Benihana’s story begins in Japan with Yunosuke Aoki, a samurai descendant and a well-known Japanese entertainer, and his wife Katsu. The couple opened a small coffee shop in Tokyo, drawing inspiration from a red saffron flower they found in their neighborhood. They named their café “Benihana,” which means “red flower” in Japanese.
Their son, Hiroaki “Rocky” Aoki, was born in Tokyo in 1938. As a young man, Rocky developed a passion for wrestling and even qualified for the 1960 Summer Olympics, though he ultimately did not participate. In 1963, he moved to the United States and began selling ice cream from a truck in Harlem to save money. With his earnings, he opened the first Benihana restaurant in New York City on West 56th Street in 1964.
Rocky’s vision was to introduce authentic Japanese cuisine to American diners. The restaurant featured an interior resembling a traditional Japanese farmhouse, and meals were prepared right in front of customers on steel teppanyaki grills. At first, the restaurant struggled to attract customers. However, in early 1965, food critic Clementine Paddlefordwrote a glowing review in the New York Herald Tribune, which changed everything. Soon after, celebrities like The Beatles and Muhammad Ali started dining at the small four-table restaurant, bringing it widespread recognition.
In 1968, Benihana opened its first location outside New York in Chicago. By 1983, Rocky separated 11 Benihana USA restaurants into an independent company, Benihana Inc., and sold 49.1% of its shares to the public. In 1995, the company purchased 17 Benihana of Tokyo restaurants, expanding its reach. During the 2000s, Benihana grew even further by acquiring Haru and RA Sushi restaurants. In 2024, One Group Hospitality Inc. acquired Benihana for $365 million.
Rocky Aoki passed away in 2008 at the age of 69, but his innovative vision and bold approach to Japanese dining left a lasting legacy. Today, Benihana continues to introduce Japanese teppanyaki cuisine to the world, staying true to its entertaining, high-quality dining experience.