On Thursday I went to the corner of Union Avenue and Cambrian Park in West San Jose to try Benihibachi, a new food truck that serves Japanese grilled cuisine.
The food truck started in Downtown Los Angeles before it arrived in San Jose where it had its grand opening on Jan. 7.
Since its arrival, I had frequently seen photos of the food on Instagram and it looked delicious. Many people I know talked about it frequently, so I felt it was about time I tried it myself.
On Instagram, the truck’s hours are listed as Thursday to Sunday from 4:20 p.m. – 2 a.m. When I visited the truck, it arrived 30 minutes late. But once it arrived, the employees set up to take orders quickly.
I was a bit indecisive but eventually decided to order the filet mignon, chicken and shrimp trio, lobster, filet mignon and shrimp trio, and a shrimp plate.
The filet mignon, and chicken and shrimp trio is $35.95. The lobster, filet mignon and shrimp trio is $44.90 and the shrimp plate is $21.50. In total, I spent a little over $100 with tax.
As I waited for my food, I enjoyed the ambiance and smells wafting from the truck.
The aroma of cooked fried rice with hints of fresh shrimp took over the air. With my sense of smell stimulated, my anticipation grew and my stomach growled louder as time passed.
The truck had giant windows where customers could curiously watch the chefs cook their food. The warm air coming from the truck felt nice in comparison to the frigid wind blowing around me.
After I received my food, I ate my shrimp plate at the truck and took the two others home for my parents.
At first glance, I thought the shrimp looked small but it was actually very thick and full and was way more plump than it seemed. There was an abundance of freshly fried rice at the bottom of the plate, with an array of colorful vegetables on the side.
The combination of carrots, cucumbers, and glossy shrimp were perfectly placed right on top of everything.
The shrimp flawlessly complemented the fried rice and the vegetables. All parts of each dish were juicy, soft and lucious. They used just the right amount of salt to bolster the dish but not make it overbearing.
The lobster in the other dish was a divine addition. It was tender and really enhanced the experience.
The lobster added a nice dash of red to the dish. It was quite small but it did pack a punch with its buttery and savory flavors. It definitely left me wanting more.
My favorite part of the dish was the vegetables, which was surprising because I’m not a huge fan. Every single vegetable was evenly cooked and juicy while the flavor of the vegetables was enriched with subtle hints of the shrimp and fried rice.
Overall, the experience was enjoyable and had charming vibes. The food was quite costly but most definitely worth it because it is so well-made. I will most certainly be going back and getting more of the delicious shrimp plate.
