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Bonito flakes

Bonito flakes are dry shavings of preserved bonito, often cooked, dried and smoked, used for Japanese-style broths or scattered over hot foods.

Bonito flakes — illustrative ingredient image

About Bonito flakes

Bonito flakes are thin shavings of preserved bonito used as a savoury ingredient and seasoning. They are commonly made from bonito that has been cooked, dried, and often smoked before being shaved, although commercial products can differ in processing. The flakes are used to make Japanese-style broths, scattered over hot foods, or incorporated into sauces and other preparations.

The flakes are light, dry, and fibrous, with a pronounced smoky, salty, and umami-like fish flavour. They soften quickly when exposed to steam or liquid and release flavour into hot water before being strained when used for stock. Packages may contain fine shavings or broader flakes, and the fish species and preservation details can vary by product.

They are generally sold as loose dry shavings in packages, with particle size and processing varying between products. Added to hot water, the flakes soften and infuse the liquid; scattered over hot food, they may curl, soften, and cling to the surface. Labels identify differences in fish and preservation.

Ingredient type
whole food

Forms & related ingredients

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Where bonito flakes appears

10 linked foods

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Main dishes

Sides

Snacks

Noodle dishes

Breakfasts

Street food

Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for bonito flakes

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

bonito flakes

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Bonito flakes nutrition & diet

Bonito flakes nutritional value

Fish, skipjack tuna and frigate mackerel, processed products, "Kezuri-bushi" (shaved "Katsuo-bushi"), uncooked (cf. 10091"Katsuo-bushi") — MEXT 10092

Per 100 g of the edible portion in the explicitly named reference form.

Calories
327kcal
Protein
75.7g
Carbs
0.4g
Fat
3.2g

Per 100 g edible portion. Values use MEXT 2023 with March 2026 corrections; the English food name is matched by food code from the official English edition. Carbohydrate is total carbohydrate by difference. Values in parentheses in the source are estimates reported by MEXT. This reference does not cover other preparations or brands.

Portions & preparation

Establish whether bonito flakes are dried and shaved fish, a seasoned topping, or a packaged blend before using a reference. Portion size should reflect the flakes as served, while preparation notes should account for salt, smoke, fermentation, oil, sugar, or other additions listed on the product.

Compare the right form: Reference should match the specific bonito-flake product, including fish identity, dried or smoked processing, seasoning, and the edible flakes as served.

Diet considerations

Bonito flakes are ordinarily animal-derived fish, but the exact product must establish whether they contain seasonings, sugar, oil, cereal ingredients, or other additions. Compatibility differs between plain flakes and blends used with dairy, meat, sauces, noodles, rice, or coated foods; accompanying starch determines the carbohydrate pattern.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Typically incompatible
  • Vegetarian
    Typically incompatible
  • Pescatarian
    Typically compatible
  • Keto
    May be compatible
  • Paleo
    May be compatible
  • Low-carb
    May be compatible
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Typically incompatible
The ingredient profile identifies an animal-derived food or derivative.
Vegetarian · Typically incompatible
The profile identifies animal flesh, seafood or a derivative excluded by a vegetarian diet.
Pescatarian · Typically compatible
Seafood fits this pescatarian definition. Added meat-based stock or other ingredients would need checking separately.
Keto · May be compatible
The plain form may fit a carbohydrate-restricted diet. Check the portion, added sugar, coatings and sauces against the nutrition values above.
Paleo · May be compatible
May fit a paleo pattern, depending on the cut or form, processing and added ingredients.
Low-carb · May be compatible
The plain form may fit a carbohydrate-restricted diet. Check the portion, added sugar, coatings and sauces against the nutrition values above.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: MEXT Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan, 2023 supplement, corrected March 2026 ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .