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    Benihana - San Francisco

    2.9 (2k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

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    BENIHANA - SAN FRANCISCO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Touristy
    Loud
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Our table's meals.. can't wait
    Jasmine M.

    We had great service. The guy was a little short at first but he warmed up. I think he was overwhelmed by the amount of people on his first day back. He didn't know about the Memorial Day special for veterans. So he had to talk to the manager. Our meals were excellent and made exactly as we requested. We tipped big because of this. The chef was super entertaining and enthusiastic. Loved the personality of Roberto! Parking is only in the mall or street. We walked from our resort and it took us about 25-30 minutes. We also made a reservation ahead of time. Hibachi steak dinner is sooo yummy.

    SPICY CHICKEN GYOZA DUMPLINGS
    Tracy B.

    Good food. Fun environment. Love coming here to celebrate anything. Plus it's so close to where I live.

    Andrew H.

    The restaurant was completely filled Friday night. From the bar, to the private room, to the main dining area. It did take longer to get seated than expected. Service wasn't perfect, but I finished the Crispy Rice appetizer and my Surfside meal completely. Seafood was cooked perfectly and I love the Fried Rice with garlic butter.

    HIBACHI STEAK with Zucchini, mushrooms, onions and shrimp.
    Mody M.

    The place had quite a crowd and busy Teppanyaki chefs. Soup was warm and bland. The steaks we ordered were delicious. Just a bit on the salty side. The place could use some aesthetic work.

    Maria Z.

    Really disappointed in this restaurant. Everytime I come I have to wait almost 2 hours. Today I made a reservation at 8 and it was 9:30 and they still haven't cooked anything. They gave us sushie for the delay but are you serious ? 1 hour and half and still nothing.? I left I was super upset about this. I have a baby and he was not having it. I don't recommend it. 3 times they do this. I'm so upset. Now I have to get food a

    Way overbooked - an hour wait from reservation time.
    Dave M.

    I hadn't been to Benihana in many many years and have never been to the San Francisco location. I made a reservation, yes shame on me Saturday night. For my family and I. Parking is atrocious in a very busy area - Japantown. We arrived early, parked in a local garage after circling for quite some time. Entering the restaurant, we passed through mobs of people. Literally one of the loudest environments I've ever had at a restaurant, and the most busy check-in desk anywhere. It appears that this restaurant chooses to overbook so that once you are in for your reservation, you wait at least another hour. The management passed out hors d'oeuvres samples - gyoza and California Roll pieces. That's thoughtful. But the truth is - a restaurant needs to know its limitations of bookings. It's just disrespectful and unpleasant to navigate. Additionally when they checked us in, we were told to wait and they'll call us when their table is ready. They did NOT say that it would be 60-90 minutes from the time of our actual reservation. We finally sat after about 80 minutes. Then we waited another 10-20 minutes to get water and have our orders taken. The menu is not for the faint of heart; each meal is upwards of $50 - plus add ons and beverages. The waitress was kind and engaging and although busy was smiling whole time. Although the place wasn't necessarily dirty, it definitely has seen better days. The dining areas with the hibachi table grills are old and dilapidated. The cooktops in many cases are distorted and quite aged. First the "experience". It's all about the showmanship of the chef as he makes your food. The routine is the same at every station by every chef. It is entertaining and engaging. Yes kids love it. They try to say funny things, but you can't hear it because it's so damn loud. As far as the food goes, it has potential to be delicious. But then again, if you add a slab of butter and douse everything in salt and pepper - everything has a certain flavor to it. Again, I knew this going into it. So it shouldn't be a shock. But I just sit here after the dining experience and wonder how much more delicious it would be if the food was created in any more reasonable manner? You really don't need a half cup of butter on a filet mignon. Nor do you need 3 tablespoons of salt. The steak itself tastes just fine when properly prepared. The chicken fried rice is delicious, although I would hold back on the soy sauce a little bit. The vegetable vegetables - zucchini and onions - same thing. Salt, pepper, garlic butter, sesame seeds, and tons of soy sauce. Safe to say, I am detoxing the salt today! I could get into more food details, but frankly it's not about the food here. The experience was chaotic, noisy, and took an eternity. I wasn't necessarily in a hurry. But I don't like to eat my dinner at 9-10 o'clock typically. I guess people go to Benihana for the spectacle of it all. It's disappointing. I would enjoy a hibachi grill cooking experience where the food was a tad healthier and delicious, the energy was more calm, I didn't feel like I was at a train station, and my time was respected. I may actually pay a little more for that. Instead, it's a low class spectacle masking itself in a pretender aura of being something next level.

    worst onion tower ever
    Yan L.

