There’s more than udon?! A close-up of Kagawa’s local gourmet dish, honetsukidori chicken-on-the-bone! From its history to the best ways to eat it!
Honetsukidori（chicken-on-the-bone） is Kagawa Prefecture’s wild local gourmet dish. One taste and you’ll be hooked! Here, we introduce the history of honetsukidori, which is now one of Kagawa’s representative specialties (in addition to its udon noodles), the best ways to eat it, and more.
The history of honetsukidori started from a scene in a movie? Introducing its appeal!
Honetsukidori originated in Marugame City in Kagawa Prefecture. It’s said that one day, a husband and wife who ran a restaurant were inspired by someone taking a hearty bite of “chicken meat still on the bone” in a movie they were watching.
They worked to recreate that heartiness and deliciousness, and the result, after a lot of research about spices and cooking techniques, was what is now a soul food among the people of Kagawa Prefecture.
Honetsukidori’s wild appearance is one of its appeals. Chicken leg meat is cooked whole: with the aroma of the secret garlic-based spices, its crisp skin, and the overflowing juices when you bite into it, you’ll be hooked with just one taste. We hope you’ll heartily enjoy some honetsukidori yourself!
They worked to recreate that heartiness and deliciousness, and the result, after a lot of research about spices and cooking techniques, was what is now a soul food among the people of Kagawa Prefecture.
Honetsukidori’s wild appearance is one of its appeals. Chicken leg meat is cooked whole: with the aroma of the secret garlic-based spices, its crisp skin, and the overflowing juices when you bite into it, you’ll be hooked with just one taste. We hope you’ll heartily enjoy some honetsukidori yourself!
Have fun comparing different honetsukidori! There are two tastes to choose from: oya-dori and hina-dori
There are two types of honetsukidori, with different tastes and different ways of satisfying. Oya-dori is characterized by its firm, chewy texture. It oozes deeply flavorful deliciousness with each bite, and is an unmissable delight for connoisseurs.
On the other hand, hina-dori features a tender texture. Succulent hina-dori, with juices that overflow as you bite into it, is loved by people of all ages. Make the most of the two different tastes of this one dish. If you’re visiting Kagawa, why not compare the two?
On the other hand, hina-dori features a tender texture. Succulent hina-dori, with juices that overflow as you bite into it, is loved by people of all ages. Make the most of the two different tastes of this one dish. If you’re visiting Kagawa, why not compare the two?
The best ways to eat honetsukidori
The top option is to pick it up with your hands and take a hearty bite. Make sure you eat the trickling juice too, without leaving any, for an even richer flavor!
The other key part of honetsukidori is said to be the “kin no abura” (“golden oil”) that overflows from the meat! After you’ve finished your chicken, you’ll see there’s flavorful oil from the meat left on the plate. Mixing this oil with the cabbage with which this dish is served, or ordering a rice ball (onigiri) to finish and soaking it in the oil before eating it is the connoisseur’s way to enjoy honetsukidori. You’ll surely end up munching the superb cabbage or rice, soaked with the deliciousness of the chicken, without stopping, bite after bite.
The other key part of honetsukidori is said to be the “kin no abura” (“golden oil”) that overflows from the meat! After you’ve finished your chicken, you’ll see there’s flavorful oil from the meat left on the plate. Mixing this oil with the cabbage with which this dish is served, or ordering a rice ball (onigiri) to finish and soaking it in the oil before eating it is the connoisseur’s way to enjoy honetsukidori. You’ll surely end up munching the superb cabbage or rice, soaked with the deliciousness of the chicken, without stopping, bite after bite.
The best alcohol pairings to enjoy with honetsukidori
Its spicy flavor means that honetsukidori characteristically goes well with lots of different drinks.
Beer is an ever-popular choice: when the garlic-infused spiciness of the chicken spreads in your mouth, the refreshing beer washes it down smoothly. That moment of happiness is truly bliss!
Another excellent pairing is Japanese sake. The rich taste of honetsukidori is complemented by light, dry sake, such as local sake from Kagawa Prefecture, Shikoku’s pure rice sake, and ginjo-shu. Crisp sake smoothly washes down the fat of the honetsukidori, and the combination brings out the best of both the food and the drink for you to enjoy. This is a dish that goes well with lots of different drinks, so make sure to find your favorite paring!
See our feature about Shikoku’s local sake
Beer is an ever-popular choice: when the garlic-infused spiciness of the chicken spreads in your mouth, the refreshing beer washes it down smoothly. That moment of happiness is truly bliss!
Another excellent pairing is Japanese sake. The rich taste of honetsukidori is complemented by light, dry sake, such as local sake from Kagawa Prefecture, Shikoku’s pure rice sake, and ginjo-shu. Crisp sake smoothly washes down the fat of the honetsukidori, and the combination brings out the best of both the food and the drink for you to enjoy. This is a dish that goes well with lots of different drinks, so make sure to find your favorite paring!
See our feature about Shikoku’s local sake
Where to eat honetsukidori
Honetsukidori is a local gourmet dish that you won’t want to miss if you’re visiting Kagawa Prefecture. Of course, you’ll find it in Honetsukidori Ikkaku, known as the pioneer of this cuisine, but it’s also served in many other eateries in the prefecture.
Honetsukidori is available in the izakaya in the shopping districts and streets near Takamatsu Station and Marugame Station, so why not make the most of it with a drink before you head back after some sightseeing, a live event, or a business trip?
➤ Search for stores in the home of honetsukidori, Marugame City
(External website: Marugame City Tourism Association)
See other eateries (external website)
Honetsukidori is available in the izakaya in the shopping districts and streets near Takamatsu Station and Marugame Station, so why not make the most of it with a drink before you head back after some sightseeing, a live event, or a business trip?
➤ Search for stores in the home of honetsukidori, Marugame City
(External website: Marugame City Tourism Association)
See other eateries (external website)
Bring back a memory of your trip! Honetsukidori is also perfect as a souvenir!
Being able to eat this meal freshly made and piping hot in a restaurant is of course wonderful, but honetsukidori is in fact also very popular as a souvenir.
It's not only sold in specialist stores—you can buy it vacuum-packed from supermarkets and souvenir shops, enabling you to savor the authentic taste by simply taking it home and warming it up.
There are even snacks and treats that let you enjoy the spicy taste of honetsukidori, so make sure you check these out in souvenir shops as well!
See our feature on gourmet foods in Shikoku
It's not only sold in specialist stores—you can buy it vacuum-packed from supermarkets and souvenir shops, enabling you to savor the authentic taste by simply taking it home and warming it up.
There are even snacks and treats that let you enjoy the spicy taste of honetsukidori, so make sure you check these out in souvenir shops as well!
See our feature on gourmet foods in Shikoku