BENIHANA

The story of Benihana begins in Japan with Yunosuke Aoki and his wife Katsu opening a small coffee shop named after a red safflower. Their four sons grew up in the business, learning the importance of cleanliness, fresh ingredients, and customer experience. Eldest son Hiroaki, later known as Rocky Aoki, had a vision for bringing Japanese cuisine to America with entertaining flair. Working tirelessly, Rocky opened the first Benihana restaurant in New York City in 1964, offering teppan-yaki style cooking with showmanship. Initially slow to gain traction, a positive review from a renowned critic propelled Benihana to success, making it a popular destination. Benihana’s innovative approach to Japanese cuisine and entertainment helped popularize sushi and soy sauce worldwide.