    This place was horrible. Spent over three hours here because it took over 30 minutes to get seated WITH reservations and then even longer to get the food. Not only that but we paid over $120 for inedible "A5 wagyu" + drinks, which everyone already knows about Benihanas, but the worst part was the show which is why people actually come here to suffer through the low quality meat. We had absolutely no enthusiasm or energy from our chef. And there were no tricks or interactions for the table other than a measly volcano onion tower, which only had four layers to it. And then set a little on fire like the most pathetic trick that they can get away with. The decor is tacky, the chef had a dirty apron on that looked like he was wearing it for a week, and the service is very, very, slow. Actually got food poisoning right as I came home from it and shat myself for 45 minutes. The A5 wagyu was all fat and no meat, also poorly cooked. They really push the fried rice on you (even when you ask for white) so they can up charge you $7

    Christiane F.

    We stopped at Benihana for an early dinner on a Saturday at 4:30pm. The place wasn't too crowded which was great. There was only two of us but we had a good time. I do think Benihana is more suited for big groups, your experience can differ depending on who's at your table. The food was good, not amazing but good. Our chef was amazing, was very interactive and happily answered questions. It was great watching him cook. Overall good experience, would return with a group.

    Brayan putting on a show!
    Liz B.

    Brayan put on an amazing show tonight! It was such a fantastic dinner!! Food was so good!

    HIBACHI CHICKEN
    Andrew M.

    Benihana is straight nostalgia for me now. It was a place I grew up going to for very special occasions. Though I don't go as often now their food is still just as good as I remember. It's hard finding a chain that's been around for a long time to still have great food and great service at that. If pricing wasn't as high as it is I think I would find myself going more.

    Pot stickers
    Slyvie S.

    I love the Japantown location Benihana. They have way more entertainment than the nearby locations I've visited in San Bruno and Foster City. The chefs call them their pepper butter as Mexican Ice Cream and Soy Sauce as Coca Cola and I'm all for it. To top it off, the food tastes perfect. They always cook my steak to the perfect temperature (Medium Rare), and the way the hibachi cooks the shrimp makes them extra tasty as well. We tried the Benihana Trio (comes with Chicken and Steak and Shrimp) and it was a very generous portion. It also comes with onion soup and potstickers and salad as appetizers and ends with ice cream. And the best part is that it's right in the mall so you can enjoy the rest of Japantown afterwards :)

    LAND 'N SEA

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    1 month ago

    Love the service here so much! And there's no fried rice that compares to Benihana I can't wait to come back and celebrate with my family.

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    Page 1 of 51

    Benihana - San Francisco Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Benihana - San Francisco

    Is there a hotel or motel next to Benihana?

    I believe there's something close Kabuki on Post St… 

    What's the max amount of people at a table? I have a reservation for 10.

    There are typically 8 seats at one table, but I believe they can fit up to 10

    Do you need a vaccination card to eat here?

    No, you don't need a vaccination card.

    Are they cooking in front of us again?

    Yes. I was there just last Monday. Chef was wearing mask

    Are they actually that strict on the dress code? Want to come here with friends for dinner but saying no spaghetti straps seems excessive? It's like a junior high dress code.

    You can wear whatever you want :) the only rule is "no shoes, no shirt, no service"

    How many people can they sit max to a table?

    Had a birthday dinner tonight and we were able to sit 10

    Is Benihana open for in house dining now?

    Yes

    I have a birthday coupon. I got an email saying that it is now valid for take out orders. Can you confirm if it is valid for take out orders on ANY day or just Monday-Thursday?

    Do I get any free dinner on birthday?

    You do! Just sign up for their rewards program before your birthday and then you will get a coupon for free $30 for your dinner. You just have to come with someone who will buy a dinner as well. You can use it in your birthday month, but I think… 

    Is the onion soup vegetarian or does it have a chicken broth base?

    Chicken broth.

    Why my steak was over cooked? N why our waitress ask for more tips??

