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Benihana - San Mateo, CA, Foster City, CA
animated flamesBooked 62 times today

Benihana - San Mateo, CA

3.8 (115)
$30 and under
Japanese
2204 Bridgepointe Pkwy, Foster City, CA 94404-1569

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for groups
  • Lively
At Benihana San Mateo, California, our food is not only cooked it’s choreographed. You’ll find a dining experience unlike any other! Our guests are seated at a communal hibachi grill tables in groups, where your personal chef will perform the ancient art of Teppanyaki. Our chefs will have you craving for more as they slice and dice your meal before your eyes. Highly skilled and well-trained, your personal chef will entertain you as they cook such favorites as steak, chicken, seafood, and fresh vegetables in traditional Japanese style. You can enjoy sushi and sashimi prepared by a talented sushi chef and indulge in our famous, award-winning signature hot sake or a specialty cocktail.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Japanese, Steakhouse, Sushi
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 11:00 am–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–11:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual

Experiences

  • NEW! 45-Minute Power Lunch | Starting at $15.95

    Multiple dates available
    Introducing our new Power Lunch — a hibachi meal served in 45 minutes or less, guaranteed.* Or your meal is on us! Includes: Benihana Onion Soup or Benihana Salad Hibachi Vegetable Rice Hibachi Vegetables Signature Dipping Sauces Entrée Options: $15.95 – Chicken, Shrimp, or Tofu $19.95 – Filet Mignon or NY Strip Let the host know you're here for the 45-Minute Power Lunch upon check in. *The 45-Minute Power Lunch is available Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 3 PM, in the dining room only. No substitutions or modifications are allowed. All guests seated at a Power Lunch-designated table must order from the Power Lunch menu. This experience includes limited tableside entertainment. Offer available at participating Benihana locations only.
    NEW! 45-Minute Power Lunch | Starting at $15.95 Photo

Offers

  • $39 TASTE OF BENIHANA

    Multiple dates available
    Mon - Fri - 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM,Sat - 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
    Enjoy the flavors of our signature hibachi with an exclusive five-course meal for just $39 per person. Enjoy our fan favorites like our fried rice, hibachi steak or tender chicken, Benihana soup and signature salad, fresh sushi,  homemade dipping sauces, and more! Menu available Monday through Sunday in the bar and lounge area for dine-in only. Not available with any other promotions, discounts or promotions, including the birthday certificates. Tax and gratuity are not included. 

    $39 TASTE OF BENIHANA Photo
  • WAGYU OF THE WORLD MENU

    Multiple dates available
    Mon - Fri - 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM,Sat - 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
    Experience our newly added six-course Wagyu of the World menu! The unique menu features mouthwatering premium cuts along with flavorful pairings like our Benihana soup and salad, hibachi vegetables, mushrooms, steamed rice and more.  Ask your server for more details. Reserve now!

    WAGYU OF THE WORLD MENU Photo

What 115 people are saying

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

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

3.8
3.8 based on recent ratings
  • 3.9Food
  • 3.9Service
  • 3.9Ambience
  • 3.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Peninsula

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Benihana in San Mateo offers a lively dining experience with its entertaining chefs and delicious meals. Guests appreciate the "great service" and "amazing" culinary performances. While some feel the location is still smoothing out new-opening kinks, the atmosphere and food quality make it a fun spot for special occasions.
115 Reviews
  1. Amber

    San Francisco1 review

    3.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    I was excited to check out this new location since it is closer to my house. The inside looks very nice but they have a lot of work to do when it comes to the quality of food service. The place was super super smokey. You could even see folks waving their hands because of the smoke from the grill. I don’t know if the ventilation system on the grills weren’t working well or what, but please get this fixed. Our server was not the most interactive and very quiet. The amount of rice we got was very little compared to any other Benihana location. I don’t if it’s because of a the tariffs, even though the prices increases extremely, I would still think we would get the same amount of food. Even the vegetable sides they give you, we barely got any onions and zucchini. You would think we ordered a kids meal. It’s a great location and convenient but I probably will not be back to this location due to the small portions and very quiet non-interactive chef.

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  2. Sheri

    San Francisco19 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a great time celebrating a birthday party. Our chef was entertaining and dinner was fantastic. Steak cooked to perfection and the lobster was also done right. We also ordered the fried rice, it was delicious!! We will be back to celebrate another birthday real soon.
    Benihana - San Mateo, CAResponded 1 day ago
    Thank you, Sheri, for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic birthday celebration with us and enjoyed the steak, lobster, and fried rice. We look forward to welcoming you back for another celebration soon!

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  3. Rozen

    San Francisco9 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    I visited Benihana for a birthday celebration and had a mixed experience. Our server was very attentive and provided great service throughout the meal, which we appreciated. However, the chef who prepared our food appeared to be relatively new, and the performance—one of the key reasons I usually enjoy coming to Benihana—felt unpolished. There were a few noticeable mistakes during the cooking show, such as missing one fried rice order and deviating from the typical format of the Benihana experience. Additionally, while the food was generally good, the chicken fried rice and steak were slightly overcooked. Overall, it was still a fun evening, but the performance aspect didn’t quite live up to the usual Benihana standard.
    Benihana - San Mateo, CAResponded 4 days ago
    Dear Rozen, we're glad to hear that your recent visit to Benihana - San Mateo, CA was a hit! Thank you for taking the time to leave us such a positive review. We look forward to your return!

