Benihana - Downey, CA

Review summary

1. w

   woo VIP

   Los Angeles26 reviews

   1.0

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 1

   By far one of the worst experiences I’ve had at Benihana’s. I’m not aware of the chef name anymore so I’m not sure if this would do any justice. However he came out and basically was whispering. Not just my party but the party next to us told him to speak up we couldn’t hear him! Instead of him speaking up he just decided not to talk which is very awkward. That didn’t bother me as long as my food is cooked properly I’m fine. As he started to cook the food he used zero seasoning and didn’t clean the grill. I walked up to the front and spoke with the hose and by no surprise they knew everything who i was speaking of. She said the tall guy who barely talks ? Yes i will let the manager know you need assistance. It took some time for the manager to come and i allowed the chef to cook my food even though it wasn’t to my liking. As he proceeded to cook my chicken i asked him if he could add salt and pepper and he said yes but he put it when the chicken was done so i said I’ve asked you 2 times already to add seasoning and he just looked at me. Then he cooked the shrimps and i told him longer and he said they’re done. I mean if this is my food and i have to eat it why does it matter how long i would like my food ? Just a horrible experience. I think he needs more practice and learn more about handling customers.
   

   Benihana - Downey, CAResponded 1 day ago

   Thanks for the feedback, Woo. We're truly sorry to hear about your experience at Benihana - Downey, CA. It's disappointing to hear that the service and food didn't meet your expectations, especially as a valued customer. We understand your concerns about the chef's communication and the overall atmosphere. We strive to provide a comfortable dining experience for all our guests, and it's clear we fell short during your visit. Your feedback is important to us, and we assure you that we will address these issues with our team. We hope you'll give us another chance to provide you with the quality service and food you should expect from us. Best regards, Benihana - Downey, CA Management Team
   

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2. C

   Carissa

   Los Angeles1 review

   4.0

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 5

   Waited about 45 min for the table & another 45 for the chef but other than that it was fine
   

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3. SR

   SociallyResponsibleFoodie

   Los Angeles3 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Best server I’ve had in 40 years. Carlos Z! I had to ask his name because I was so grateful for his cooking style and wonderful personality.
   

   Benihana - Downey, CAResponded 2 days ago

   Dear Guest! We're thrilled to hear that you had such a wonderful experience at Benihana - Downey, CA! Your kind words about our service are greatly appreciated. It's always our goal to provide a memorable dining experience, and we're glad we hit the mark for you. We look forward to serving you again in the future. Thank you for your support, The Management Team
   

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4. A

   Angela

   Unspecified1 review

   5.0

   Dined 5 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Chef Precious was so energetic and kept the table in excitement!
   

   Benihana - Downey, CAResponded 4 days ago

   Thanks for visiting us, Angela! We're thrilled to hear that you had an enjoyable dining experience at Benihana - Downey, CA. It's great to know that our team's energy kept the table excited and that you enjoyed the food. We appreciate your kind words and high ratings. We look forward to serving you again soon!
   

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5. T

   Tasha VIP

   Los Angeles14 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   It was great! The food is always amazing. I will always return.
   

   Benihana - Downey, CAResponded 2 days ago

   Hey Tasha, We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your experience at Benihana - Downey, CA! It's wonderful to know that our food consistently meets your expectations. Your kind words mean a lot to us and motivate us to continue delivering great service. We can't wait to welcome you back soon for another amazing meal! Best, The Management Team
   

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6. r

   remy VIP

   Los Angeles4 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The service was phenomenal. Our chef, Kekilani (?) was the best we’ve had over our multiple visits. He was fun, sensitive to spice level requests which I’ve never encountered, and attentive to special requests. Our server Richard was also excellent.
   

   Benihana - Downey, CAResponded 4 days ago

   Thanks for the feedback, Remy! We're thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic experience at Benihana - Downey, CA. It's wonderful to know that our team made your visit enjoyable and that you appreciated their service and attention to detail. We strive to provide our guests with the best possible experience and your feedback is a testament to our efforts. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!
   

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7. J

   John

   Unspecified1 review

   5.0

   Dined on March 16, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 4

   The chef Christopher G was amazing hilarious and on top of everything. The only negative was that i had an 8:15 reservation which was told when i checked in that they were a bit backed up but would only be 30-45 minutes. Sat down at the bar and had a drink which to then 45 minutes passed by. went to go and check to get an update on how much longer it was going to take to be seated but then got told it was going to be still 30-45 minutes on top of the time we already waited. Would have been nice to know the it was going to be about an hour and a half right from the start so that way we could have just dined in the bar area. And would have been out sooner. Regardless not disappointed about the food or the wait it was more so the the transparency from the beginning of the experience.
   

   Benihana - Downey, CAResponded on March 17, 2025

   Dear John, Thank you for sharing your experience and for your kind words about Chef Christopher G! We're thrilled he made your visit enjoyable. We truly apologize for the lack of transparency about the wait time—it’s important to us that our guests are informed upfront, and we missed the mark this time. Your feedback is valuable, and we’ll work on improving communication to ensure this doesn’t happen again. We're grateful for your understanding and hope to welcome you back for another great dining experience soon!
   

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8. D

   Daniel

   Las Vegas2 reviews

   1.0

   Dined on March 16, 2025

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 3

   Reservation was at 8:15, we did not get sat until 9:30 and food around 10pm. One of the members of my party are diabetic, so having to wait almost 2 hours from the time of our reservation made it challenging. Especially when the staff couldn’t really give us a decent estimated time till our table would be ready. For the price of the meal and the wait the management staff wasn’t willing to budge on any sort of comp aside from 1 appetizer. So needless to say it was a very disappointing experience.
   

   Benihana - Downey, CAResponded on March 17, 2025

   Dear Daniel, We’re truly sorry for the long wait and the frustration it caused, especially given your party member’s diabetes. Waiting over two hours from your reservation time is unacceptable, and we regret that our staff couldn’t provide a clearer estimate. We understand how this impacted your experience, and we apologize for the disappointment, especially considering the price and your expectations. Your feedback is invaluable, and we’ll address these issues with our management team to improve communication and service. Thank you for sharing, and we hope you'll give us another chance to make it right.
   

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9. C

   Corina

   San Joaquin1 review

   5.0

   Dined on March 16, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Our chef was amazing and very entertaining loved it. My family’s 1st time n they really had a good time and the food was delicious
   

   Benihana - Downey, CAResponded on March 17, 2025

   Dear Corina, Thank you for sharing your experience! We're so glad to hear that you and your family had a great time, and that the chef made your visit extra special. It's wonderful to know that the food was a hit as well! We look forward to welcoming you all back for another fun and delicious experience.
   

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10. TZ

    TinaZ

    Los Angeles3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4

    Seated at our exact reservation time. Our server was AWESOME !! Very loud , so expect that. Food was ok. You’re really paying for the show. Parking is a nightmare. Give yourself extra time.
    

    Benihana - Downey, CAResponded 5 days ago

    Thanks for visiting us, Tina. We're glad to hear that you enjoyed the food and service at Benihana - Downey, CA. We apologize for the noise level during your visit, and we appreciate your patience with our seating arrangements. We're always striving to provide the best experience for our guests, and your feedback is invaluable. We hope to see you again soon for an even better experience.
    

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