Benihana Hibachi Rice Recipe (Copycat)

Make the Best Hibachi Fried Rice Recipe Benihana style! This simple recipe captures the essence of the renowned Japanese steakhouse, using simple ingredients to create a mouthwatering dish that will satisfy your cravings.

With its vibrant mix of fluffy rice, crisp vegetables, and savory seasonings, this homemade Japanese fried rice delivers the perfect balance of textures and flavors. 

If you’ve eaten at Benihana, you know how delicious their hibachi fried rice is! Bring the hibachi experience home, save some cash, and make the dish in your very own kitchen.

I enjoy giving precise details in my recipe posts to lead my readers through any questions. If you’re just here for the printable recipe, use the Jump to Recipe to head straight there!

The secret ingredient of fried rice Benihana-style is the divine garlic butter sauce, which I include in this perfect copycat recipe. So, let’s dive right in!

Hibachi Rice Ingredients

• Rice | Use day-old, cooked white rice; Basmati or Jasmine are favorites in Hibachi restaurants. Day-old rice works best, removing moisture as it sits and avoiding mushy fried rice. Either way, ensure it is cold before adding it to the heat. Make it easy by using a rice cooker to prep the rice.
• Oil | Toasted sesame oil brings that signature hibachi flavor, while the avocado oil is perfect for high heat stir-frying. Use another high-heat oil, like peanut oil, instead of avocado oil if preferred.
• Garlic and Onions | Season the rice with minced or pressed garlic cloves and a diced onion. If necessary, use garlic powder instead.
• Peas and Carrots | Use frozen peas and carrots to make the recipe even easier. I like to use organic frozen veggies.
• Eggs | Scramble one to three eggs into the rice for added protein, making this a complete meal. 
• Sauces | The fried rice’s flavor will come from the oyster or fish sauce and soy sauce—sub soy for liquid aminos or coconut aminos. 
• Garlic butter | Make Benihana Garlic butter with softened butter, light soy sauce, and fresh garlic cloves grated or pressed.
• Pepper | Have a pinch of black pepper season the rice to taste before serving.
• Yum Yum sauce | Drizzle the hibachi rice with my homemade yum yum sauce if you’d like! Making it authentic Benihana Hibachi Fried Rice!

How to Make Hibachi Rice on Blackstone

1. Heat hibachi grill like a Blackstone griddle on medium-high heat or in a wok; add a thin layer of high-heat oil, using your spatula to spread it around.
2. Saute the onion, garlic, carrots, peas, and whites of green onion until golden brown, 2-4 minutes; keep them moving on the hot griddle. 

3. Next, add the cooked rice and stir fry until it’s crispy and hot. At the same time, add the oyster sauce and soy sauce, incorporating them into rice and vegetables. 
4. Scramble the eggs to the side of the fried rice, when cooked, incorporate them into rice. 

5. Finally, add garlic butter, using your spatula to coat the hibachi fried recipe and season the dish with a pinch of pepper and salt (taste before adding).
6. Drizzle with creamy yum-yum sauce or a little soy sauce, garnish with sesame seeds and sliced green onions, then serve hot! Now don’t you feel like a Benihana Chef?

If you love this recipe, try similar recipes, like this Chicken Fried Rice and my tasty Ground Pork Stir Fry with Holy Basil (Pad Kra Pao)— YUM!

Hibachi Fried Rice Variations & Substitutions

• Spicy: Add some spice to the fried rice by including cayenne pepper, sriracha sauce or hot paprika in the recipe.
• Change the Veggies: Not a fan of carrots and green peas? Add zucchini, green beans, onions, broccoli, bell peppers, or water chestnuts.
• Low-Carb Version: Swap the rice for cauliflower rice for low-carb fried rice. Brown rice is also a healthier choice.
• Reduce Calories: Skip the garlic butter; while the recipe won’t taste identical to the Benihana version, it will still be delicious!

Tips to Make Gluten-Free and Vegetarian Fried Rice

Make the recipe gluten-free using GF sauces, like soy sauce, Yum Yum, and others.

For vegetarians, replace the oyster or fish sauce with a vegetable version, omit the garlic butter and add an additional splash of toasted sesame oil at the end.

Storage Tips for the Best Hibachi Fried Rice

Refrigerate: Cool fried rice to room temperature, store the extras in an airtight container, and keep it in the fridge for up to five days.

Freeze: Transfer cooled leftover hibachi fried rice to an airtight container or freezer-safe baggie and freeze for up to three months; thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Reheat: Place rice in a microwave-safe bowl, add 1-2 tablespoons of water or broth, cover with a paper towel, and heat on high for 1-2 minutes; stir and heat in 30-second bursts until piping hot.

Or, my favorite way, heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat until hot, add a little oil, then stir fry the rice until hot, which will only take a minute or two. 

Best Desserts to Serve with Delicious Fried Rice

How about this tangy (and easy) Lemon Dump Cake, buttery Lemon Shortbread Sandwich Cookies, or simple Old Fashioned Lemon Squares? Lemon is the perfect palate cleanser.

More Easy Rice Recipes

• Spanish Rice
• Cilantro Lime Rice
• Mexican Street Corn Rice
• Wild Rice and Chicken Soup

I hope you loved this hibachi fried rice recipe Benihana style — if you did, would you share your creation on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest? And be sure to comment below!