Easy Benihana Hibachi Chicken Recipe (Copycat)

This Hibachi Chicken Recipe takes less than 30 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 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 a great 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!

Ingredients

Simple ingredients needed - all the ingredients for this Benihana Chicken Recipe and the Benihana 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-size 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. Its is best to season the chicken with a dash of salt later.

The special Benihana Garlic Butter is made up of only five ingredients: oven roasted garlic, sweet whipped butter, freshly ground black pepper, soy sauce, and lemon juice. The garlic is first baked for about 30 minutes in an oven preheated to 350°F. The soft hot garlic is then mashed with a spoon. Once the garlic has cooled it is mixed with whipped butter, freshly ground black pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Beat with a spoon until fully combined. Refrigerate until ready to use. Please see our Benihana Garlic Butter for full details.

Sliced green onion and sesame seeds make great garnishes for this recipe.

Hibachi Vegetables

A savory combination of onions and zucchini is commonly served in Benihana restaurants. In this recipe, I add a little red bell pepper to add a little color. Zucchini can be easily substituted for squash, broccoli, or cauliflower. If carbs or sugar are not an issue, you can also use carrots instead of red bell peppers for a splash of color and sweetness.

Benihana Magic Mustard Sauce

Benihana's magic mustard is one of its most popular hibachi sauces. It is primarily made up of soy sauce, dry mustard powder, toasted sesame seeds, garlic powder, and heavy cream. Mayonnaise is a great substitute for heavy cream. For a dairy free version, try an equal amount of coconut cream. While coconut is not part of the original recipe, its actually pretty good!

Step-by-step instructions

While the instructions below look like a lot of steps - it's actually really easy. Just blitz the ingredients for the magic mustard sauce and stir into heated heavy cream. Heat up the wok and stir fry the chicken in the special garlic butter, then stir fry the vegetables in the same pan!

Magic Mustard Sauce

Step One: Heat a pan over medium high heat. Toast the sesame seeds until golden and lightly fragrant. Remove from heat.

Step Two: In a blender or food processor bowl add the water and mustard and mix. Add the toasted sesame seeds, soy sauce, and garlic powder. Pulse until smooth - about 10 seconds.

Step Three: Add the heavy cream to a small saucepan. Heat on low to medium heat until very warm but not boiling. Add the blended mixture and give it a good stir until completely combined and heated through. Set the sauce aside until ready to use. The sauce is best served warm.

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, do not turn off the heat.

Benihana Hibachi Vegetables

Step One: Wipe the hot skillet with a paper towel. Add 1 tablespoon of the garlic butter or olive oil. Put in the onions and zucchini and sear on each side. Add the red peppers and toss before removing from heat. In the same hot skillet, add the onions and zucchini and sear on each side. Add the red peppers. Toss with soy sauce and sauté for a minute before removing from heat.

Tips on making the best Benihana Hibachi Chicken

• To simulate the teppanyaki grill or flat top grill, make sure the wok/cast iron skillet/large skillet 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

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.

The Hibachi Vegetables has about 72 calories, 3.3 g of fat and 10g of carbohydrates.

The Magic Mustard Sauce  has about  38 calories, 2.7g of fat and 2.2g of carbohydrates.

This Benihana Chicken and Hibachi Vegetable recipe yields approximately 4 servings.  The Magic Mustard Sauce recipe yields approximately 12 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

The Benihana Hibachi Chicken also goes well 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 really well over greens like spinach and spring greens and the Magic Mustard Sauce makes a delicious salad dressing.

For those with no dietary restrictions, the Benihana Hibachi Chicken can also be served with Benihana Hibachi Chicken Rice. It also goes very well 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.

This Benihana Hibachi Chicken Recipe is an excellent choice for meal prep.

Recipes to try with Benihana Hibachi Chicken

Hibachi Fried Rice Recipe - If you’d like to recreate some of that Benihana magic at home – look no further. This is the perfect Hibachi Fried Rice Recipe – Benihana Copycat!

Best Indo-Chinese Restaurant Style Fried Rice - Unbelievably juicy, perfectly marinated strips of chicken in a deeply flavored fried rice that’s a little salty, yet spicy with pops of sweet. Perfect for busy weeknights, our restaurant style Chicken Fried Rice recipe is just what you need, when you want something quick, but aren’t willing to compromise on taste.

Easy Beef Stir Fry with Red Onions and Peppers - Tender marinated beef stir fry in a finger licking garlic-ginger pepper sauce. This one-pan restaurant style stir fry is one of the fastest and easiest recipes that you’ll make all year! Incredibly versatile, you can mix up the beef and the veggies for whatever you have at hand. The sky is the limit on variations!

Finally, if you make this recipe

I'd love to hear how it went - please leave a comment and rate this recipe. Above all, I love hearing from all of you and will do my best to answer every comment!