Benihana - Carlsbad, CA

Benihana - Carlsbad, CA reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Review summary

1. A

   Annette

   San Diego2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We celebrated my birthday, just me and my BFF we had the best hibachi chef by the name of Ray. He was totally awesome. He had amazing and fun tricks at the grill. He served us delicious chicken, beef, shrimp, veggies and fried rice! The food was amazingly delicious! He was so kind and so funny! He was very personable and made my birthday lunch so special! Thank you, Chef Ray! Our server was amazing. He had great hair and he kept filling my cup with green tea. He even served us really tasty chocolate and vanilla ice cream to me and my bestie for my birthday! And he even sang Happy Birthday to me along with my best friend! By the way, the server with the great hair! I didn’t get his name but he reminded me of Jimmy McNichol from da 70’s-80’s 😘…thank you guys so much and the manager came out to greet us…she was so such a lovely lady named Emily. I felt so blessed to be there this afternoon with my beautiful bestest friend in the whole wide world! And even the two gentlemen at the front door that greeted us were so very kind. Everybody had smiles on their face. It was like I walked into heaven. Thank you all again so very much for today!
   

   Benihana - Carlsbad, CAResponded today

   Thanks for the feedback, Annette! We're thrilled to hear that you and your best friend had a memorable birthday celebration at Benihana - Carlsbad, CA. It's great to know that you enjoyed our hibachi chef and the food, and that our team made your day special. We're glad that our team was able to create a warm and friendly atmosphere for your special day. We also appreciate your kind words about our servers and the welcoming staff at the entrance. We look forward to welcoming you back for more memorable experiences! Best wishes, The Management Team
   

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2. K

   Kay

   San Diego4 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 5 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Excellent location for celebration lunch or dinner especially with kids. Note the many special deals including the lunch boat meals available Monday through Friday. If you are not interested in the entertainment provided by the chefs at your table, the current $39 five course meal is a great value. Reservations highly recommended.
   

   Benihana - Carlsbad, CAResponded 4 days ago

   Hi Kay, Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your visit to Benihana - Carlsbad, CA. It's great to know that our location and special deals were to your liking, especially with your family. We're also glad that you found our special meal to be a great value. We appreciate your feedback about our entertainment and look forward to welcoming you back soon. Thanks again for your high ratings! Best, The Management Team
   

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3. j

   judy

   San Diego3 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We had Trevor as our cook and he was super energetic, fun and really made us have a good time for my daughters 16th birthday. We werw hoping we didn't get someone who would just cook and leave, we wanted someone who would make us laugh and interact with our party. Trevor was awesome!
   

   Benihana - Carlsbad, CAResponded 4 days ago

   Hello Judy, We're thrilled to hear that you and your daughter had a great time celebrating her 16th birthday at Benihana - Carlsbad, CA! It's wonderful to know that our team made you and your party feel like valued guests. We always aim to provide a fun and energetic atmosphere, so it's great to hear that you appreciated that. We're sorry if you were expecting a different experience, but we're glad we could deliver. We look forward to serving you again soon! Best wishes, The Management Team
   

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4. K

   Karen VIP

   San Diego45 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 24, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   Always enjoyable to dine at Benihana ! Delicious freshly made food and fun experience!
   

   Benihana - Carlsbad, CAResponded on April 25, 2025

   Hello Karen, Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you always enjoy dining at Benihana - Carlsbad, CA. It's wonderful to know that you find our food delicious and our experience fun. We always strive to provide top-notch service, and your feedback helps us improve. We look forward to your next visit. Best regards, Benihana - Carlsbad, CA Management Team
   

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5. F

   Frances

   San Diego8 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 20, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great dinner, our chef was so funny and the food was delicious!
   

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   Benihana - Carlsbad, CAResponded on April 22, 2025

   Thanks for the feedback, Frances! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great dinner at Benihana - Carlsbad, CA. It's wonderful to know that our chef made your experience enjoyable and that you enjoyed our delicious food. We noticed that you rated us a 4 on value, and we appreciate your honesty. We are constantly striving to provide the best experience possible, and your feedback helps us do that. We look forward to serving you again soon!
   

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6. J

   James

   Phoenix5 reviews

   1.0

   Dined on April 20, 2025

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 2

   Had a 7:00 reservation, showed up at 6:55. Told they are a bit behind and can sit us in 45 minutes? Kind of defeats the purpose of open table or making a reservation.
   

   Benihana - Carlsbad, CAResponded on April 21, 2025

   Thanks for visiting us, James. We're truly sorry to hear about your experience at Benihana - Carlsbad, CA. We understand how frustrating it can be to have a reservation, only to find that you have to wait for service. This is not the standard we strive for and we apologize for the inconvenience. We appreciate your patience and understanding. We hope to have the opportunity to serve you again in the future.
   

