Braise the chicken: Add the shoyu sauce to a pot with the chicken thighs, submerging them in the sauce as much as possible. Simmer over low heat for 30-35 minutes. Why? ⇢ A low & slow braise gently cooks the chicken thighs until they’re succulent & fall-apart tender. Optional: Broil for texture: Pop the chicken under the broiler for 4-5 minutes.
Add shoyu, sugar and water together in a large pot. Add chicken to mixture. Bring to a boil on stove top, then reduce to simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat. Remove chicken from pot. Return pot to simmer and reduce remaining liquid for 10 minutes. Pour mixture over chicken; garnish with sesame seeds and green onions.
Juicy, sweet-and-salty shoyu chicken is an Island favorite that deliciously showcases Hawaii's cultural fusion. Shoyu chicken from Rainbow Drive-In in Honolulu. Photo: Catherine Toth Fox One of Hawaii’s most popular plate lunch dishes, deliciously showcasing the state’s cultural fusion, is shoyu chicken.
Whip up this popular plate lunch dish from the iconic Honolulu drive-in at home. 1.Mix all of the sauce ingredients in a small bowl. 2.Add the chicken to a large sauté pan over medium heat and pour in the sauce. Bring to a boil. 3.Lower the heat and simmer for 45 minutes, skimming off any fat that rises.