Food · Fermented foods

Broiler Chicken Momo (Thigh)

若どり もも (Wakadori momo)

Also known as: Wakadori momo, Chicken thigh, Broiler thigh, 鶏もも肉, 鶏腿肉

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At a glance

CategoryFood
Japanese labeling name若どり 主材料 もも 皮つき / 皮なし — 生 / ゆで / 焼き
Common Japanese notationsもも, 鶏もも肉, 鶏腿肉
OriginBroiler chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) thigh cut (momo); principal production Kagoshima, Miyazaki, Iwate, Aomori; darker, more flavorful, higher fat than mune (breast); defining cut for karaage, oyakodon, teriyaki-chicken — most flavor-rich household chicken applications; **Japanese palate strongly favors momo over mune** (opposite of US/EU preference)
Typical functionsKaraage — defining Japanese fried-chicken (often >70% momo-based), Oyakodon (chicken-and-egg rice bowl) signature ingredient, Teriyaki-chicken — defining preparation, Yakitori (skewer-grilled): momo-yakitori is the top-volume yakitori cut, Chicken-curry, chicken-stew, chicken-rice katei-ryori, Foodservice chain raw material (gyūdon shops, fast-food chicken)
Regulatory status in JapanStandard food labeling. **Origin disclosure.** **Chicken JAS-recommended-disclosure allergen.** Skin-on / skinless distinction must be labeled.

Broiler chicken momo (若どり もも肉) is the chicken thigh — Japan's most flavor-rich chicken cut. **Defining ingredient for karaage, oyakodon, teriyaki-chicken, yakitori.** Japanese palate strongly favors momo over mune (opposite of US/EU). Kagoshima, Miyazaki principal production.

Classification

Tags below link to other ingredients sharing the same attribute, so you can pivot from one ingredient to its peers.

Used in (typical product categories)

Finished-product categories that commonly include this ingredient in Japanese-market formulations.

  • Fresh momo-niku retail (skin-on volume; skinless secondary)
  • Frozen momo B2B (foodservice and processed-meat OEM major)
  • Karaage prepared/breaded retail
  • Yakitori skewer retail and B2B

What it is

Gallus gallus domesticus — broiler chicken thigh (momo), skin-on or skinless.

Typical uses in Japanese products

**Karaage defining Japanese fried-chicken (>70% momo-based).**

Oyakodon chicken-and-egg rice bowl.

Teriyaki-chicken defining preparation.

Momo-yakitori top-volume yakitori cut.

Curry, stew, chicken-rice katei-ryori.

For OEM: fresh retail, frozen B2B, karaage prepared retail, yakitori skewer.

Regulatory classification in Japan

Standard food labeling.

**Chicken JAS-recommended-disclosure allergen.**

Skin-on / skinless distinction labeling.

Regulatory classification in other markets

EUSalmonella and Campylobacter monitoring.
USA**US chicken-thigh consumption growing — Japanese karaage and yakitori OEM growing export market.**
ChinaStandard meat-import inspection.
KoreaStrong domestic chicken-thigh market (Korean fried chicken parallel).

Example products

Example finished products will be added after verification.

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Related ingredients

References

  1. MEXT Standard Tables of Food Composition — 若どり もも 皮つき / 皮なし

Last updated: 2026-04-28. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.

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