Karaage (唐揚げ) is Japanese-style fried chicken — bite-size pieces of juicy chicken thigh marinated in soy sauce, ginger and garlic, lightly coated in potato starch and fried until shatteringly crisp. At Ichibantei in NYC’s East Village, you can order karaage as an appetizer ($12) or as an entrée ($20) with rice and miso soup — plus Karaage Curry ($25) and a $15 Karaage Don on the weekday lunch menu.
What is karaage?
Karaage (often called tori no karaage) is the Japanese way of frying chicken: marinate, dust with starch, and deep-fry. The potato- or corn-starch coating is what gives karaage its light, lacy crunch — lighter than a thick batter and crispier than a Western fry. The marinade of soy, ginger and garlic seasons the meat all the way through, so it’s flavorful with just a squeeze of lemon.
Karaage vs. katsu vs. chicken nanban
All three are popular Japanese fried-chicken dishes, but they’re different. Karaage is starch-coated bite-size pieces. Chicken katsu is a whole cutlet breaded in panko (see our chicken katsu & tonkatsu guide). Chicken Nanban is fried chicken dipped in a sweet-and-sour amazu sauce and topped with tartar sauce — a southern-Japanese favorite from Miyazaki.
Japanese fried chicken at Ichibantei
- Karaage Appetizer ($12) – fried chicken thighs with lemon, perfect for sharing
- Karaage Entrée ($20) – salt-and-pepper fried chicken, lemon and mixed salad, with rice and miso soup
- Chicken Nanban ($21) – fried chicken thighs, sweet-and-sour amazu sauce and tartar sauce
- Karaage Curry ($25) – fried chicken with Japanese curry and radish pickle
- Lunch: Karaage Don / Nanban Don ($15) – weekday lunch rice bowls, 11:00 am–3:30 pm
Where to eat it in NYC (East Village)
You can find these dishes at Ichibantei, an authentic Japanese comfort-food restaurant and izakaya at 100 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10003, in the East Village — a short walk from Union Square. Lunch is served daily from 11:00 am to 3:30 pm. See the full Ichibantei menu, or call 917-965-2327 to ask about a table.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is karaage?
Karaage is Japanese fried chicken: bite-size pieces of chicken thigh marinated in soy sauce, ginger and garlic, coated in potato starch and deep-fried until crisp and juicy.
Is karaage gluten-free?
Karaage is typically marinated with soy sauce (which usually contains wheat), so it is not gluten-free by default. Please let our staff know about any dietary needs.
What is the difference between karaage and chicken katsu?
Karaage is small starch-coated pieces of fried chicken, while chicken katsu is a whole chicken cutlet breaded in panko crumbs and served with katsu sauce.
What is chicken nanban?
Chicken nanban is Japanese fried chicken coated in a sweet-and-sour amazu sauce and topped with creamy tartar sauce. At Ichibantei it is $21 and served with mixed salad, rice and miso soup.
Hungry for crispy Japanese fried chicken? Browse the complete menu, or follow us on Instagram for daily specials.
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