Chicken Nanban in NYC
Chicken nanban is a Japanese dish of crispy fried chicken dipped in sweet-and-sour amazu sauce and topped with creamy tartar sauce. At Ichibantei, it’s one of our most-ordered entrées: juicy chicken thigh, gluten-free, served with rice, miso soup and salad for $21, at 100 3rd Ave near Union Square.
What is chicken nanban?
Chicken nanban comes from Miyazaki, in southern Japan. The chicken is fried, then soaked briefly in amazu, a tangy sweet vinegar sauce, and finished with a generous spoonful of tartar sauce. The result is crispy, juicy, sweet, sour and rich all at once, and it’s a favorite at Japanese diners and set-meal restaurants.
Our chicken nanban
- Chicken: fried chicken thigh
- Sauce: sweet-and-sour amazu, with tartar sauce on top
- Served with: rice, miso soup and a mixed salad (half rice, extra rice or no rice on request). Miso soup isn’t included with takeout or delivery.
- Price: $21
- Gluten-free: the chicken is coated in potato starch, not wheat flour
- Prefer it lighter? Ask for the sauce on the side.
Chicken nanban vs. karaage vs. katsu
- Karaage is bite-size fried chicken with salt, pepper and lemon. See karaage.
- Chicken nanban is fried chicken finished with amazu and tartar sauce.
- Chicken katsu is a panko-breaded cutlet with katsu sauce. See chicken katsu.
When to come
We’re open until 3 AM (last orders at 2:30 AM): Monday to Wednesday from 5 PM, Thursday to Sunday from 11 AM. Chicken nanban is also on our group prix-fixe menus. See group dining.
Frequently asked questions
What is chicken nanban?
Chicken nanban is a Japanese dish from Miyazaki: fried chicken soaked in sweet-and-sour amazu sauce and topped with tartar sauce.
Where can I get chicken nanban in NYC?
Ichibantei serves chicken nanban at 100 3rd Ave in the East Village, near Union Square, for $21 with rice, miso soup and salad.
Is chicken nanban gluten-free?
At Ichibantei, yes. The chicken is coated in potato starch rather than wheat flour. We cook in a shared kitchen, so tell us if you have celiac disease.
What’s the difference between chicken nanban and karaage?
Both are Japanese fried chicken. Karaage is seasoned and served with lemon, while chicken nanban is finished with sweet-and-sour amazu and tartar sauce.
Can I order chicken nanban for delivery?
Yes, through Uber Eats, DoorDash and Grubhub, depending on your address.