What’s In Chicken Teriyaki?

Chicken teriyaki (despite being Japanese) can probably be found on most Chinese food menus in most Chinese food restaurants in Nashville and Middle Tennessee. It’s become and Chinese food take-out staple, and an incredibly popular ‘Chinese’ food. But what’s actually in it? E Hur Wei, a local Chinese restaurant in Nashville, helped explain.

Teriyaki comes from Japan and refers to grilling food that’s been glazed in a sweet sauce. This sauce is what gives teriyaki flavor, and Chinese food restaurants in Middle Tennessee guard their sauce recipes extremely carefully. But at its core, teriyaki sauce is soy sauce, mirin, and sugar. Mirin’s a bit like a rice-based port: a sugary liquid with a low alcohol content. In restaurants, teriyaki is usually fried over a high heat to properly glaze whatever the sauce is covering, and then sometimes finished in the oven. At home, because you’re not cooking for an entire restaurant, you have a little more leeway, and can bake the teriyaki for a less oily finish. There are dozens of teriyaki recipes out there to try yourself.

So if you’re craving some teriyaki chicken and can’t find a Chinese restaurant that has it, head over the E Hur Wei. It’s one of the best Chinese restaurants in town with great reviews and a diverse menu. It’s on 75 Hwy 70 S Nashville, 37209.