Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken– so flavorful you’ll forget how easy it is to make! Filled with flavors of ginger, garlic and just a touch of red pepper, it’s a meal you’ll want over and over again!
There is a little hole-in-the-wall cafe where we used to live in Corvallis, Oregon that serves the best Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken you can get short of flying to Hawaii. The ribs are probably their claim to fame, but I’m a sucker for their shoyu chicken and macaroni salad. It’s been a while in the making, but I think the recipe I’ve come up with makes for a pretty stinkin’ good substitute when I have a hankering for big plate of sweet meat, rice, and mac– which happens at least twice a week.
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Hawaiian Shoyu chicken is one of the simplest things to make. Seriously. Yet somehow the few, simple ingredients turn into deep flavors, tender meat and an all-around unforgettable meal. Shoyu is just another name for soy sauce, so as you might guess, we’re using a lot of soy sauce here. Other ingredients include Worcestershire sauce, ginger, garlic, sugar, water, and a little red pepper.
What kind of chicken should I use for Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken?
You’ll need about 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs. I know I’ll have someone ask if they can use breasts, and the answer it yes, yes you CAN. But try it once with chicken thighs just for me, please? The thighs have so much flavor and really make this shoyu chicken what it’s supposed to be.
Tips for Making Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken:
- This recipe can be made on the stove-top or in a slow cooker. Directions for both will be in the recipe below.
- My favorite way of eating it is with lots of steamed rice, macaroni salad, fresh-cut pineapple, and a little concoction our local cafe serves with all of its meats called “Da Sauce”. It’s basically more soy sauce and sugar and the recipe is included in the recipe card below.
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Want More Easy Chicken Recipes?
- Garlic Ranch Chicken Marinade
- Bacon Wrapped Pesto Chicken
- Sheet Pan Pesto Chicken and Veggies
- Sticky Sweet Chili Chicken
- One Pan Smothered Chicken Skillet
Tools used for Making Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken:
- Instant Pot : I use my Instant Pot as my slow cooker these days. This is the model that I have and LOVE. It’s been with me for over a year and I’ve definitely put it through the ringer, but still works like new! It’s changed the dinnertime routine at our house and helps me make meals in under an hour that used to take HOURS!
- Ninja 3-in-One Cooking System: When my Instant Pot is already in use (It makes the BEST rice) I still use my favorite slow-cooker. I’ve owned this slow cooker for about 6 years (when they were first introduced) and I still love it. The stovetop feature allows me to sear and cook meats before allowing them to slow cook (less dishes) and there’s a bake feature as well.
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Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken
Ingredients
- 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
- 1 1/2 cups soy sauce
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 inch piece fresh ginger chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
For Da Sauce
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar
Instructions
- Place chicken in a large pot on the stove top.
- Combine remaining ingredients and stir until sugar is dissolved. Pour over chicken and stir until all chicken is immersed in sauce.
- Bring to a low boil, cover and reduce heat to a simmer. Let cook for about 1 hour at a low simmer until the chicken is tender.
To Make in a Slow Cooker:
- Cook on LOW for up to 8 hours or HIGH for 4.
- Remove chicken from cooking liquid, shred and return to pan to soak up some more flavor. Serve over steamed rice with the sauce below.
- To make "Da Sauce": Combine and stir all ingredients until the sugar is dissolved and serve with the chicken and rice.
Mara says
May 28, 2019 at 11:29 amI was thinking fondly of Local Boyz in Corvallis and searched Pinterest for shoyu chicken recipes. This was the only one with a photo of shredded chicken meat rather than whole thighs so I clicked. I haven’t tried making it yet, but I am so excited to have found a recipe based on Local Boyz’s delicious chicken!!
Claire K Bajo says
April 16, 2019 at 11:24 amI added maple syrup and lemon, and used brown sugar instead of white, and li hing ginger [because that’s all i had]… and omgasms! All the flavors popped! Had to keep the soup just because it was so flavorful! Mahalo nui loa for documenting a local favorite!
Candice S. says
March 11, 2019 at 7:49 pmCan’t wait to try this, as we live in Corvallis area & LOVE eating at LOCAL BOYZ! Thanks for sharing we always buy bottles of their DA SAUCE to bring home with us so this is great to have a recipe for when we don’t want to drive to town! Thanks for sharing
Jan Lamb says
March 19, 2018 at 1:22 amThank you for the recipe, I LOVE Local Boyz!!! Can’t wait to try this. Would like to have the Instant Pot recipe too.
REY K RODRIGUES says
November 3, 2018 at 4:00 pmWow, I’m sure local boys love you too! :*
Steph says
January 23, 2018 at 9:41 pmI was wondering if this could be made by pressure cooking in an Instant Pot. Thank you so much Heather. Can’t wait to try your recipes.
Steph says
January 23, 2018 at 9:38 pmCan this be made with pressure cooking in an Instant Pot. Thank you so much Heather. Can’t wait to try your recipes 😊
Angela says
November 28, 2017 at 12:13 pmAnother OSU Alum here <3 Can you tell me how many minutes under pressure? I didn't see it, but saw your mention of using the IP Thanks!
