Benihana’s Most Craved Fried Rice: Hibachi Chicken Rice

Updated November 2025 

If there’s one dish guests talk about long after they leave the teppan, it’s the fried rice. The sizzle of the grill, the toss of the egg, that first bite of garlicky rice and chicken.

At Benihana, our chicken Rice continues to be one of the most craved items on the menu. This original fried rice classic combines chicken, rice, egg and chopped vegetables with garlic flavored butter, but most importantly, it shows plenty of heart.

Hibachi Chicken Rice in 15 seconds: watch our chefs toss garlic butter, chicken, rice and veggies on the teppan to create the Benihana fried rice guests crave again and again. Watch our chefs make Hibachi Chicken Rice step by step, then see the full hibachi menu.

What is Benihana Hibachi Chicken Rice?

Benihana Hibachi Chicken Rice is our signature fried rice cooked right on the teppan. Steamed California grown rice is tossed with diced chicken, egg, vegetables and our garlic flavored butter, then seasoned and browned on the grill in front of you. It’s fluffy with just the right amount of crisp edges and is built to sit perfectly alongside steak, seafood or chicken entrées.

Why guests crave our fried rice

Guests don’t just order fried rice as a side; they plan their visit around it.

• It’s cooked inches from your plate, so you see every step.
• Garlic butter, chicken, vegetables and rice come together in one comforting, savory bite.
• The aroma hits the table before the first serving spoon does.

For a lot of guests, no Benihana visit feels complete until they’ve had at least one spoonful of fried rice straight off the grill.

The rice behind the recipe

California grown rice

When it comes to Japanese inspired cuisine, high quality rice isn’t just another side dish at Benihana; it’s a foundational element of every meal we serve. Rice plays a key role in helping to develop texture and flavor in many of our craveable dishes, from sushi rolls to our hibachi grilled entrées and of course, our signature fried rice.

There are more than 40,000 different varieties of rice grown in around 100 different countries. Benihana’s rice is grown in California, where each spring, biplanes carefully seed thousands of acres of the Sacramento Valley.

From field to teppan

From there, melting snow from the Sierra Nevada Mountains irrigates the seeds. Once the rice is mature, each grain is harvested and carefully dried to maintain an ideal moisture level. That’s what helps our chefs turn it into perfect, tender and fluffy Benihana rice once it hits the grill.

At Benihana, creating classic flavors that guests crave means using quality ingredients for each recipe. You could say that without our special California grown rice, our menu wouldn’t have the same heart.

What’s in our fried rice?

While every chef has their own style, our rice usually includes:

• Steamed white rice made from California grown grains
• Diced chicken
• Eggs cooked and chopped on the grill
• Chopped vegetables such as carrots, onion and green onion
• Garlic flavored butter
• A soy based seasoning blend

It’s a short list of ingredients, but the magic is in the way they come together on the teppan.

How our chefs cook hibachi fried rice

Our chefs don’t just bring you a bowl of fried rice, they build it in front of you:

1. The teppan is heated and a little garlic butter melts across the surface.
2. Eggs are cracked directly onto the grill, scrambled and chopped.
3. Steamed rice and vegetables are added and tossed together with the egg.
4. Diced chicken and seasonings go in, and everything is mixed and browned until it’s hot, fragrant and lightly caramelised.

From the first crack of the egg to the last toss of the spatula, you can watch the whole process happen in real time.

Fried rice FAQs

Is our fried rice cooked in front of you?

Yes. Our fried rice is prepared on the teppanyaki grill at your table by your chef, so you see exactly how it’s made from start to finish.

What kind of rice does Benihana use for fried rice?

We use white rice grown in California’s Sacramento Valley, selected and dried to give our chefs the right texture for fluffy, flavorful fried rice on the grill.

Is our fried rice gluten free?

Because it’s typically seasoned with soy‑based sauces and cooked on a shared teppan, our fried rice is not prepared as a gluten‑free item. Guests with dietary needs should always check the latest allergen information at their local restaurant.

Can I order Benihana fried rice on its own?

In most locations, fried rice can be ordered as a side or add‑on, and it’s also included as part of many entrée combinations. Check the online menu or ask your server for options at your local Benihana.