Kushiage is a Japanese dish that consists of deep-fried food, traditionally skewered on bamboo sticks. Although it may be lesser known, it is of peak deliciousness.
What is kushiage?
Kushiage refers to deep-fried skewers coated with a layer of crispy panko breadcrumbs, usually accompanied by a savory dipping sauce. What’s being skewered? Well, just about anything, from small pieces of meat to vegetables, fish, quail eggs, and even pickled ginger. For fans of fried food, kushiage is pretty much irresistible.
The same dish is also called kushikatsu in the Kansai region (think Osaka and its environs). The term “katsu” means “cutlet” while “age” means deep-fried, although of course kushikatsu offers more than just skewered cutlets. “Kushi,” you may have guessed, means “skewer.”
A stick of kushiage may involve multiple ingredients, or just one. Restaurants specializing in the dish can range from high-end, omakase-style to casual izakayas and food stalls. In some restaurants, the chef will simply keep frying skewers until you say stop!
The dish is said to have originated in the late 1920s in Osaka as an affordable meal for workers.
While some kushiage restaurants give each customer their own small dish for sauce, others have a communal sauce tub. In case of the latter, please make sure you don’t double dip to keep the sauce hygenic for all.
A local’s recommendation
If you want to dive into the world of kushiage, my top recommendation is Ginza Isomura, with locations in Ginza, Fujisawa, and Yokohama. They serve high-quality, seasonal ingredients, perfectly deep-fried to a golden-brown color, with some skewers topped with flavorful sauces to elevate the taste. Options range from maitake mushrooms and asparagus to tender chicken wings, prawns, beef, and even Camembert cheese.
A whole meal of deep-fried goodness? Yes, and it’s surprisingly light! The thin, crispy crust combined with Ginza Isomura’s carefully crafted oil blend — perfected in the past 40+ years since their opening — leaves you satisfied without feeling weighed down.
FAQ
- What is kushiage/kushikatsu?
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Kushiage and kushikatsu are interchangeable terms that refer to deep-fried skewers with a panko breadcrumb batter, usually served with sauce.
- Where and when did kushiage originate?
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Kushiage/kushikatsu is believed to have originated in Osaka in the late 1920s.
- Where can you find kushiage?
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Although considered an Osaka specialty (where it’s called kushikatsu), you can find kushiage restaurants in most major Japanese cities.