Benihana - San Diego, CA

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1. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   San Diego

   2 reviews

   2.0

   2 reviews

   Dined today

   overall2food5service4ambience1

   A little disappointed that upon arrival at 810, reservation 830pm, we were told it would be a wait to sit, and also once sat it would be an hour plus for the chef to start preparing once sat. We were there for our daughters birthday and ended up sitting at a regular table because of the long wait . On the plus side the food was great as always, the reason we keep going back to Benihana.
   

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2. W

   Walt

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined today

   overall3food3service5ambience3

   Over priced. Medium portions for the price. If you come here you are mainly paying for the entertainment. The chef was entertaining and fun to watch. Food was decent.
   

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3. VQ

   VQJAW

   San Diego

   2 reviews

   4.0

   2 reviews

   Dined today

   overall4food5service5ambience4

   The food and services were great. I felt it was expensive and crowded. The tables are so close to each other and the walls that wait staff have to reach around the cook and grills to refill drinks.
   

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4. k

   kellew

   Los Angeles

   3 reviews

   vip
   3.0

   3 reviews

   Dined today

   overall3food4service2ambience2

   They had issues with not enough chefs so we were there for over three hours
   

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5. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   San Diego

   2 reviews

   3.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   overall3food5service2ambience3

   The food was great but the chef service was horribly slow. It was over 1.5 hours after our reservation that our chef arrived to our table and started cooking. We brought this to the server’s attention, and it sounded like we were lost in the chef assignment and would be next. The pace did improve, and the restaurant gave us about 10% off our bill.
   

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6. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined 1 day ago

   overall4food4service5ambience5

   Everything was perfect except our whole table including me experienced too much salt in the onion soup. This never happened to me before & I do come a lot to Benihana also for some reason our unsweetened ice tea was very salty too. I guess they have been having problems with there tea. Other then that everything was great! Hopefully they fixed their problems. Very nice & fast waitress. Great cook! & great service! I love Benihana!
   

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7. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   San Diego

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined 2 days ago

   overall1food1service1ambience1

   Our reservation was at 6:30 and at 9:30. Service was painstakingly slow and we had to keep asking for everything. Three hours to eat, pay a bill etc.
   

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8. C

   Colossal

   San Diego

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   There were 5 of us celebrating my birthday as well as my granddaughter’s. The whole experience was great. Jesse, our chef was awesome, & the food was excellent. It is why it is our go-to place for any celebration.
   

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9. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 4 days ago

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Awesome experience at benihana for my excellent birthday
   

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10. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall2food4service1ambience4

    Had one of the more disapoointing experiences. They seemed to be short handed on chefs on a Tuesday night and food didn’t start cooking until over an hour after we ordered.
    

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11. G

    Garrett

    Orange County

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall2food5service1ambience4

    Our reservation was at 8pm. One person in our party was 10 minutes late, but the staff refused to check us in or seat us until the last person was with us. We ended up getting seated at a table at 8:30pm due to this. Our server did not help us until 9pm. We waited an hour after our reservation for any semblance of service. Our chef did not come to the table until around 9:30. We ended up leaving the restaurant at 10:20pm. Ive been here many times and have never had the service been this bad. Thankfully the food was delicious as ever but 2/10 on service...
    

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12. S

    Stacey

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall2food4service1ambience3

    We waited over an hour for our chef to arrive. Thankfully, he was great, which greatly improved the experience. It was busy but completely unreasonable to have to wait that long.
    

    Benihana - San Diego, CAResponded 3 days agoDear Stacey, on behalf of Benihana, we would like to offer our sincere apologies for the long wait time you endured during your last visit. We understand that your time is valuable and we are deeply sorry for the inconvenience this has caused you. Please feel free to contact us with further details regarding this experience by visiting our Contact Us page on our website.
    

