Karaage vs Korean Fried Chicken: What’s the Difference?
Karaage vs Korean fried chicken is one of the most common questions we hear in Bica. Both are crisp, both are addictive, but they are two very different things. This is a quick guide to what sets Japanese karaage apart from the Korean style, and where to taste real karaage in Lisbon.
If you are new to the dish, we also explain what karaage is in more detail.
What is Japanese karaage?
Karaage is boneless chicken marinated in soy, ginger, garlic, and a little sake, then coated lightly in potato starch and fried to order. The starch gives a thin, glassy crust that shatters, not a thick batter.
The result is light and juicy, seasoned all the way through. It is meant to taste of the chicken and the marinade, not of heavy breading.
What is Korean fried chicken?
Korean fried chicken is usually double-fried for an extra crunchy, sturdier crust. It is often tossed in a sticky sauce, most famously gochujang for a sweet and spicy glaze, or soy garlic.
It is bolder, saucier, and heavier by design. Great in its own right, but a different experience from the clean crunch of karaage.
Karaage vs Korean fried chicken: the key differences
The short version of karaage vs Korean fried chicken comes down to three things. The coating: thin potato starch versus a thicker double-fried crust. The sauce: karaage is served dry with a dip on the side, Korean is usually glazed.
And the weight: karaage stays light and crisp, which is why it works so well for a quick lunch on a warm Lisbon day. See how we build ours on the karaage menu.
Which should you try?
If you want a rich, saucy, share-heavy plate, Korean fried chicken is your pick. If you want something crisp, clean, and cooked fresh to order, that is karaage.
Our signature is the karaage fried chicken sandwich, and the pieces are the easy way to taste the difference for yourself.
Where to try karaage in Lisbon
You will find us at Wishbone, Rua da Boavista 14, in Bica, a two-minute walk up from Cais do Sodré and Time Out Market. Everything is fried the moment you order.
Wishbone, Karaage Fried Chicken
Rua da Boavista 14, 1200-067 Lisbon (Bica)
Mon 5 PM to 11 PM, Tue to Sat 11 AM to Midnight, Sun Closed
+351 967 950 102
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between karaage and Korean fried chicken?
Karaage is Japanese fried chicken with a thin potato-starch crust, marinated and served dry with a dip. Korean fried chicken is usually double-fried with a thicker crust and tossed in a sticky sauce. Karaage is lighter, Korean is saucier.
Is karaage lighter than Korean fried chicken?
Yes. The thin starch coating and fry-to-order method keep karaage crisp and light, while Korean fried chicken is double-fried and glazed, so it eats heavier.
Where can I eat karaage in Lisbon?
Wishbone serves fresh Japanese karaage at Rua da Boavista 14 in Bica, a two-minute walk from Cais do Sodré and Time Out Market.
Is karaage spicy?
Classic karaage is savoury, not spicy. The heat comes from the dips and sauces you add, so you control it.
