Benihana - The Woodlands, TX

Review summary

1. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Houston1 review

   5.0

   Dined 1 day ago

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

   The food was absolutely delicious, the drinks were just right and I think I won major points with the boyfriend for bringing him here for his birthday
   

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2. N

   Nina

   Unspecified2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on 9 March 2025

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

   We had a great time the food was good and our chef Jared was amazing.
   

   Benihana - The Woodlands, TXResponded on 11 March 2025

   Thanks for the feedback, Nina! We're thrilled to hear that you had a great time and enjoyed our food at Benihana - The Woodlands, TX. It's wonderful to know that our chef was able to make your experience even better. We strive to provide excellent service and it's heartening to hear that we met your expectations. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to serving you again soon!
   

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3. J

   Julia

   San Diego1 review

   1.0

   Dined on 4 March 2025

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

   Honestly I hated this place. It takes a lot for me to say it but it was our anniversary and we got sat with like 7 other random people squeezed next to each other. The tricks that the chefs did weren’t bad but it was very scheduled, they play by a list of steps they need to do and it tells, it wasn’t super interactive and the chefs just seemed like they’re there to go through the list and move onto the next and that was with every table looking around. It’s extremely over priced and for very mid quality bland food, they put so much garlic butter to bring out some flavor but other than that it’s just salt, pepper and soy sauce. I’ve been to hibachi before and they at least make it fun try and pull some tricks or play around with they’re guests, this one was just by the book and nothing more.
   

   Benihana - The Woodlands, TXResponded on 5 March 2025

   Thanks for the feedback, Julia. We're sorry to hear that your experience at Benihana - The Woodlands, TX, didn't meet your expectations. We strive to create a fun and interactive atmosphere for our guests, and we apologize if this was not the case during your visit. We're also disappointed to hear about the seating arrangement and the chef's routines. Your comments will be taken into consideration as we continually work to improve our guest experience. We hope you'll give us another chance to impress you in the future.
   

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4. N

   Nick VIP

   Denver2 reviews

   2.0

   Dined on 3 March 2025

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

   With a reservation our time took 3 hours to finish our meals. I’m not sure if they were understaffed or what was going on but this was not the normal habachi experience from benni’s.
   

   Benihana - The Woodlands, TXResponded on 10 March 2025

   Thanks for the review, Nick. We're truly sorry to hear about your recent experience at Benihana - The Woodlands, TX. It's disappointing to know that you had to wait for longer than usual, especially when you had a reservation. We strive to provide our guests with a timely and enjoyable dining experience, and it seems we fell short this time. We appreciate your feedback and will certainly take it into consideration as we continually work to improve our service. We hope to have the opportunity to serve you again in the future. Best, The Management Team
   

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5. C

   Candi

   Houston3 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on 27 February 2025

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

   Que (sp.), our chef tonight, was the best we have ever had since going there. He was attentive, fun, and the food was beyond delicious!
   

   Benihana - The Woodlands, TXResponded on 28 February 2025

   Hey Candi, We're over the moon to hear that you had a fantastic time with us at Benihana - The Woodlands, TX! It's always a pleasure to know that our team's efforts to provide attentive service and delicious food are appreciated. We're thrilled that you enjoyed your evening with us. We can't wait to welcome you back for another delightful dining experience soon! Best regards, The Management Team
   

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6. R

   Ronny

   Houston4 reviews

   2.0

   Dined on 23 February 2025

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

   Over priced and takes why to long to sit through the dinner process
   

   Benihana - The Woodlands, TXResponded on 25 February 2025

   Thanks for visiting us, Ronny. We're sorry to hear that you found our prices to be high and the pace of service to be slower than expected. We strive to provide a seamless dining experience for our guests and it seems we fell short during your visit. We appreciate your feedback and will certainly take it into consideration as we continuously work to improve. We hope to have the opportunity to serve you better in the future. Best regards, Benihana - The Woodlands, TX Management Team
   

