It was 1975 when pioneering Fort Worth restaurateur Dave Benson opened Japanese Palace in a mysterious, windowless structure with Asian-inspired architecture at 8445 Camp Bowie Blvd. This month the iconic dining destination, loved by loyal customers for its theatrical show of Japanese tableside cooking, celebrates 50 years in business.

“He was very much an innovator,” says Pam Benson, daughter of Dave who took the Japanese Palace reins when he passed in 1985. “He would always do what was on the cutting edge. He’d go to Benihana in Dallas and say, ‘We need to have a Japanese restaurant in Fort Worth.’”

Japanese Palace is considered Fort Worth’s first teppanyaki restaurant, and not much has changed since it opened five decades ago. The 70s-style bar, popular with customers for Mai Tais while waiting for a table, is preserved in time with its sultry tones, cozy seating nooks, and traditional Japanese décor. The dining room is filled with communal tables around stainless-steel cooktop grills, where the chefs dazzle diners with their spatula flips, spins, and balancing acts, using them much like batons. The thrill of the show, and the feeling of familiarity, is what keeps customers coming back, says Pam.

“We have generations of great memories because some of our customers have been coming since they were kids,” Pam says. “You’re not just going to eat a meal here and then hurry up and go. It’s an experience. You may sit with people you don’t even know, and then you get to know them. Communal tables are just wonderful. People love that. Those are things that keep people coming back.”

Japanese Palace is also credited as Fort Worth’s first sushi restaurant. In 1989 Pam expanded the dining room to add a full sushi bar, showcasing rolls and sashimi to then skeptical guests.

“At the time, people did not know anything about sushi,” she says. “They’d say, ‘I don’t want any of that bait. I’m from Texas.’ I had to do a little sushi 101. I had flip cards with a questionnaire on one side and the answers on the other. If you could go through all the questions with the sushi chef, you’d win a free t-shirt or something.”

Customers gradually caught on to the concept of raw fish and soon the sushi bar became just as popular as the teppanyaki tables.

“People became more sophisticated and now lots of sushi places have opened. You can even get it at the grocery stores,” Pam says. “We were just the first ones to bring it out in Fort Worth.”

Other customer favorite dishes include filet mignon, ocean scallops, lobster tail, and teppanyaki chicken. Each is cooked to order at the table and served with a brothy mushroom soup, Asian salad, stir fried vegetables, and choice of white or fried rice. Japanese Palace is known for its large portions – something Pam doesn’t plan to change despite rising food costs.

“They end up getting a to-go box and taking half of their food home with them,” she says. “So they have food for the next day.”

The food and beverage business runs deep in the Benson family. In addition to owning several nightclubs and supper clubs, Dave Benson launched Fort Worth’s Lone Star Drive-In in 1949 at Berry St and I-35. “There was nothing but rabbits out there,” he once told the Fort Worth Star Telegram. Multiple locations followed.

He also opened Ol’ South Pancake House in 1963, now owned Pam’s younger brother Rex, who recently debuted Rex’s Bar and Grill just next door.

Pam says her dedicated employees, some who’ve been with her between 20 and 30 years, have created a family-like atmosphere. Regulars expect to see their favorite servers and chefs, many who come from different countries all over the world.

“I’m the only Anglo person there,” Pam says. “My employees are from all over: Japan, China, Burma, Philippines, Mexico, Costa Rico. It’s wonderful. They stay with me and I’m very blessed.”

While most restaurants have to evolve and adapt to customers’ changing preferences, Pam says her customers have made it clear they don’t want anything to change.

“There are all sorts of Asian restaurants that carry different things,” she says. “But when you come to Japanese Palace, you know what you’re going to get.”

Japanese Palace is open daily at 5 pm and seating is first-come, first serve.