Hibachi Chicken

Make restaurant quality Hibachi Chicken at home that's tender, juicy, and flavorful. It's made with just a few simple ingredients and ready in minutes.

Try serving your hibachi chicken with some Homemade Yum Yum Sauce, Hibachi Veggies, and Hibachi Fried Rice for a complete hibachi dinner at home. 

Going to a hibachi or Japanese-style steakhouse is one of my favorite places to go for casual dining. It's a place for good food with a little bit of entertainment. I'm talking front row seating around a hot grill with hibachi chefs making a great meal that usually includes an onion volcano. 

But sometimes I just want to enjoy my favorite hibachi dishes at home and that's when I tailor the cooking method to fit my kitchen. This proves that just because you don't have a large hibachi grill at home, doesn't mean you can't achieve the same savory flavor using a wok or large skillet.

One of my favorite go-to recipes is Japanese style hibachi chicken. There is something about the way chicken is cooked at a hight temperature that makes it tender, juicy, and flavorful. 

Let's get started!

What Is Hibachi Style Food?

Hibachi style food is a certain way that Japanese steakhouse restaurants in North America cook meat, vegetables, and rice. The food is usually cooked at a very high heat on a hibachi grill by a chef/cook.

In the Japanese restaurant, the grills are surrounded by individual seats that make dining more of an experience instead of a simple meal. The literal meaning of hibachi is fire bowl and you can get the same style of food at home by making it yourself in your own kitchen.

What Do I Use To Cook Easy Hibachi Chicken?

You may use a wok if you have it. For this chicken recipe, I used an inexpensive wok that I purchased many years ago while shopping at Ikea. It heats up quickly and is big enough for me to move the ingredients around in the pan without making a mess. Now, the one that I use is no longer available from Ikea, but there are some that you can check out on their website. I was also able to find one on Amazon (affiliate) that is very similar to the one that I have.

If you do not have a wok, then no worries as you can also use a large skillet or even a 12-inch cast iron skillet. A large Dutch oven would even work and hold all of the ingredients nicely. 

We will be cooking our rice on the stovetop, but if you have access to a Blackstone griddle, hot griddle, flat top grill, or hot plate try using those instead. 

What Ingredients For Hibachi Style Chicken?

1. Oil - You can use any neutral oil that you prefer, but try to select one that has a high smoke point like vegetable oil, avocado oil, or sesame oil. Try to avoid using olive oil for this particular recipe as we're cooking the chicken at a very high heat. 
2. Butter - Use any brand that you prefer from your local grocery store from the dairy section. It can be salted butter or unsalted butter. 
3. Soy Sauce - Adds flavor and gives the cooked chicken a deep and rich caramel color. May substitute in the same unit of measure with tamari, coconut aminos, or low-sodium soy sauce.
4. Chicken - Either boneless skinless chicken breasts or boneless skinless chicken thighs (dark meat) may be used depending on your preference. Both will work. 
5. Sesame Oil - Helps to finish the chicken and adds a nutty flavor to the dish. Toasted sesame oil will work as well, but be mindful of the amount used as it has a strong flavor, a little goes a long way. 
6. Salt - Seasons the chicken and prevents it from tasting flat, mainly used to bring all of the ingredient flavors together. 
7. Ground Black Pepper - Used to season the chicken and adds a bright flavor to it. Try to use freshly ground black pepper if you have it available. 

See the recipe card below for exact ingredient quantities and instructions.

How To Make Homemade Hibachi Chicken

Begin the easy hibachi chicken recipe by preparing the raw chicken using a long sharp knife. Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces or large chunks, according to your preference.

Evenly season the chicken with salt and ground black pepper. Add a wok or large skillet to the stovetop over medium-high heat. Allow it to heat for about a minute before adding the oil. 

Add the prepared chicken pieces to the hot skillet. Allow the chicken to cook for 2 to 3 minutes before tossing in the wok or skillet.

Pour in the soy sauce and toss to combine with the chicken. Add the sesame oil and stir to combine. Allow the chicken to cook for another 1 to 2 minutes.

Add in the butter and allow it to completely melt. Give it a good stir to combine the butter with the chicken to thoroughly coat the chicken.

Carefully remove the hot chicken from the wok or skillet and serve warm with Fried Rice, Jasmine Rice (white rice), and Yum-Yum Sauce. Enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Storage

If you have any leftover chicken, allow it to cool to room temperature before placing it in an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

When ready to serve again reheat in a skillet on the stovetop over medium heat until warm. Add more oil if needed. It can also be heated in the microwave or in the air fryer if you're in a hurry. 

Want More Recipes To Use With This Hibachi Chicken Recipe? Try These:

• Yum Yum Sauce
• Hibachi Vegetables
• Hibachi Fried Rice
• Fried Brown Rice 
• Ribeye Steak
• Hibachi Ginger Dressing
• Sesame Shrimp
• Hibachi Shrimp

Have any comments, questions, or other delicious ways to use this Hibachi Chicken recipe at home? Please share them in the comments below!

📖 Recipe

Original post date 03/06/2020. Updated 10/02/2023.