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  4. Claudia VIP

    San Francisco4 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    Not the same as the one in. Burlingame. The cook didn’t do as many tricks
    Benihana - San Mateo, CAResponded 4 days ago
    Thank you for your feedback, Claudia. We're sorry to hear that the experience didn't match your expectations compared to our Burlingame location. We appreciate your input and will work on enhancing the entertainment aspect.

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  5. Kimberly VIP

    San Francisco10 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great hibachi experience! We went for my daughter’s birthday in the new location and it was great!
    Benihana - San Mateo, CAResponded 4 days ago
    We appreciate your kind words, Kimberly! It's great to know you had a positive experience with us. We can't wait to serve you again.

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  6. Su VIP

    San Francisco170 reviews

    3.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Benihana is a fun dining experience. The food quality is good. Danny our chef was excellent. Value is ok. You go for the novelty not for cuisine. Steak a little skimpy , they fill you with carbs. Bar drinks are very expensive and small. Drink before you go.
    Benihana - San Mateo, CAResponded 4 days ago
    Thank you for your feedback, Su. We're glad you enjoyed the fun dining experience and Danny's performance, but we're sorry to hear about your concerns with portion sizes and drink prices. We appreciate your input and will work on improving our offerings.

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  7. Laura

    Orange County3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 28, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had the 45 minute power lunch today at new San Mateo location and all four of us were impressed! Wait time - we were few minutes earlier than our reservation time yet she seated us right away. There are dedicated tables for power lunch special so make sure you reserve this experience online and mention to the host. Menu - It’s a limited menu and everyone in your group must order a power lunch. There’s a choice of soup or salad and one of several entrees at two price points, all under $20 Food - our group ordered tofu, chicken, shrimp and filet mignon. The vegetables were precut and veg fried rice was cooked in back (not at table). Everything was excellent Benihana quality, and a good portion size for lunch. Great value under $20 so I will definitely be back for power lunch and the full dinner menu. I’m reluctant to post this review because once word gets out, this place will be packed!
    Benihana - San Mateo, CAResponded on May 29, 2025
    Thanks for visiting us, Laura! We're thrilled to hear that you and your group enjoyed your 45-minute power lunch at our new San Mateo location. It's great to know that you were seated promptly and that our Benihana quality was to your liking. We're glad you found our portion sizes generous and the food excellent quality. We appreciate your high praise on our menu, especially our two-price-point entrees. We're looking forward to your next visit for our full dinner menu and power lunch. We'll keep your review confidential to avoid overcrowding!

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  8. Felicia VIP

    San Francisco5 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on May 25, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    Horrible service from the front host station to the watered down drinks to the chefs very first time cooking. He made the rice last when everyone dinner was cold He didn’t give vegetables to everyone at the table. I feel bad that the restaurant made him go out and cook when he clearly is not ready for that. The bar staff totally slow and did not know how to make even the simplest drinks. Will never return to this location
    Benihana - San Mateo, CAResponded on May 26, 2025
    Thanks for visiting us, Felicia. We're really sorry to hear about your experience at Benihana - San Mateo, CA. It's clear that we didn't meet your expectations, and for that, we sincerely apologize. We take pride in our service and it's disheartening to hear that we fell short on this occasion. We're also sorry for the discomfort you experienced with the food and drinks. We always aim to deliver a great experience, and we clearly missed the mark this time. Your feedback is invaluable and we'll certainly take it into account as we strive to improve. We hope you'll reconsider and give us another chance to serve you better in the future. Best regards, Benihana - San Mateo, CA Management Team

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  9. Vickie

    San Francisco2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on May 24, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Good food and service. But new location is more Smokey and slippery floors.
    Benihana - San Mateo, CAResponded 4 days ago
    Thank you for your feedback, Vickie. We're glad you enjoyed the food and service, but we're sorry to hear about the smokiness and slippery floors. We'll address these issues to improve your experience on your next visit.

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  10. Becky

    San Francisco1 review

    5.0

    Dined on May 21, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food and and easier to get to verses the Burlingame, CA location.
    Benihana - San Mateo, CAResponded on May 25, 2025
    Hello Becky, Thank you for taking the time to leave us this fantastic review. We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed our food and found the location convenient. We always strive to provide the best experience for our guests at Benihana - San Mateo, CA. We're looking forward to your next visit. Thank you again for your kind words and support!

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FAQs

Benihana - San Mateo, CA offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (408) 914-7529.

Benihana - San Mateo, CA is rated 3.8 stars by 115 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Francisco Bay Area
  4. Peninsula
  5. Foster City

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Benihana - San Mateo, CA

2204 Bridgepointe Pkwy, Foster City, CA 94404-1569

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Foster City
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 11:00 am–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–11:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Japanese, Steakhouse, Sushi
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Visa
  • Additional
    Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, Wine
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