The effects of cooking method (grilling, frying, steaming, and microwaving) on the proximate composition and protein quality of chub mackerel Scomber japonicus treated with 2, 6, and 10% sodium chloride (NaCl) brine were investigated. Moisture content decreased in all cooked samples from 60.22% in the raw sample to 48.7% in the fried samples. Brine (10% NaCl) treatment recorded the highest moisture loss. All cooked samples showed a decrease in fat content, except fried samples. Protein content increased in all cooked samples, from 47.21% in the raw sample to 63.87% in the grilled sample. Brine treatment resulted in the highest degree of fat oxidation (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances), which was highest in the fried samples and lowest in the microwaved samples. The trypsin inhibitor (TI) concentration was highest in the microwaved samples and lowest in the fried samples. In all samples, 6% salt treatment caused the lowest TI level and the highest in vitro protein digestibility. In vitro digestibility increased from 79.4% in the raw sample to 86.43% in the fried samples. The total essential amino acids of all cooked samples increased. Results suggested that grilling and steaming had beneficial effects on the protein quality of chub mackerel.