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7. K

   Kathy

   San Diego4 reviews

   4.0

   Dined on April 18, 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 3

   We had a very long wait at the table before a chef could serve us. They did bring a couple complimentary items to fill the gap but the kitchen is not organized at all. The chef was very nice. The food was good. The restaurant definitely needs an update. Just paint touch ups would do wonders so it doesn’t look so run down.
   

   Benihana - Carlsbad, CAResponded on April 18, 2025

   Hi Kathy, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience at Benihana - Carlsbad, CA. We're glad to hear that you enjoyed the food and found our service to be friendly. We apologize for the wait you experienced, and we're working on improving our organization to ensure a more seamless dining experience for our guests. Your feedback on our décor is also noted and we'll definitely consider it for future improvements. We hope to welcome you back soon for a better experience. Best regards, The Management Team
   

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8. M

   Michelle VIP

   San Diego1 review

   2.0

   Dined on April 18, 2025

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 3

   We waited seated over 1 hr past our reservation time for a chef to come to our table. We had 3 kids with us and it took 3 1/2 hrs to finish cooking our meal and leaving the restaurant. Very disappointing!
   

   Benihana - Carlsbad, CAResponded on April 20, 2025

   Thanks for the feedback, Michelle. We're truly sorry to hear about your experience at Benihana - Carlsbad, CA. It's disappointing to know that you had to wait beyond your reservation time and for your meal to be completed. We understand how frustrating that can be and we apologize for any inconvenience it may have caused. We're taking your comments seriously and will use them to improve our service. We hope you'll give us another chance to make it right. Best regards, The Management Team
   

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9. S

   Sheila VIP

   Los Angeles2 reviews

   1.0

   Dined on April 17, 2025

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 3

   Had 7pm reservation Was told we would be seated in 15 minutes or short time after. Was not seated til 8 And seems like they are short staffed as the table Next to us that seated after us received a chef immediately and we waited another hour before our chef arrived Ordered filet for most of our group and some shrimp. Neither were good quality and didn’t match the value Would not return to this location
   

   Benihana - Carlsbad, CAResponded on April 18, 2025

   Thanks for visiting us, Sheila. We're truly sorry to hear about your experience at Benihana - Carlsbad, CA. It's disappointing to know that you waited for an extended period of time despite your reservation, and that your meal and service didn't meet your expectations. We strive to provide our guests with prompt service and quality meals, and we apologize for falling short during your visit. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we will certainly address these issues with our team. We hope you'll give us another chance to provide you with the dining experience you deserve. Best regards, Benihana - Carlsbad, CA Management Team
   

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10. B

    Brooke

    E. Tennessee1 review

    5.0

    Dined on April 17, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    We celebrated my mother’s birthday at Benihana recently, and I can say with complete sincerity that it was one of the most memorable, joyful, and heartwarming dining experiences we’ve ever had—and that is entirely thanks to our chef, Zain. From the moment he walked up to the hibachi, Zain radiated warmth, charisma, and an infectious energy that immediately put a smile on all of our faces. You could tell from the start that this wasn’t just a job for him—he genuinely loves what he does, and it shows in every flip of the spatula, every sizzling burst of steam, and every perfectly timed joke. He didn’t just cook our food—he performed it, and we were lucky enough to be his audience. Zain went above and beyond to make my mom feel celebrated and special. He asked questions, listened intently, made her laugh, and treated her birthday like it was the most important day in the world. It felt like a private party—and he was both the chef and the star entertainer. On top of the entertainment, the food was absolutely delicious. Everything was cooked to perfection—the steak tender, the shrimp bursting with flavor, and the vegetables seasoned just right. But it’s not just the taste we’ll remember—it’s the experience Zain crafted around that meal that left a lasting impression on every one of us. It’s rare to find someone who can turn a dinner into a cherished memory. Zain did that for our family, and we are so deeply grateful. If you're ever dining at Benihana and Zain is your chef, consider yourself incredibly lucky—you’re in for an unforgettable time. Benihana, please recognize and celebrate Zain for his incredible talent, hospitality, and genuine care. He’s a gem, and because of him, we’ll be talking about this night for years to come. Thank you, Zain, for making my mom’s birthday so very special.
    

    Benihana - Carlsbad, CAResponded on April 18, 2025

    Thanks for visiting us, Brooke. We're overjoyed to hear that your celebration at Benihana - Carlsbad, CA was one of the most memorable, joyful, and heartwarming dining experiences you've ever had. It's wonderful to know that you found our chef, Zain, to be warm, charismatic, and infectious. We're also thrilled that you enjoyed our food and found it cooked to perfection. We strive to make every visit special and your kind words are a testament to our team's efforts. We hope to welcome you back soon for another memorable experience.
    

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