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7. D

   Dennis VIP

   Houston2 reviews

   1.0

   Dined on 22 February 2025

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

   Maybe it's just the sign of the times, but this spot is seriously broken down. Upon entry, the lobby seating is shot and there’s noticeable dust—just not a clean feeling. I get that the hibachi grills kick up debris making things sticky, but this place feels dated and unclean. The bathrooms aren’t kept up, and it seems like it now attracts a lower income crowd than when it was at its prime. The highchairs were in rough shape—two even had broken straps. Service, which is usually a bit slow in hibachi, was even slower here. It took about 12 minutes just to get drinks, then the server bailed before anyone had even ordered. Another 15 minutes passed before they came back. The cooks don’t look authentic anymore; it seems like they just hired your average cook to handle these dishes. No real energetic shows or genuine Japanese chefs—just the same guy you’d see at the back of Olive Garden or working in a Burger King. The staff looked tired and overall just didn’t give off a clean vibe, and things weren’t on point or efficient. We left pretty quickly and agreed we wouldn’t be back. This chain has clearly left its prime, and if you're expecting what it used to be, this location just doesn't deliver.
   

   Benihana - The Woodlands, TXResponded on 24 February 2025

   Dear Dennis, We’re truly sorry to hear that your experience didn’t meet expectations. Cleanliness, service, and an authentic dining experience are all things we take seriously, and it’s disappointing to know we fell short. Your feedback about the facility, wait times, and overall atmosphere is invaluable, and we’ll be addressing these concerns with our team. We strive to provide a welcoming and enjoyable visit for every guest, and we regret that we missed the mark. We appreciate your honesty and hope we’ll have the chance to improve and earn back your trust in the future.
   

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8. T

   Tyrene

   Orange County2 reviews

   2.0

   Dined on 16 February 2025

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

   We thought making a reservation the day AFTER VALENTINES DAY would be safe. We were so wrong. The service was horrible .. waiters were arguing with each other, we were ignored for 20 minutes before anyone came to acknowledge us sitting at the high tops in the bar area. For $200 we could have spent this money elsewhere .. my waitress was a saint and we felt bad for her.. she had to work that entire area alone due to her help not being helpful.. she was the only reason we’re not giving this a 1 star. Food was subpar… drinks were ok but we will Never dine here again.
   

   Benihana - The Woodlands, TXResponded on 18 February 2025

   Hey Tyrene, we're truly sorry to hear about your recent experience at Benihana - The Woodlands, TX. We understand that waiting until Valentine's Day to make a reservation can be frustrating, especially when service was not up to par. We're glad to hear that our team was able to make up for it with their exceptional service. However, we're disappointed to learn that our food and drinks did not meet your expectations. We're taking your feedback seriously and will use it to improve our service and food quality. We hope that we will have another chance to provide you with the quality experience that we're known for.
   

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9. R

   Ronnie

   Chicago1 review

   1.0

   Dined on 16 February 2025

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

   I took my wife and kids here for Valentine’s Day, expecting a nice evening, but unfortunately, the experience was disappointing from start to finish. First, despite making a reservation for 7:45, we weren’t seated until 8:30 because they were still seating other guests. What’s the point of a reservation if it doesn’t mean anything? Once we were finally seated, the service was chaotic. Our waitress barely checked on us, and we didn’t receive our drinks or appetizers until our main courses were already being prepared. Speaking of the food—despite specifically asking the chef not to add salt, he did anyway. When we brought this up, he admitted he was tired, which is completely unprofessional. The food was overly salty and barely edible. To top it off, when we addressed our concerns with the manager, they were indifferent and made no effort to fix the situation. Overall, this was a terrible experience, and I wouldn’t recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for good service or quality food!!
   

   Benihana - The Woodlands, TXResponded on 17 February 2025

   Hello Ronnie, We're sorry to hear about your Valentine's Day experience at Benihana - The Woodlands, TX. We apologize for the confusion with your reservation and the service you received. We take your feedback seriously and will address these issues with our team. We regret that our food did not meet your expectations and we are committed to improving. We hope for another chance to provide you with the quality service and food you deserve. Best regards, The Management Team
   

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10. L

    Leonardo

    Houston3 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on 16 February 2025

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

    We made a reservation for 7:30 pm. And got there at 7:20. We didn't get a table until 8:40 pm. What is the point of reserving a table in Benihana?
    

    Benihana - The Woodlands, TXResponded on 17 February 2025

    Hi Leonardo, We're truly sorry for the delay in seating you at our restaurant. We understand how frustrating that can be and we apologize for the inconvenience. We strive to provide the best service and it's clear we fell short in your case. We appreciate your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoyed the food. We look forward to serving you better in the future. Best, The Management Team
    

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