Benihana
16226 Ventura Blvd.
Encino, CA
818-788-7121

In the early days of "event" restaurants, before there were monstrosities like ESPN Zone and Planet Hollywood, there was Benihana. Especially popular for birthday parties and first dates, the restaurant remains enormously successful and the wait for a table can top two hours. Diners sit in a semi-circle around a large metal teppanyaki grill and watch as a skilled chef in a high hat chops, dices and twirls his way through mounds of meat and vegetables. The food is good, even if the fried rice is little more than an excuse to eat butter, but the real star here is the show.


Hours: Mon.-Fri., 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Mon.-Thu., 5-10:30 p.m.; Fri., 5-11 p.m.; Sat., noon-11 p.m.; Sun., noon-10 p.m.

Fax: 818-788-1376