Benihana   1318 Louisiana St Houston TX 77002 713.659.8231   9707 Westheimer Rd Houston TX 77042 713.789.4962   1720 Lake Woodlands Dr The Woodlands TX 77380 281.292.0061   2579 Town Center Blvd Sugar Land TX 77479 281.565.8888 You might also be interested in these:     Japanese Restaurants    Sushi    ZIP 77002    ZIP 77042    ZIP 77380   Add Review       9707 Westheimer Rd, Houston, Texas 77042  713.789.4962 MY REVIEW: WOW! After hearing such great reviews of the newly reopened Benihana on Westheimer, I knew I had to visit the restaurant. I was not disappointed. First of all, the restaurant was just remodeled and had a very hip new look. It is much more modern than the old look. Onto the food. I ordered the hibachi chicken and it was great. My chef was very entertaining who performed really exciting tricks. I also ordered sushi as an appetizer. It was extremely fresh and delicious. I can't wait to tell all my friends to visit this restaurant! NAME: Rose SUBMITTED: 6/12/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: June 2008 FREQUENCY: Visited once 1318 Louisiana St, Houston, Texas 77002  713.659.8231 MY REVIEW: Food is great, great lunch specials. Service is horrible during lunch time. Our table of 4 was ignored at least 15 min when we first sat down. As much as we tried to flag down someone, no one came. Even the water bus boy ignored our stares and looks. As stated, the food is great, very fresh, hot and reasonable prices. Maybe they just need to hire more wait staff. NAME: Amanda SUBMITTED: 1/31/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: 01/2008 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times 1318 Louisiana St, Houston, Texas 77002  713.659.8231 MY REVIEW: OMG i really really loved this place my husband took me there for our night out with out the kids and it was absoutly amason. The food was great and the flavors where just speech less. The only thing I was not to fond of was that we where sitting at a table that had kids and the whole point of going out was to get away from the kids. hopefull next time we go we can get a table with out children. NAME: geanine SUBMITTED: 1/23/2008   LAST VISIT WAS: January 2008 FREQUENCY: Visited once 1318 Louisiana St, Houston, Texas 77002  713.659.8231 MY REVIEW: Downtown Benihans's is just as good as it has always been. I eat their every week and it's always good. If you get their early enough, request Doan as your cook. He's their best... NAME: Scott H SUBMITTED: 12/21/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: Dec 2007 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... 9707 Westheimer Rd, Houston, Texas 77042  713.789.4962 MY REVIEW: If you want screaming kids, and to be hustled out because somebody's waiting on your table, this is the place to go to on a Saturday night. And I didn't get any rice, green tea, or sherbert (which i did ask for), which was supposedly included in my meal. NAME: hougal SUBMITTED: 11/4/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: 11/7 FREQUENCY: Visited once 9707 Westheimer Rd, Houston, Texas 77042  713.789.4962 MY REVIEW: It's a fun place and a good time. Weak points: the outside landscaping is in serious need of work - disappointing in a "Japanese restaurant". And what's the point of valet parking? Dumb. The restaurant is way crowded on a Saturday night - too many people crowded into tables for 8 - and very noisy (lots of kids and babies). Strong points: The same good value Benihana has been providing for 30+ years. Meat, seafood, chicken were all very fresh and good quality. Service was attentive and brisk - plenty of beverage refills for our party of 9. It's a good birthday place - they sing the birthday song and bd person gets a free pic. The menu is fairly sophisticated compared to a lot of Japanese restaurants. NAME: rrrich7 SUBMITTED: 8/12/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: August 2007 FREQUENCY: Visited once 2579 Town Center Blvd, Sugar Land, Texas 77479  281.565.8888 MY REVIEW: Strong points are that it is entertaining like a party and festive. Down side is that it is noisy and not a romantic quiet dinner for those who want to sit and visit. So like most places - it depends on what you are seeking. I suspect that absent the presentation performance, that the quality might not carry the place. However, there is a lot to be said for having the chef standing right in front of you. A simple tip for going to places that prepare the food in front of you on a grill. Do not dress up. Wear something easy to wash. You will get smokey fumes into your clothing from the cooking. The expense was not bad and I will consider returning, when I get in the mood for festive dining. The food