Easy Hibachi Chicken Recipe - Copycat Benihana Recipe

This Hibachi Chicken Recipe takes 20 minutes to come together and tastes like you just ordered it from Benihana! Juicy, succulent chicken is seared in that fabulous roasted garlic butter then drizzled with oodles of magic mustard sauce! Simple, yet absolutely delicious!

What is Benihana Hibachi Chicken?

Benihana’s Hibachi Chicken is a popular savory food item served by Benihana, a popular restaurant franchise in North America. Hibachi Chicken is part of Benihana's classic menu, and the dish is often paired with hibachi noodles, hibachi steak, and fried rice. Famous for serving meals on “teppanyaki” or flat grill top tables, this Japanese restaurant experience includes more than just delicious food, it's a fun outing. A specially trained Benihana chef performs breathtaking tricks and flourishes while cooking hibachi (hot grill) style dishes in front of guests.

There is something about Benihana’s hibachi style cooking that makes it extra special and different from other Asian restaurants. The recipe itself is really simple. Yet there is something about the taste which sets this hibachi restaurant apart from others.

So, what is the secret to Benihana's Hibachi Chicken?

The secret to that depth of flavor in this Benihana Hibachi Chicken Recipe is the special roasted garlic butter. Unlike other Asian restaurants, where the chicken might be marinated then seared over high heat with vegetable oil or butter, the benihana hibachi chicken is seared with a special garlic butter which is made up of mashed up oven roasted garlic, sweet, whipped butter, freshly ground black pepper, soy sauce, and an optional squeeze of lemon juice.

When I first tasted this special garlic butter – I could not believe it – it was one of those “OMG THATS SO TASTY!!” experiences.

Many copycat recipes call for minced garlic mixed with butter – don’t be fooled – the oven roasted garlic, soy sauce, and other ingredients mixed in with the whipped butter is what makes this the perfect copycat recipe. Shockingly, the special garlic butter is not hard at all to make – for full details see my Benihana Garlic Butter Recipe.

Why make this Benihana Hibachi Chicken Recipe?

• Tastes just like Benihana! - eat Japanese style hibachi chicken in the comfort of your own home!
• Easy Recipe - use the same pan for the chicken and vegetables.
• Ready in 20 minutes – a very quick and simple recipe making it perfect choice for busy weeknight meals.
• No special equipment required - no need to worry that you don't own a classic teppanyaki or flat top grill - this recipe just requires a cast iron skillet, non-stick skillet, wok, or large frying pan. High heat searing produces the enticing grilled flavor of traditional hibachi Japanese cooking. It's really that easy to make in your own kitchen!

This Recipe provides detailed instructions for making Benihana Hibachi Chicken. Instructions are also provided for Hibachi Vegetables, Benihana Fried Rice as well as Magic Mustard Sauce as this creates the iconic Benihana chicken meal. If you like Benihana food, you'll love our Hibachi Shrimp and Hibachi Steak recipe.

Ingredients

Simple ingredients needed - all the ingredients for this easy hibachi chicken recipe and even the ingredients for Benihana's secret garlic butter recipe, is easily available at your local supermarket!

Benihana Hibachi Chicken

Chicken breast is traditionally used in Benihana restaurants; however thighs will work just as well. Unlike other Asian dishes like Teriyaki chicken from Chinese stir fry chicken the Benihana white meat chicken is not marinated. The meat is seared and seasoned with the special Benihana Garlic Butter which already includes a number of ingredients typically added separately like soy sauce, loads of garlic, and black pepper. The chicken breast should be sliced into bite-sized pieces. There is no need to season the raw chicken breast since the butter which the chicken is seared in already contains soy sauce which has salt. It is best to season the chicken with a dash of salt later.

How to make Benihana Hibachi Chicken

Step One: Preheat oven to 350°F. Cut about a third off the top of each head of garlic. Place on a baking sheet lined with tin foil. Bake the garlic for about 30 minutes or until soft inside.

Step Two: Press out the soft, roasted garlic cloves into a medium bowl and mash with a fork or spoon. Use an immersion blender if you prefer a smoother finish for the butter. Wait for the mashed garlic to cool.

Step Three: Add about two tablespoons of room temperature whipped butter to the cooled mashed garlic. Beat with a spoon until fully combined. Add the remaining butter in half cup portions and continue mixing until all the butter has been added. Add the freshly ground black pepper, soy sauce and lemon juice and mix well.

For detailed instructions and tips please refer to our Benihana Garlic Butter Recipe.

Cook the Benihana Hibachi Chicken

Step One: Put the chicken, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, garlic, and ginger into a bowl. Mix well. Set aside.

Step Two: Heat a wok until smoking hot. Add the butter and swirl until melted and the bottom is evenly coated. Sear the chicken on all sides until completely cooked through. Remove the chicken and set the cooked chicken aside. If cooking vegetables next, do not turn off the heat.

Tips on making the best Benihana Hibachi Chicken

• To simulate the teppanyaki grill or flat top grill, make sure you use a heavy-duty skillet like a like a wok or cast-iron skillet which is smoking hot. If the wok is not hot, the chicken will steam and not sear.
• Sauté the chicken just long enough to sear it. Be careful not to overcook the chicken.
• Serve immediately. Like all grilled foods, Benihana Hibachi Chicken is best served fresh and piping hot!

How long does Hibachi Chicken last in the fridge?

Stored in an airtight container, Hibachi Chicken lasts for about 3 days in the fridge.

To reheat Hibachi Chicken, place the cold Hibachi Chicken in a saucepan with about 1-3 teaspoons of water. Heat the Hibachi Chicken on medium-low heat and cover so that the steam heats the meat through, stirring occasionally as needed.

Reheating Hibachi Chicken in the microwave, while convenient, is not preferable as microwaving can dry out the chicken.

Nutrition

Each serving of this Benihana Hibachi Chicken Recipe has about 235 calories, 11.8g of fat and 5.8g of carbohydrates.

This Benihana Chicken recipe yields approximately 4 servings.  The nutrition information has been calculated using an online recipe nutrition calculator and is intended for informational purposes only. Please use it as a general guideline. If the nutrition information is important to you, you should independently verify it using your preferred tool.

Serving Suggestions

Drizzled with some Magic Mustard Sauce, this Benihana copycat recipe goes really well with Benihana Chicken Fried Rice, Savory Vegetables and Benihana Fried Rice. For a lighter option, serve it with a light cucumber or green salad on the side. Other great choices for a savory side dish include curried cauliflower and sautéed spinach in garlic and olive oil. The Benihana Hibachi Chicken also pairs well over greens like spinach and spring greens and the Magic Mustard Sauce makes a delicious salad dressing. Other sauces like ginger sauce and yum-yum sauce that are also offered as dipping sauces at Japanese steakhouse restaurants also goes really with this dish.

Benihana Chicken is fantastic with garlic naan bread, as a filling for crusty Two Hour Artisan Bread sandwiches and as a pizza topping on Homemade Thin Crust Pizza Dough.

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