Aaron and Claire Show How to Make Chicken Nanban!

Aaron and Claire’s fried chicken recipe that brings the taste of Japan right into your kitchen. Juicy, crispy, sweet, tangy, and creamy all at once this one’s a total winner.

In this video, Aaron from the Aaron and Claire YouTube channel shows us how to make Chicken Nanban, one of the most popular Japanese fried chicken dishes ever. It’s crispy on the outside, juicy inside, coated in a sweet-and-sour sauce, and topped with rich homemade tartar sauce. Once you try it, you’ll understand why it’s so loved in Japan.

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Image via Aaron and Claire

🍗 What is Chicken Nanban?

Chicken nanban comes from Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, and it’s basically fried chicken dipped in a tangy nanban sauce, then finished with creamy tartar sauce. Think of it as Japan’s twist on comfort food simple ingredients, big flavors, and super satisfying. Aaron says it’s one of those dishes he always gets when he visits Japan. But since traveling isn’t always an option, this recipe lets you recreate that same taste at home, no special tools needed, just your regular pan and a few easy ingredients.

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Image via Aaron and Claire

🥣 What You’ll Need

Here’s what goes into this recipe:

Main ingredients:

• 400g boneless, skin-on chicken thighs (or chicken breast if you prefer)
  
• Salt and pepper for seasoning
  
• All-purpose flour for coating
  
• 1 egg (for the batter)
  
• Oil for frying
  

Nanban Sauce:

• 2 tbsp soy sauce
  
• 2 tbsp vinegar
  
• 2 tbsp sugar
  
• 1 tbsp mirin
  

Tartar Sauce:

• 2 boiled eggs
  
• ¼ onion (finely diced and soaked in cold water)
  
• 1 green onion (thinly sliced)
  
• 4 tbsp Kewpie mayo
  
• 1 tsp lemon juice
  
• ½ tbsp ketchup
  
• A pinch of salt and pepper
  

Optional garnish: lettuce, shredded cabbage, and cherry tomatoes.

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Image via Aaron and Claire

🔥 Making the Nanban Sauce

Start with the nanban sauce, it’s sweet, tangy, and the heart of this dish. In a small saucepan, combine soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and mirin, then bring it to a gentle boil. Let it simmer for about 2–3 minutes, just until the sugar dissolves and the flavors blend together. Once done, set it aside to cool. It’s simple to make, but it adds incredible depth to the chicken.

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Image via Aaron and Claire

🥚 Making the Tartar Sauce

Boil two eggs for 12 minutes. While they’re cooking, dice your onion and soak it in cold water for 10 minutes to remove its sharpness, then squeeze out the excess liquid. Slice your green onion thinly. Once the eggs are ready, peel and finely chop them. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl with mayonnaise, lemon juice, ketchup, salt, and pepper. Give it a good stir. That’s your creamy, rich tartar sauce, perfect not just for this recipe but for any fried dish you make.

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Image via Aaron and Claire

🍳 Frying the Chicken

Lightly pound your chicken thighs to even out their thickness, ensuring they cook evenly. Make small cuts along the edges to prevent curling. Season with salt and pepper, coat with flour, and dip in beaten egg. Heat your oil to 170°C (340°F). Fry the chicken for about 7–8 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. You can deep-fry or shallow-fry both work great. Once done, drain the chicken and dip it straight into the nanban sauce. Move it around to make sure every piece gets coated.

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Image via Aaron and Claire

🥗 Assemble & Serve

On a plate, start with a layer of fresh lettuce or shredded cabbage to add a bit of crunch.Place the crispy chicken on top, letting the golden pieces stand out against the greens. Spoon a generous amount of creamy tartar sauce over the chicken so every bite is flavorful. For the finishing touch, add a few cherry tomatoes on the side, they bring color and freshness to the dish.

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Image via Aaron and Claire

👩‍🍳 Claire’s Taste Test

As always, Claire takes the first bite, and the reaction says it all. “It’s insanely good! The chicken is tender and juicy, with the perfect mix of savory, sweet, and tangy flavors,” she says. Aaron adds that the tartar sauce ties everything together and that it’s the kind of dish you could eat every day. If you want an extra tangy kick, try adding some chopped pickles to your tartar sauce, a total game-changer.

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Image via Aaron and Claire

🍱 Experience More Japanese Flavors with TokyoTreat

If this recipe makes you crave more Japanese flavors, you’ll love TokyoTreat, a monthly snack box filled with fun, limited-edition treats straight from Japan. Each box includes exclusive snacks and drinks, such as KitKat Mont Blanc, Koikeya Wasabi Seaweed Chips, and Takoyaki Soy Peanuts, all carefully selected to match a unique theme every month.

One of the themes is Osaka Snackathon, which brings the best street-style flavors right to your home, perfect for anyone who loves the taste of Japan’s vibrant food culture.

Each box also comes with a detailed booklet that explains the snacks, their ingredients, and cultural stories behind them, so you can enjoy a bit of Japan with every bite.

Want to try it yourself? Use the link in Aaron’s description and code ANC to get $5 off your first order here.

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🍚 Make It Tonight

Crispy fried chicken, creamy tartar sauce, and a bowl of hot rice is comfort food done right. Aaron and Claire make it look fun and simple, and once you try it, you’ll see why Chicken Nanban is one of Japan’s best-loved dishes. Quick to make, easy to love, and absolutely delicious, your kitchen is about to smell amazing.

👉 Watch “This Is One of the Best Fried Chickens in Japan | Chicken Nanban” on Aaron and Claire’s YouTube Channel here.