Restaurant Review: Benihana (Golden Valley Location)

Us celebrating Daren's 25 birthday at Benihana

I don't know this for sure but I have a hunch that when you reach the age of 25 you start to feel really old. Something about realizing you are out on your own, paying your own bills, and 5 years from 30... Woah, I'm breaking a sweat over here just thinking about it. Luckily I still have about a year and a half to prepare myself. And thankfully when Daren turned 25 in June he set an excellent example for how to take it by eating good food (make mental note of this).

One of the places we accompanied Daren to for a birthday celebration is Benihana. I love Benihana and all the restaurants out there like it. It's always a good time watching the chefs prepare your meal right in front of you.

Chef Aaron pouring the yum yum sauce

Making a heart out of the chicken fried rice

Cooking the entrees

If you weren't aware, Benihana has this program called the Chef's Table; it's basically them sending you a monthly "here are our specials" email. But the real reason you should subscribe to this is for the $30 voucher they send out at the beginning of your birthday month. It's good Monday-Thursday anytime during the month of your birthday. Quite the sweet deal as it practically pays for your entire meal (excluding tax and alcohol purchases). So it goes without saying that when mine, Mark's, or Daren's birthday month rolls around we take full advantage of this offer.

Chloe's 3rd Birthday

Chloe at 2 months

As I mentioned before Chloe's birthday is July 5th, which makes the holiday extra special. Unfortunately Mark had to work this year, so we just waited and celebrated after he came home. Since we planned a picnic dinner at the dog park I spent part of the day prepping. I wanted something quick that would travel fairly well. I was thinking chicken but Mark suggested tofu which fit more into the "quick" category (can't beat ready to eat protein).

As I was running I brainstormed what to make with the tofu. Stir fry popped into my head first but that meant turning on the stove, something I was trying to avoid. After deliberating with myself for awhile I settled on tofu kabobs because it was different than stir fry (my go-to), had veggies but wasn't a salad (something Mark appreciated), and didn't require the stove.