Karaage Don (Japanese Fried Chicken Rice Bowl) | Without Mirin or Sake

This Karaage Don, or Japanese Fried Chicken Rice Bowl, is such a simple but perfect meal that anyone will love! The karaage recipe is alcohol free, made without mirin and/or sake.

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**Recipe originally published: July 22, 2021, Post updated: March 11, 2023

What Is Karaage Don?

Karaage Don is a Japanese Fried Chicken Rice Bowl, and it’s one of my favorite rice bowl’s to have. Especially when it’s steaming hot!

The chicken is lighter in texture compared to the normal fried chicken, but still rich in flavor. It’s best to use potato/corn starch instead of flour for a delicious crispy texture. And if possible, use chicken thighs for a juicy taste.

Don is short for “Donburi”, which literally translates to “bowl”. It’s normally used as a suffix for Japanese rice bowl dishes such as Gyudon and Katsudon.

I absolutely LOVE making this at home because that just means I can have as much chicken as I want! (I get so sad when I finish my rice bowls quickly when eating out.)

What Is Karaage Don Served With?

You can use any toppings or garnishes you’d like for the rice bowl. I added a poached egg, Japanese mayo, green onions and nanami togarashi for a little bit more heat.

For a fuller meal, pair the rice bowl with some simple soup dish like the ever classic miso soup (here’s an easy 15-minute miso soup recipe!).

what can i use instead of sake in chicken karaage?

The typical marinade for chicken karaage normally contains a mixture of soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and sake. This karaage recipe, however, is alcohol free, and made without mirin and/or sake.

Sake is substituted with equal parts apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar and honey.

ingredients you’ll need

(For full ingredient measurements, please proceed to the recipe card below.)

• Chicken thigh: Cut to preferred size
• Potato/corn starch

Marination

• Light soy sauce
• Black pepper
• Rice vinegar/apple cider vinegar
• Honey
• Garlic
• Ginger (optional)

Rice bowl

• Hot rice
• Japanese mayo
• Sriracha
• Chili oil (optional)
• Salt (optional)
• Poached egg (optional)
• Sachimi Togarashi (optional)
• Green onions: For garnish

how to make karaage don (Japanese fried chicken rice bowl)

To make chicken karaage

1. Marinate the cut chicken thighs with all the ingredients for the marinade and set aside for 15 minutes.
2. Coat each piece of chicken with potato/corn starch and shallow fry in batches until golden brown on each side.
3. Place chicken on a cooling rack/paper towel to drain the oil. Sprinkle a pinch of salt on the karaage if needed.

To assemble rice bowl

1. Mix the Japanese mayo and Sriracha for the sauce. Add rice to a bowl and season with salt and chili oil. Mix well.
2. Add as many chicken karaage as you want and the sauce all over.
3. Add a poached egg in the middle/on top and garnish with green onions and sachimi togarashi for extra heat. Enjoy!

Notes For Karaage Don (Japanese Fried Chicken Rice Bowl)

• Traditionally, sake is used but I substituted it with equal parts of apple cider vinegar and honey. You can use either or omit it out.
• You can deep fry the chicken instead of shallow frying. Double fry for extra crispiness.
• You can be creative and use any toppings or garnishing you want. 

More Chicken Recipes

• Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
• Malaysian Chicken Chop
• Crispy Chicken 65
• Ayam Geprek (Smashed Fried Chicken)
• Malaysian Honey Chicken Wings

More Japanese Recipes

• Easy Onsen Tamago (Japanese Hot Spring Egg)
• Spicy Tuna Onigiri (Japanese Rice Balls)
• Ebi Fry (Fried Shrimp Japanese-style)
• Japanese Chicken Katsu Curry

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Karaage Don (Japanese Fried Chicken Rice Bowl) – No Mirin or Sake

This Japanese fried chicken rice bowl is such a simple but perfect meal that anyone will love! This karaage recipe is alcohol free, made without mirin and/or sake.

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Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Servings 2

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 3/4 lb chicken thigh (cut to preferred size)
• 1.5 cup potato/corn starch

Marination

• 4 tbsp light soy sauce
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tbsp rice vinegar/apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 tbsp honey
• 3 cloves garlic minced/grated
• 1/2 inch grated ginger optional

Rice bowl

• 1.5 cups hot rice
• 3 tbsp Japanese mayo
• 3 tbsp Sriracha
• 1 tbsp chili oil optional
• salt optional
• 1 poached egg optional
• Sachimi Togarashi optional
• green onions for garnish

Instructions

 

To make chicken karaage

• Marinate the cut chicken thighs with all the ingredients for the marinade and set aside for 15 minutes.
• Coat each piece of chicken with potato/corn starch and shallow fry in batches until golden brown on each side.
• Place chicken on a cooling rack/paper towel to drain the oil. Sprinkle a pinch of salt on the karaage if needed.

To assemble rice bowl

• Mix the Japanese mayo and Sriracha for the sauce. Add rice to a bowl and season with salt and chili oil. Mix well.
• Add as many chicken karaage as you want and the sauce all over.
• Add a poached egg in the middle/on top and garnish with green onions and sachimi togarashi for extra heat. Enjoy!

Notes

*Traditionally, sake is used but I substituted it with equal parts of apple cider vinegar and honey. You can use either or omit it out.

*You can deep fry the chicken instead of shallow frying. Double fry for extra crispiness.

*You can be creative and use any toppings or garnishing you want. 

Keyword chicken, easy, experience

Did you try this recipe?I would love to know how it went! Please leave a rating, comment down below, or tag me on Instagram @FarahJEats.

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