Authentic Benihana Experience - Hana Japan (2024)

Looking for a fun and entertaining Teppanyaki experience? While Benihana may be a familiar name, Hana Japan offers an exceptional family-owned Teppanyaki experience for those seeking local flavor. With locations in Berkeley and Dublin, Hana Japan invites you to experience the culinary art of Teppanyaki in a way that goes beyond flying shrimp and sizzling flames.

What is Teppanyaki?

Teppanyaki is a style of Japanese cuisine where food is cooked on a large, flat iron griddle called a teppan. The word itself comes from "teppan," meaning iron plate, and "yaki," meaning grilled, broiled, or pan-fried. While the entertaining showmanship often associated with Teppanyaki restaurants is fun, at its heart, Teppanyaki is about the skillful preparation of fresh ingredients on a hot griddle, resulting in delicious and flavorful dishes.

What is Benihana?

Benihana is a well-known Teppanyaki restaurant chain famous for its entertaining showmanship with chefs cooking on teppan grills. While Benihana offers a delightful dining experience, our restaurant Hana Japan focuses on the art of Teppanyaki itself, prioritizing traditional flavors and high-quality ingredients.

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What Makes Hana Japan Different?

Authentic Teppanyaki

While Benihana offers a fun take on Teppanyaki, Hana Japan focuses on the core of this culinary art – the skillful preparation of delicious food. Our chefs prioritize traditional flavors and cooking techniques, allowing the quality of the ingredients to shine through.

Fresh, High-Quality Ingredients

At Hana Japan, we believe that exceptional Teppanyaki starts with exceptional ingredients. We source only the freshest, high-quality meats, seafood, and vegetables to ensure a truly flavorful dining experience.

Chef Expertise and Family Atmosphere

What truly sets Hana Japan apart is Chef Yoon, the founder and award-winning force behind our restaurant for over 45 years. Chef Yoon's journey to Teppanyaki mastery is unconventional. Having honed his skills in fine dining, he discovered his true passion in the sizzling world of steak. However, Chef Yoon's vision extended beyond just delicious food.

Driven by a focus on high-quality ingredients and a passion for creating a community gathering place, Chef Yoon envisioned Hana Japan as a place where families could come together and connect over memorable experiences. This dedication to hospitality continues to this day. When you visit Hana Japan, you're likely to be greeted by a member of the Yoon family, ensuring a warm and genuine teppanyaki dining experience that goes beyond the show.

Why Choose Hana Japan over Benihana?

Craving a Teppanyaki beyond your typical Benihana chain restaurant? Hana Japan focuses on the essence of Teppanyaki – creating delicious food with a focus on authentic flavors and high-quality ingredients. Here's what sets us apart from Benihana:

  • Authentic Flavors: Our chefs prioritize traditional Japanese cooking techniques, allowing the natural flavors of premium ingredients to take center stage.

  • Fresh, High-Quality Ingredients: We source only the finest meats, seafood, and vegetables for a truly delicious Teppanyaki experience.

  • Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Hana Japan is a place where families and friends can gather for a memorable dining experience.

  • Skilled Chefs: Our experienced Teppanyaki chefs will entertain you with their culinary skills while preparing your meal at your table.

  • Warm Hospitality: When you visit Hana Japan, you can expect a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, often with a member of the Yoon family greeting you personally.

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Whether celebrating a special occasion or enjoying a night out with loved ones, Hana Japan provides a delightful Teppanyaki experience.

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The Hana Japan Teppanyaki Experience

At Hana Japan, we invite you to experience the true art of Teppanyaki beyond Benihana in a warm and inviting atmosphere. Our skilled chefs will prepare your meal right before your eyes on large, flat iron teppans. Watch in delight as they expertly cook a variety of fresh meats, seafood, and vegetables, ensuring everything is cooked to perfection.

We offer a wide selection of protein options, including USDA Choice and USDA Prime Black Angus beef, meticulously sourced from family-run farms. Seafood lovers will delight in our cold water lobster tail, jumbo shrimp, and salmon. And for vegetarians, we have a delicious selection of vegetable options. Each Teppanyaki entrée comes with Hana soup, fresh salad, seasonal vegetables, and steamed rice.

Come experience the culinary artistry and delicious flavors of Teppanyaki at Hana Japan. You won't be disappointed!

Make Your Reservation Today!

Ready to experience the true art of Teppanyaki? Make your reservation today and prepare to be delighted by our skilled chefs and delicious food!

  • Make a reservation online

  • Phone: Berkeley Marina (510-848-8515) or Dublin (925-829-7491)

Hana Japan Teppanyaki: Dine-In, Take-Out, and Delivery!

Looking to enjoy our delicious Teppanyaki in the comfort of your own home? Hana Japan offers a variety of convenient options to satisfy your cravings:

  • Dine-In Teppanyaki: Experience the full Teppanyaki experience with our skilled chefs cooking right at your table! Make a reservation online or call us to secure your spot.

  • Take-Out Teppanyaki: Order your favorite Teppanyaki meals online for easy pickup at our Berkeley or Dublin locations. Schedule your pick-up time in advance for a seamless experience.

  • Delivery: Craving Hana Japan delivered straight to your door? We've partnered with Caviar and DoorDash to deliver our delicious Teppanyaki to your doorstep in Berkeley and Dublin.

