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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a Benihana Franchise

Benihana is the American teppanyaki steakhouse that introduced tableside hibachi dining to the United States, opening its first restaurant in New York City in 1964. Guests sit around communal grill tables where skilled chefs prepare USDA Choice steaks, seafood, sushi and made-from-scratch sauces as a live performance, giving the brand a theatrical, occasion-driven format built around families, celebrations and group dining.

The US, Caribbean and Central and South American franchise is operated by Benihana National Corp. (BNC), which became part of publicly listed The ONE Group Hospitality (NASDAQ: STKS) in 2024, alongside sister brands STK Steakhouse, Kona Grill and RA Sushi. A separate company, Benihana of Tokyo, holds rights outside those territories.

Restaurants are full-service, freestanding venues of around 7,000 square feet, typically seating 16 teppanyaki tables, and combine food, sushi and a full bar program. The network spans roughly 77 company-owned and franchised locations across the Americas as of 2025, and the live-cooking concept remains difficult for casual-dining rivals to replicate.

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Why buy a Benihana Franchise?

Buying a Benihana franchise means stepping into one of the most recognized names in experiential dining, a concept with six decades of consumer awareness and a format that stands apart from generic casual-dining competitors. The live teppanyaki experience drives repeat visits for birthdays, anniversaries and group celebrations, supporting strong per-visit spend across food, sushi and bar.

The brand now has the backing of The ONE Group Hospitality, a public restaurant operator with a portfolio of upscale and experiential concepts and the marketing, sourcing and operational infrastructure that comes with multi-brand scale. For operators, established systems and national brand recognition reduce the build-from-scratch challenge of launching an independent restaurant.

Benihana Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2023 data reported in the 2024 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1964

    • Franchising Since

      1995

    • New Startup Cost

      $3,405,200 – $6,250,000

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $40,000

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      $10,000

    • Royalty Fee

      5%

      of Gross Sales

    • Marketing Fee

      2%

      of Gross Sales

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      77

    • New Units Opened *

      1

    • Units Transferred *

      0

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      Not Disclosed

    * Based on 2023 data reported in the 2024 FDD

Benihana – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    New franchisees complete a comprehensive training and evaluation program covering restaurant operations, standard operating procedures and the teppanyaki service model, combining classroom instruction with hands-on experience in an operating restaurant. BNC provides ongoing operational guidance from its corporate management team, help sourcing approved supplies and equipment, and marketing support to maintain brand standards. Resale buyers should confirm with BNC what transfer training and onboarding the franchisor provides to incoming owners and what staff and chef certification carries over with the unit.

  2. Ideal Owner

    Benihana suits hands-on, full-time operators who can lead and motivate large hospitality teams in a high-volume, service-intensive environment. The model is operations-led, demanding strong people management, the ability to recruit and retain skilled teppanyaki chefs and front-of-house staff, and financial discipline to run a sizeable restaurant. Prior restaurant or multi-unit hospitality experience is a clear advantage, as is comfort delivering a consistent, performance-driven guest experience night after night. The franchisor expects owners to devote full time to on-premises operation rather than run the business passively.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    Benihana is one of the most recognized teppanyaki brands in the world, with consumer awareness built over six decades that few full-service restaurant concepts match. Its longevity and continued expansion since 1964 reflect a resilient, experience-driven format with broad multi-generational appeal. The brand is now part of The ONE Group Hospitality, a publicly listed operator of upscale and experiential restaurant brands, adding parent-company credibility and scale. For resale buyers, brand-level recognition should be weighed alongside the specific location's local reputation, online reviews and standing in its community.

  4. Industry / Market

    Benihana operates in the US full-service restaurant segment, part of a national restaurant industry that surpassed $1 trillion in sales in 2024 according to the National Restaurant Association. Experiential, occasion-based concepts that pair entertainment with dining have been capturing share from traditional casual dining as consumers prioritize memorable, shareable outings. Japanese and teppanyaki cuisine continues to enjoy broad mainstream appeal across the US. For resale buyers, local demand depends on a trade area's demographics, tourism, competition and the restaurant's standing as a destination for celebrations.

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