hen of the woods
noun
variants
or hen-of-the-woods
or less commonly hen of the wood
or hen-of-the-wood
plural hens of the woods or hens-of-the-woods or hen of the woods or hen-of-the-woods also hens of the wood or hens-of-the-wood
: an edible bracket fungus (Grifola frondosa) of North America and Eurasia that forms large clusters of pale gray to brown fruiting bodies comprised of wavy, fanlike caps found usually at the base of trees and that is valued for its earthy flavor and medicinal properties : maitake
… the delicate taste of the chanterelle and the smooth earthiness of the hen of the woods are well worth the effort of a walk in the woods.—
Dave Orrick
Dave OrrickThe hen-of-the-woods is one of the easiest wild mushrooms to identify. It grows at the base of hardwoods in a mass of overlapping caps …—Thomas J. Morgan
Thomas J. MorganExamples of hen of the woods in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Chef/partner Sohui Kim’s menu leans into steakhouse classics like New York strip steak and shrimp cocktail, but there are more modern touches here too like clams kimsino made with bacon-kimchi butter, and crispy hen of the woods mushrooms with black garlic aioli and house Sriracha.
—Devra Ferst, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
Other popular species were hen of the woods, oysters, lion’s mane, black trumpet, honey mushroom, turkey tail, bolete, reishi, puffball, chaga, shrimp of the woods and Dryad’s saddle, which is also known as the pheasant’s back mushroom.
—Amy Wrobleski, The Conversation, 24 Nov. 2025
The current menu features pork belly, which benefits from an 18-hour sous vide bath and exceptional banchan; the hen of the woods mushrooms introduce smoke, the apple kimchi brings the funk and the green garlic bolsters savoriness.
—Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 22 Mar. 2023
Rustichella d'Abruzzo’s Sagne a Pezzi pasta ($6.49) and a cashew milk ($6.99) and vegan parm ($2.99) cream sauce that has hen of the woods, oyster, and porcini mushrooms.
—Bon Appétit Contributor, Bon Appétit, 23 Feb. 2023
To make this vegetarian >> replace the chicken with mushrooms, such as portobello or hen of the woods.
—G. Daniela Galarza, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2023
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Devra Ferst, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
Other popular species were hen of the woods, oysters, lion’s mane, black trumpet, honey mushroom, turkey tail, bolete, reishi, puffball, chaga, shrimp of the woods and Dryad’s saddle, which is also known as the pheasant’s back mushroom.
—Amy Wrobleski, The Conversation, 24 Nov. 2025
The current menu features pork belly, which benefits from an 18-hour sous vide bath and exceptional banchan; the hen of the woods mushrooms introduce smoke, the apple kimchi brings the funk and the green garlic bolsters savoriness.
—Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 22 Mar. 2023
Rustichella d'Abruzzo’s Sagne a Pezzi pasta ($6.49) and a cashew milk ($6.99) and vegan parm ($2.99) cream sauce that has hen of the woods, oyster, and porcini mushrooms.
—Bon Appétit Contributor, Bon Appétit, 23 Feb. 2023
To make this vegetarian >> replace the chicken with mushrooms, such as portobello or hen of the woods.
—G. Daniela Galarza, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Hen of the woods.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hen%20of%20the%20woods. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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