MyTastr

Best panko (Japanese breadcrumbs), according to chefs

Three picks, each tied to a named taster and a public source — from Akira Akuto, Nick Montgomery, Christopher Kimball, Jack Bishop and 1 more. Recommendations come from bonappetit.com, 177milkstreet.com, youtube.com and sporked.com.

Pantry Staples · The ranking

  1. 1
    Top pick

    Miyako Panko (unseasoned)

    Chosen by
    The crumb behind Konbi’s pork katsu sando, at Bon Appétit’s No. 1 best new restaurant of 2019: light and airy, and “just the right size: any smaller and the pork katsu would be too bready; any bigger and its crust wouldn’t feel uniform.”
    Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: bonappetit.com ↗
  2. 2

    Shirakiku Panko

    Chosen by
    Milk Street’s favorite after testing several brands, “for its exceptional texture and flavor”: genuine Japanese-style panko, with the light, feathery flakes and superior crispness imitations lack.
    Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: 177milkstreet.com ↗
  3. 3

    Kikkoman Panko Bread Crumbs

    Chosen by
    Also chosen by
    America’s Test Kitchen’s favorite panko: a medium-sized crumb, where some brands were too large and crunchy and others too fine. Bishop calls panko the best breading for a cutlet and his favorite casserole topping. Sporked’s best traditional panko: “airy, light, and perfect” (Block).
    Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: youtube.com ↗

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Questions, answered

What is the best panko (Japanese breadcrumbs), according to chefs?
MyTastr’s top pick is Miyako Panko (unseasoned), chosen by Nick Montgomery and Akira Akuto (Konbi, Los Angeles). The crumb behind Konbi’s pork katsu sando, at Bon Appétit’s No. 1 best new restaurant of 2019: light and airy, and “just the right size: any smaller and the pork katsu would be too bready; any bigger and its crust wouldn’t feel uniform.” Source: bonappetit.com ↗
What are the other top picks for panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)?
No. 2 is Shirakiku Panko, chosen by Christopher Kimball (Milk Street). No. 3 is Kikkoman Panko Bread Crumbs, chosen by Jack Bishop (America’s Test Kitchen); Jessica Block (Sporked). 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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