Benihana Plans To Open 10 New Bay Area Locations

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Benihana is planning a significant expansion across the Bay Area over the next seven years.

The One Group Hospitality, a company that acquired the popular teppanyaki chain last year, says it plans to develop 10 new Benihana locations across the Greater San Francisco Bay Area through 2033 under an expansion agreement.

Three of those will be franchised Benihana restaurants, two will be joint-ventured locations and five will be Benihana Express locations. At least two of those 10 planned locations are expected to open by 2026, according to the company. It's unclear where in the Bay Area these will be opened.

"These fourth quarter developments represent significant progress across our strategic priorities," Emanuel “Manny” Hilario, CEO of The ONE Group, said in a statement Monday. "Our largest asset-light agreement ever demonstrates the strong demand for our Benihana brand ."

The One Group acquired Safflower Holdings Corp., which owns Benihana, in 2024 for $365 million. As of last year, Benihana operated 88 company-owned restaurants and franchises across the United States.

The teppanyaki chain saw a period of renewed momentum following the purchase, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, which reported that a newly redesigned Benihana in San Mateo in March turned out to be the strongest opening in the brand's history.

The first Benihana was opened in 1964 by Rocky Aoki, the father of famed DJ Steve Aoki. Today, it is the largest operator of teppanyaki restaurants in the United States.