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No matter how you choose to enjoy Hana Japan, we guarantee a delicious and satisfying Teppanyaki experience beyond your typical Benihana!

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Visit Hana Japan Today!

Don't wait –

  • View our menu and explore the variety of fresh meats, seafood, and vegetables we offer.

  • Visit our locations: Experience the warm hospitality of Hana Japan in Berkeley or Dublin!

For an authentic Teppanyaki experience (beyond Benihana) that prioritizes exceptional food, fresh ingredients, and traditional flavors, look no further than Hana Japan. We offer a delightful alternative to the typical Benihana experience, focusing on the culinary artistry and delicious flavors that lie at the heart of this unique cuisine.

Join us at Hana Japan and create lasting memories with family and friends!

Authentic Benihana Experience - Hana Japan (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to Benihana's success? ›

A key to Benihana's success was its ability to create a standard product that customers would be happy with, in spite of the fact that if customers go to a competitor they get a customized product (they get to sit at a table with only their own party, they get to select from a larger menu, they may request that the ...

How long does it take to train for Benihana? ›

We offer advanced chef training that would “wow” any culinary professional. In addition to the 5-week training program, we also provide ongoing chef workshops to continue to enhance your skillset and knowledge.

Is Benihana authentic Japanese? ›

It is Japanese (and somewhat Korean) “influenced” food that is modified to the local (Hawaiian) people. After it has become so popular, the Benihana-style restaurants have been “reverse imported” into Japan to accommodate tourists who expect to find Benihana-style restaurants in Japan.

How does Benihana's strategy differ from that of a typical sit down restaurant How are the production processes different? ›

- Teppanyaki-style dining experience: Benihana follows a unique teppanyaki-style dining experience where chefs prepare meals in front of customers at communal tables. This interactive cooking process is not typically seen in a regular restaurant.

What did Benihana go to jail for? ›

Rocky Aoki, founder of the Benihana Japanese restaurant chain, was sentenced to three years of probation and fined $500,000 for illegally profiting from a 1993 tip that Spectrum Information Technologies Inc. was about to hire former Apple Computer Inc. chief John Sculley.

What does Benihana mean in Japanese? ›

A red safflower found in the neighbourhood streets gave the Aoki's the inspiration for the restaurant's name; 'Benihana – or 'red flower' in Japanese. The family's four sons grew up with the coffee shop, which later became a full-service restaurant.

Do you tip the chef at Benihana? ›

Yes, it's a kind gesture to tip the chef separately for their performance and skill, in addition to the standard restaurant tip.

Why is Benihana so popular? ›

It's our dedication to these high standards and the expert craftsmanship of our talented Teppanyaki chefs that make the Benihana experience unlike any other. We provide a high-energy, entertaining dining event that excites the senses and gives our guests reasons to celebrate, every day of the year.

How much do Benihana chefs make in California? ›

How much does a Chef make at Benihana in California? Average Benihana Chef hourly pay in California is approximately $18.92, which meets the national average.

Does Steve Aoki own Benihana? ›

Steve and his sister, model Devon Aoki, were each awarded 50% of their dad's trust by a judge this week ... meaning they get ownership rights to Benihana and a chunk of restaurant income. But they don't get it just yet ... according to the Aoki family lawyer neither gets paid until their 45th birthdays.

Who currently owns Benihana? ›

One Group Hospitality Inc.

What is a Japanese cook called? ›

An itamae (板前, a cook, chef) is a cook in a Japanese kitchen or a chef of a large restaurant. The term can be translated literally as "in front of the board," referring to a cutting board.

Does Benihana make you sit with strangers? ›

The food menu offers limited choices (and no special requests!), and you order food while settled in the bar. Only when the time is right will you be seated—alongside people you've never met before—in pre-selected groups of 12. The first course is cooked right in front of your eyes.

Do you sit on the floor in Japanese restaurants? ›

Some Japanese restaurants will have a separated sitting room called a zashiki. This room will have tables and chairs but also mats spread on the floor called tatami. Before entering this room and stepping on the tatami, you are expected to remove your shoes.

Do Benihana servers get tips? ›

All servers must tip out %15 of their sales to bussers, chefs, and bartenders, even if we receive no tips. For instance, if I get a 0% tip on a $200 check, I still have to tip-out $30. Other than the tip-out system, Benihana is a friendly place to work, and there is definitely opportunity for growth.

What's so special about Benihana? ›

Named after his parents' Tokyo coffee shop, Benihana opened in 1964, featuring an authentic Japanese farmhouse interior and food prepared on steel teppanyaki grills right in front of customers. His highly trained teppanyaki chefs delighted customers with intricate knife work and theatrics.

What is Benihana business strategy? ›

It summarizes Benihana's business strategy, which focuses on reducing costs through process standardization, simplified menus, and multi-tasking chefs. This allows Benihana to achieve lower food, labor and operating costs than traditional restaurants.

How does Benihana get its competitive advantage? ›

This service concept brought forth the competitive advantage to Benihana restaurant. By having chefs outside cooking; it allows the restaurant to save labor costs and offer more attentive services. The menu limitation also lowers the costs. The space was fully utilized to maximize the profits.

What is the secret of hibachi? ›

The main ingredient that is key to making hibachi at home is the garlic butter. You will notice it is heavily used at hibachi restaurants and gets added to every dish. You only need soften butter, garlic and a few seasoning to make this compound butter.

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