Benihana - The Woodlands, TX

Review summary

1. R

   Ronny

   Houston

   4 reviews

   2.0

   4 reviews

   Dined 4 days ago

   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 2 days ago

   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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2. D

   Dennis

   VIP

   Houston

   2 reviews

   1.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 5 days ago

   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 3 days ago

   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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3. T

   Tyrene

   Orange County

   2 reviews

   2.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on February 16, 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 February 18, 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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4. R

   Ronnie

   Chicago

   1 review

   1.0

   1 review

   Dined on February 16, 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 February 17, 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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5. L

   Leonardo

   Houston

   3 reviews

   3.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on February 16, 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 February 17, 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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6. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Phoenix

   1 review

   3.0

   1 review

   Dined on February 16, 2025

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

   Our server Rachel was outstanding! The hostesses were fantastic too.
   

   Benihana - The Woodlands, TXResponded on February 17, 2025

   Dear Guest! Thanks for the feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your experience at Benihana - The Woodlands, TX. It's wonderful to know that our exceptional service was a highlight for you. We're always striving to provide the best experience for our guests, so your compliments are much appreciated. We hope to see you again soon!
   

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7. C

   C.

   Richmond

   4 reviews

   3.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on February 16, 2025

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

   We ordered the Benihana's delight and it was supposed to come with mushrooms as one of the vegetables in this 6-course meal. We were given sauteed onions and zucchini but no sauteed mushrooms. only one person at our table got sauteed mushrooms. I thought that was strange. since you're paying such a high price, you should get everything on the menu. Our chef overcooked the eggs that were supposed to go in the fried rice so we had brown overcooked eggs in our fried rice which was disappointing as well. Not worth the price!
   

   Benihana - The Woodlands, TXResponded on February 18, 2025

   Hello C., We're truly sorry to hear about your recent experience at Benihana - The Woodlands, TX. We take pride in our culinary offerings and it's disappointing to hear that we didn't meet your expectations this time. We understand your concern about the mushrooms not being included in your meal, and we apologize for the oversight. We assure you that we take this very seriously and will address this with our team. We're also sorry to hear that the eggs in your fried rice were overcooked. We strive to ensure that all our dishes are cooked to perfection and we regret that we fell short this time. We appreciate your feedback and hope you'll give us another chance to impress you in the future. Best regards, The Management Team
   

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8. B

   Bradley

   VIP

   Houston

   2 reviews

   1.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on February 15, 2025

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

   We eat here literally a couple of times a month. This was absolutely terrible. Service?-we saw our server 3 times once when the drink order was taken, once with the drinks, and once with the check. I had an empty glass the last 30 minutes I was there. Hibachi chef?- must have been his first day. He was terrible. My wife’s scallops were trash. I have the same amount of oil in my truck as I did in my food. There were (2) tables with screaming babies within 10 feet of ours and at our table 4 kids were standing up making TikTok dance videos. Probably the worst Benihana experience I’ve had out of 80-100 visits across the US. Very disappointing
   

   Benihana - The Woodlands, TXResponded on February 16, 2025

   Hello Bradley, We're truly sorry to hear about your recent experience at Benihana - The Woodlands, TX. It's clear that we fell short in providing the high-quality service and food that we strive for. Your feedback regarding the service, specifically the wait times and the quality of our dishes, is crucial to us. We will definitely work on improving these areas to ensure we meet your expectations in the future. We hope you will give us another chance to show you the quality dining experience we are known for. Best regards, The Management Team
   

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9. D

   Darius

   Houston

   8 reviews

   4.0

   8 reviews

   Dined on February 15, 2025

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

   It was our Valentine's Day dinner and we had to wait an hour to be seated. There were a lot of people in line to be seated. When we finally were seated, we really enjoyed the experience. The food was good. The chef had a fun sense of humor with his Dad jokes. We sat together with others and enjoyed our meal. Thanks Benihana for a good experience.
   

   Benihana - The Woodlands, TXResponded on February 17, 2025

   Thanks for visiting us, Darius! We're thrilled to hear that you had a wonderful Valentine's Day dinner at Benihana - The Woodlands, TX. It's great to know that you enjoyed the food and our chef's sense of humor. We apologize for the long wait you experienced, but we're glad it didn't detract from your overall experience. We appreciate your understanding and patience. We look forward to serving you again soon.
   

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10. R

    Roger

    VIP

    East Texas

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 15, 2025

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

    We attempted to have a Valentines Day dinner, with a 7 pm reservation. The lobby was packed and it took 5 minutes of standing in line just to check in. We were told they’d text us when our table was ready. We found a small table in the bar area. My wife ordered a drink, and instead of bringing her the single serving, the server brought the $45 glass for two to share. I couldn’t taste any alcohol and the glass was 75% ice. With tax and tip it was a $57 drink. So we waited… and waited… at 7:45 I went back to the hostess. She said they have no idea how much longer it would be… but that we should be in the next two tables. We waited until 8, then left to find some Thai food. This is not the first night Benihana is serving a teppanyaki meal, so you’d think they have some data on how long each seating takes. I know this is a holiday, but again not their first. It’s been several years since we’ve been to this location… the previous time they were slow to seat us… and the meal took forever. I think we ended up at the restaurant for almost 3 hours. And that was on a weekday night, no holiday. Not sure I’d bother trying again.
    

    Benihana - The Woodlands, TXResponded on February 17, 2025

    Hi Roger, we're really sorry to hear about your experience. We understand your frustration with waiting for a table and the extended time you had to wait. It's not the standard of service we aim for, and we apologize for any inconvenience caused. We appreciate your feedback and will use it to improve our service. We hope you'll give us another chance to provide a better dining experience. Thank you for letting us know. - The Management Team at Benihana - The Woodlands, TX
    

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