Benihana - San Diego, CA

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1. AB

   AmandaB

   San Diego

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined today

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Miles was our server and was fantastic! He was very energetic and you could tell he genuinely wanted everyone to have a great time. My husband and I don’t get many date nights and will definitely be back! The food was also phenomenal. Nicholas was our chef and he did not disappoint. Engaged the whole table as he cooked and it didn’t take away from the quality of the food which was absolutely wonderful. Very continuously impressed with the quality and service of the restaurant given that it’s a chain.

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2. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   San Diego

   1 review

   2.0

   1 review

   Dined today

   overall2food2service2ambience2

   The grill and table still had remnants of the previous meal. Large piece of onion on girls and rice sprinkled around grill and table. Chef arrived and started making our food. The grill was on too high and he had to serve us our rice on our plate without bowls because the server hadn’t brought them yet and he was afraid the rice would burn. Needless to say, not everyone got the same portion and our rice was cold by the time our meat was prepared. The salad and soup didn’t come out until after our rice had been cooling off - our soup was watered down and there was no cabbage in our salad because they had ran out. Later I heard a server tell other guests they had ran out of soup! Our chateaubriand was chard and dry and my lobster was charred and overcooked because the grill was too high and it wasn’t prepared correctly. Benihana has lost their unique service and delicious food preparation I learned to expect from them. It looked like most chefs and servers were new - I didn’t even see the same manager. Definitely disappointed - I’m losing my hope that it would return to their pre COVID standards.l

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3. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Los Angeles

   10 reviews

   vip
   3.0

   10 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   overall3food2service4ambience2

   It’s ok. For an Asian person

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4. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 2 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Benihana’s was an experience. Art Chef Kevin was very knowledgeable of the meal and he served us a delicacy. Good to know he was from the south as we are from Florida and North Carolina so we were able to engage in a bunch of lightnesses that come from the south. Learned a lot that you don’t do Yum Yum sauce in California but you do a garlic sauce. The party of 6 we came in with came for the navy family and friends day. We will come back to Benihana’s when we come back to San Diego.

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5. M

   Melissa

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined 2 days ago

   overall1food3service3ambience1

   I have been going here for years and yesterday was the worst experience I have ever had. They seated us in an area that was VERY loud. We are used to it being loud, but this was ridiculously loud. Our server was AMAZING the only good part of our night. First, I wanted to order a to go order to take home for my husband, but I could not do it from my table I had to go up to the lounge area to order it and miss part of the show. While ordering the to go order the cashier was very confused that I wanted to order the food but have it started in 10-15 minutes she just kept saying to me that I should come back which I did not want to do because then my food at my table would be getting cold while I ordered and I would be missing more of the show. I finally ordered but since my husband is lactose intolerant I had to request no butter when it wasn't on my receipt I had to interrupt two staff members who were chatting about a test they had to take to make sure they got the allergy information the girl (same one that took my order) said "yeah I have to go tell the cooks because I can't enter that" and seemed annoyed that I questioned her. I just spent $40 on a meal and if they put butter on it he would not be able to eat it. When I returned to our table I came back to not the normal show I was used to. The chef was not energetic and spoke so low that none of us understood him. Overall I was very disappointed. We were a table of 6 and I took food home to my husband so we spent over $250 for a poor experience. Not sure I will be back.

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6. TS

   TSherm

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 2 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   It was our first time there and it was an amazing experience! You asked about noise level and other than screaming kids (which I know you can’t help) it was fine!

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7. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   San Diego

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Great service and food

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8. JB

   JohnB

   San Diego

   2 reviews

   2.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   overall2food3service2ambience3

   If you don’t have the staff to run the restaurant then you need to cut down the amount of reservations you accept. I had an 8:15 reservation and the cook didn’t come out and start cooking until 10:15. If I would’ve been made aware of that before I showed up then I would’ve just came later instead of waiting in an uncomfortable chair for 2 hours.

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9. l

   leila408

   San Diego

   4 reviews

   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Was delicious 😋 we celebrated 2 birthdays, and got to use our birthday certificate. Everything we had was flavorful. Definitely will go back and try other dishes.

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10. MB

    MargieB

    San Diego

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Jesse, our Chef was Fabulous and very Fun! He really made the dinner and our experience at the Mission Valley Benihana memorable.

