Panko

Panko (パン粉?) is a variety of flaky bread crumb used in Japanese cuisine as a crunchy coating for fried foods, such as tonkatsu. Panko is made from bread baked by passing an electric current through the dough, yielding bread without crusts. It has a crisper, more airy texture than most types of breading found in Western cuisine and resists absorbing oil or grease when fried, resulting in a lighter coating. White panko is made from bread which has had the crusts removed while tan “panko” is made from the whole loaf of bread. Outside Japan, its use is becoming more popular in both Asian and non-Asian dishes: It is often used on fish and seafood and is often available in Asian markets, specialty stores, and, increasingly, in many large supermarkets.

Panko is produced worldwide, particularly in Asian countries, including Japan, Korea, Thailand, China, and Vietnam.In February 2012, the US fast-food chain Wendy's introduced a cod fillet sandwich that they advertised as having a panko breading.