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13. JU

    JULIEC

    San Diego

    4 reviews

    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall4food5service2ambience5

    We loved everything but the parking lot is a way too small ... my husband spent 20 min to find room. And then, when we came inside (at the exact time), the guy who was at the entrance was so rude. No hi no welcome nothing.... honestly if i didn t know food and cooks were good, i would left... i know how hard it is to hire these days but if that guy doesn t want to smile and to do his job, he sould go in the back...
    

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14. RS

    RobertS

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall5food5service4ambience4

    rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
    

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15. VG

    VioletG

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 21 May 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5

    First time going and overall loved the experience but brinks did take awhile and also when the server went on break no one took care of us and they forgot a item of the family would was put at the same table with us and I had to say something
    

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16. SP

    StaceyP

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on 21 May 2023

    overall2food3service1ambience3

    I love Benihana, but this was the worse experience. we waited 15 minutes to be seated, which was not bad, but then another 15 minutes before they took our drink order, then were out of 2 of the 3 drink choices my friend (the birthday boy) tried to order. We waited an entire hour before the chef came out! People at nearby tables that were seated AFTER us were eating before our chef even started. And the chef wasn't good, no personality, over seasoned the food, over cooked the shrimp and the server was no where to be found to refill drinks! Horrible!!!
    

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17. v

    vphung

    San Diego

    39 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    39 reviews

    Dined on 21 May 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience4

    Our server Jordan was great. All on top of what we need.
    

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18. LE

    LouEastMeadow

    San Diego

    52 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    52 reviews

    Dined on 21 May 2023

    overall3food5service3ambience4

    The server was very late getting to our table. They must have been shorthanded because the chef got to our table even before our salads came out. The chef was excellent and had great skills. The food was delicious. When it came time to pay, we had a $50 coupon and a $10 promotional coupon. The $10 coupon was denied because they said that it was not in effect yet. I had received an email for a Mother's Day promotion and, at the time, I decided not to take advantage of it then. Our visit last night would have been within the eligibility window. I mistakenly chose to get a Father's day promo (same), but when I went to redeem it, they cited it was not in effect yet. Great bait and switch Benihana. I urge all future customers who are interested in getting any promotional offers from Benihana, to be VERY careful about the dates of eligibility because there is no flexibility on their part. Better yet, don't get them at all. Also, they state that the promo coupons are only eligible for redemption at 1pp per visit, yet, when I called them ahead of time, they then told me that it was only good for one coupon per reservation. Another bait and switch scheme. If you but $200 in gift coupons, they will give you 6-$10 promo cards and they are only good for about a month, so you would have to go 6 times in that time period in order to take advantage of all of the promo cards! Again, pretty sneaky. How many people would be willing to go to a restaurant that many times in a month? Benihana is guilty of deceptive advertising and shady promotional card practices.
    

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19. NG

    NancyG

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 21 May 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    We celebrated our sons birthday we had a wonderful time.
    

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20. CS

    CoreyS

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    1.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 20 May 2023

    overall1food3service3ambience3

    We FROZE while trying to enjoy dinner. Be aware that the last room is very cold and they cannot turn the AC down. Vent close to table, it was not fun. Food quality shifted. It's not as fresh, tasty as years past. We've been coming for 30 years. Cocktails are mostly pre-made out of a bottle, so stick to wine. For 3 of us bill came to $340.00 with tip. Not going back anytime soon.
    

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21. F

    Foodie

    San Diego

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on 20 May 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Always a great time here. Atmosphere was perfect, service was great and our chef was lots of fun. Food was delicious and filling as always.
    

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22. RA

    RADSDAD

    San Diego

    17 reviews

    2.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on 19 May 2023

    overall2food4service1ambience3

    Benihana continues to disappoint and is a shadow of the experiences we had 5,10,20 years ago. Service has been consistently bad for our last 3 visits. The place is way understaffed, so expect to wait 60-90min after being seated for your chef to arrive.
    

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23. MB

    MikeB

    San Diego

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 19 May 2023

    overall3food2service4ambience3

    The chef put a lot of pepper on the food. Seem like he was very new at cooking.
    

