MyTastr

Best instant dashi, according to chefs

Two picks, each tied to a named taster and a public source — from Namiko Hirasawa Chen, Anthony Nguyen, Sohla El-Waylly, Kendra Vaculin and 1 more. Recommendations come from justonecookbook.com, bonappetit.com and seriouseats.com.

International Pantry · The ranking

  1. 1
    Top pick

    Kayanoya Original Dashi Packets

    Chosen by
    Also chosen by
    Bonito, roasted flying fish, round herring and kelp in tea-bag packets from a Fukuoka maker founded in 1893. Simmer one packet in 2 cups of water for 2 to 3 minutes. Chen tried a handful of brands and says Kayanoya has “the best flavor among them,” making “a much more flavorful stock than dashi powder.” Her kake udon for Bon Appétit calls for Kayanoya packets too. It contains maltodextrin, yeast extract and soy, but no added MSG. Ships nationwide from Kayanoya USA and Amazon, and is sold at Japanese grocers.
    Where to buy · usa.kayanoya.com ↗Instacart ↗Source: justonecookbook.com ↗
  2. 2

    Ajinomoto Hondashi Bonito Soup Stock

    Chosen by
    Also chosen by
    The supermarket granules: one teaspoon in a cup of hot water and you have dashi. El-Waylly: “The instant dashi I always reach for is… Hon Dashi,” and she sprinkles it into eggs, popcorn and potatoes like a spice. Nguyen’s fried tofu with scallion oil for Bon Appétit calls for it by name, and Serious Eats says “many on our recipe team” rely on it. Mass-market and MSG-boosted (“an umami bomb,” per Serious Eats); in Asian markets nationwide and online.
    Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: bonappetit.com ↗

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Questions, answered

What is the best instant dashi, according to chefs?
MyTastr’s top pick is Kayanoya Original Dashi Packets, chosen by Namiko Hirasawa Chen (Just One Cookbook). Bonito, roasted flying fish, round herring and kelp in tea-bag packets from a Fukuoka maker founded in 1893. Simmer one packet in 2 cups of water for 2 to 3 minutes. Chen tried a handful of brands and says Kayanoya has “the best flavor among them,” making “a much more flavorful stock than dashi powder.” Her kake udon for Bon Appétit calls for Kayanoya packets too. It contains maltodextrin, yeast extract and soy, but no added MSG. Ships nationwide from Kayanoya USA and Amazon, and is sold at Japanese grocers. Source: justonecookbook.com ↗
What are the other top picks for instant dashi?
No. 2 is Ajinomoto Hondashi Bonito Soup Stock, chosen by Sohla El-Waylly (chef, Bon Appétit); Anthony Nguyen (chef, Sap Sua, Denver). Only two picks cleared the bar so far. Each card above links to the original source.
How does MyTastr choose these picks?
Every pick is tied to a named chef, cookbook author or food expert and links to the public interview, panel or article it came from. We survey dozens, often hundreds, of top chefs, food writers and critics, and order reflects how often and how strongly a brand is recommended. Only organic recommendations count — paid endorsements don’t — and brands can’t buy a spot. Read how we pick.

The tasters behind this ranking

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