half the usual amount. The meats were also smaller in portion size than usual. At the end, the server took an unusually long time getting us the check. We waited and waited and then she gave us someone else's signed bill. When I asked about the kids Benihana birthday gift (a cup), she said it was only given out on Mon-Thurs. My daughter again disappointed. We ended up asking the manager why it was only M-T and she told us that our server was wrong. They do give them out daily. She told the server to provide us with a gift but we sat there waiting and waiting again. My husband asked the manager if she could assist and she said she was not able. As he was speaking to the manager at the host stand, the hostess stood there eating food in front of guests. We sat waiting and waiting for the server as people all around us had left long ago. Finally when the server came back, they were out of all the different figurines. There was only 2 to choose from. We got home 2 hours later and my daughter was so sad and tired. We tired to make her happy and said it was probably just a rough day for them too so let's try to be kind and understanding. She understands but can you imagine how we feel. We spent over $500 there. Truly disappointing! read more

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This is my 3rd complaint of the same order. After the online ordering wouldn't work not accepting any payment, I placed an order with someone on the phone named Adam for the sushi for 2 family meal for the Cupertino restaurant. I was told it would take 30 minutes. After arriving in 45 minutes, there was no order and nobody knows who is Adam. They guessed it was someone from corporate. I talked to a manager there, I think named Harrison, who put the order in and I wanted to use my Hibachi10 code for $10 off $40. He told me there were no orders so it should be quick. That was incorrect. I didn't receive my order until like 9:15 pm which nobody took my payment and the 2 Benihana salads were missing. They get Harrison and I paid him and he had to go get the salads. I originally tried ordering the meal online like at 7:20 pm and it took close to 2 hours for this restaurant to finally give me all parts of my order. I received a response from CJ, the general manager and tried returning his call on 8/11/26 and a bot named Alicia could not put me through to him. I tried calling again today, 8/21/26, and your bot Alicia would never give me a live person and the phone went around and around with nobody answering for more than 5 minutes. I called again and the bot Alicia answered again and again the bot just puts me through to an endless call ringing and ringing. Your restaurant has been the worst experience I have ever had in terms of trying to order online which never works, incompetence of the person who took my order over the phone and never told the restaurant my order (I thought he was at the Cupertino restaurant and had my order and didn't know he wasn't at the location when I called), then waiting 45 minutes for food when nobody was waiting at your restaurant and the sushi chef was supposedly not doing anything when Harrison told me the sushi chef can do my order right away which turned out to be 45 minutes, then not even putting all the items of the order into the bag as the 2 Benihana salads were missing. I am not surprised nobody was waiting to eat or pick up take out at your restaurant because nobody wants to wait 2 hours to get a take out order or sit there 3 1/2 hours to eat. I have sat at your restaurant to eat and it took 3 1/2 hours due to overbooking with no chef available to cook our order. We were there from like 8:00 pm - 11:30 pm I did not write a complaint about that experience. The chef cooked the table next to us, did 3 more tables, then hours later like at 10:15 pm was surprised we were still sitting there so he stayed overtime to cook our order which the show was severely short in order to hurry up. Your restaurant is the worse ever that I have experienced and has gone way downhill in terms of execution. The printer was broken that day and nobody received a picture. I used to eat there every year for my birthday and I will not go to eat there again. And I can never get a hold of CJ the general manager who tried to call regarding my first 2 complaints. I should have immediately written this 3rd complaint on 8/10/26 while waiting in the restaurant and my order was given to me with nobody taking payment in advance and with missing salads when I received the order. And it's so horrible all these bad experiences were for my birthday. read more

I can definitely understand that Father's Day is one of the busiest days of the year, so we expected some delays. However, our experience at Benihana in Cupertino was disappointing from start to finish. Benihana used to be one of our family's favorite restaurants, but it has definitely lost its touch. Our Father's Day early dinner did not go as planned. The food was mediocre at best--I'd give it about a 3/10. It was overly salty, and the chef wasn't very engaging. Part of the Benihana experience is the entertainment, but he only did about two tricks before rushing through the meal. Service was just as disappointing. Our appetizers were forgotten until our entrees were already being served, our milkshake never arrived, and after our food was delivered, no one checked on our table to see if we needed anything else. To make matters worse, we were seated in a corner right next to the garbage area, which made the experience feel even less enjoyable. The restaurant itself feels outdated, the bathrooms were dirty, and the staff at the front desk came across as rude and unwelcoming. Overall, this was a very disappointing experience, especially for a special occasion like Father's Day. Unfortunately, this visit felt nothing like the Benihana we used to love. I hope management takes these concerns seriously because the restaurant has a lot of room for improvement. read more