itself is a fairly wide choice of various steak, chicken, seafood, and fried or steamed white rice. Next time I'll try the combination of steak and chicken. NAME: John Q. Publique SUBMITTED: 4/9/2007   LAST VISIT WAS: April/2007 FREQUENCY: Visited once 9707 Westheimer Rd, Houston, Texas 77042  713.789.4962 MY REVIEW: I've been to Benihana a number of times through the years (heck, decades). I've never been disappointed with the preparation show by the chefs, and the prices are quite reasonable. My only problem is that with the cooking and the oil smoke you end up smelling like the place. I've noticed it and my wife did as well... we walked in the door at home, I pulled off my jacket, and said, "We can relive our dinner experience." The ventilation has always been this way. I enjoy the food, but not the residual odor permeating my clothing. NAME: Bill in Memorial SUBMITTED: 12/8/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 5/2006 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times 9707 Westheimer Rd, Houston, Texas 77042  713.789.4962 MY REVIEW: I went in on a Thursday evening at around 7pm with one other guest to try out the all-u-can-eat sushi and at the time there were about 3 other occupied tables around me with one waitress (whom was around 50 years old) waiting on one whole side of the restaurant. The selection was okay, but the fish was not very fresh. Service was terribly slow and the food wasn't great for $25.00 a person. All in all, we left unsatisfied and we won't be returning. NAME: vht123 SUBMITTED: 6/15/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 06/06 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times 1318 Louisiana St, Houston, Texas 77002  713.659.8231 MY REVIEW: I admit that the Benihana hibachi grill is not what it used to be. I've taken a preference to the H*B steakhouse in Humble, TX because of the poor performance. However, the all-you-can-eat sushi is fabulous and cant be beat. The sushi is great, and the variety of items other than sushi is wonderful (shrimp cocktail, shrimp/scallop/calamari tempura, etc.). My friends who dont enjoy sushi as much were equally impressed with the variety. The food is great quality as you would expect from Benihana. The sushi is made to order. What more can you ask? While I have found other places for hibachi style cooking, the all-you-can-eat sushi will keep me coming. Try the bananas tempura, one of the included desserts. NAME: Nxbarrer SUBMITTED: 3/29/2006   LAST VISIT WAS: 03/2006 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times 1720 Lake Woodlands Dr, The Woodlands, Texas 77380  281.292.0061 MY REVIEW: We will not return! The "chef" put on a VERY poor cooking performance. The usual show which Benihana's is known for just didn't exist. The food was fine, although he got the orders wrong for several patrons. However, we were never given the opportunity to order anything to drink after our initial seating. We were THIRSTY throughout the entire meal. Even when we asked for water and the waitress, we weren't supplied with either. We recommend K*obe in The Woodlands if you want good service, good food, and reasonable prices. NAME: love 2 eat SUBMITTED: 8/1/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 04/2005 FREQUENCY: Visited once 9707 Westheimer Rd, Houston, Texas 77042  713.789.4962 MY REVIEW: No one has talked about the all you can eat sushi they currently have there. It is insane! You get 3 rounds to order but your probably going to order too much on the first round anyways. Fried crab, Tempura shrimp, las vegas rolls, miso soup, salmon, and the unagi rice bowl (ummmm tasted better in a bowl then as a sushi piece). I ate so freaking much it hurt. I will know better next time to eat slower and. I think it's only available in the bar area and it's like $23. It might be more than other all you can eat sushi houses, but they make it on the spot! Yes, you heard me, they make it fresh per order. NO waiting in line with your plate fighting for the last spider roll. You order it and they serve it to your table. I have been to a couple and I think this has the other chain that starts with a KIR beat. I like them too but the drive is far and it's not as fresh as this. Fried soft shell crab ummm. Highly recommened. NAME: Lawrence SUBMITTED: 6/13/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 6/05 FREQUENCY: Visited once 9707 Westheimer Rd, Houston, Texas 77042  713.789.4962 MY REVIEW: Benihana is the best place for Sushi. Always fresh and delicious! The hand rolls are very filling and the price is perfect for the portion. My daughter loves Benihana also, not just because the chef is cooking infront of her but, for the food. I order Sushi for lunch all of the time and we eat out there about three times a month. The crab, salmon, tuna, shrimp, and chicken are so delicious; but don't take my word for it, I'm just in love with Benihana's. NAME: L.M. SUBMITTED: 3/15/2005   LAST VISIT WAS: 03/2005 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... 