Fried Chicken Wings Midnight Diner Season 2

The Japanese have a deep-seated love for fried chicken. Whether it’s bento lunch or late-night bar snack, we devour them practically in almost every meal. That’s why you can find more than a handful of fried chicken recipes on the blog – which includes the most popular karaage, Nagoya-style fried chicken, chicken tempura, and chicken katsu. Today I am going to add to the delicious collection with this Fried Chicken Wings (手羽先の唐揚げ) recipe. You can find these ultra crunchy fried chicken wings featured on the popular Netflix® show – Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories (Season 2, Episode 4). They are seriously good, and I know you’d be in love. The Master in the show teaches us a few hot tips in cooking the perfect fried chicken, which I’ll cover in the recipe. So read on. The wings make the best companion to go with Japanese beer (read Mr. JOC’s Japanese Beer Guide) or sake. Ready to make some crispiest, juiciest Japanese fried chicken wings? Let’s get started!

Why You Should Make These Fried Chicken Wings

The outside is coated with a layer of super-light, extra-crispy starch, while the inside is tenderly juicy. Impossible not to take another bite! A perfect snack, party appetizer, or main dish to go any time of the day. Happiness induced and satisfaction guaranteed.

How to Make Fried Chicken Wings

Despite the deep frying, this recipe is one of the easiest recipes on the blog. It involves 3 simple steps:

3 Important Tricks and Tips

1. Make 2 Slits

A small cooking tip does matter. And in this case, I’m referring to these 2 slits you make in the mid-joint – one above the bone and one below the bone. These two slits not only help to flavor the chicken but also ensure it is cooked through as the meat near bones takes time to cook.

2. Marinate for 15-30 Minutes

If you have been cooking a lot of Japanese recipes, you may notice that we do not over marinate food. Even with these chicken wings, we’ll only marinade for 15-30 minutes. The key is to use good ingredients and enjoy the true flavor. Seasonings are for enhancement.

3. Check Your Oil Temperature

The most important part about deep frying is the temperature. No matter how well you prepared your chicken wings, if you do not know how to deep fry them, your chicken wings will not turn out well. The easy solution is to get a kitchen thermometer. Especially if you are not familiar or confident with deep frying. Consider getting a thermometer if you wish to venture into deep frying and don’t own one yet. I have the following thermometers at home (different price points) and they are my favorite (affiliate links):

Thermapen ChefAlarm ThermoPop

The oil for deep frying these wings is 340 ºF (170 ºC) and the internal chicken temperature should be 165 ºF (74 ºC) to consume safely.

About Deep Frying…

Many people prefer to avoid deep frying and I understand. You could end up with a greasy, messy, and smelly kitchen, and you have to figure out how to dispose of the oil. And deep frying can be scary for a beginner cook. But once you taste the really good deep-fried chicken, you know how almost impossibly hard it is to replicate that in other cooking methods. These wings are the winner’s prize! The winner as in the person who deep-fries, of course. Just don’t over-indulge yourself – a moderate amount once in a while to truly enjoy this special treat.

Can You Air Fry?

I’m sure I’ll get asked this question, so I’ll mention here first. I am certain that you can. The only issue is I don’t own an air-fryer so I can’t share any tips or cooking time for that matter. I have several foodie friends who own air fryers and they all tell me I shouldn’t bother buying one because deep-frying always tastes better. And I’m the kind of person who doesn’t mind deep frying for the perfect results. That’s just me. All in for good food!

Can You Use an Oven?

I’ve tried a few times to see if I can make it work, but I’m afraid I haven’t figured that out. You can “shallow-fry” in a deep pot, so the sides of the pot will minimize the oil splatter. I hope I’ve convinced you to give the recipe a go! Imagine the pride, the contentment, and pure enjoyment at the table. A giant plate of homemade delicious fried chicken wings, it’s worth the effort and love! Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips & recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.