    You know what? Yes they cook it in front of you. But they also have it written down! And you're there to enjoy your meal and watch the show! Also...how TF are you supposed to know exactly what steak is yours!? Don't be as$h0les people! Come TF… 

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    Super Pan

    Super Pan

    4.0
    (444 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    I came here because my friend was really in the mood for omelette rice, and this was the only place…read morein SF on Yelp that showed they had this. The service was good, and the ambiance seemed to be well put together. My friend said that the omelet rice was good, and I really enjoyed the medicinal hot pot that they served. The lamb, the main protein, was well sliced, and the hot pot had a good amount of veggies

    Amazing service. Made sure everyone was taken care of. Whatever we needed we just asked. I got the…read morechicken wings Thai style but made it with sweet chili sauce because I didn't want spice. It's not fried chicken but it's still good! The kimchi beef with curry on the side delicious Make sure you cook the meat fast lol Kimchi I heated it up and it was great with the rice and beef. Good portion of meat and rice and kimchi you won't go hungry I ordered organic black tea with salted crema. Not sure if it was my favorite. I asked for 75 percent sugar and when I drank it it was sweet enough in the sense it is between two categories. It would be too sweet in the Chinese asian palate but just a hint of sweetness in the American standard. Also, I don't know what type of crema sugar they use but it might have something to do with tropical or coconut type sugar? Because the tea itself is only mildly flavored bitterness if it was tea on the regular right? Idk the tropical or crema flavored taste overpowered the tea flavor. Ambiance no frills only a few tables and it was not busy on Monday lunch time so no worries on not having a table to sit in. Again. The gentleman that was there was super helpful and made sure we had everything we needed. The food was good. The drink itself has enough sweetness that I was good with. I go for the more sweeter side of things. I appreciate the hospitality!

    Photos
    Indoor ambiance
    Indoor ambiance
    Appetizer - complimentary
    Appetizer - complimentary
    16. Super Steak Rib Eye /comes sizzling on the HOT plate.

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    16. Super Steak Rib Eye /comes sizzling on the HOT plate.
    On the Bridge

    On the Bridge

    3.4
    (1.4k reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    This place is literally on the bridge, connecting the Japantown shopping centers. So it's pretty…read moresmall and narrow. Not really accessible if you have a wheelchair. It was kind of difficult already with my husbands crutches. A wheelchair could be possible if they sit you at the very front entrance. We wanted to go because they have napolitan and we were very happy that we went. The staff were nice. They keep to themselves and check in on you just enough. There's anime on the shelves if you want to read and relax. Love that they had a warning that some of them may not be suitable for kids. They don't split bills, so heads up if you're going with multiple people. Our boys really liked their curry and katsu. They were able to make it not really spicy and it was just right for them. Napolitan was so good. The serving size was just right. At first I thought it might be too big, but because it was so good, I scarfed that thing down. This will definitely be our spot to go back to when we're in Japantown.

    Overall, this is a decent restaurant. One of its biggest selling points is its location on the…read morebridge in Japantown, which offers a unique dining experience. The menu leans more toward Western-style Japanese cuisine, with a large selection of pasta dishes as well as a few rice bowls. I ordered the omurice, oyako don, and a pasta dish. Unfortunately, they had sold out of pasta, so they substituted soba noodles instead. The prices are a bit on the expensive side, but the portions are generous, especially when it comes to the amount of meat, so it still feels like good value. That said, I found the chicken to be a little tough. On the bright side, the takoyaki pancake was surprisingly good. Although the restaurant is somewhat pricey overall, the ingredients are generous and satisfying. My only real complaint is that it's almost impossible to find a server whenever you need one. 中規中矩的餐廳,在日本城的橋上是一個很不錯的賣點,食物比較偏向歐美風格的日本食物,很多義大利麵的選擇,還有些丼飯的選擇。我點了蛋包飯、Oyako Don、義大利麵,不過麵都賣完了,他們用蕎麥麵給我做。價格感覺有點偏貴,不過肉都放很多,很實惠,但是雞肉偏硬。另外,它的章魚燒餅還不錯。儘管整體價格偏貴,但是食料挺紮實的。唯一的缺點是永遠找不到服務員。

    Photos
    03.02.24 entrance to restaurant located on the West Mall
    03.02.24 entrance to restaurant located on the West Mall
    Japanese Seafood Spaghetti
    Japanese Seafood Spaghetti
    Menchi Katsu with tonkatsu sauce