1720 Lake Woodlands Dr, The Woodlands, Texas 77380  281.292.0061 MY REVIEW: Although it is true that the food is a bit pricy, it is worth it! The food is excellent, and I don't know what these other people are talking about because we had really nice waitstaff and the chef was hilarious. He did tricks I had never seen before at this type of restaurant and talked with us and made us laugh. I haven't had a bad experience at the Woodlands location yet, and I like that you can get a Benihana's card and work towards a free dinnner. NAME: Emily SUBMITTED: 12/8/2004   LAST VISIT WAS: October 2004 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times 1720 Lake Woodlands Dr, The Woodlands, Texas 77380  281.292.0061 MY REVIEW: It's an ok place but the big restaurant mentality of the place leaves it kind of "cold" on the friendly service side of things. If you want really good Japanese food as well as friendly wait staff go to K*yoto in The Woodlands on the I-45 South feeder road. NAME: Deb M SUBMITTED: 12/4/2004   LAST VISIT WAS: Sept 2004 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times 1318 Louisiana St, Houston, Texas 77002  713.659.8231 MY REVIEW: Truly, Benihana's isn't all that spectacular. I have been to far better places in Detroit and Indianapolis that serve up better food at better prices with superior entertainment and *much better* service to boot. The food is only so-so, the prices are far too high, and there's nothing extraordinary to set this place above any other restaurant. I went there with a few people from my office and we had to wait for the chef at table across from us to finish cooking in order for our chef to begin to prepare our meals - whoever decided to place the hibachi tables so close together obviously didn't consider the fact that more than one table might have people at it at a time. The service is minimal, which just puts even more people off. If they could be a tad nicer or put on a better face, they might get away with their average food, their hefty prices and their CHARGES for REFILLS. (This should be considered unheard of in this day and age!) Try H*unan R*iver Express, where the owner herself runs the cash register, somehow manages to run the kitchen, and can still be friendly to her customers - all at the same time! Who would imagine? NAME: Liselle SUBMITTED: 8/3/2004   LAST VISIT WAS: 5/2004 FREQUENCY: Visited once 1318 Louisiana St, Houston, Texas 77002  713.659.8231 MY REVIEW: The much raved about Benihana does NOT receive a rave from me. I will definitely have to say that the service in this place STINKS. Truth be told, I don't or ever have worked in the food service industry, but I have seen "superb service" and Benihana wasn't it. A group of friends and I visited Benihana on a Wednesday night to beat out "the crowd". Against my better judgement we visited the downtown location to be close to the nightlife. Let's start off the review with the strong points: 1. Shrimp appetizer: wonderful addition to the meal. 2. Chicken fried rice: with addition of a little soy sauce-this rice is excellent. 3. Validation of parking. A nice touch with the rest of the stuff you have to go through here. (Food was overall great, service just took away from the experience) okay now to the weak points: 1. THE WAIT STAFF. Our waitress Judy was extremely gruff and just plain RUDE. When requesting anything, everyone in my party noticed a slight eye roll or huff. This is unnecessary. You are a waitress. It is your job to wait on the customers. When several people in my party requested lemons for the "third time". Judy comes out with a bowl of lemons and places each of the lemons on the TABLE in front of each guest. What the heck? Can I get my lemons on a saucer? When alcoholic drinks were ordered, instead of her politely asking for an ID, she says, "Give me your ID". Im sorry but that's not polite or even cordial. The host was not rude but very short with his answers. It is vital for any business to have a host that can effectively communicate with customers. 2. The Chef/entertainer was HORRIBLE. His name was something similar to Ejer, Egar..or I could be wrong on the name. I have NEVER been to a hibachi/japanese restaurant with a chef who does not converse with the customers at his perspective table. He performed only one trick--A Mickey Mouse with the rice--ridiculous. Only after prompting did he do the onion/volcano trick. Throughout the entire cooking experience, less than two words were exchanged. SO WEIRD. He gets two thumbs down for his horrible performance. 