Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Money & Work • Restaurant

Benihana

Benihana is a Japanese-themed restaurant chain best known for its teppanyaki dining experience, where chefs prepare food on a grill in front of guests.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Benihana is a Japanese-themed restaurant chain known for its teppanyaki dining experience. Chefs cook meals on a grill at the table in front of guests.

What it is

Benihana is best known for teppanyaki, where chefs prepare food on a flat iron grill in front of diners. The performance includes knife tricks and tableside cooking. The menu features Japanese-style dishes as well as American favorites like steak, chicken, seafood, and vegetables.

How it started

Benihana traces its origins to a Tokyo coffee shop opened by Yunosuke Aoki in 1945. His son, Hiroaki "Rocky" Aoki, opened the first U.S. Benihana restaurant in New York City in 1964. The brand has since grown into a large chain across the Americas.

Where it stands now

Benihana operates company-owned and franchised restaurants in the United States, Caribbean, and Central and South America. The company says it is the leading Japanese restaurant chain in the U.S. As of 2024, Benihana is owned by The ONE Group Hospitality after its acquisition of Benihana’s parent company.

In short

  • Benihana is a teppanyaki chain founded in 1964 in New York.
  • Chefs cook meals tableside, combining food with performance.
  • Owned by The ONE Group Hospitality as of 2024.
  • Operates in the U.S., Caribbean, and parts of Latin America.
Canadian angle

Benihana is relevant to Canadian readers through its North American restaurant presence and its broader influence on teppanyaki-style dining, which is familiar to many Canadian diners who travel or compare restaurant chains across borders.

Quick questions

What is Benihana?
Benihana is a Japanese-themed restaurant chain known for teppanyaki dining, where chefs cook food on a grill at the table for guests.
Is Benihana Japanese?
Benihana serves Japanese-inspired teppanyaki cuisine and presents itself as a Japanese restaurant chain, but the brand was founded in the United States by Japanese American entrepreneur Hiroaki "Rocky" Aoki.
Who owns Benihana?
Benihana is owned by The ONE Group Hospitality, which acquired Benihana’s parent company in 2024.

Sources

  1. Benihana — https://www.benihana.com/about/
    Supports: Company description, cuisine style, U.S. chain presence, South Florida base, and restaurant count information.
  2. Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benihana
    Supports: Founding history, founder, ownership history, and acquisition by The ONE Group in 2024.
  3. Benihana International — https://www.benihanainternational.com/our-history
    Supports: Historical background tracing the brand’s origins to Yunosuke Aoki and the meaning of the Benihana name.
  4. The ONE Group Hospitality — https://togrp.com/benihana/
    Supports: Current ownership and post-acquisition brand description.
  5. OpenTable — https://www.opentable.com/benihana-san-diego
    Supports: Example location listing a smart casual dress code.