Benihana

This restaurant is only getting two stars from me because of the fact that the kids liked it. I went recently for a friends' birthday party. The food was about what I expected, more about the show than the flavors. The price, to me, was high for the quality of it. What cinched the bad rating from me was how the manager hurried us out. He actually leaned over and told a few of us that we had to go because there was another table waiting. Way to make our celebration special! Jeez! more

Benihana is a place often recommended for special occasions and for good reasons. Japanese food is a bit out of the ordinary (for me at least) and here it is wonderfully prepared. Yes, the chefs are amazingly skilled and put on a show, but also keep in mind that the food is delicious! I went there with a coworker for lunch and it was really reasonable (About $10 per person, before tax and tip). The "show" that the chef put on was pretty brief, but that's a good thing when you have limited time. The food was still amazing and I have to mention how good their green tea is--no sugar necessary. Benihana also gets bonus points from me as a vegetarian. I ordered the veggie yakisoba, while others the the table were having beef and chicken. I did get my food last, but the chef was very conscious not too get any of my food near the meat and even cleaned the grill completely before starting on my noodles and veggies. That's going above and beyond, without me even asking (not that I would have, but it was nice). The service here was also great. My tea cup never got more than half full. For those into this kind of thing, celebrities visiting Seattle can often be spotted here. I think this has to do with it being a well-recognized restaurant as well as its location across from the Fairmont Olympic (the highest-rated hotel in Seattle) The have pictures of famous folk on the walls to prove it. While I was there, 5 very tall men came and sat at the table next to us. I realized later in the day that they were players from a visiting NBA team. So that is an added bonus to an already-great restaurant. You never know who you'll run into there. more

If you're looking to go out to for a nice meal, that is also entertaining, Benihana is a great choice. The chefs cook the food right at the table and perform quite a show for the customers. At first it doesn't seem like you are getting a lot of food, but this is deceiving, as I can't ever finish an entire meal at this restaurant. The food tastes amazing! The best part is the fried rice, so make sure you order that instead of the steamed rice- you won't be disappointed. This place is a little pricey, but it is worth it. The only drawback for some people would be the fact that small parties share tables with other people that they might not know. I am a pretty social person, so this doesn't bother me, but if you are someone who doesn't like to talk to people who you aren't familiar with, then this place might not be for you (unless you bring enough friends to fill up an entire table). I highly recommend this restaurant- and especially the fried rice!! more

especially when you're at an actual benihana restaurant! great for large-ish groups but also perfect for just a few diners - they will always fill up your table if they can. the food prep is a show and if you have a really talented chef, you'll be dazzled. they cook it all right there in front of you, from the scrambled egg that goes into the fried rice to the last bit of meat. and in all my years of eating at benihana or benihana-style restaurants, i've never had a bad meal. the food is great, good for you, includes lots of veggies, and is just a really fun dining experience. more

Benihanna is just a lot of fun! You can't help but smile in here as you watch your tableside chef slicing and dicing and flipping shrimp up in the air and catching it on his hat. These guys really know what they're doing and they put on a good show. Not only that - the food is delicious! We usually end up with chicken and shrimp - and whatever else may be on special. Whatever you order, it's always delicious. You do sit at tables with other people - *gasp* strangers! But this can be a really fun part of the experience, if you luck out and get seated with fun people. (Usually the crowd at Benihanna is a fun one.) more

Hopefully everyone gets a chance to dine at Benihana for a special occasion at one point in their life. The hibachi-style restaurant is always brimming and humming with so many smiling faces, creating a great ambiance, especially for parties. The food is exquisitely simple and cooked right before your eyes in hibachi-manner. The chefs seem pretty worn out at times and you feel bad when they have to do the knife tricks that you know they've done thirty times already today. That aside, the food is great-- I especially enjoy the hibachi-shrimp. Make sure you order any side dishes right-away, sometimes special orders such as extra-rice or such can be lost in such a busy restaurant. Also, make a reservation for sure--- no sense in waiting two hours for a seat as some people are willing to do. more

This is a very expensive and simple food. Their foods are verytasty. They cook the food in front of you. In this way you can also learn to cook. But when you see it looks like it's so easy to cook and for this they take so much money but when you gonna try to cook at home it's nothing compare to them. If you tell them that it's your birthday they gonna come witha candle to blow and take a picture of you. more

Benihana has been downtown forever. I have many fond memories of this place. Especially good for children because it is so exciting to watch the chefs juggle knives and set the grill on fire. more