Benihana, Japanese restaurant in Manhattan, US
Benihana is a Japanese restaurant in Manhattan where chefs prepare fresh vegetables, rice, and proteins such as chicken, beef, shrimp, or salmon on grills built into the dining tables. Diners sit around heated steel surfaces and watch their meals being cooked from start to finish.
The location opened in 1964 and marked the start of a global restaurant chain that introduced teppanyaki-style cooking to American diners. This table-side cooking style transformed how people thought about dining out.
The dining experience blends Japanese cooking methods with live performance, as chefs demonstrate their craft directly at each table in front of diners.
The restaurant takes reservations through their website and phone line, with five-course meals served daily. Seating around the cooking grills lets you watch the entire meal preparation up close.
The chefs follow a choreographed sequence of movements while working at the grill, combining technical skill with visual flair that takes years to master. This creates a live performance element that becomes part of your dining experience.
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