Japanese-style crispy fried chicken thighs with house tare, jalapeño rings and cabbage slaw; served with pickled cucumber
Japanese-Style Fried Chicken
Wren | Tysons, Va.
Yo Matsuzaki
Guests are “blown away” by the Tokyo Chicken featured on Wren’s Japanese-inspired menu, reports Yo Matsuzaki, executive chef.
“The dish is sweet and savory with a crunchy finish and great umami,” he says. The star shareable boasts deep-fried bite-sized pieces of chicken thigh that have been marinated in ginger, garlic and salt koji (rice koji, salt and water). A crunchy cabbage slaw and rings of jalapeño are sprinkled over top. Tare and pickled cucumber are served alongside.
A few high-impact elements help the dish deliver the crave factor. “Salt koji gives an umami flavor to any dish and helps tenderize the meat,” says Matsuzaki. “Also, adding pickled cucumber as an accompaniment to the chicken was the most surprising element when we were creating this dish.” That surprise comes from a clean, refreshing counterpoint to a deeply savory flavor profile.
About the Author
Katie Ayoub serves as managing editor of Flavor & The Menu and content strategist for the Flavor Experience, an annual conference geared toward chain operators. She is president of Katie Ayoub & Associates, serving up menu trends expertise, content creation and food & beverage consultancy. Based in Chicago, Katie has been working in foodservice publishing for more than 20 years and part of the Flavor team since 2006. katie.ayoub@gmail.comRead More Stories by Katie Ayoub
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