Benihana Mai Tai — Price, Calories, Ingredients & Recipe (2026)

What Is Mai Tai?

The Benihana Mai Tai is the restaurant’s most famous cocktail, a tropical tiki-style drink that has been a menu staple for decades. It blends light rum with orange curacao, fresh-squeezed lime juice and orgeat syrup, finished with a dramatic dark rum float and plenty of crushed ice. Sweet, citrusy and dangerously smooth, it is the drink most regulars order with their hibachi dinner.

Served in a tall tiki glass with a mint sprig and cherry, the Mai Tai pairs especially well with hibachi shrimp, spicy tuna rolls and anything off the grill. At around $13.50 it sits in the middle of Benihana’s cocktail range, and many locations feature it in happy hour specials. Like all Benihana cocktails, the exact recipe can vary slightly by bartender and location.

Mai Tai Ingredients

• Light rum
• Dark rum (float)
• Orange curacao liqueur
• Fresh lime juice
• Orgeat (almond) syrup
• Crushed ice
• Fresh mint sprig (garnish)
• Maraschino cherry (garnish)
• Lime wheel (garnish)

Mai Tai Nutrition Facts

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 Mai Tai Recipe (Make It at Home)

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

Ingredients

• 2 oz light rum
• 1/2 oz dark rum (for the float)
• 3/4 oz orange curacao
• 3/4 oz fresh lime juice
• 1/2 oz orgeat syrup
• 1/4 oz simple syrup (optional, to taste)
• Crushed ice
• Mint sprig and lime wheel, to garnish

Instructions

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with crushed ice and add the light rum, orange curacao, lime juice, orgeat and simple syrup.
2. Shake vigorously for about 15 seconds until well chilled.
3. Fill a tiki or highball glass with fresh crushed ice and strain the mixture over it.
4. Slowly pour the dark rum over the back of a spoon so it floats on top.
5. Garnish with a mint sprig and lime wheel, and serve immediately with a straw.
6. Stir before drinking to blend the float into the cocktail.

Final Thoughts

The Benihana Mai Tai is a tiki classic done right — balanced, tropical and strong enough to respect. Whether you order one with hibachi or shake up the copycat version at home, it is the definitive Benihana bar experience.