Christine says
December 9, 2017 at 1:35 pmI was wondering about the time in the instant pot, as well. I’ve been making this for a few years on the stovetop and slow cooker… Thanks for a fabulous recipe!
Kerri says
August 8, 2017 at 9:27 pmSmall world! I knew exactly which hole-in-the-wall you were talking about even before I clicked the link! HA! I miss Local Boyz (moved from Oregon to NM a few years ago) and was looking for something similar to what they have, and here you are! Thank you! I can’t wait to try this!!
b2 says
July 25, 2017 at 9:18 pmHad to comment as I found this recipe on Pinterest… as I TOO am a Local Boyz fan (Go Beavs!) and was craving some tasty shoyu. This recipe was so delicious that I am making it again tonight! Reminds me of some good times….
ginger lasko says
April 30, 2017 at 10:01 ambest plate lunch since spam!!!!!!
ABC says
March 27, 2017 at 10:10 amI came across your recipe on Pinterest. I’m planning on making it for my family, but I never did come across the recipe for “da sauce” or for the macaroni salad. Did you ever post those? (It wasn’t at the end of this post.)
Heather Cheney says
March 28, 2017 at 11:07 pmSorry about that! I just changed some of the formatting on the site and it didn’t translate over well. The recipe for Da Sauce is there now and here’s the recipe for the mac salad– http://heatherlikesfood.com/hawaiian-style-macaroni-salad/
Johny says
November 7, 2016 at 1:56 pmsince it sounds like this is a forum for mostly oregon people. I highly suggest going to Ate oh Ate on East Burnside for the best hawaiian food in Oregon. I have been to both Local Boyz and Roxys and truly neither compared to Ate Oh Ate
Jdubb says
March 25, 2017 at 4:28 pmBoo, local Boyz cannot be beat
Morose says
July 3, 2017 at 5:49 pmI agree, Ate oh Ate is the best! They catered my cousin’s wedding and everything was amazing. I don’t want to admit how much shoyu chicken I ate.
YH says
July 3, 2016 at 2:00 pmWent to the store today for ingredients and going to try tomorrow! Can’t wait! Quick question… Do you put the chicken thigh meat into the slow cooker frozen? Or did you thaw first?
P.S. I googled a recipe for “shoyu chicken” and decided yours looked the best… But how funny that I am an OSU alum and I love Local Boys!
Malia says
January 31, 2016 at 9:57 amHow can you adapt this recipe for pressure cooker?
Stacy says
October 31, 2015 at 9:38 amI have a son who loves Local Boyz in Corvallis and wants to go there weekly for the Shoyu chicken. After searching through recipes online, I came across this one as it sounded good and easy to make. Well you have made my day! Thank you a million times over for this! Although I love Local Boyz, this saves me trips and money to go there! So cool that everyone else has heard of this place and raves about it… Now do you have their ribs recipe mastered? I found a mac salad recipe on here (thank you for that one too whoever posted it) This turned out great by the way!!!
Kristin says
July 1, 2015 at 8:34 pmMade this the other day. It was really good. Your advice was correct about my slow cooker, it was cooking to hot. Turning it to low and cooking it for a shorter time worked well. I also thickened the liquid on the stove with corn starch. Yum
Tim H says
April 13, 2015 at 8:45 pmSmall world. Preparing to try this and read comments for “tips”. Local Boyz used to be the go to joint for me before moving to Eugene. Was surprised to see but “da sauce” was indeed a good hint at local connection.
Heather Cheney says
April 14, 2015 at 10:41 amI’ve been so surprised by the amount of people that have emailed or commented that they are familiar with Local Boyz. Small world! Hope you love the chicken.
Dan says
January 4, 2015 at 8:39 pmMade this today and used your recipe. So good! Had never made shoyu chicken before and was impressed with how good it was (compared to the spots I’d visited in Portland) and how easy it was to make. Thanks so much!
Heather Cheney says
January 6, 2015 at 9:29 amIt’s definitely a go-to meal for me– so easy and tastes great! Glad you liked it!
Sean says
November 4, 2014 at 9:35 pmWay too much ginger. I’m a decent cook and my fiance typically loves my meals but the amount of ginger this recipe calls for is so off putting that we both decided taco bell was a better option. I will try the recipe again but will definitely use less than a quarter the amount of ginger this one calls for.
Kay Jaysons says
October 14, 2014 at 2:35 pmI didn’t use regular sugar because I didn’t have any. I use brown sugar and it made it sweeter compared to what I think yours tasted like. It was in perfect harmony to the ginger.
Kay Jaysons says
October 14, 2014 at 2:37 pmMy name Is actually Kay-Jaysons. That is my first name cool right
It is totally awesome
Heather says
October 17, 2014 at 11:46 amIt is a really unique name! Thanks for stopping by!