3.The tables in this place are EXTREMELY too close together. Two chefs in adjoining tables can't even cook at the same time. I would hate to come on a very busy night. 4. REFILL charges on softdrinks?! Who still charges for soda refills? Benihana does. That is ridiculous...and by the way, can we please get drinks refilled in a timely manner. Judy was horrible in getting refills to our table in a reasonable time. Several times more than one drink was empty. The terriyaki chicken that I had was pretty good. The seafood combination that another person in my party had was great as well (I had a sample). As far as desserts, the sherbet was mediocre. The ambiance of the place was okay...definitely not worth the price. Okay let me bring this review to an end by saying: 8 out of 10 on the food and value and 1 out of 10 for the service. Benihana needs to step up the service in order to be a little better. I will definitely check out the Westheimer location to see if service differs there. NAME: Love To Eat SUBMITTED: 7/23/2004   LAST VISIT WAS: 07/21/2004 FREQUENCY: Visited once 9707 Westheimer Rd, Houston, Texas 77042  713.789.4962 MY REVIEW: Food was fine... but the smoke from cooking which was supposed to go up the exhaust fan was very bad. We asked the chef to turn up the fan but he said it was not working properly and that the A/C pushed the smoke to the end near the wall (where we were sitting). By the time we left the two of us on the end were almost sick. Hope management reads this and get this problem fixed immediately. NAME: DK SUBMITTED: 6/3/2004   LAST VISIT WAS: 6/2/2004 FREQUENCY: Visited once 2579 Town Center Blvd, Sugar Land, Texas 77479  281.565.8888 MY REVIEW: Only been here once, went for sushi but perhaps its only good for the habachi grill... nothing special about the sushi and a little pricey. NAME: starbabieee SUBMITTED: 1/18/2004   LAST VISIT WAS: 4/2003 FREQUENCY: Visited once 1318 Louisiana St, Houston, Texas 77002  713.659.8231 MY REVIEW: Always great food! NAME: d Fletcher SUBMITTED: 9/30/2003   LAST VISIT WAS: 9/29/03 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times 1318 Louisiana St, Houston, Texas 77002  713.659.8231 MY REVIEW: In my quest to find the best lunchtime sushi downtown, this place disappoints. With the specials, you get miso soup...thats OK....but where is the salad? The sushi, raw fish is actually pretty good but what is with the warm rice? I've eaten there at lunch a number of times and the sushi is always lukewarm due to the fish being served on warm rice. I figured my timing must be such that they just cook the rice and it is not completely cooled down to be sushi serving temperature. But after 3-4 times with the same results I begin to wonder. Price is a little high to. Better stick with the Sake Lounge, so far the best priced and tasty lunchtime sushi I've found. NAME: KB SUBMITTED: 1/30/2003   LAST VISIT WAS: 12/02 FREQUENCY: Visited 4-6 times 9707 Westheimer Rd, Houston, Texas 77042  713.789.4962 MY REVIEW: This Benihana's is excellent. The service is great and the ambiance is #1. We attend this restaurant frequently on special occasions and not so special. Ask for Louis.... He's a great chef and entertainer. NAME: CMOTTE SUBMITTED: 1/4/2003   LAST VISIT WAS: 2/2002 FREQUENCY: Everybody here knows my name... 9707 Westheimer Rd, Houston, Texas 77042  713.789.4962 MY REVIEW: This last visit the Chef was extremely Unfriendly... rude when we attempted to make conversation. Food was mediocre, and Price was extremely high. There are much better Japanese Restaurants in Houston. NAME: Bri SUBMITTED: 8/18/2002   LAST VISIT WAS: June 2002 FREQUENCY: Visited once 9707 Westheimer Rd, Houston, Texas 77042  713.789.4962 MY REVIEW: The food was average and the prices were...I guess average also. Not much to say about that. I spent about $60 for two, including gratuity. The wait staff were not very friendly. The cook took awhile to finally come to the table and start cooking. When he did come to the table, he rarely spoke and seemed as if he really did not want to be there. The cook at the next table seemed more talkative and entertaining, so I guess it is only by chance that you get someone who at least appears happy and entertaining. I probably would not go back. I had a better experience on my first trip. I might try a different location. NAME: JG SUBMITTED: 2/13/2002   LAST VISIT WAS: 02/2001 FREQUENCY: Visited 2-3 times ©Copyright 1991 - 2008 B4-U-EAT.COM. All rights reserved. Design and database by B4-U-BUY