MIAMI Benihana is adding menu specials for the early-evening and weekend-lunch dayparts, in the midst of sliding sales at the 64-unit teppanyaki chain.
Benihana Inc. said Wednesday that participating restaurants will offer a Twilight Tastings menu, which gives diners a choice of three items — steak, chicken or shrimp — served with Japanese onion soup, salad, hibachi vegetables, vegetable fried rice and green tea. The meal is offered during the first hour of dinner service for $14.25. Benihana’s average per-person dinner check, excluding drinks, is $30, a company spokesman said.
The chain also said its popular Combo Two and Combo Three weekday lunch specials will be available on Saturdays and Sundays at participating locations. Customers select two or three items from a list that includes scallops, calamari, yakisoba, chicken, shrimp, half of a California roll and beef julienne. Both specials include salad, hibachi vegetables, fried rice and green tea. Prices vary by location.
“With the captivating theater our entertaining chefs provide, delicious food and wide-ranging menu, Benihana has always offered added value,” said Richard Stockinger, chief executive of Benihana. “These two menu enhancements expand our guests’ options during the early evening and weekends.”
The new specials come days after as Benihana reported that same-store sales fell 12.2 percent at its namesake chain in the March-ended fourth quarter. However, Stockinger expressed optimism that traffic had stabilized at the company’s three Japanese chains, which also include Haru and RA Sushi, and could improve in the coming months.
Contact Molly Gise at [email protected].