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11. a

    alvarog

    San Diego

    32 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    32 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    overall4food5service5ambience4

    Jake the chef was phenomenal!! One of the best and most fun experiences we’ve had at Benihana

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12. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Las Vegas

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    I know I provided a 5 star rating, and it is mostly deserved. Here is how the night went ... Our waiter, Brandon was attentive and didn't skip a beat. He was great! Our chef Pina (that is what the name tag said, but I don't think that was his actual name, and I didn't hear what he said it was), on the other hand, was a different story. The food tasted great as always, but the chef did manage to faulter in 3 ways, which made my sad because it was my birthday. 1st, he gave my son's extra rice to my BF when he ordered white rice, then I reminded him to please give my son's and my shrimp to the BF, which he again acknowledged. Yet, he put it on our plates, no more than 2 minutes after me reminding him. Lastly, he left the fat on my steak, which had never happened before. I was very disappointed by him. The manager had even come around to check on everything, but nothing had been wrong by that point. Overall good experience, and I will be back.

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13. TD

    TonyD

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined 4 days ago

    overall3food2service4ambience1

    The restaurant is run down. Oceanside is much better. I asked for separate checks and they didn’t do that.

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14. j

    jbers8

    Sacramento

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall1food1service1ambience1

    We were seated and our order was taking but not correctly. Asked to replace my soda as it was flat for water. Was still charged for my soda. Meal came and it was ok, not the usual level of good. Didn’t finish my food as my steak was super fatty. Then they took our payments and had us leave the table. Didn’t even serve us the dessert!! For $100 it was a huge waste. We hit fast food on our way back to the hotel as we were all still hungry.

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15. D

    Dave91942

    San Diego

    23 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    23 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall3food5service1ambience5

    This is the first time we've had sub par service at Benihana. The host staff wasn't very friendly. Our server was terrible. Hopefully he was just having a bad day but Daniel got our order wrong, didn't bring refills, and was basically absent for the entire meal. The good news is that our chef, Sergio, was outstanding and brought the Benihana magic back to life. He was able to fix the order mistakes and dinner was fantastic. At the end, Daniel brought the bill and my wife had to ask about boxes and ice cream. We're pretty sure he would have just skipped it if we didn't ask. Again, this is the first time we've ever had bad service at Benihana... so hopefully it's just a bad night.

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16. A

    Anna

    San Diego

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall3food3service4ambience3

    Been coming here for years and this was not a great experience. Not as good as it used to be and too expensive.

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17. SG

    ShareG

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall1food1service1ambience1

    do it eat here! even with a reservation, the wait is still 1-2 hours

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18. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    13 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    It das my friend Bday and we went to Benihana to celebrate it and I had a blast. We had to wait a long time to our chef come to our table but Ariel made it worth. He was funny and gave us a complete show . He’s definitely a show man and a great chef for sure. The food was delicious and my friend was super satisfied and happy. Definitely recommended

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19. EL

    ELee

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall3food3service1ambience2

    made reservation for 7:15pm and had to wait for the chef for almost an hour. not a pleasant experience when wait was an hour from the reservation time.

    Benihana - San Diego, CAResponded 5 days agoDear ELee On behalf of our team here at Benihana, we sincerely apologize for your experience and understand your concern. If you would like to get in touch with our team, please do so via the Contact Us page on our website so that we can further address this matter. 

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20. JR

    JenniferR

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall2food3service3ambience4

    We waited on the table too long 30 mins after we were sat down . Reservation at 7 pm we started eating at 8 pm .

    Benihana - San Diego, CAResponded 5 days agoDear JenniferR We apologize for your recent visit. To better assist you, please contact our team via the Contact Us page on our website.

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21. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall3food2service3ambience3

    This time the go

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22. KC

    KimC

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Excellent service, fresh food, relatively quick seating, and positive vibes.

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23. D

    Dinner

    San Diego

    29 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    29 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall4food4service5ambience4

    Fun spot for special occasions. Kids loved it! It’s pricey but enough food for two meals so take home leftovers. Great drinks, great food and excellent service!

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24. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 19, 2022

    overall3food4service2ambience2

    Take more than an hour to get our dinner prepare

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25. f

    foodie4life

    San Diego

    22 reviews

    5.0

    22 reviews

    Dined on June 18, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Our server (Jason?) and cook were great ! Service and entertainment made our meal most memorable!

    Benihana - San Diego, CAResponded 5 days agoDear foodie4life Your feedback is appreciated. We are pleased to hear we were able to create a great memory for you and your party!

