Most Popular Japanese Chicken Dishes

Chicken is one of the most popular ingredients in Japan, so it is no surprise that there are a wide variety of chicken dishes enjoyed in the country. In Japan, most chickens will be raised free-range and fed with quality grain to produce superior meat that is flavourful and makes for succulent cuts.

Other than the head and feet, almost all of the chicken’s meat will be eaten, and it can be prepared in a range of ways – from grilled to boiled. Some brave eaters in Japan will even eat chicken raw, although this is not recommended!

We take a look at some of the most popular ways to eat chicken in Japan.

Teriyaki

One of the most popular styles for chicken preparation in Japan, teriyaki involves chicken glazed with a teriyaki sauce. This sauce is made up of soy sauce, sake, mirin and sugar, which causes the sauce to caramelise when cooked.

Teriyaki chicken will typically be served with a bowl of rice, or in a bento box, and will usually be garnished with sesame seeds.

Yakitori

Perhaps the most famous chicken dish in Japan is yakitori, which is chicken grilled on a skewer. Yakitori is most commonly served by street food vendors, and thousands of stalls selling these skewers can be found in Japan.

The chicken is typically seasoned with either salt or soy sauce, which can impart a slightly sweet taste to the skewer. The skewer can just contain chicken, or you can choose to have some vegetables in between each piece, with grilled leeks being a popular choice.

Chicken breast is most commonly used, although skewers may also be made using wings, liver, meatballs and even cartilage!

Karaage

Japan’s take on fried chicken, known as karaage, involves chicken pieces dipped in wheat flour and deep fried in a light oil. Rather than leaving the chicken plain, the meat is first marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, sake, garlic and ginger before it is coated and fried.

While chicken is by far the most common meat used for karaage, other meat and fish options may be available.

Mizutaki

Mizutaki, meaning ‘cooked in water’, is the Japanese version of a chicken hot pot. The dish involves various parts of the chicken simmered in a chicken stock. Cuts of chicken, meatballs, chicken liver and gizzards will all be included in the dish, and chicken bones will also be added to flavour the stock.

Vegetables like nappa cabbage and mushrooms will also be mixed in for extra flavour, texture and nutrition.

Tsukune

Similar to yakitori, tsukune is chicken that is served on a skewer and grilled. However, unlike yakitori, tsukune is more of a long chicken meatball on a stick, rather than individual chunks of chicken. The chicken is ground or minced and shaped into a ball or patty before being grilled on a skewer.

For extra texture and added crunch, cartilage can be mixed into the chicken. Tsukune can also be served dipped into raw egg yolk and have seven spice or chilli pepper sprinkled over for extra flavour.

Oyako Don

Meaning ‘parent and child’, oyako don brings together the chicken and the egg into one dish. The chicken and egg are simmered together in a sweet sauce, and then this mixture is poured into a bowl with rice ready to serve. It is a favourite dish for locals and visitors alike.

Torikatsu

Torikatsu, also known as chicken katsu or panko chicken, is a dish that involves chicken breast breaded, usually with panko crumbs, and fried. Once cooked, the chicken will be sliced and served over a bowl of rice, or with accompanying vegetables.

While the dish originates from Japan, it has become popular worldwide, particularly in Hawaii.

Torisashi

Torisashi, or chicken sashimi, is a dish simply comprising of raw slices of chicken. While it isn’t a particularly common dish, it is available at specialty restaurants in Japan for those brave enough to take a bite.

Served in thin slices, the chicken will be eaten raw with soy sauce, grated garlic and a dab of wasabi. Chicken used for this should be as fresh as possible to reduce the risks associated with eating raw meats.

Which of these Japanese dishes would you most like to try? If you want to try Japanese food in the UK, then check out the range of Japanese ingredients, snacks and treats available here at Havana House!