Emperor Chicken is a trendy Yakitori chain in Shinjuku. As one of the most popular izakaya restaurants in Tokyo, Emperor Chicken is also one of the trendiest spots on Varick Street.
Emperor Chicken’s menu offers various skewered chicken yakitori dishes, ranging from chicken hearts to thighs to necks to gizzards.
The yakitoris are seasoned with a complex blend of spices for different tastes. The yakitoris are also served on a bed of sliced onions and sliced garlic, making them more savory.
How to Make Emperor Chicken?
Ingredients
- 1/4 lb chicken skin
- 2 garlic cloves
- Green onions
- Salt
Directions of Making
Step 1: Wash the chicken. Then, cut off the end of the chicken skin and remove the fat from both sides. Cut into small pieces.
Step 2: Powder garlic, sugar, salt, and pepper into a plate. Dip the delicate part of chicken skin into this plate with both sides. Please put it on a baking sheet and bake at 200℉ for about 3 hours. Chew it with two teeth to make it soft enough for eating.
Step 3: Cut the green onion into small pieces.
Step 4: After you wear your fire glove and helmet, put olive oil in the basting bowl. Light a charcoal fire. Put the steak in, then roast it for about 20 minutes or golden brown.
Step 5: Add 1/2 tablespoon of Japanese sauce to chicken skin, put it on the grill pan with green onion, and cook it until it is hot enough.
Step 6: Finally, put the cooked chicken skin and onions on the Yakitori grill. Cook it until its wings are crispy and the green onion is hot. After that, you can enjoy the Emperor Chicken with some beer or sake.
Nutrition Fact
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 100 |
| Fat | 1.8g |
| Carbohydrates | 0.2g |
| Protein | 3.2g |
| Sodium | 84mg |
6 Best Serving Ideas
1. Emperor Chicken with White Rice
White rice is the best choice for Emperor Chicken. The crispy charred flavor of the chicken skin is delicious. To taste the original flavor of Emperor Chicken, put some lemon on it with white rice and enjoy it.
2. Spicy Negi Salad
Mixing spicy Negi salad with Emperor Chicken is a great idea. Negi (green onion) is a traditional ingredient for yakitoris. So, combining both of them is delicious!
3. Ponzu Sauce
You can dip your cooked Emperor Chicken into ponzu sauce to balance the original flavor of Emperor Chicken, which makes it more fresh and delicious.
4. Emperor Chicken Yakitori and Chawanmushi
Another great combination is to serve the chicken yakitori with Chawanmushi, Japan’s famous egg custard. Chawanmushi is a traditional dish in Kyoto. You can find it in all sushi bars and izakaya restaurants. Since the chawanmushi is hot and spicy, you can also eat it with yakitori and beer.
5. Emperor Chicken with Garlic Aebleskiver (Danish Pancakes) and Mushroom Soup
If you like Garlic aebleskivers, you can easily find them in all Japanese bakeries and izakaya. The Danish pancakes are skinny and crispy, so the yakitoris covered with the batter is very crunchy. The aebleskiver is also quite tasty with beer.
6. Grilled Tofu and Emperor Chicken Yakitori
If you love tofu, you can also eat it with Emperor Chicken. Serve the tofu yakitori with vegetarian Negi salad and have a yummy dinner.
Some Health Benefits of Emperor Chicken
1. High in Protein
The tough skin of the chicken makes the chicken yakitori very flavorful. Protein is an essential nutrient for energy to our muscles, eyes, brain, and other organs.
Eating protein increases the rate of growth and tissue repair in the body. Also, it helps with maintaining balance in hormones that play a role in regulating hunger, fat storage, and metabolism.
2. High in Vitamin B1
B1 is a nutrient that helps maintain a healthy nervous system and promotes healthy metabolic function.
B1 is also a good antioxidant that helps the body fight the damage of free radicals. In addition, Vitamin B1 can help reduce cholesterol levels, prevent high blood pressure, and protect against heart disease.
3. High in Selenium
Selenium is a mineral that helps the body form a robust immune system that fights diseases and also helps to eliminate harmful free radicals.
Selenium maintains good thyroid function and protects against congenital disabilities. Also, selenium can help you stay healthy during wintertime.
4. High in Niacin
Niacin is also known as Vitamin B3, and it helps maintain healthy nerve and skin cells, reduces cholesterol levels, controls blood pressure, and decreases the risk of heart disease.
5. High in Beta Carotene
Beta-carotene is an antioxidant that helps reduce inflammation and maintain healthy skin.
Can I Freeze It?
Yes, you can freeze the Emperor Chicken yakitori. First, thaw it in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Then, put the frozen yakitoris on a baking sheet and bake at 200℉ for about 4 hours.
Can I Cook It in An Electric Range?
Yes, you can cook Emperor Chicken yakitori with an electric range too. However, it would help if you had a special grill pan of medium heat to achieve the correct temperature suitable for yakitoris like chicken wings and ears.
Conclusion
Emperor Chicken is a delicious yakitori. The original chicken skin is crispy and delicious. Besides, the Emperor Chicken offers you some health benefits from the high protein to selenium and beta-carotene.
In addition, if you are a vegetarian, you can also enjoy the Emperor Chicken yakitori because it is popularly served with tofu in Japan. If your choice steak is beef, try our recipe for Cooking Kobe Beef Yakitori.
