This classic Japanese Fried Rice (Yakimeshi) with ham, egg, and green onion is a delicious one-pan meal that you can whip up in under 20 minutes. It’s bursting with flavor and perfect for a weeknight meal.
Whenever I need to get lunch or dinner on the table fast, fried rice often comes to mind. With just a few well-chosen ingredients in the pantry and leftover rice, I’d be ready to cook up a satisfying meal in less than 20 minutes.
So, when you are thinking of takeout to solve your dinner problem, remind yourself that it’s always a better idea to make fried rice at home. With this Japanese Fried Rice (Yakimeshi) recipe, you are guaranteed a delicious dinner that comes together quicker than you can say “takeout delivery.”
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What is Japanese Fried Rice
Almost every Asian country has its own version of fried rice, and so does Japan. It’s a clever way of repurposing leftover rice by frying it with veggies, eggs, or whatever meat/protein in a wok or pan.
In Japan, we call Japanese fried rice chahan (チャーハン) or yakimeshi (焼きめし).
What is the Difference between Chahan and Yakimeshi?
Both terms are commonly used interchangeably and there are a few explanations out there, but I believe the actual differences might have gotten mixed up and blurred. Here are a few observations:
Chahan チャーハン
- Chahan is the Japanese transliteration of the Chinese-style fried rice “chao fan” (炒饭). The name reflects the fact that fried rice originated in China and was introduced to Japan in the nineteenth century by Chinese immigrants.
- Typically served at Japanese-Chinese restaurants in Japan.
- Eggs are cooked first before the rice is added.
- Seasoned mostly with salt.
- People in Tokyo region commonly use the term chahan for fried rice.
Yakimeshi 焼き飯
- Yakimeshi translates to “pan-fried rice” or “fried cooked rice,” just like Yakisoba or Yaki Udon.
- Eggs are cooked after the rice is added.
- Typically seasoned with soy sauce. In Osaka, fried rice seasoned with worcestershire sauce is called Sauce Yakimeshi (ソース焼き飯).
- People in Osaka region commonly use the term yakimeshi for fried rice.
How is Japanese Fried Rice Different from Chinese Fried Rice?
The main difference is Japanese fried rice use only Japanese short-grain rice, which is plump and sticky and has a higher moisture content, so it gives a slightly sticky, chewy, toothsome texture. Chinese fried rice or the other Asian fried rice are typically made with long-grain rice such as Jasmine rice, so you’ll find the texture tends to be on the drier side.
I sometimes come across hibachi fried rice recipes online and I do want to point out that these are only available at hibachi or teppanyaki restaurants in the US, not in Japan. The concept of hibachi has somehow been misinterpreted and become mainstream for American-Japanese restaurants. I wrote more about it in my Teppanyaki post.
4 Tips to Make the Best Yakimeshi
1. Use Day-Old Rice or Let Cool Freshly Cooked Rice
Day-old, leftover rice that has been dried out slightly in the refrigerator is the perfect vehicle for making fried rice because it is more firm and has no excess moisture. Just make sure to bring the leftover, cold rice to room temperature so it is easier for you to crumble and fry the rice in the wok.
If you have to use freshly cooked rice, you’ll need to cook the rice earlier. Once cooked, spread the rice out in a baking sheet at the counter to cool it and let the moisture evaporate. Hot rice will easily turn into mush, so this helps to keep the rice intact and fluffy.
2. Less is More for the Case of Fried Rice
A good bowl of fried rice is about simplicity. When I was first made fried rice in college, I tossed in way too many ingredients that my fried rice was more like a fried plate of a mish-mash. The rice had no space to move around and it ended up with big chunks of rice with overloaded vegetables and proteins.
So less is best. Rice is the key ingredient and the rest should be kept minimal. Use a big wok or a pan with sufficient space to toss and turn the ingredients, and give each grain of rice enough contact with the heat. If you have too much food, your fried rice will be stuck together like a giant mess.
Also, keep the veggies and meat/protein in smaller sizes so they will get cooked nicely together with the rice.
3. Make Fluffy Eggs First
Everyone has a different method to cook fried rice. Mine always starts with making fluffy eggs.
Pour the beaten eggs into a pool of hot oil, and let the oil cook up the eggs first. When the bottom of the egg is set but the top is not yet fully cooked, take it out.
Then, you can cook the other ingredients and rice, followed by the fluffy egg back into the wok or pan. It’s a fail-proof method for everyone.
4. Don’t Be Shy of Oil
If you want to achieve restaurant-quality fried rice, we’re going to need a good amount of oil. Fried rice should not taste oily, but it needs sufficient oil to circulate heat and flavor.
Basic Seasonings for Yakimeshi (Japanese Fried Rice)
I use only three condiments to season my fried rice.
- Salt
- White pepper powder
- Soy sauce
To make it gluten-free, I used Kikkoman®’s Gluten-Free Tamari Soy Sauce. Kikkoman®’s soy sauce is known for its appealing aroma and rich color that stimulate the appetite. Their soy sauce works great when you add heat to it.