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    Menchi Katsu with tonkatsu sauce
    Kippu Japanese Cuisine

    Kippu Japanese Cuisine

    3.1
    (541 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    In the search for sushi there are many places and almost in any neighborhood to grab a sushi roll…read morein the city of San Francisco. In Japantown there are lots of restaurants offering sushi rolls. I been fortunate to try the majority of the different restaurants in Japantown serving sushi. There is one place I really have procrastinated to go to because I had my regular spots in Japantown and I didn't want gamble on something new to me which may not be worth it. So I went to Kippu and I gave it a whirl. Walking on Post street and Buchanan I landed at Kippu. Inside there is plenty of seating and a sushi bar. The menu has all types of Japanese cuisine with Bento Boxes , Donburi, Udon, and Sashimi. They even have the cone hand rolls with salmon. I came here for the sushi rolls with names like the Cherry blossom, Chuck Norris roll, AI roll, Titanic roll and Kings ( who says there was no kings?). I got the rainbow roll and it was delicious and it had good flavor . I also got the dragon roll and it was tasty. This is a good spot to dine if are not entering the Japan Center and are on Buchanan street side of Japantown. Come take a stroll on the streets Japantown to Kippu and get some chicken "teriyaki "and try some "Saba Shioyaki"and share some "Sukiyaki"and then go after to the Japan Center and get the different flavors of " Pocky" Go to Kippu for cuisine of the land of the rising sun before Spring is "gone "with different Japanese dishes like Donburi "Niku Don" and "Nabeyaki Udon" there are so many different plates and bowls to try for the cool" Don Juan"

    Food was great but the service ruined it…read more My boyfriend and I had a great meal here, the food was seriously good. But the experience was rough. We ordered at 6:44pm and were still in the middle of eating when they brought our check at like 7:00pm. Then the server came over and told us he needs our table because people are waiting at 7:13pm. A few minutes later he came back again asking if we needed a box. When we said we're still eating, he literally smacked his lips at us like we were inconveniencing him. I get they had people waiting, but we weren't lingering or anything. There were other parties that were in there for longer and we were actively eating. The vibe went from chill to uncomfortable really fast.

    Photos
    Sushi boat
    Sushi boat
    30. Mendocino Roll
    30. Mendocino Roll
    Special Boat Set B

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    Special Boat Set B
    The Public Izakaya

    The Public Izakaya

    4.2
    (744 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    Love this spot for all the things! High quality food and a nice vibe, two of my favorite attributes…read moreof a five star restaurant. Everything I have had here has been delicious. Current favs: 1) beef bulgogi- super generous portion and great flavor. Make sure to soak up all that sauce! 2) karage & gyoza: I love both these items for a starter and hate choosing. This combo gives a little bit of each and I appreciate it. Sauce has a little kick and is delightful. 3) wagyu and pineapple skewers- just.say.yes! 4) beans with wok you sauce. More please! The Kyoto matcha beer has a great flavor and is a nice treat. Have you been? If not, slide on down to The Public Izakaya and put your name on the sign in sheet. Wait patiently and enjoy a fantastic meal!

    * Who: friend, partner, & I * What: late night dinner…read more* When: Saturday * Why: Pride weekend & needed to refuel after the night * Space/Decor: decent sized & more rectangular. Decor was cute & helped with the vibe w/o being too much. This would be a cute date spot or grabbing food to go. * Service: was OK/decent. My 1/2 challenge was the wait was really long & they didn't really communicate on actual wait time. The 2/2 challenge was at the end they also took a long time to check on us & give us the check. * Food: I don't mean to be a broken record but it was also OK haha. Like the tempura was crispy-ish. The sausage didn't really have a flavor. My partner did say the udon hit the spot ‍ * Final Thoughts: cute & busy Izakaya that can work for a romantic date or meet-up with friends, with a standard menu & to be expected flavor. I'd recommend & would return, though if it was between here or exploring a different spot, I'd go with explore. * Final Grade: B+ or 8.5/10

    Photos
    Halloween celebration
    Halloween celebration
    Blistered Shishito
    Blistered Shishito
    Chicken thigh skewers, chicken skin skewers

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    Chicken thigh skewers, chicken skin skewers
    Niku Steakhouse

