Benihana is an American restaurant company that operates a chain of theme restaurants that offer a Japanese cuisine dining experience. Founded in 1964 by Hiroaki "Rocky" Aoki in New York City, Benihana is known for its teppanyaki style of cooking, where chefs prepare meals on a steel griddle in front of customers. This interactive dining experience, combined with the chefs' performance (such as flipping shrimp tails into their hats, tossing eggs in the air, and making onion volcanoes), makes dining at Benihana unique and entertaining. Over the years, Benihana has expanded beyond its original New York City location to include numerous restaurants across the United States and internationally. The company has also launched other restaurant concepts under its brand, including RA Sushi and Haru.