Benihana Abu Dhabi: Teppanyaki Theatre at Beach Rotana

Dinner comes with a front-row seat

Benihana’s appeal has always depended on turning the act of cooking into part of the evening, and the Beach Rotana branch still follows that formula. Guests sit around the teppan while chefs grill, sear and assemble the meal directly in front of them, making the restaurant as much about timing and personality as ingredients. Rotana’s current dining page explicitly promotes the live cooking show and positions the venue as family-friendly, which is important: the performance element gives children and larger groups something more engaging than a conventional hotel dinner while still leaving room for serious eating.

Teppanyaki is the headline, not the entire menu

The hot plate may dominate the room, but the kitchen is broader than steak-and-flame theatrics. The current Rotana description includes sushi, sashimi and teppanyaki set menus, supported by sake and Japanese-inspired cocktails. Experience Abu Dhabi also points to makimono, seafood, chicken, vegetables and premium meats. That range allows a table to begin cold with sushi and sashimi before moving to the grill, rather than ordering everything from one cooking style. The best version of Benihana is therefore paced: lighter Japanese plates first, then the teppanyaki sequence once everyone is settled around the table.

A heritage brand that remains active in Abu Dhabi

Current first-party sources leave little doubt about operating status. Beach Rotana lists Benihana among its active restaurants, provides a direct restaurant telephone of +971 2 697 9186 and a table-booking route, while Benihana International separately lists the Abu Dhabi location at Beach Rotana with daily evening hours. The direct number is more useful than the hotel’s general switchboard carried in the older database and should replace it for editorial use. Benihana is not Abu Dhabi’s newest Japanese opening, but novelty is not its point. It remains one of the capital’s most recognisable interactive dining formats, particularly useful for families, celebrations and visitors who want the classic teppanyaki experience rather than a silent sushi counter.

Practical details

Location: Beach Rotana, 10th Street, Al Zahiyah, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Cuisine: Japanese-American; teppanyaki, sushi and sashimi
Telephone: +971 2 697 9186
Service: Current brand listing shows daily evening service