Benihana - Carlsbad, CA

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

Review summary

1. 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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2. 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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3. E

   Evelyn

   Los Angeles10 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 13, 2025

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

   Great food, good ambience, friendly staff and our chef was incredible.
   

   Benihana - Carlsbad, CAResponded on April 14, 2025

   Thanks for the review, Evelyn! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your dining experience at Benihana - Carlsbad, CA. Our team takes great pride in providing excellent service and it's wonderful to know that our chef made your visit memorable. We're also glad you appreciated our ambiance and food. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!
   

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4. L

   Leigh Anne

   San Diego2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 13, 2025

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

   Great food and super fun way to celebrate a birthday. We had three birthdays at our table!
   

   Benihana - Carlsbad, CAResponded on April 14, 2025

   Thanks for visiting us, Leigh Anne! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your birthday celebration at Benihana - Carlsbad, CA. It's wonderful to know that our food and the fun atmosphere contributed to making your celebration memorable. We look forward to serving you again soon. Best, The Management Team
   

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5. K

   Krissy VIP

   Los Angeles2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 12, 2025

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

   Chef Trevor was an absolute gem! We were celebrating my daughter’s 6th birthday and it was her first time at Benihana. He was amazing with her and she was absolutely enamored with his showmanship. Food was great and our delicious leftovers were perfect for our beach picnic the next day! This location was great - so much less crowded and chaotic than in Los Angeles! Was perfect for her birthday weekend getaway!
   

   Benihana - Carlsbad, CAResponded on April 18, 2025

   Dear Krissy! Thank you for the wonderful review! We’re so happy to hear Chef Trevor made your daughter’s birthday so special—what a memorable first Benihana experience! We’re glad you enjoyed the food and that your leftovers added to your beach picnic fun. We appreciate you choosing us for such a meaningful celebration and hope to see you all again soon! 🎉🍣🎈
   

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6. M

   Milena

   Orlando2 reviews

   2.0

   Dined on April 12, 2025

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

   It has been better. But only declining every year unfortunately
   

   Benihana - Carlsbad, CAResponded on April 17, 2025

   Thanks for the review, Milena. We're truly sorry to hear that your latest visit to Benihana - Carlsbad, CA didn't live up to the standards we strive for. We understand that our food and service fell short, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused. Your feedback is crucial for us to improve and we assure you that we will take your comments into consideration. We hope to have the chance to serve you better in the future. Best regards, The Management Team
   

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7. J

   Jamie

   Los Angeles2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 10, 2025

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

   We had a great time. Chef Zane was awesome! This places has really improved over the last few months.
   

   Benihana - Carlsbad, CAResponded on April 18, 2025

   Thanks for the feedback, Jamie! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great time at Benihana - Carlsbad, CA. It's wonderful to know that our team has improved over the past few months and that you found our service to be excellent. We strive to provide our guests with the best dining experience possible and your kind words affirm that we're on the right track. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!
   

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8. B

   Behnaz VIP

   San Diego15 reviews

   1.0

   Dined on April 9, 2025

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

   We had a confirmed reservation at 7 pm to celebrate my elderly mom The chef did not start our food til 9 pm !!!! We waited for 2 hours for our food !!! The level of noise also was unbearable we could not even hear any of our guests Food was ok Really a bad experience Such a long wait is totally not acceptable
   

   Benihana - Carlsbad, CAResponded on April 11, 2025

   Thanks for the review, Behnaz. We're truly sorry to hear about your experience at Benihana - Carlsbad, CA. It's never our intention to keep guests waiting, and we apologize for the delay you experienced. We're also sorry to hear that the noise level affected your dining experience. We take your feedback seriously and will address these issues with our team to ensure a better experience for all our guests in the future. We hope to have the opportunity to serve you again and provide a more enjoyable dining experience.
   

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9. D

   Desiree

   Las Vegas1 review

   1.0

   Dined on April 6, 2025

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

   Waited over an 1.5 hours over my reservation. My server left for the evening in the middle of dinner and I didn’t have a server until I flagged someone down at the end of dinner.
   

   Benihana - Carlsbad, CAResponded on April 11, 2025

   Hi Desiree, We're really sorry to hear about your recent experience at Benihana - Carlsbad, CA. We understand how frustrating it can be to wait over an hour for your table, especially when you have a reservation. We also apologize for the inconvenience caused by the absence of our service team. We're taking your feedback seriously and will use it to improve our service. We hope you'll give us another chance to provide a better dining experience in the future. Best regards, The Management Team
   

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10. M

    Malik

    Los Angeles1 review

    1.0

    Dined on April 6, 2025

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

    Our reservation was an hr behind, food also took exponentially long to be served.
    

    Benihana - Carlsbad, CAResponded on April 7, 2025

    Hello Malik, We're truly sorry to hear about your recent experience at Benihana - Carlsbad, CA. We understand that waiting can be frustrating and we apologize for the delay in service you experienced. We're taking your feedback seriously and will ensure that we improve our reservation and food service timings. We hope to have the opportunity to serve you better in the future. Best, The Management Team
    

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