Where can I try Teriyaki?

Find top-rated Teriyaki restaurants with real, orderable online menus on Yes Ichiban's Teriyaki rankings.

Teriyaki term

Teriyaki 照り焼き

Teriyaki is not a sauce so much as a technique: grilling or broiling with a glossy glaze of soy, mirin and sugar until the surface shines (teri means "glossy," yaki means "grilled"). It's often the friendliest dish on a Japanese menu for newcomers.

Glaze, not marinade

Traditionally the glaze is brushed on toward the end of cooking so the sugars caramelize without burning — giving that lacquered shine and sweet-savory edge.

Japanese vs. American

In Japan teriyaki usually means fish, especially yellowtail. The thick sweet chicken teriyaki familiar in the West is largely an American adaptation — delicious, but its own thing.

Insider tip. If you're easing someone into Japanese food, teriyaki is the gateway — familiar, sweet-savory and never challenging.