Recipe

March 31, 2026

Mom’s Benihana Chicken Fried Rice

Recipe: Maxine Sharf

“Sometimes, we swap the chicken for sliced mushrooms to keep it vegetarian, or go with bacon for a richer, more indulgent version.” — Maxine Sharf

Ingredients

  • 4 large eggs
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 tsp avocado oil or other neutral oil, such as grapeseed, divided
  • 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast (about 7 oz.), cut into ½” pieces
  • 4 tbsp soy sauce, divided
  • 1 medium carrot (3 oz.), cut into small dice
  • ½ medium yellow onion (5 oz.), cut into small dice
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 4 cups cooked Jasmine rice (day-old is best)
  • 4 tbsp (½ stick) unsalted butter, divided
  • 2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
  • 4 scallions, thinly sliced

Directions

Yield: Serves 6 as a side or 4 as a main

Make Fried Rice

  1. In small bowl, whisk eggs with sprinkle each of salt and pepper.
  2. In wok or large nonstick skillet, heat 2 teaspoons of avocado oil over medium-high heat. Add eggs and cook, stirring, until scrambled, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to plate and set aside.
  3. Add remaining 2 teaspoons oil and chicken to skillet. Spread chicken into even layer and cook, undisturbed, until golden brown on bottom, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon of soy sauce and cook, stirring, until almost cooked through, about 2 minutes.
  4. Add carrot, onion and garlic. Cook, stirring, until onion starts to soften and become translucent, about 3 minutes.
  5. Add rice, remaining 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of butter, sesame seeds, 1 teaspoon of pepper and ½ teaspoon of salt. Cook, stirring, until everything is combined, about 2 minutes.
  6. Create small well in middle of rice and add remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to well. Cook, undisturbed, until butter melts and rice is crispy, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir rice to mix up buttery pieces. Cook, tossing once or twice, until there are more crispy bits, about 2 minutes.
  7. Add scrambled eggs and mix, breaking them up into smaller pieces with spatula. Add scallions and cook for about 1 minute, tossing two or three times until combined. Divide among bowls and enjoy!

Tip: Day-old rice is best, but fresh rice works, too. Use 1½ cups of uncooked rice to make 4 cups cooked.

Source:

“Maxi’s Kitchen” Copyright ©2026 by Maxine Sharf. Photographs copyright ©2026 by Amy Neunesinger. Published by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, A division of Penguin Random House LLC