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24. JO

    JoseO

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 18 May 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Jesse our chef was awesome, Sergio the server was great as well. Good combo team. Food was excellent.
    

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25. MA

    MARTAW

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 18 May 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Need support for them to communicate with deaf/ or hard of hearing on table/teppan(er) while we eat.. We impressed with our service who was a great patience with us yesterday evening.. We will come back next time.
    

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26. SM

    ShaunaM

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 18 May 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Amazing service. Ricky was awesome 👏 5pm was a great time to go
    

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27. N

    Nate

    San Diego

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on 15 May 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Delicious food and great service. I wanted less sodium in my rice but didn't think how they would do it. Chef lightly salted it and dished mine up then added more salt for the rest. I really appreciated that.
    

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28. DP

    DreadPiratePsy

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 15 May 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    If you are looking for an amazing experience, then look no further. Benihana's never disappoints. Great place for Birthdays, Anniversaries, Fresh Date, and even Graduations! The food is always amazing and it's even better with SAKI!
    

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29. LJ

    LittleJoe

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on 14 May 2023

    overall3food3service3ambience4

    We love this place But today not so much, our chef was extremely loud and very sloppy, he kept messing with the other chef’s around and across from him they acted professional but you could tell they didn’t like it, they kept calling him a bully, he spilled rice everywhere and was not prepared when he showed up, did not have the shrimp with him.. There is much more..
    

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30. CL

    CindyL

    Sacramento

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 14 May 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Took my family to celebrate my son’s college graduation. Terrific food prepared by exceptionally witty and entertaining Chef Luis Pina. It was a great experience! The only minor drawbacks were the noise level from other tables and menu prices higher than anticipated.
    

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31. GB

    GilbertB

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 13 May 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Fausto was awesome. I would go back & request him. Thank you!
    

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32. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 13 May 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience4

    Great experience. Food was great and the server/cook added on to the experience too
    

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33. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 13 May 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience5

    Great place for family celebrations, fun with lots of laughs.
    

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34. MB

    MelissaB

    San Diego

    10 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on 13 May 2023

    overall2food3service1ambience2

    Our cook was rude the managers rude the servers nice food eh’
    

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35. BR

    BrendaR

    Mexico City

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 12 May 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience3

    Estabamos de paseo. La comida muy rica! Hasta a mi bebe le encanto. Lo unico malo es que si hay muchísimo ruido.
    

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36. SD

    SDRO

    San Diego

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on 12 May 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Great food. Good service! Will definitely visit again soon.
    

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37. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 12 May 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience4

    We had a great time celebrating our son’s graduation from SDSU. The food was delicious and the entire experience was fun and entertaining.
    

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38. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on 12 May 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience3

    We were sat at a table with really loud obnoxious men that had too much to drink. The men were really rude, they vaping at the table and then proceeded to tell us they spend a lot of money there so they can do what they want. I think NOT! The manager then proceeded to serve them more alcohol as they sat there being rude to our chef and once we couldn’t endure any more we got our food to go.
    

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39. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    San Diego

    2 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on 12 May 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience1

    Worst service ever, we had a reservation at 7:30pm, arrived on time, we stayed there waiting for at least 15 mins no one took our drink order, we asked 3 different servers for someone to at least take our drink order by 8:20 pm no one ever took our drink order, this old lady came and literally told us that they were to busy and there was nothing she could do. No even an apology. 🤣 We ended up leaving 35 mins after . Definitely not coming back.
    

    Benihana - San Diego, CAResponded on 12 May 2023Dear Guest, thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us. We're very sorry you experienced a long wait and we appreciate your patience. We understand that your time is valuable and we are deeply sorry for the inconvenience this has caused you. We’re hopeful that you will allow us to serve you again. If you wish to contact us with further details regarding this experience, you may reach us by visiting our Contact Us page on our website.
    

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40. AS

    AndreS

    San Diego

    18 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    18 reviews

    Dined on 12 May 2023

    overall4food5service3ambience4

    My Birthday
    

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