Benihana

For those living in or visiting California, particularly in the dynamic city of Downey, Benihana offers a dining experience unlike any other. This isn't just a Japanese restaurant; it's a culinary show, an interactive event where skilled hibachi chefs prepare your meal with flair, entertainment, and a touch of theatrical magic right before your eyes. If you're seeking more than just a meal – if you're looking for an unforgettable experience filled with sizzling excitement, delicious food, and lively conversation – then Benihana in Downey is a must-visit destination.

While the experience can vary depending on the chef, customers consistently highlight the engaging aspect of dining at Benihana. Whether it's the signature onion volcano or perfectly seasoned mushrooms, the food is generally well-received. It's particularly ideal for groups, with the option to fill an entire table for a private celebration. From holiday dinners to birthday parties, Benihana creates memorable moments, complementing great food with a high-energy ambiance. Prepare to be entertained and satisfied at this iconic Japanese steakhouse right here in Downey, California.

Benihana is conveniently located at 8801 Apollo Way, Downey, CA 90242, USA. This prime location places it within the bustling commercial hub of Downey, making it easily accessible for residents across the city and surrounding areas in Southern California. Apollo Way is a well-known thoroughfare, ensuring that finding the restaurant is straightforward whether you're navigating by car or utilizing local transportation.

Situated within a popular retail or entertainment complex (such as the Promenade at Downey), Benihana typically benefits from ample parking, enhancing the convenience for diners. Its prominent position and clear signage make it an easy destination for anyone looking for a unique and entertaining dining experience. The accessibility contributes significantly to its popularity as a go-to spot for celebrations, family outings, and group dinners in Downey.

Benihana in Downey provides a distinctive and interactive dining experience, centered around its signature hibachi-style cooking, complemented by traditional Japanese offerings.

• Teppanyaki Dining: The core service is the communal hibachi grill dining. Guests are seated around a large teppanyaki table where a highly trained chef prepares their meal right in front of them, combining culinary skill with entertaining showmanship. This includes cooking various proteins (steak, chicken, shrimp, lobster, filet mignon), fresh vegetables, and Benihana's famous hibachi fried rice.
• Dine-In: Benihana offers a full dine-in experience for lunch and dinner, accommodating both small parties (who may share a table with other guests) and larger groups (who can book an entire table). The ambiance can be lively and engaging, with chefs often feeding off the table's energy.
• Reservations: Given its popularity, Benihana strongly recommends and accepts reservations, especially for groups, to ensure seating at their teppanyaki tables. This helps minimize wait times.
• Takeout & Delivery: While the full interactive experience is best enjoyed dine-in, Benihana does offer takeout and delivery services for many of its menu items, allowing customers to enjoy their favorite dishes at home. However, some customers note that the quality of takeout may differ from dine-in.
• Full Bar & Specialty Drinks: The restaurant features a full bar offering a wide array of alcoholic beverages, including various beers, sake, wine, and signature cocktails like the Strawberry Lemonade, which one reviewer noted was a "perfect match" for the food. They also have non-alcoholic options.
• Happy Hour: Benihana offers Happy Hour specials, typically available Monday-Friday in the sushi bar and lounge, featuring discounted drinks and small bites.
• Catering: For larger events or corporate gatherings, Benihana provides catering services, allowing clients to bring the taste of Benihana to their special occasions.
• Private Dining & Group Events: Benihana can accommodate large groups, with some locations offering private or semi-private dining options, typically for groups of 17 or more, making it ideal for company dinners, holiday parties, or large family gatherings.

Benihana in Downey is celebrated for several distinctive features that contribute to its enduring popularity and unique dining appeal:

