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
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.
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.
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Combine remaining ingredients and stir until sugar is dissolved. Pour over chicken and stir until all chicken is immersed in sauce.
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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.
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To make "Da Sauce": Combine and stir all ingredients until the sugar is dissolved and serve with the chicken and rice.
Jan Lamb says
Thank 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
Wow, I’m sure local boys love you too! :*
Steph says
I 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
Can this be made with pressure cooking in an Instant Pot. Thank you so much Heather. Can’t wait to try your recipes 😊
Angela says
Another 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
I 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
Small 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
Had 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
best plate lunch since spam!!!!!!
ABC says
I 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
Sorry 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
since 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
Boo, local Boyz cannot be beat
Morose says
I 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
Went 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
How can you adapt this recipe for pressure cooker?
Stacy says
I 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
Made 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
Small 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
I’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
Made 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
It’s definitely a go-to meal for me– so easy and tastes great! Glad you liked it!
Sean says
Way 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
I 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
My name Is actually Kay-Jaysons. That is my first name cool right
It is totally awesome
Heather says
It is a really unique name! Thanks for stopping by!
Amy says
I’ve been looking for a recipe to replicate the Shoyu chicken at Local Boyz. So lucky I found this one! My hubby and I both graduated from OSU but now we’re in Alaska. Can’t wait to try this!
Heather says
Yay, OSU folk! Glad you found it!
Aukele says
I had a feeling you’d be somewhere in the Pac Northwest. Might I suggest adding star anise to your shoyu chicken. 1-2 pieces. It gives it that something special 🙂
Heather says
Ooh good idea! Thanks!
Melena says
So happy I found this…I can’t wait to try your shoyu! My husband and I went to OSU and LOVE Local Boyz!! When we moved to Beaverton we started going to Roxy’s, like the person above mentioned, and it definitely rivals Local Boyz. I actually like Roxy’s mac salad better, and recently found a recipe that’s pretty similar. I’ve shared the link below – (my recommendation though would be to use less apple cider vinegar, maybe half; it was a little potent for our taste.). It would go great with the shoyu.
http://thewanderlustkitchen.com/hawaiian-style-macaroni-salad/
Heather says
I haven’t been to Roxy’s yet but plan on it! Thanks for the recipe.:)
Jennifer says
You just made my day with two words “Local Boyz”. Since we are stationed in Yokosuka Japan I’m craving some good Hawaiian food. This will be made for dinner tomorrow.
Brian says
What a small world, Local Boyz (while visiting a friend in Corvallis) was what started my love of the plate lunch, now its a weekly trip to Roxy’s in Beaverton.
Tried this out with friends this Weekend, was fantastic, very similar to what I get at Roxy’s. I only had chicken breast on hand, and I could tell the difference, will be using thighs next time.
Inland Empirical says
Curious what size is slow cooker are you using for this recipe?
Traci says
White sugar or brown sugar better?
Daniel says
Good time with da sauce!
Conner says
I When I read that your local cafe serves a special sauce that they call “da sauce” I was intrigued because my favorite Hawaiian cafe calls their secret sauce “da sauce” as well. So I checked your link and was pleasantly surprised when I saw Local Boys come up. I’m glad that you are attempting to recreate their amazing shoyu chicken. I can’t wait to try your recipe! Remember, don’t steal “da sauce”!
Lisa says
Too bad you moved..I was gonna come over for dinner! Hehehe
Lisa says
I don’t like kikkoman either. I take my packets of aloha shoyu with me in my purse for when I eat out and have rice it chow mein 😉
Heather says
@Lisa and Travis: I sure am talking about Local Boyz! Best, place, ever. We’ve since moved and I miss it!
Lisa says
You don’t by any chance live in Corvallis and are talking about Local Boyz are you?
nate says
never use kikkoman….aloha brand better…..
Travis says
Just curious, is the Hawaiian restaurant you’re talking about Local Boyz? From the description is sounds a lot like it.
Muir says
Loved this recipe, made it both in the pan and in the crock pot. I think the pan version turned out better. I may have cooked it too long in the crock pot. I was curious if you had posted the mac salad recipe yet?
Anders says
Hey! How long can I leave this in the slow cooker if it’s on the “warm” setting?
Heather says
Once cooked it will keep on the warm setting for about 4 hours. Much longer than that and you’ll lose some quality.
paola says
Would like to try this! But I dnt have a crock pot can a regular pot due?
Heather says
Yep! The direction for stove-top preparation are in the recipe at the bottom of the post!
Mandie Murk says
Do you remove the ginger, or is it supposed to cook down enough to eat? I bit into a chunk of ginger once in my shoyu chick and it was horrible (but not enough to make me stop ordering it-still my favorite). but it did scare me off from ever using fresh ginger.
Heather says
You can take it out at the end but I find it cooks down and is pretty mild in the end.
Michelle says
I love chicken thighs. They stand up to crock pot cooking way way WAY better then chicken breasts do. this looks wonderful. can’t wait to see the mac salad recipe.
Heather says
It will be up next week, probably. 🙂
Linda says
Mac salad isn’t right🤪
Lindlindaa says
I’ve been making this for 40 years. Only thing I do different ido different I use brown sugar