Appetizer Asian Salads Side Dishes Starters Steakhouse Vegetables

BENIHANA’S | Ginger Dressing Salad

Name: BENIHANA’S | Ginger Dressing Salad
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: ½ cup chopped white onion; ½ cup peanut oil; 1/3 cup rice vinegar; 2 TBL chopped celery; 2 TBL fresh, peeled ginger; 2 TBL water; 2 TBL ketchup; ½ tsp. chopped garlic; 2 tsp. soy sauce; 2 tsp. white sugar; 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice; ½ tsp. salt; ¼ tsp. cracked black pepper

just like the famous Japanese Steakhouse's

by RRR March 4, 2022

March 4, 2022

Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, I spent a lot of time in the City until which time I packed up and headed South to escape the below zero winters. Downtown Chicago, however, is still one of my favorite places on Earth (save the winter months) and I travel back as often as I can to visit family. A fond childhood memory of mine is celebrating special occasions at Benihana’s Japanese Steakhouse on Superior Street.

The bar in the Chicago Benihana’s is located in the basement and, as a little girl, I felt very fancy ordering a fruity cocktail (non-alcoholic, of course) served in their signature Tiki-style souvenir glasses. And the bar snacks were those delectable little Japanese snacks with crunchy Nori crackers and spicy Wasabi peas. But it was upstairs, in the dining rooms, where the real magic was happening. The steamy hot Teppanyaki tables, crowded with parties of people enjoying the tricks and humor of the Hibachi Chefs. While the chefs flipped shrimp tails into their toques (tall chef hats) and made “steam train whistles” out of stacked onion rings. And the server would always snap a Polaroid picture to bring home as a memoir of the evening, along with my prized Tiki glass.

And now as an adult, I associate the Benihana Steakhouse restaurants with the GOAT movie, Wolf of Wall Street, where Leo’s character, Jordan Belfort, blamed Benihana’s founder, Rocky Aoki for the reason the FBI caught up with him and his legendary Ponzi scheme.

The delicious ginger salad dressing that came before each meal is the stuff of dreams. Not to mention the mushroom and onion Miso soup (hmmmm, new recipe recreation idea?) The store bought Ginger Dressing is just missing something, in my opinion, and doesn’t compare to the Benihana version. Perhaps the store bought uses too much ginger, and it is not as creamy either. Well, no worries! I have the Benihana do-it-yourself version right here and I’m sure you’ll agree it hits the nail on the head!