Benihana

I celebrated my birthday with a large group of my friends and family this past weekend at Benihana in Encino. I left there very unhappy and unsatisfied. All meals come with rice, mind you I ordered one of the most expensive entrees in their menu and they forgot to give me my fried rice. The chef gave everyone on my table fried rice except for me. I told the chef several times that I ordered fried rice and he ignored me the entire time he was there. My sister and her husband tried to order tempura asking to eliminate certain items due to dietary restrictions but they could not understand what she was saying and they canceled their order. Our waitress was no where to be found for the entire 20 minutes and I was not about to eat my entree until I had my rice. The waitress finally appeared to refill drinks and I told her that I did not get my fried rice and she gave me this evil smile and asked if I wanted steamed rice. I had no choice and then received it when everyone in my party was close to finish with their meal. I had also asked for water with no ice for my baby and the waitress still did not provide me the glass until we were close to finish eating,luckily I had a water bottle in the diaper bag. To be more insulted since I did not get my rice earlier my party had to wait for me to finish eating which gave them no choice but to sit around til I finished. My son who had two plates was also finishing his food he ordered along with his uncle and godfather's the portions, who both were not able to eat certain items from their entrees due to dietary reasons. While he was eating a waiter came over and took one of my son's plate of food. There was a lot of food on that plate. When I saw the waiter do this I asked the waiter what he was doing. The waiter ignored me and continued to walk away with a full plate of food. The waiter did not take any other plates that were empty. I was already mad at this point. I finally told my husband, who sat across from me at the table next to us,what happened and he got very upset. He thanked the our chef for the show and the fact that I didn't get my rice. We were there almost two hours and if they had done their service correctly we would have gotten out of there in an hour. I've been to many other Benihanas and I have always been happy leaving there but I would never recommend this one in Encino. Terrible service, poor communication from waiters, and you feel rushed to get out is the quality of service you'll get from this location. Pros: Food was tastey Cons: Poor service and Bad Etiquett more

I went to the Benihana (Encino). I was really shocked and disappointed. soup was salty, steak was salty, \r poor performance. Our chef was horrible!!!!!!!!!!!! \r \r This place is good for a tourist. more

The food is excellent. The chef's are always entertaining and very talented. Group seating makes for an enjoyable evening. Pros: Great food, friendly and entertaining staff more

We took my daughter for her birthday there in June and Travis Barker (of Blink 182) was on his way in with a friend. He let us take a picture with him. He was really cool! Anyway, we love their all their dishes, but especially the fried rice! Their pina colada is sweet, but that's how I like mine, yummy! Lunch is a lot emptier & a lot cheaper there, but it doesn't come with dessert or soup. We've been there a few times and the service is almost always very good. The food is almost always so filling that we usually take it home. The food is good even after you refridgerate it! more

the place is way overpriced for the small amount of food you get. the chef was awful. no personality from anyone on staff. waited forever for drinks and refills. not kid friendly. shrimp had a great taste and steak wasnt bad. soup was also good. Pros: valet parking, shrimp Cons: , service more

I went to the Encino Benihana because it was the original and it had been a while. I frequent many Tepann restuarants. I was shocked. The service was horrible! Our chef did not perform a single trick and it seemed we were being rushed out because they were busy. The food was okay but not for the price range you pay at Benihana. I have had much bettern tepann meals and much less expensive. Definitely not worth it. I pay much less at Kampai or Kobe and the food is better than Benihana. That is too bad because Benihana used to be the example of quality that all other Tepann reastuarants would hope to live up to. To make it worse, severall parties complained to the manager and all he did was give us coupons for complementary tempura appetizers for our next visit. As if I would come back! Pros: Famous Restaurant Cons: Poor value, Shadow of former self more

This restaurant was here when I was a young child, and that was a long time ago. I loved it then, and I still do today! They put on one of the best food preparation shows in the business, and the quality of that food, while not the absolute best, does hold its own against other quality Japanese restaurants in the area; and, I have eaten at most of them. As for the price; when compared to the cost of other Japanese restaurants in Southern California, Benihana's equates itself quite well, especially when you consider the entertainment factor of preparing and serving your food at the table; something that is unfortunately performed less and less at Japanese restaurants these days. Other restaurateurs should consider enjoying a meal at Benihana's; and, while they are there, take some notes on how to run a successful restaurant for decades! Sincerely, ~Greatroll~ Pros: Great Entertainment!, Good Value!, Quality Food Cons: Very busy area, Prime-time Crowds more

I loveeeeeeeee the food, however, it is way to over priced!! Also, I suggest you make reservations if you have a party larger than two. Pros: Yummy food, Saki Cons: Price, Valet (no choice) more