Ridiculously Amazing Teppanyaki Is Coming To The Hancock Building

By Anthony Todd in Food on Aug 16, 2017 5:20PM

The exterior of Benihana. Photo courtesy of Benihana.

I have a confession that will destroy all my dining cred: I'm obsessed with potentially the most ridiculous, touristy and non-culinary form of dining. That's right, I love showy teppanyaki, complete with the onion volcano, shrimp tails going into hats and an egg rooster. That's why when I found out that Benihana, the OG of ridiculous teppan dining, was coming back to Chicago after a decade, I got real excited.

For those who aren't familiar, Benihana is a restaurant that serves a version of Japanese cuisine called teppanyaki. Guests sit around a large table that's actually a flat top grill, and a chef cooks their meal to order. All you really have to choose is your protein, and you get to sit and watch everything as it happens. The chefs are known for their tricks and their pretty incredible knifework. Benihana does offer sushi and a few other Japanese menu items, but the main draw is teppanyaki.

The interior. Photo courtesy of Benihana.

The opening date for the new spot is Aug. 23, and it's got a prime location—in the concourse level of the Hancock building. They'll have 22 cooking tables, a bar, a patio outside, a sushi bar, and private dining rooms.

Will this change the Japanese food scene in Chicago? Are you kidding? But it will provide a fairly awesome entertainment dining venue right on Michigan avenue, perfect for tourists and easily-amused locals. Plus, it'll provide another option for Teppan lovers who have been stuck going to Ron of Japan for the last decade.

Photo courtesy of Benihana.

The new restaurant is at 875 N. Michigan Ave. If you've never been to Benihana, watch the video below.