Is Benihana owned by private equity?

Not anymore. Benihana was formerly owned by Angelo Gordon & Co. starting in 2012, but the firm has since exited. The effects of PE ownership often linger.

What happened to Benihana after the acquisition?

Benihana stayed a special-occasion splurge, not a weeknight dinner, and the hibachi spread still carries premium prices For most Americans, teppanyaki just means Benihana, built around the same tableside knife show the chain made famous

Benihana is owned by Angelo Gordon & Co., which acquired it in 2012.

Is Benihana Private Equity Owned?

FORMERLY PE OWNED

Benihana

Includes Benihana of Tokyo

japanese · Miami, FL

PE Firm: Angelo Gordon & Co.
Year Acquired: 2012

PE bought the teppanyaki chain, held it for 12 years, raised prices, and the founder's family sued.

What Happened

Angelo Gordon & Co. acquired Benihana for $296 million in August 2012, taking the publicly traded chain private
Held Benihana private for 12 years before flipping it, a long hold even by private-equity standards
After the buyout, the Angelo Gordon-owned company and founder Rocky Aoki's widow — who controls the separate Benihana of Tokyo — traded lawsuits over trademarks and trade practices, according to Fortune
Sold to The ONE Group (parent of STK and Kona Grill) for $365 million in May 2024, a 23% bump over the 2012 price tag before debt and fees

The Damage Done

Benihana stayed a special-occasion splurge, not a weeknight dinner, and the hibachi spread still carries premium prices
For most Americans, teppanyaki just means Benihana, built around the same tableside knife show the chain made famous

Sources

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Is Benihana Owned by Private Equity?

Benihana

What Happened

The Damage Done

Sources

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