“Exquisite Japanese cuisine.”
That’s the phrase that best describes the bountiful meals offered at Benihana restaurant. Founded in 1964, Benihana was the first restaurant in the United States to combine theatrical elements during the dining experience by using the Teppanyai (Teppen means steel grill and yaki means broiled) style to prepare food.
As you sit at Benihana’s communal tables, you can watch as chefs prepare your food right before your eyes. The swift chopping, slicing and flipping the food in the air by the chefs is sure to keep you entertained.
Before enjoying an entrée, guests can select from a varied menu of side items. Some favorites of frequent diners include fried tofu, seafood tempura that you can choose between shrimp, scallops, or deep fried calamari, and the Japanese onion soup which takes half of the day to skillfully combine onion, celery, carrot and garlic.
Once you’re warmed up with the side items, there’s a wonderful variety of traditional items available to choose from. The Benihana Yakisoba dinner, complete with sautéed Japanese noodles, chicken, hibachi, vegetables and a special sauce is only one of the delicious items available on the traditional menu, which are all served with Japanese onion soup, Benihana salad, shrimp appetizer, hibachi vegetables, steamed rice and Japanese hot green tea.
For individuals who are less traditional, the specialty menu is for you. Select from exquisitely prepared items such as the fish tsutsumi-yaki, which consists of salmon and hibachi vegetables wrapped and cooked on the grill; the chef’s special complete with cold water lobster tail, ocean scallops and filet mignon; or the hibachi chateaubriand, which consists of a juicy 9-oz center cut tenderloin with garlic butter. All specialty items are served with the same extras offered on the traditional menu, but also ice cream or sherbet.
Speaking of ice cream and sherbet, diners can also choose tempura ice cream (pound cake and strawberry ice cream), the banana tempura, or a varied selection of freshly cut fruit from the dessert menu.
If you’re looking for a refreshing drink to go with your meal, you have the option of popular non-alcoholic beverages including the virgin pina colada and the banana and berries smoothie; or alcoholic drinks like the chi chi, made with vodka, milk, coconut cream, a dash of sour and pineapple, or the mai-tai, which is a Polynesian classic that includes both light and dark rums.
There’s definitely something for everyone at Benihana including a one-of-the-kind kid’s menu.
Benihana
8830 Keystone Crossing Dr.
Indianapolis, IN 46240
(317) 846-2495
