Benihana, Asian restaurant in Newport Beach, California.
Benihana is a Japanese restaurant in Newport Beach that specializes in teppanyaki, with chefs preparing food on large flat grills right in front of guests. The restaurant uses communal tables where small groups gather to watch the theatrical preparation of their meals.
The Benihana chain started in 1964 when Hiroaki Aoki opened the first location in New York to introduce Japanese cooking to American diners. The concept of cooking openly at the table became its defining feature and influenced how restaurants present food.
The chefs perform their craft openly, creating engaging moments as diners gather around communal grills to watch food preparation unfold. This interactive style turns a meal into a show where cooking skill and entertainment blend naturally for everyone at the table.
The restaurant is located on Birch Street near John Wayne Airport with varying hours depending on the day of the week. It is wise to make reservations in advance since communal seating fills quickly and table group timing needs to be coordinated.
The chefs use traditional knife techniques that require years of training to cut ingredients with remarkable speed and precision. This craftsmanship is often overlooked, though it forms the heart of the entire experience.
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