Beef Teriyaki Sticks is a popular Hawaii dish. Super flavorful and easy to make. Locals call it, "teri beef sticks." These hot and juicy skewers are often served as a side dish to accompany a comforting bowl of samin. Just marinate the beef and grill until it's nice and charred. It's super onolicious ^_^
Why This Recipe Works
Oh man, Beef Teriyaki Sticks are a Hawaii classic!
Thinly sliced, crisp and juicy. Packed with flavor. What's not to love?
This recipe is easy. All you need is beef plus a few pantry ingredients and bamboo skewers. Make sure you get thinly sliced beef - you can slice it yourself or ask the butcher to slice for you. If you visit a Chinese, Japanese, or Korean market, you can find beef already pre-sliced thinly and packaged.
Then you make the marinade (just soy sauce, sugar, and ginger). You might notice that the marinade is basically our go-to Teriyaki Sauce recipe.
Just marinate the beef in the marinade for 30-45 minutes. Thread it on the skewer, grill, and eat! Next time do a bbq lunch or dinner, make sure to put these on the menu.
It's a fun family project, good to get everyone involved. One person makes the marinade, another does the threading, and someone else does the grill! Beef Teriyaki Sticks are a crowd pleaser for sure.
Beef Teriyaki Sticks In Hawaii
You can find Beef Teriyaki Sticks on the menu of saimin shops across the islands.
Order a big bowl of saimin and a few "teri beef sticks" on the side. Enjoy them together. One big spoonful of saimin noodles and clear broth, followed by a bite of the beef stick. There is no better meal ^_^
Teri beef sticks are simple and comforting...yet it always feels like such a special treat when we eat them.
Note from a local: Beef Teriyaki Sticks is a Hawaii dish, but it is not a Hawaiian dish. Learn about the difference here.
Ingredients
Here's what you'll need to get started:
- Beef, thinly sliced - We usually use ribeye or tri-tip (but feel free to use what you have available). Make sure to slice it thin, aim for long 1-inch wide pieces and a thickness ranging from ⅛ to ¼-inch.
- Soy sauce
- Sugar
- Ginger, peeled and grated - Ginger is super important!
- Sesame seeds - This is optional. We use sprinkle the sesame seeds on the skewers right before serving.
- Green onions, chopped - This is also optional. We sprinkle green onions on the skewers right before serving. Give the dish nice color and extra flavor.
And don't forget to get a dozen bamboo skewers ^_^
Step by Step Directions
Let's get cooking!
Prepare skewers.
Soak the bamboo skewers in a large bowl of water and set aside.
Tip: This soaking step is important because it will keep the skewers from burning when we place them on the grill.
Prepare beef teriyaki marinade.
Make the marinade by combining the soy sauce, sugar, and ginger in a bowl. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.
Marinate the beef.
Place the thinly sliced beef in a bowl and pour the marinade over the beef, making sure all the beef is covered in the marinade.
Let marinate for 30-45 minutes in the refrigerator.
Thread beef onto skewers.
Remove from the refrigerator and gently thread the marinated beef onto the skewers.
Grill.
Turn on the grill and lightly oil the grates. Cook the skewers for about 2 minutes on each side, flipping them as needed. Make sure the skewers are nice and charred.
Eat and enjoy!
Place the cooked skewers on a plate and top with an optional sprinkle of sesame seeds and chopped green onions. Eat it hot (ideally with a nice bowl of samin), and enjoy!
P.S. Beef Teriyaki Sticks are also great with a big bowl of rice. Super satisfying and tasty.
FAQs and Tips
Best to eat it straight from the grill when it's nice and hot (with those crispy charred bits). Leftovers will keep the in refrigerator 2-3 days. I like to gently reheat it in a pan over medium-high heat. You can also microwave it.
Many ways! The "classic" way of enjoying beef teriyaki sticks is with a bowl of saimin. The sticks/skewers serve as a meaty side dish to accompany saimin.
We also like to eat it with rice and a vegetable dish (like Green Beans with Sesame Dressing, Garlic and Fish Sauce Ong Choy, or Korean Bean Sprouts) and make that a complete meal.
Beef teriyaki sticks are also a wonderful potluck or party addition. Everyone seems to love them!
Yes! You can do chicken teriyaki sticks, tofu teriyaki sticks (make sure to use firm tofu), and even mushroom teriyaki sticks. The possibilities are endless.
Beef Teriyaki Sticks Recipe
See below for our beef teriyaki recipe and enjoy ^_^
Beef Teriyaki Sticks
Beef Teriyaki Sticks is a very popular Hawaii dish. Super flavorful and easy to make. Locals call it, "teri beef sticks." These hot and juicy skewers are often served as a side dish to accompany a comforting bowl of samin. Just marinate the beef and grill until it's nice and charred. It's super onolicious ^_^
Ingredients
- 1 pound beef (ideally ribeye or tri-tip), sliced into ⅛ to ¼-inch thick and 1-inch wide pieces
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2-inch knob of ginger, peeled and grated
- Sesame seeds (optional)
- Green onions, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Soak 12 bamboo skewers in a large bowl of water and set aside.
- Make the marinade by combining the soy sauce, sugar, and ginger in a bowl. Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.
- Place the thinly sliced beef in a bowl and pour the marinade over the beef, making sure all the slices are covered in the marinade.
- Let marinate for 30-45 minutes in the refrigerator.
- Remove from the refrigerator and thread the marinated beef onto the skewers.
- Turn on the grill and lightly oil the grates. Cook the skewers for about 2 minutes on each side, making sure they are nice and charred.
- Top with an optional sprinkle of sesame seeds and chopped green onions. Eat hot (ideally with samin), and enjoy!
I was craving this and wanted the ones I use to have when I was a kid growing up in Hawaii I remember it was sold at the 50th state fair and they were sooooo good I could never get enough. This and Huli Huli chicken were being cooked on outdoor bbq grills and the smell was soo good my mouth would water and the crew would throw the quartered chicken straight in a plastic bag when it was finished omg I need to make all these like right away lol 🙂
I grew up Monterey Park, Calif. There was a meat market on Garfield Avenue next to Skippy's. My father loved the teriyaki beef and I would be the one to go buy it, of course he gave me the cash. I miss that flavor and the memory.
I wish I could make it and relive that great memory of teriyaki beef, rice and stir fried vegetables. And my dad.
Great post! Teri-beef sticks used to be a favorite of my late wife. I think I told you before that when we were dating like 50+ years ago, one of our favorite late night meals, just before I took her home, was to go eat saimin somewhere with teri-beef sticks. I still sometimes make this at home too, but I use metal skewers since I seem to always burn the bamboo sticks, even if I soak them in water first. Great memories for me.
Hi Alan! Hope all is well! Love all your those food and dining memories 🙂 I haven't tried using metal skewers before, good idea! We always used the bamboo ones growing up so those are the ones I'm most familiar with. Saimin plus teri beef sticks...ahh da best!!
- Kathy