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Benihana - Steakhouse in Downey, California

Benihana

3.9 (3549 reviews)

8801 Apollo Way, Downey, CA 90242

Japanese restaurant

About Benihana - steak house in Downey, California

Hibachi chain serving Japanese dishes grilled tableside by theatrical chefs.

Customer Review Summary

Benihana offers a lively atmosphere and entertaining dining experience, especially when dining with a group. Customers praised the chefs for their skill and engaging performances, with notable mentions for Chefs Steven, Precious, and Aliyah. Service experiences varied; some encountered slow service at check-in and during meal preparation, while others highlighted attentive and friendly service from staff like Carlos and Julian. The food received positive feedback for its taste, though some reviewers noted a tendency for dishes to have a similar flavor due to the use of garlic butter. Overall, many patrons enjoyed celebrating special occasions, with most expressing a desire to return despite minor complaints about wait times and loud music.

Key Features

Service options

  • Curbside pickup
  • No-contact delivery
  • Delivery
  • Takeout
  • Dine-in

Highlights

  • Great beer selection
  • Great cocktails
  • Great tea selection
  • Great wine list

Popular for

  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Solo dining

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair accessible entrance
  • Wheelchair accessible parking lot
  • Wheelchair accessible restroom
  • Wheelchair accessible seating

Offerings

  • Alcohol
  • Beer
  • Cocktails
  • Coffee
  • Comfort food
  • Happy hour drinks
  • Happy hour food
  • Hard liquor
  • Healthy options
  • Late-night food
  • Small plates
  • Vegan options
  • Vegetarian options
  • Wine

Dining options

  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Catering
  • Dessert
  • Seating

Amenities

  • Bar onsite
  • Restroom
  • Wi-Fi

Atmosphere

  • Casual
  • Cozy
  • Trendy
  • Upscale

Crowd

  • College students
  • Family-friendly
  • Groups
  • LGBTQ+ friendly
  • Tourists

Planning

  • Lunch reservations recommended
  • Dinner reservations recommended
  • Accepts reservations
  • Usually a wait

Payments

  • Checks
  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards
  • NFC mobile payments

Children

  • Good for kids
  • Has changing table(s)
  • High chairs
  • Kids' menu

Parking

  • Free parking lot
  • Free street parking

Pets

  • Dogs allowed outside

Customer Reviews

Rating Distribution

3.9 out of 5
5
1945
4
507
3
308
2
204
1
585
Based on 3549 reviews

Cesar “Checha” Lopez-Hernandez

3 weeks ago

We took my beautiful mom for her birthday, and I got to say this restaurant rocks. She had a really good time. Our chef Steven was so kool 👌 thank you, Chef Steven, for the awesome experience that we will never forget. God bless you

Gelin Cara Tuliao

2 months ago

It's great when you have a group of 8. It's perfect to take up an entire table to yourselves without another party joining. I took my executive bosses here for our holiday dinner and it was interesting. SERVICE - Kinda the star off for this location. When getting there early enough to check-in for my reservation, there was no one manning the front and took a while for them to acknowledge me trying to get someone's attention. And as great as our chef was, it seemed like it was his first or second time doing this out of training because he seemed nervous. That's not docking points off their service, just wanted to let people know it can happen. FOOD - Food was good, despite watching the chef douse EVERYTHING in the same garlic better (from all the proteins, to vegetables, to fried rice). So it may seem they all have the same flavor. AMBIANCE - it really depends on your table and your chef. Ours was okay and we had a long day at work so it took a lot for my bosses to get going. But the table next to us had a super enthusiastic chef that was very engaging, so not sure if that would've livened up our table. I think chefs feed off the energy of their table. I'd come back though!

Serenah Noel

1 month ago

It was very slow service to start, waiting 15 minutes to be seated for our reservation and an hour to eat once seated….I was getting real hangry. HOWEVER Chef Precious carried the experience and made up for the wait. She was phenomenal, funny, personable, had great energy & made excellent food! Would highly recommend Precious

Izamar Hernandez

1 month ago

My family & I loved coming to this place. Joseph was our server, his service was amazing, very attentive. The food was delicious & definitely the entertainment as well.

christian hurtado

Hey guys we had an incredible dining experience at Benihana thanks to our servers, Carlos and Julian. Carlos was attentive, professional, and made sure our meal was perfect from start to finish. His friendly personality and attention to detail truly enhanced our visit. Julian, as always, provided top-notch service, making us feel welcomed and ensuring we had everything we needed. Both servers went above and beyond to create a fun and enjoyable atmosphere. I highly recommend asking for Carlos or Julian if you want an exceptional dining experience at Benihana!

Faby Jimenez

3 months ago

Had a blast thanks from all of ya here at Latinos Immigration in Maywood. We give our cheff more than 5 stars and our waiter.

dora Johnson

I had an amazing experience at Benihana! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere was lively and welcoming. The chefs put on an entertaining show while preparing our food right in front of us, and everything was cooked to perfection. The steak was tender, the shrimp was flavorful, and the fried rice was some of the best I’ve ever had. The service was attentive, and the staff made sure we had everything we needed. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or just craving great food with a fun experience, Benihana is the place to go. Highly recommend! Our server Aliyah was thee best

Dana Workman-Lane

We had a very fun time. Celebrated birthdays and really enjoyed ourselves. Drinks were tasty, the food was delicious, atmosphere was awesome. The only minor complaint I had was the music was so loud throughout the restaurant that it was tough to hear my family and the chef. But other than that, it was a great experience!

Location

Contact Information

Hours of Operation

Friday 11 AM–11 PM
Monday 11 AM–10 PM
Saturday 11 AM–11 PM
Sunday 11 AM–10 PM
Thursday 11 AM–10 PM
Tuesday 11 AM–10 PM
Wednesday 11 AM–10 PM

Price Range

$$$