Rainbow's Shoyu Chicken Recipe

Taste the Aloha! This recipe recreates the beloved Rainbow Shoyu Chicken, a classic from Honolulu's drive-in/plate lunch scene. Perfectly tender chicken simmered in a savory, sweet, and slightly tangy shoyu-based sauce – now easily adaptable for smaller portions! Get ready for a burst of Hawaiian flavor in your kitchen.

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 45 mins
Calories 1172 kcal
Protein 173g
Rating 5.0 (1 Reviews)
Rainbow's Shoyu Chicken 39

Recipe Actions

Share this recipe:

Recipe Author

Chef Forktionary, author of this recipe

Recipe adapted from Food.com. Standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Rainbow's Shoyu Chicken

Cook Smarter with Sous, Your Kitchen Companion

Missing an ingredient for this Rainbow's Shoyu Chicken? Need a perfect wine pairing or a healthy side dish idea? Don't guess—ask Sous! Your AI-powered sous-chef is ready to help you swap ingredients, adjust serving sizes, and discover flavor tips in seconds.

How to Make Rainbow's Shoyu Chicken

  1. Wash and thoroughly pat dry 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the sauce ingredients: 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup mirin, 1/4 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons sake (optional), 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 teaspoon grated ginger, 1 clove minced garlic.
  3. Add the chicken to the sauce, ensuring each piece is coated.
  4. Transfer the chicken and sauce mixture to a pot or Dutch oven. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
  5. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20-30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
  6. Skim off any excess fat or foam from the surface of the sauce.
  7. If desired, for a thicker sauce, mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water to form a slurry. Slowly whisk the slurry into the sauce.
  8. Bring the sauce back to a gentle boil, stirring constantly, until thickened (about 1-2 minutes).
  9. Serve hot over rice, with your favorite sides. Enjoy!
  10. Optional additions: Add a sprinkle of sesame seeds before serving for extra texture and flavor

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

200 g

Sugar

171g

Fat

97g

Carbs

15g

Recipe Categories (Choose a category and find related recipes!)

Main Courses Lunch Main Dish / Dinner Side Dishes Poultry Chicken Recipes Asian Japanese American Summer Recipes One Pot Meals

Recipe Tags (Choose a tag and find related recipes!)

60 Minutes Or Less Time To Make Course Main Ingredient Preparation Main Dish Poultry Easy Beginner Cook Chicken Meat Chicken Thighs Legs 3 Steps Or Less