Benihana Dragon Roll — Price, Calories, Ingredients & Recipe (2026)

Benihana’s Dragon Roll wraps shrimp tempura in avocado ‘scales’ with eel sauce. Price, calories, ingredients and copycat recipe for 2026.

Price: $17.00 Calories: 480 Cal
Dragon Roll

What Is Dragon Roll?

The Benihana Dragon Roll is built for drama: crunchy shrimp tempura and cucumber form the inside, while paper-thin avocado slices overlap across the top like dragon scales. A zigzag of sweet eel sauce and a sprinkle of sesame finish the look. The contrast is the whole point — hot, crisp tempura against cool, creamy avocado.

It is one of the most ordered specialty rolls at Benihana and a favorite for celebrations because it looks impressive arriving at the table. The flavor leans rich and savory-sweet, so it pairs well with a light appetizer like edamame or seaweed salad rather than another heavy roll.

Dragon Roll Ingredients

  • Sushi rice
  • Shrimp tempura
  • Avocado
  • Cucumber
  • Nori seaweed
  • Eel sauce
  • Sesame seeds
  • Tempura batter
  • Rice vinegar
  • Pickled ginger

Dragon Roll Nutrition Facts

NutrientAmount (per serving)
Calories480
Total Fat20g
Saturated Fat3g
Cholesterol85mg
Sodium610mg
Total Carbohydrate58g
Dietary Fiber5g
Sugars12g
Protein16g

Nutrition values are estimates based on standard restaurant preparation and may vary by location. Ask your local Benihana for their current official nutrition guide.

Copycat Dragon Roll Recipe (Make It at Home)

Love Dragon Roll but can’t get to Benihana? This copycat recipe captures the signature flavor at home.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups cooked sushi rice
  • 8 large shrimp, peeled
  • 1/2 cup tempura batter mix
  • Oil for frying
  • 1 large avocado, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cucumber, julienned
  • 4 sheets nori
  • 3 tbsp eel sauce
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds

Instructions

  1. Fry the battered shrimp until golden and crisp; drain on a rack.
  2. Spread rice on nori, flip rice-side down, and line with tempura shrimp and cucumber.
  3. Roll tightly and set aside.
  4. Fan avocado slices across plastic wrap, lay the roll on top and shape together.
  5. Slice into 8 pieces, drizzle with eel sauce and sprinkle sesame seeds.Serve immediately with pickled ginger and wasabi on the side.

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Dragon Roll FAQs

Usually just eel sauce — the roll itself is shrimp tempura and avocado. Check with your location if you want real eel added.

Yes, the shrimp is cooked as crispy tempura; only the presentation is fancy.

About 480 calories per 8-piece order due to the fried tempura.

Sweet and savory, like a thickened teriyaki — it complements the avocado perfectly.

Final Thoughts

The Dragon Roll delivers Benihana’s signature tableside drama in sushi form — crunchy, creamy, sweet and impossible to photograph badly.