Fried rice cooked with Kikkoman®’s soy sauce adds a distinctly savory aroma, which lasts longer than other soy sauces. If you pack this fried rice in your children’s bento or your bring-to-work lunch box, you will get to enjoy the fried rice several hours later.
If you do not have to make this recipe gluten-free, feel free to use regular soy sauce (I use Kikkoman® Organic Soy Sauce).
What are the Common Ingredients for Japanese Fried Rice?
The most basic yakimeshi is made with Japanese short-grain rice, eggs, and ham, and garnished with green onion. However, fried rice is all about infinite possibilities! So you can use my basic yakimeshi recipe and customize it to your liking. I listed some common ingredients for Japanese fried rice below, but you can use whatever you have in the fridge. Keep your concoction simple. 3-4 ingredients would suffice.
- Chashu pork belly (See Chashu Fried Rice)
- Chicken
- Chinese sausage
- Crab
- Edamame
- Eggs
- Green onion
- Green peas
- Ground pork
- Ham
- Iceberg lettuce (my favorite!)
- Kimchi (see Kimchi Fried Rice)
- Salmon (see Salmon Fried Rice)
- Shrimp (see Shrimp Fried Rice)
- Takana (see Pickled Mustard Greens Fried Rice (Takana Chahan))
Other Popular Recipes for Japanese Rice Dishes
- Japanese Garlic Fried Rice
- Japanese Fried Rice with Edamame, Tofu and Hijiki Seaweed
- Omurice (Japanese Omelette Rice)
- Oyakodon (Chicken and Egg Bowl)
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Easy Japanese Fried Rice (Yakimeshi)
Video
Ingredients
- 2 rice bowls cooked Japanese short-grain rice (1¾ cups, 12 oz for 2 servings; cooled; day-old rice, preferably; if you haven't prepped the rice yet, cook 1 rice cooker cup of short-grain rice and follow my instructions below on how to cool it)
- 2 slices ham
- 1 green onion/scallion
- 1 large egg (50 g w/o shell)
- 2 Tbsp neutral-flavored oil (divided)
- ½ tsp Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- ⅛ tsp white pepper powder (a must-have for my fried rice!)
- 2 tsp soy sauce (I use Kikkoman® Gluten Free Tamari Soy Sauce)
Instructions
- Gather all the ingredients.
To Prepare the Ingredients
- To prepare the day-old cooked rice, remove it from the refrigerator and heat it in the microwave until it's room temperature or slightly warm. If you are using 2 servings of freshly cooked rice, transfer the hot rice to a baking sheet. Spread it out and let it cool completely. This will remove the moisture from the rice.
- Cut the white part of the green onion into rounds and the green part diagonally. Keep the white and green parts separate and set aside. Reserve a few green slices for the garnish.
- Dice the ham into square pieces ½ inch (1.3 cm) wide.
- Crack and whisk the egg in a bowl.
To Cook the Fried Rice
- Make sure all the ingredients are prepped and ready to go, as this dish cooks quickly. Heat the wok (or a large frying pan) on medium-high heat. Once it’s hot, add half the oil and swirl it around to make sure it coats the entire surface of the wok. Add the beaten egg to the hot wok. After a few seconds, the egg will start to float on top of the oil.
- With the blunt end of a spatula, swirl the loosely set egg around the pan to keep it fluffy while continuing to cook it. When the bottom of the egg is set but the top is still a bit runny and not quite fully cooked, transfer it to a plate. We do not want to overcook the egg at this stage.
- Add the other half of the oil to the pan. Then, add the ham and white part of the chopped green onion. Stir-fry and coat well with the oil.
- Add the cooked and cooled rice to the wok. With the spatula, use a slicing motion to separate the rice clumps without mashing or breaking the rice grains. Combine it with the ham mixture and continue to toss the rice so it is coated with oil and develops a nice char.
- Add the cooked egg back to the wok and break it into smaller pieces while you combine it with the rice. If some of the rice sticks to the wok (it happens when there's not enough oil), you can scrape it off easily if you're using a well-seasoned or nonstick wok. This creates a nice charred flavor. You may need to add more oil if you're using a stainless steel pan, as the rice tends to stick more.
- Season the rice with salt and white pepper.
- Add the soy sauce and toss to distribute it throughout the rice. The key action here is to continuously toss the fried rice in the air to keep it from clumping instead of leaving it a sticky mass clustered at the bottom of the wok. Turning and tossing the rice in the air also helps develop a smoky flavor.
- Add the green part of the chopped green onion. Taste the fried rice and adjust the seasoning if needed. After tossing the rice a few more times, transfer it to a plate.
To Serve
- Fried rice at Chinese restaurants in Japan is often served in a dome shape. If you'd like to serve it this way, fill a rice bowl with the fried rice, pat it down lightly to compact it, and invert it onto a plate. Fill the rice bowl again for the other plate. Sprinkle the reserved sliced green onion on top, and serve.
To Store
- You can store the leftovers in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 days and in the freezer for up to a month.
Nutrition
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on November 16, 2018. The post has been updated with more information and republished in March 2022.
