This delicious dish is from Kyushu, the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. It is often made with different styles of sauce, but the Kyushu version is the most delicious in my opinion, using a unique, sweet tartare sauce. This is a popular dish with children and adults alike, due to its moreish flavour.
Ingredients
400g chicken thigh or breast
1 egg
flour
Nanban vinegar
4tbs soy sauce
5tbs sugar
5tbs rice wine vinegar
1 red chilli
Tartare sauce
1 boiled egg
1/4 onion
1/3 cucumber
5tbs mayonnaise (either Japanese or other)
1tbs ketchup
1tsp dried parsley
1tsp lemon juice
1tsp dijon mustard
salt & pepper
Step 1
Spread the chicken out to the same thickness. If you are using chicken breast, you may have to beat it with a rolling pin to achieve this.
Then season with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with flour. I tend to do all this in the bag that the raw chicken was bought in, then simply shake the bag to coat the breasts evenly.
Step 2
To make the tartare sauce, boil the egg, then dice with the onion and cucumber. Make a mixture of the sauces: dijon mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup, salt and pepper, parsley, lemon juice. Mix well, then add the other ingredients and mix together. Then place in the fridge.
Step 3
To make the vinegar, heat the sugar, soya sauce, vinegar and chopped red chilli. If you have any other vegetable left overs, add these too to add flavour. I had carrots and some ginger which I added. Simmer gently.
Step 4
Break the egg, whisk and then dip the chicken covered in flour in it. Then shallow fry in vegetable oil until golden. Remove from the oil and place on kitchen paper to soak up the excess oil.
Step 5
Put the chicken inside the vinegar mix and stir in pan to allow it to soak up. Then when the chicken has darkened in colour, remove. Serve with the tartare sauce on top. Delicious!! 
I made this last night for my husband and it was soooo delicious! Very easy to make, we had most of the ingredients at home anyway, I just had to buy the chicken. Didn’t take long to make and even less time to eat! Yummy!
hi, I just made this, it was awesome, so so good! Thanks!
Just made this tonight for myself and my boyfriend – we loved it! I had everything already on hand, and it came together quickly. Thanks for the great recipes
Thanks for the comment Jane! I’m glad your boyfriend liked this recipe
Let me know if there’s any other Japanese recipe you’d like me to do on this site.
Can you tell me/us the sauce used at hokka hokka tei for chicken nanban?
Unfortunately I’ve never had this dish at Hoka Hoka Tei, Nathan. Actually I’m surprised you mention that place as it no longer exists in Japan. Maybe you had this a long time ago? I suspect it was some kind of tartar sauce.
I realize this is like a year late, but hoka-ben most definitely still exists. http://hokkahokkatei.co.jp/
Hello there!
Keep posting, they’re really good!!
Just thought I’d post on your website and say thanks for the recipe! I tried this a few nights ago and it was awesome! I’m looking forward to trying your other recipes.
Thanks for the comment Kirsten! Let me know if you have any recipe requests
Being a VERY inexperienced cook and completely new to the culinary game, I tried this recipe with a fair amount of trepidation. Happily, it was really easy to make, and the dish turned out yummily sucessful! I will be making this again ☺
Hi I loved the Chicken Nanban!!! Do you have a recipe for Katsu Don?I love the flavor
Thanks Michael
Glad to hear you liked this recipe Michael! There’s a great katsudon recipe already on here, so just search for Katsura in the search bar at the top
Made this dish tonight. It’s absolutely delicious and is now my husband’s favourite dish. Your site is the best recipe site i’ve come across. Thanks for all your effort on the site and for sharing