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26. MW

    MeisjeW

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 18, 2022

    overall3food4service4ambience4

    Reservation was for 2 pm. We didn't get seated until 2:35. That was frustrating. Then once seated it took awhile longer for a server to tend to us. Then my husband ordered the "land and sea" and somehow they forgot the sea. The neglected was make his scallops and instead just said sorry we will discount Bill. They took 8 dollars off our 200 dollar bill, not exactly my idea of the 'big discount" the server promised. Service was also extremely slow. It was nearly 6 pm when we were done and out of there. Not interested in going back anytime soon especially for a holiday.

    Benihana - San Diego, CAResponded 5 days agoDear MeisjeW On behalf of our team here at Benihana, we sincerely apologize for your experience and understand your concern. If you would like to get in touch with our team, please do so via the Contact Us page on our website so that we can further address this matter. 

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27. M

    Mave

    San Diego

    4 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on June 18, 2022

    overall3food3service3ambience2

    Benihana is starting to look, smell, and feel old. The chefs and staff aren’t exciting anymore, they should refresh the table routine and act. The front desk ladies were leaning their head on their hand showing how bored they were, not something you want to walk into. And one was scratching her braids, ew, not the sign of cleanliness that you want to see when walking into a restaurant. The ceilings are stained, the tepanyaki grills aren’t clean anymore and they no longer offer to take a photo. The food is okay, but it’s not a special as it used to be.

    Benihana - San Diego, CAResponded 5 days agoDear Mave On behalf of our team here at Benihana, we would like to sincerely apologize for your recent visit with us. With your feedback, we look forward to improving the guest experience and would like to thank you for taking the time to share your review with us. If you would like to get in touch with our team, please do so via the Contact Us page on our website

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28. r

    ritak

    San Diego

    3 reviews

    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on June 18, 2022

    overall2food5service1ambience5

    The Chef at benihanas was very rude. My husband just told him that was not the kind of steak he chose and he told my husband “you don’t need to talk to me like I’m an idiot.” What? My husband didn’t say anything for him to respond like that. My husband apologized three times because that wasn’t his intention at all and the chef still didn’t accept it, he kept going back at the way he “spoke” to him. He didn’t say it rude at all….the chef was in a bad mood to even begin with. Ruined my mood and I didn’t even eat my food. My family and kids came to benihanas to celebrate my husband for Father’s Day because that’s his favorite restaurant. It just sucks that he ruined it for us….

    Benihana - San Diego, CAResponded 5 days agoDear ritak On behalf of our team here at Benihana we would like to sincerely apologize for the negative experience you encountered, especially while celebrating a special occasion. If you would like to get in touch with our team, please do so via the Contact Us page on our website so we can properly address your concerns.

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29. JS

    JenniferS

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 18, 2022

    overall5food5service4ambience3

    Our chef Tino was very entertaining. It was refreshing to see some new “tricks” and he was very personable! The food was delicious!!! We will request him for our next visits!

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30. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 17, 2022

    overall1food4service1ambience1

    The cook was very dry, hardly spoke, and gave my mother in law attitude when my son accidentally flicked his straw. We waited so long for our waiter. Hardly checked on us. I was stealing my kids water because I had finish mine and she was no where to be found.

    Benihana - San Diego, CAResponded 5 days agoDear Guest on behalf of our team here at Benihana, we would like to sincerely apologize for your recent visit with us. If you have not done so already, please contact us via the Contact Us page on our website. We want to thank you for taking the time to share your review with us and welcome you to ‘Copy/Paste’ your review in order to save time. We look forward to following up with you.

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31. B

    Brenton

    San Diego

    12 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on June 17, 2022

    overall3food4service4ambience2

    This experience started off really bad. When you have a reservation and you get there they tell you you will get sat the chef will not be over for an hour in a half. I know the chef doesn't come over to cook food right away but I have never heard an hour and a half. We spoke to the manager and he said a chef called out due to covid. 100% fine and understandable in this day in age but call people and let them know before you go all the way down there and then tell them and expect them to wait. When we spoke to the manager there was nothing he was prepared to do for the inconvenience and did not seem to care about this situation. We asked the host if we could just eat at the bar and they said they were going to be shutting it down to take the chef from that area to put on tables since they were so backed up. The manager said he could squeeze my wife and I in. From there the experience got a lot better. The 2 bartenders, one being Brandon, crushed it. The were really attentive and made us feel like our money was being well spent. We will be back but I will be calling next time just to make sure there is no back up on tables even with a reservation.

    Benihana - San Diego, CAResponded 5 days agoDear Brenton On behalf of our team here at Benihana, we would like to sincerely apologize for your recent visit with us. With your feedback, we look forward to improving the guest experience and would like to thank you for taking the time to share your review with us. If you would like to get in touch with our team, please do so via the Contact Us page on our website

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32. MA

    MonicaA

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 17, 2022

    overall3food4service1ambience1

    The restaurant was filthy. Food all over the floor, cooking area not clean. Had to wait 1.5 HOURS for a chef.

