Benihana French Onion Soup Recipe

When it comes to Japanese steakhouse dining, few things set the mood better than the warm, savory onion soup served at Benihana. It’s light yet flavorful, clear but complex, and always makes you feel like the meal ahead is going to be special. While many recipes online claim to recreate it, most miss the mark-until now.

The real secret lies in the base. Benihana doesn’t just use ordinary broth. Instead, they rely on Swiss Chalet HACO brand chicken and beef flavor pastes, which produce a consomme-like clarity that’s smooth, clean, and professional. Add in a touch of soybean oil and carefully caramelized vegetables, and suddenly, you have the real deal like Benihana Mushroom Soup Recipe.

In this recipe, we’ll walk you through the exact Benihana method. And if you can’t find HACO bases? Don’t worry-we’ll also share a grocery store version that’s 95% similar in taste. With these steps, you can finally enjoy restaurant-quality onion soup at home.

What Does Benihana French Onion Soup Taste Like?

Benihana’s onion soup is delicate yet deeply satisfying. The broth has a savory balance of chicken and beef flavors, but it’s surprisingly light on the palate. Unlike heavy French onion soup, this version is clear and clean, allowing the caramelized vegetables to shine.

The thinly sliced mushrooms almost melt into the broth, while the green onions add a gentle sharpness that balances the richness. Topped with crispy French-fried onions, each spoonful is comforting and full of texture.

It’s not overly salty or overpowering-just a perfectly seasoned, soothing soup that warms you from the inside out. That’s what makes it such a staple at hibachi restaurants, and now, you’ll know how to make it at home.

Ingredients Required for Benihana French Onion Soup Recipe

Here’s the list of Ingredients you’ll need to make this Benihana French Onion Soup

For the Broth (Benihana version):

• ½ tsp HACO chicken flavor base paste
• ½ tsp HACO beef flavor base paste
• 2 cups boiling water
• 6 cups water
• 2 tbsp soybean oil
• 4 garlic cloves (lightly crushed)
• 1 ½ cups roughly chopped onion
• ¾ cup roughly chopped carrot
• ¾ cup roughly chopped celery
• 2 tsp kosher salt (plus more to taste)
• ½ tsp whole peppercorns

For the Broth (Grocery Store version):

• 1 can Campbell’s condensed beef consomme
• 1 can Campbell’s condensed chicken broth
• Same aromatics and vegetables as above

For the Garnish:

• Paper-thin sliced button mushrooms
• Thinly sliced green onions
• Crispy French-fried onions

Kitchen Utensil You’ll Need

1. Medium stockpot
2. Mixing bowl and whisk
3. Fine mesh strainer
4. Sharp knife
5. Cutting board
6. Measuring cups and spoons

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45–50 minutes

How to Make Benihana French Onion Soup

Simply follow the steps given below to make your Benihana French Onion Soup at home

Step 1: Make the stock base
Whisk HACO chicken and beef pastes into 2 cups boiling water until dissolved. Set aside. (For the grocery store version, use Campbell’s beef consomme and chicken broth instead.)

Step 2: Saute the aromatics
In a medium stockpot, heat 2 tbsp soybean oil over medium heat. Add 4 crushed garlic cloves and cook until golden brown (not black). Remove garlic and set aside.

Step 3: Caramelize vegetables
Add chopped onion, carrot, and celery to the pot. Saute until caramelized and fragrant.

Step 4: Combine and simmer
Return garlic to the pot, add prepared stock base, 6 cups water, salt, and peppercorns. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a light simmer for 45 minutes. Skim foam or oil if desired.

Step 5: Strain the broth
Pour soup through a fine mesh strainer. Discard vegetables, keeping only the clear broth. Adjust salt to taste.

Step 6: Garnish and serve
In each bowl, place a few slices of thin mushrooms, green onion, and French-fried onions. Ladle hot broth over the top and serve immediately.

Some Tasty Ways To Customize and Serve This Benihana French Onion Soup

1. As a starter before hibachi
Every time we make this soup at home, we serve it just like at Benihana-before hibachi steak, chicken with Benihana Diablo Sauce, or shrimp. It sets the stage for the meal perfectly.

2. With sushi on the side
We’ve paired it with a simple sushi roll dinner, and honestly, it balances beautifully. The light broth complements the richness of sushi rice and fish.

3. With fried rice
Whenever we cook hibachi-style fried rice at home, this soup is the first course. It feels like a restaurant meal without leaving the kitchen.

4. Alongside a crisp salad
We love serving it with a ginger dressing salad. The freshness of the greens and the warmth of the soup are a match made in heaven.

5. As a light lunch
Sometimes we just have a big bowl of this soup with some crusty bread. It’s filling without being too heavy.

6. With grilled chicken skewers
We’ve tried it as a side dish with simple teriyaki chicken skewers, and it feels like a complete Japanese-inspired meal.

