Benihana Holiday Memories Contest Winners

Below are the winning entries to the Benihana Holiday Memories Contest. Our thanks to everyone who shared their New Year's memories with us, and congratulations to all of our winners.

Ty Howard - Sugar Land, Texas

Crystal Merrick - Westbury, New York

"We celebrated the New Year with our baby's first New Year!!!"

Kathryn Bramlitt - Dallas, Texas

"Our 2010 design! If you look real close you will be able to make out the '2' made by pouring soy sauce into the sauce...and if you look even harder and use your imagination you will see 2010 compliments of Benihana dishware

Everyone needs a little luck especially coming out of 2009. What better way to get it than hanging out with a gigantic lucky cat at Benihana? Had a fun "last dinner of the decade" and here's to great 2010!"

Anabella Hampton - New York City, New York

"New Years Day at Benihana in New York City."

Ammi Tucker - Memphis, Tennessee

"My birthday falls on December 30th right after the hype of Christmas but before excitement of the New Year. I'd had a very rough month leading up to my birthday, and felt that it would just be one of those bad birthdays that I could forget.

I had joined the Chef's Table online a few months ago and had forgotten about it until I was cleaning out my email. I told my husband we might as well go since I could eat for free or close to it with the $30 certificate. We decided to invite my mother-in-law (who's like a mother to me), and my husband's aunt (who had never been to Benihana). I had so much on my mind that I was most concerned about trying to "appear" happy on my birthday rather than truthfully enjoying it.

Well, as soon as we got to Benihana in Memphis, my mood changed! The familiarity of the scents and fond memories of past visits instantly made me relaxed and hopeful that the evening would turn out well. We got to our table, the service was great, and the food was AMAZING! Our chef picked on our group in a friendly way since it was my birthday. We laughed so much our stomachs ached. And most of all, I was genuinely happy to be sharing the birthday with a few of the people that mean so much to me and at my favorite place to eat. True, Benihana's was just the setting, and while it did help contribute to the good time, that night was more of a turning point for me on so many levels. I will always remember that birthday as one of the best, and Benihana will always be part of that fond memory."

Jackie Stock - City of Industry, California

"Benihana New Years Eve. City of Industry, California."

Debbie Knetzer - Las Colinas, Texas

"Happy New Year! Celebrating the first day of the new year with the kids at Benihana. We had so much fun! The Chef was awesome with the kids and they had so much fun watching. We can't wait to return soon. The Knetzer Family 1-01-2010!"

Bob Bress - Short Hills, New Jersey

"Benihana has always been a favorite of ours so we thought this would be a great place to take our 2 yr old son for New Year's Eve dinner. He had a blast and loved watching all the chef's tricks!"

Lindsey St Claire - Burlingame, California

"Every year we ring in the New Year by going to Benihana for dinner with the family. Since this year New Moon has been such a hit, we decided to celebrate along with Jacob and Edward, by bringing our two cardboard cut outs of them!!!"

"A picture of our fabulous New Year's Eve at Benihana with our favorite chef...Tony!!! We were joking all night saying that I was going to leave my boyfriend for him! LOL"