What’s The Difference Between Teriyaki Chicken And Hibachi Chicken?

Teriyaki chicken and Hibachi chicken are two signature chicken dishes in Japanese cuisine.
I'm an experienced food writer and passionate cook. My website, Cookindocs.com, features accessible, informative, and engaging content with quality recipes and articles that are thoroughly researched and enjoyable to read. You can trust my expertise with 8 years of experience in the field. Learn more about me and my work on this website, and check out my featured articles on TastingTable, Mashed, and 5-Minute Crafts. Read more about me HERE.
Surely many people are not aware of the differences between these two delicacies.
Therefore, our article will help you differentiate between Teriyaki chicken and Hibachi chicken and choose your favorite one.
What is Teriyaki chicken?
[amazon fields=”B076CBQZDD” value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]
Teriyaki chicken is a Japanese dish that consists of thin, bite-sized pieces of chicken meat coated with a sweet and salty sauce.
Teriyaki can refer to the traditional cooking method or the teriyaki sauce that is made from soy sauce, sake, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger.
The word “teri” means glossy or lustrous, and “yaki” means grilled.
When putting these words together, teriyaki chicken refers to the way the food looks when it’s cooked.
Chicken should be seared with a bit of oil before tossing in the soy-sauce based marinade so that it will look like being grilled.
Sake can be substituted by mirin, another popular beverage in Japan.
Mirin is especially used in cooking because it has a lower alcohol content and sweeter taste.
Teriyaki chicken has a sweet, salty, and tangy flavor with an appealing look that is glossy and brown.
It is typically served with steamed broccoli and white rice to complete a hearty and nutritious meal.
What is Hibachi chicken?
[amazon fields=”B07YP13BRB” value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]
If you are a fan of Japanese food, you must have heard about the word “hibachi”.
Hibachi refers to a cooking technique in which chefs will cook on a hot iron flat surface in front of customers.
While hibachi chicken doesn’t always mean chicken is cooked with this method, the result will be like coming from a hibachi restaurant.
Hibachi chicken is relatively similar to Teriyaki chicken, in which chicken pieces are seared on a hot pan until they are partially cooked and brown on edges.
After that, soy sauce is added to add flavor to the chicken.
The recipe for hibachi chicken also often includes vegetables like broccoli, carrot, or onion per preference, stir-fried with the chicken.
The resulting dish is often milder in flavor compared to Teriyaki chicken, but also perfect to eat with steamed rice.
Is hibachi chicken spicy?
When it comes to spice, everyone has a different tolerance level.
Some people love dishes that are packed with heat, while others prefer their food to be milder.
This is why it’s hard to say which foods are universally spicy.
Hibachi chicken is a good example.
While it is typically not very spicy, some people may find it to be too hot.
If you’re sensitive to spice, you may want to ask your chef to go easy on the seasoning.
That way, you can enjoy the savory and sweet flavors without the added kick of heat.
What are the similarities between Teriyaki chicken vs Hibachi chicken?
So the main difference between Teriyaki chicken and Hibachi chicken is their sauces.
In the meantime, there are also several similarities between the two dishes:
1. Both are popular Japanese dishes that are also well-known worldwide
These two chicken dishes have the same origin.
Both are Japanese dishes that have been created for centuries.
They are not only two staples that can be found in any Japanese restaurants or households but also in other cuisines in the world, such as Korean cuisine, American cuisine, or Haiwaiian cuisine.
2. Teriyaki chicken and Hibachi chicken are cooked and served the same way
Another thing in common between these two dishes is how they are cooked and served.
Basically, the cooking method to make either Teriyaki chicken or Hibachi chicken is searing (pan-frying) boneless chicken chunks and setting aside.
After that, make the sauce from the needed ingredients and spices that the recipe calls for.
The last step is tossing cooked chicken into the sauce and stir-frying for a few minutes so that all the flavor can penetrate into the meat.
Teriyaki chicken and Hibachi chicken are best to be served with some steamed or stir-fried vegetables, especially broccoli over steamed white rice.
What are the differences between Teriyaki chicken vs Hibachi chicken?
There are some key differences between Teriyaki chicken and Hibachi chicken, as broken into pieces in the table below:
Teriyaki chicken | Hibachi chicken | |
Sauce | Soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, sake (or mirin) | Usually just soy sauce |
Appearance | Glossy and saucy | Drier |
Taste | Sweet, salty, umami | Milder but still flavorful |
Nutrient value | Higher in calories | Lower in calories and sodium |
Is hibachi chicken or teriyaki chicken healthier?
Assuming you’re talking about the dish Hibachi chicken, it is healthier than teriyaki chicken.
Hibachi chicken is grilled, while teriyaki chicken is fried.
This makes hibachi chicken a much lighter and healthier dish.
Teriyaki chicken tends to be quite greasy and heavy, so it’s not the best option if you’re looking for something healthy.
However, some people believe that the grill marks on hibachi chicken make it look less appetizing than teriyaki chicken.
Teriyaki chicken also has a sweeter flavor because of the sauce that it is coated in, while hibachi chicken is usually seasoned with salt, pepper, and other savory spices.
Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference.
If you’re looking for a healthier option, go with hibachi chicken.
If you’re more concerned with taste, go with teriyaki chicken.
Hibachi sauce vs teriyaki sauce?
There are a few key differences between hibachi sauce and teriyaki sauce.
First, hibachi sauce is typically made with a combination of soy sauce, mirin, sake, and often vinegar or citrus juice, while teriyaki sauce is made with soy sauce, mirin, and sugar.
This gives hibachi sauce a slightly deeper flavor profile than teriyaki sauce.
Second, hibachi sauce is usually thinner than teriyaki Sauce.
Finally, hibachi sauce is traditionally served as a dipping sauces for grilled meats or vegetables, while Teriyaki Sauce is more commonly used as a marinade or glaze.
Hibachi chicken vs teriyaki chicken calories
If you’re watching your weight, you may be wondering whether hibachi or teriyaki chicken is the better choice.
Both types of chicken are fairly low in calories, but there are some differences to consider.
Hibachi chicken is usually cooked with more oil than teriyaki chicken, which gives it a higher calorie content.
Teriyaki chicken is also often served with rice or noodles, which add to the dish’s calorie count.
However, hibachi chicken’s lower calorie content comes from its typically leaner cuts of meat and the fact that it is grilled without any added fat.
So if you’re looking for a lower calorie option, hibachi chicken is the way to go.
But if you’re not as concerned about calories, either type of chicken makes a delicious and satisfying meal.
Which is better hibachi or teriyaki?
Product Comparison | [amazon fields=”B076CBQZDD” value=”title”] | [amazon fields=”B07YP13BRB” value=”title”] |
Product Image | [amazon fields=”B076CBQZDD” value=”thumb”] | [amazon fields=”B07YP13BRB” value=”thumb”] |
Latest Price | [amazon fields=”B076CBQZDD” value=”button”] | [amazon fields=”B07YP13BRB” value=”button”] |
In the end, both Teriyaki chicken and Hibachi chicken are the pride of Japanese cuisine.
They are delicious and very similar.
Their main difference is the use of different kinds of sauce, making one more flavorful and heavier in texture whereas the other lighter and milder.
After reading this article, we hope that now you know enough information to be able to choose your favorite dish between Teriyaki chicken and Hibachi chicken.
So why not give both a try and tell us your answer?