7. Served in small cups at gatherings
At parties, we’ve poured the soup into little cups for guests to sip on. It’s light, flavorful, and people always ask for seconds.

8. With tempura
Pairing the soup with crispy vegetable or shrimp tempura is one of our favorites. The contrast between the crunchy batter and the clear broth is just perfect.

9. With noodles
Sometimes we ladle the broth over thin soba noodles or rice noodles. It turns the soup into a light, satisfying main dish.

10. With sake or green tea
To keep the experience authentic, we often enjoy this soup with warm sake or hot green tea. Both drinks complement the savory broth beautifully.

Some Tips on This Benihana French Onion Soup Recipe

1. Use the right broth
The soup tastes best with chicken and beef base mixed together. If you can’t find the exact brand, use Campbell’s beef consomme and chicken broth.

2. Cut veggies the same size
Chop your onions, carrots, and celery into even pieces. This helps them cook the same way.

3. Don’t burn the garlic
Cook the garlic until it’s golden, not black. Burnt garlic makes the soup taste bitter.

4. Caramelize slowly
Take your time when cooking the veggies. Let them get brown and sweet-it makes the broth taste amazing.

5. Strain the soup
When it’s done simmering, pour it through a strainer. This keeps the broth nice and clear, just like at Benihana.

6. Slice mushrooms very thin
Cut the mushrooms paper thin. Thick ones don’t taste the same and can feel chewy.

7. Keep garnishes fresh
Slice the green onions and mushrooms right before serving. It makes the soup taste fresher.

8. Don’t rush the simmer
Let the soup simmer for about 45 minutes. This pulls all the good flavor from the veggies.

9. Taste and season
Before serving, taste the broth. Add a little salt if it needs more flavor.

10. Serve with toppings
Always add the fried onions, mushrooms, and green onions. They make the soup taste just like the real restaurant version!

How to Store and Reheat Benihana French Onion Soup

To store Benihana French Onion Soup, let the broth cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Keep the garnishes—mushrooms, green onions, and fried onions-separate for freshness. For reheating, warm the broth gently on the stovetop over medium heat until hot. Avoid boiling, as it can change the flavor. Add fresh garnishes just before serving to keep the texture crisp and bright.

Common Queries on This Benihana French Onion Soup

Here, we’ve got you covered with some common questions about the Benihana French Onion Soup that people often ask.

1. What is in Benihana onion soup?

From what we’ve made at home, the soup includes a light chicken-and-beef broth, caramelized vegetables (onion, carrot, celery, garlic), and simple garnishes like thin mushrooms, green onions, and crispy fried onions. It’s clear, light, and very comforting.

2. What is the secret ingredient in French onion soup?

For classic French onion soup, it’s all about slow-cooked caramelized onions. But for Benihana’s version, the secret is actually the broth. They use Swiss Chalet HACO chicken and beef base, which gives the soup that restaurant-quality clarity and flavor.

3. What are the ingredients of French onion soup?

Traditional French onion soup uses caramelized onions, beef broth, butter, wine, and toasted bread with melted cheese. Benihana’s soup is different-it’s a clear onion soup with broth, veggies, and light toppings instead of bread and cheese.

4. What type of soup is served at Benihana?

Benihana serves a clear onion soup, sometimes called hibachi onion soup. It’s not heavy like French onion soup with cheese-it’s light, brothy, and meant as a starter before the hibachi meal.

5. Why is Benihana soup so clear?

We learned the secret is consomme bases. Instead of regular stock, Benihana uses a clarified chicken-and-beef broth. That’s why it looks clear instead of cloudy like homemade stock.

6. Can I make this soup without HACO bases?

Yes, we’ve tried it with Campbell’s beef consomme and chicken broth, and it comes out about 95% similar. Most people wouldn’t even know the difference.

7. What toppings go on Benihana onion soup?

We always add three things: thin mushrooms, sliced green onions, and crispy fried onions. Together, they give the soup flavor, crunch, and texture.

8. How long should I simmer the soup?

From our experience, 45 minutes is just right. Longer than an hour and the vegetables can break down, making the broth cloudy and slightly bitter.

9. Can I make this soup ahead of time?

Yes! We usually make the broth the night before. Just store it in the fridge and add the fresh toppings right before serving. It actually tastes even better the next day.

10. Is this soup healthy?

It’s surprisingly light. The broth is simple, and the vegetables add nutrients without making it heavy. We’d say it’s one of the lighter starter soups you can enjoy.

This Benihana French Onion Soup Recipe is more than just an appetizer-it’s the opening act to a Japanese steakhouse experience right at home. By using the right stock bases and caramelizing your vegetables properly, you can finally achieve that signature flavor and clarity. Give it a try, experiment with the grocery store version if needed, and wow your family or guests with this comforting, restaurant-quality soup.

Feel free to share your experience with this recipe by trying it out. Don’t forget to drop a comment and provide your feedback on the blog for us to read.