• Interactive Hibachi Show: This is the paramount highlight. Guests get to watch highly skilled chefs prepare their entire meal on a teppanyaki grill right at their table. The chefs perform various tricks (like the onion volcano or flipping shrimp into hats) and engage with diners, making it a high-energy and memorable "entertainment event."
• Group-Friendly Dining: Benihana is "great when you have a group," particularly if you can fill an entire table (around 8 people) to ensure a private and intimate experience without other parties joining. This communal setting fosters conversation and shared enjoyment.
• Freshly Prepared Food: While some variations in seasoning might occur (e.g., generous use of garlic butter), the food is generally described as "good" and "perfectly done." Ingredients are cooked fresh on the grill in front of you, ensuring warmth and quality.
• Delicious Hibachi Dishes: Popular offerings include Hibachi Steak, Chicken, Shrimp, Filet Mignon, and the iconic Hibachi Chicken Rice. Even non-fans of certain vegetables, like mushrooms, have found them "really good how he seasoned them."
• Lively Ambiance: The restaurant has a "fun atmosphere" and can be quite lively and "loud," contributing to an energetic and celebratory mood. The ambiance often depends on the chef's engagement, which varies.
• Special Occasion Destination: Benihana is a popular choice for celebrating birthdays, graduations, holiday dinners, and other milestones. The staff is known to participate in celebrations, such as singing for birthdays and providing complimentary desserts.
• Full Bar with Signature Drinks: The presence of a full bar with a range of cocktails, including standout beverages like the "strawberry lemonade" that perfectly complements the meal, enhances the overall dining experience.
• Attentive Service: Despite some initial wait times or minor service quirks (which can happen in busy restaurants), customers generally praise the staff and chefs for being "awesome," "attentive," and creating a positive experience.
• Chef's Table Program: Benihana offers a loyalty program called "The Chef's Table" which provides members with news, special offers, and a complimentary $30 birthday certificate, incentivizing repeat visits and rewarding loyal customers.

Benihana in Downey, like other locations of this popular chain, frequently offers promotions and special programs to enhance the dining experience and reward its loyal customers. These offers can make an already entertaining meal even more appealing.

• The Chef's Table Loyalty Program: This is Benihana's premier rewards program. By signing up (often online or via their app), members receive:
  • A complimentary $30 Benihana Birthday Certificate during their birthday month. This certificate is typically redeemable during dinner hours, Monday through Thursday, after an initial $30 purchase.
  • Access to the latest Benihana news and exclusive "special offers."
• Happy Hour: Benihana offers a "Happy Hour" typically available Monday-Friday from 3-6 p.m. in the sushi bar and lounge. This features a tiered menu with discounted drinks and small bites, with prices often ranging from $3, $6, $9, and $12 for items like Edamame, Vegetable Spring Rolls, Spicy Sushi Rolls, Gyoza, various beers, cocktails (like the Benihana Punch or Mai Tai), and even a Wagyu Burger with fries.
• Seasonal Specials: Benihana frequently introduces seasonal promotions and limited-time menu items, often tied to holidays or specific culinary themes (e.g., "Taste of Benihana," "Wagyu of the World").
• Lunch Entrees & Power Lunch: Special lunch menus offer various hibachi entrées and combos at competitive prices, providing a more affordable way to enjoy the Benihana experience during the day.
• Family Meals & To-Go Options: They offer "Benihana Family Meals" and various hibachi options available for takeout and delivery, providing convenience for dining at home.
• Gift Cards: Benihana gift cards are available, making them perfect presents for friends and family to experience the unique entertainment and dining.

It's always recommended to check the official Benihana website or contact the Downey location directly for the most current information on promotions and their specific terms and conditions, as availability and details can vary.

To plan your exciting hibachi experience at Benihana in Downey, here's how you can get in touch:

Address: 8801 Apollo Way, Downey, CA 90242, USA

Phone: (562) 372-9210

For making reservations, especially for groups, it is highly recommended to call ahead or visit their official website to book your table. You can also find them on various food delivery platforms if you prefer to enjoy some of their menu items from the comfort of your home.

For residents of California, particularly within the lively community of Downey, Benihana offers an undeniably unique and highly suitable dining experience that goes beyond just a meal. Its core appeal lies in the interactive and entertaining teppanyaki show, where skilled chefs transform dining into a performance right at your table. This makes it an ideal destination for celebrating special occasions, hosting group gatherings (especially with a full table of 8), or simply enjoying a lively and memorable night out with friends or family.

Despite occasional notes on initial wait times or service consistency (which can be common in popular, high-volume restaurants), the overall consensus is positive, with customers "definitely coming back." The freshly prepared food, including perfectly seasoned proteins and vegetables, alongside a full bar offering refreshing drinks, ensures a satisfying culinary experience. The ability to join The Chef's Table loyalty program and take advantage of Happy Hour specials further enhances the value, making it a compelling choice for repeat visits.

While takeout might not capture the full essence of the "show," Benihana truly shines as a dine-in experience. For locals in Downey seeking an engaging, delicious, and distinctly celebratory Japanese dining adventure, Benihana provides a consistently entertaining and satisfying option that creates lasting memories.

Benihana

8801 Apollo Way, Downey, CA 90242, USA