    Benihana - San Diego, CAResponded 5 days agoDear MonicaA We apologize for your recent visit. To better assist you, please contact our team via the Contact Us page on our website.

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33. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    4 reviews

    2.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on June 16, 2022

    overall2food4service1ambience2

    Made a reservation last week for today at 4:30 pm. Arrived at 4:15pm. Seated at around 4:45. We waited more than an hour and a half (stopped counting at that point) before a chef arrived at our table! That is WITH A RESERVATION! We were told that there were only four chefs on duty today. I understand being understaffed but why then are you still accepting reservations at full capacity? This was absolutely unacceptable. As we sat and waited for our chef, six more tables were seated in our area! I love coming to Benihana to celebrate birthdays but this experience has me looking for other options because an hour and a half is wayyyyy too long to wait when you have a reservation.

    Benihana - San Diego, CAResponded 5 days agoDear Guest on behalf of our team here at Benihana, we would like to sincerely apologize for your recent visit with us. If you have not done so already, please contact us via the Contact Us page on our website. We want to thank you for taking the time to share your review with us and welcome you to ‘Copy/Paste’ your review in order to save time. We look forward to following up with you.

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34. FL

    FoodLover25

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 16, 2022

    overall3food3service2ambience3

    There was a lack of chefs there so we had to wait over now before a food to be fixed and then the server was very overwhelmed kept forgetting things. However, the fried rice is always a winner

    Benihana - San Diego, CAResponded 5 days agoDear FoodLover25 On behalf of our team here at Benihana, we sincerely apologize for your experience and understand your concern. If you would like to get in touch with our team, please do so via the Contact Us page on our website so that we can further address this matter. 

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35. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Wilmington

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 16, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Graduation.

    Benihana - San Diego, CAResponded 5 days agoDear Guest Thank you for allowing us to be a part of the special occasion!

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36. DB

    DeniseB

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 16, 2022

    overall2food1service1ambience3

    We were celebrating a graduation. The waiter mixed up and forgot food items. I had to send back my sushi because the avocados were black and it was warm. My guest finished their meals as I waited for my food. I never got my food. We ended up paying the check and leaving. Luckily the waiter removed all the food we ordered but didn’t get. The cook was very funny and fun.

    Benihana - San Diego, CAResponded 5 days agoDear DeniseB On behalf of our team here at Benihana we would like to sincerely apologize for the negative experience you encountered, especially while celebrating a special occasion. If you would like to get in touch with our team, please do so via the Contact Us page on our website so we can properly address your concerns.

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37. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 15, 2022

    overall1food2service1ambience1

    Worst experience ever… made a reservation didn’t get seated for half hour later to a table that already was given their appetizers too. Was rushed to order and then when I mentioned that my wife is a vegetarian and she can’t have eggs on her fried rice they said we can’t do that…. I’m a Benihana pro… I know they can but they just didn’t want to. No diablo sauce, no sushi, took them a while to get the chef out and to get our check… just an overall terrible experience.

    Benihana - San Diego, CAResponded 5 days agoDear Guest on behalf of our team here at Benihana, we would like to sincerely apologize for your recent visit with us. If you have not done so already, please contact us via the Contact Us page on our website. We want to thank you for taking the time to share your review with us and welcome you to ‘Copy/Paste’ your review in order to save time. We look forward to following up with you.

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38. D

    Dids

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 15, 2022

    overall1food3service2ambience3

    Super delayed, cook was average, bussing service was slow. Didn’t remove dishes, etc. for the price, no way I’d ever go back.

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39. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Las Vegas

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 15, 2022

    overall1food1service1ambience1

    Terribly dirty. Food all over floors and just everywhere. Terrible service and management. I suggest going elsewhere.

    Benihana - San Diego, CAResponded 5 days agoDear Guest on behalf of our team here at Benihana, we would like to sincerely apologize for your recent visit with us. If you have not done so already, please contact us via the Contact Us page on our website. We want to thank you for taking the time to share your review with us and welcome you to ‘Copy/Paste’ your review in order to save time. We look forward to following up with you.

    Report
40. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 15, 2022

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Had some friends from Switzerland here, and wanted to show them a good time.

    Benihana - San Diego, CAResponded 5 days agoDear Guest Your feedback is appreciated. We are pleased to hear we were able to create a great memory for you and your friends!

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