    Niku Steakhouse

    4.3
    (1k reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$$$

    Second time trying Niku. I was impressed this time more than the first. Early reservations so we…read moregot seated immediately at the grill table so it was fun to watch them cook. They welcomed me back which was a nice touch. Starting amuse-bouche was their take on avocado toast. Very yummy. Since we were at a Japanese steakhouse we decided to go all in with the Wagyu tasting. We tried the A3, A4, and the A5. The A4 was my favorite. We also tried the Wagyu Tsukune. The Wagyu skewer: domestic & japanese wagyu, ginger, scallion, egg yolk, tare sauce. It was good but probably wouldn't get again. The parker house rolls were warm and soft. We also got the crispy potato, wagyu fat, chickpea miso. It was a nice pair with the steaks. The noise level was busy but not too noisy. I would say perfect dinner noise level. Compared to my first time when we were seated by a very loud group and had to ask to be moved. Overall 5 stars. We'll be back! When we're ready to splurge on a nice steak dinner. Total with tip was approx. 650$.

    I had an 8pm reservation at Niku to celebrate my husband's and my anniversary. Upon entering, I…read morefell in love with the sleek décor, and everything was so tastefully designed. Unfortunately, our counter seats were not available due to the previous party still working on their meal. We sat at the bar and ordered 2 cocktails while we waited. Both were underwhelming and I was surprised by reviews recommending their cocktails. After 30 minutes, we were finally escorted to our seats. I was a bit disappointed by this since our reservation was already late. Once we were seated, I was impressed watching how the meat was cooked and prepared. It was cool learning how they use a special grill that prevents smoke from entering the area. For food, we ordered: 1. Wagyu tsukune: Well-seasoned and juicy - 4/5 2. Australian wagyu filet mignon: Delicious. So tender and flavorful. You know it is great meat when you don't need any sauces - a 5/5 3. Crispy potato wagyu fat: LOVED these potatoes but absolutely hated the chickpea miso, which tasted like mayonnaise to us so not sure what else was in it. Overall, a 3.5/5 4. Morel mushroom rice: A bit salty in my opinion and nothing wowing about it. A solid 2.5/5 5. Wagyu fat brownie: The most disappointing part of the meal. It just tasted like a boxed brownie. I would skip this; it was a 1/5 in my opinion. Overall, the restaurant was a nice experience, and their wagyu is very good. However, since Niku is a Michelin restaurant, I was expecting to be wowed more.

    Photos
    Perfection at work
    Perfection at work
    Crispy Potato w/chickpea miso
    Crispy Potato w/chickpea miso
    Westholme Wagyu Tomahawk 48 oz

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    Westholme Wagyu Tomahawk 48 oz
    Sanraku

    Sanraku

    3.9
    (2k reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    AMAZING authentic food AMAZING service…read more Super clean and cute atmosphere Def a must if your in sf

    According to what I wrote on Yelp, I had a decent meal at their sister restaurant in the Metreon…read morewell before it shuttered, like over a decade ago. My meal apparently wasn't memorable enough to motivate me to visit this location, that is, until quite recently. I decided to have lunch here after a nearby medical appointment. It wasn't crowded at all. Only a couple of solo diners and a loud senior couple. I wasn't in a sushi mood and thought I'd go healthy with the saba shioyaki. However, at the last minute, I went with the $19 Ika Yaki, a whole BBQ squid sliced and saturated in teriyaki sauce with a dab of shichimi mayo (Photo 8). The portion was generous and the texture was firm with enough elasticity. Unfortunately the teriyaki sauce did nothing to enhance the dish, and I wished they served it on the side. I also ordered the $8 Agedashi Tofu, usually a foolproof appetizer for me. It certainly looked right (Photo 9), but I was unpleasantly surprised how tongue-burning hot it was. The cubes of tofu must've just come right out of the deep fryer. The dashi broth helped calm the heat down but a little too late. I'm sure glad I sprung for the $3 bowl of Rice (Photo 10). That calmed what was left of my tongue down. FOOD - 3 stars...execution errors mar the dishes here AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...spacious enough since it was empty, sushi bar seating was available SERVICE - 3.5 stars...attentive enough TOTAL - 3 stars...not my favorite Japanese spot RELATED - Exploring the Tenderloin? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/hu44dWMabs

    Photos
    Sanraku
    Sanraku
    Sanraku

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    Benihana - San Francisco - teppanyaki - Updated August 2026

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