What oil does Benihana fry in?
Benihana fries in safflower oil.
In detail: Safflower oil on the teppan grill for hibachi entrees, fried rice, and tempura frying (consistently reported by hibachi chefs and copycat-recipe sources, and tied to Benihana's safflower-flower name/logo; not explicitly named in Benihana's own nutrition PDFs), finished with a garlic-soy compound butter.
Ordering at Benihana? Build your meal in the app and see its seed oil total before you pay.
Build my orderBenihana at a glance
| Fry oil (US) | Safflower oil |
| Seed oils | Yes |
| Beef tallow | No |
| Peanut oil | No |
| Seed oil grade | C (7.3 g average per item, 156 items) |
| Is it a seed oil? | Safflower oil: Yes |
The 5 cleanest things to order at Benihana
Learn this once: a salad with grilled protein and the dressing left off is nearly always the lowest seed oil order anywhere. So the list below sticks to real meals, salads included, never just a water.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Cucumber Roll | 0.8g |
| California Roll | 2.0g |
| Lunch Hibachi Scallops | 2.0g |
| Yellowtail Roll | 2.5g |
| Lunch Hibachi Shrimp | 2.8g |
Lower PUFA is cleaner. These are estimates from published nutrition data and disclosed oils; preparation varies by location.
Build your Benihana order
Pick your meal, sides, sauces and drink in the app and see your seed oil total before you order. It logs to your day in one tap. Free on iPhone and Android.
Build my orderWhy the frying oil matters
Most fast-food chains fry in seed oils like soybean, canola, corn, or a blend of them, which are high in polyunsaturated fat (PUFA). A handful still use beef tallow or other stable fats, which are far lower in PUFA. The oil a kitchen fries in is the single biggest driver of how much seed oil ends up on your plate. See the full breakdown on the Benihana report card, or where it lands on the Seed Oil Index. See which chains fry in real fats on Tallow Watch.
Frequently asked
What oil does Benihana fry in?
Benihana fries in safflower oil. In detail: Safflower oil on the teppan grill for hibachi entrees, fried rice, and tempura frying (consistently reported by hibachi chefs and copycat-recipe sources, and tied to Benihana's safflower-flower name/logo; not explicitly named in Benihana's own nutrition PDFs), finished with a garlic-soy compound butter.
Does Benihana use seed oils?
Yes. Benihana fries in safflower oil. Its seed oil grade is C, about 7.3 g of polyunsaturated fat per menu item.
Does Benihana use beef tallow?
No. Benihana fries in safflower oil, not beef tallow.
Does Benihana use peanut oil?
Not that we can find. Benihana fries in safflower oil. If you have a peanut allergy, ask the restaurant directly, because oils and suppliers can vary by location.
What is the lowest seed oil order at Benihana?
Salmon Roll (4.0 g of polyunsaturated fat). Next: Lunch Hibachi Steak (4.0 g) and Lunch Steak Julienne (4.0 g).
Which Benihana item has the most seed oil?
Chicken Wings (Spicy), at about 51.0 g of polyunsaturated fat as listed.