Benihana is a fun place to get teppanyaki and has good food, but the service and wait could be a hit or miss. My family and I have been there a couple times already to celebrate occasions. Although we make reservations days in advance, we always have to wait an hour past the actually reservation time, which can be extremely frustrating. Even after you get seated, you still have to wait a while for the chef to arrive and the waiters to serve you. It feels like they overbook people on the weekends. Location wise, there is lots of parking and the ambiance is lively. While the wait is long, the staff are still nice. Note that if you'll likely be sharing a table with other people as well, as each table has to fit 8 people. The chef is amazing and always puts up a fun show. I always enjoy seeing the onion volcano. For the food, I usually get the emperors feast with fried rice. You get mushroom soup, salad, fried rice, shrimp, onions, zucchini, chicken, and filet mignon. While the meal is quite pricy ($60), it is quite tasty. I especially love the fried rice since it very buttery and has a unique flavor. Overall, Benihana is a decent place to get a nice dinner, but you have to expect to wait for a very long time even with reservations, which can make or break your experience here. read more

I'm guessing most folks have been to Benihana or a similar place, but for those who haven't, it's all about teppanyaki cooking. The decor is definitely Japanese-inspired, with a big table featuring a flat-top grill called a teppan. They cook right at your table, which usually seats eight. I'm in my late 50s and have been going there, on average, twice a year for over 30 years. I went recently and have to say I'm kind of done. The night I went was the wildest I've ever seen. It was a Saturday, and they were running a special, so the wait was expected. More often than not, it's mostly mid-range. There have been times when the shrimp was lightly sweet and tender, the fried rice was comfort food elevated, and the steak was cooked to perfection, but that was more the exception than the rule. Unlike most restaurants, Benihana is an experience, which can vary depending on the chef, their personality, and skill, not only as a chef but with the entertainment. The night in question was the final straw for me or the nail in the coffin, whichever you prefer. The shrimp was almost flavorless, the fried rice was just as bland, and my medium-rare steak was tough and nearly well done. The staff was polite and professional as always. There were some hiccups in our order, but they credited the mistake. I don't see myself choosing to go there anymore, but if it's for a special occasion and I'm invited, yeah, I'll go and hope it's one of those rare times where the food exceeds my 30+ years of expectations. read more

Don't bother making a reservation, they won't honor your time! Had a reservation for 4 at 7PM. They continued to have us wait & have parties who didn't have reservations seated before us. Host stand doesn't give any explanations either. Worst type of service you can get from a restaurant that considers themselves 'fine dining.' Would be a 1 star, but I don't want them to remove bad reviews! read more

This place is a dump!! Close it down already. The ventilation is HORRIBLE you come out of there smelling like fried food from head to toe. You can see the cloud of smoke hovering over the entire dining area. Be prepared to wait a long time to be seated and a VERY long time to get your food finally cooking. They try and squeeze too many people in 1 table which is very uncomfortable. Be prepared to there 4-5 hours. read more

Another fantastic experience! We made our reservation about two weeks in advance and I even called the day before to confirm (even though we received the confirmation text). We had six people in our party, including some out-of-town guests, so I wanted everything to run smoothly. None of us had ever been to Benihana before. I had a general idea of what to expect, but the experience honestly started the moment we walked up to the front door. The entrance itself felt elegant, and when we walked in we were greeted with a burst of color, bright lights, and the lively energy of the bar area with both high-top and low-top tables. The staff was welcoming and organized right from the start. At check-in they confirmed our party size and asked us to take a seat in the bar area for about a 10-minute wait. We were actually seated in about four minutes. For such a popular restaurant on a Friday night, that was impressive. Honestly, even with a reservation I always expect a small wait -- that's pretty normal for busy places. Our table was a large booth in the corner that comfortably fit all six of us (and trust me, not all of us are exactly tiny ). Our waiter came over right away and explained how everything worked. He was fantastic. When we noticed a little smudge and a bit of dirt on one of the plates, he immediately replaced the tableware without hesitation. Drinks and onion soup came out quickly. If you've never had their onion soup, you're missing out. It has a rich, deep flavor -- almost a hearty beef broth with a lighter finish. It was so filling that most of us couldn't finish it along with the rest of the meal. I definitely took mine home and reheated it the next day with noodles -- highly recommend! The only "problem" we had was that we ordered way too much food -- completely our fault. Our waiter even warned us, but we ordered with our hearts instead of our brains! The real reason I wanted to leave this review though is the staff and chef. Our chef had been with the Benihana company for 25 years and was absolutely hilarious. The cooking performance was smooth, entertaining, and you could tell he had perfected the craft. There wasn't a missed step the entire time. The only small critique (which is why I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5) is that some of the food could have used a bit more seasoning, and the plate smudges at the start. Otherwise, the experience was easily a 12 out of 10. It was a fun night out, great entertainment, and surprisingly reasonable for a group of six. Thank you to the Benihana team for such a great evening. We're also excited to hear the Emeryville location is opening soon -- we'll definitely be back. read more