I tried to stop by for a drink after having ramen on land, but it was full so I couldn't get in. It seems to be popular, I thought I would like to go there someday. When I happened to pass by, it was empty so I went in. [Ratings] [Ambiance] - It has a casual atmosphere where you can easily come in. It seems like you can have just one drink alone without any problem. [Service] - It seems to be good. It looked like they were struggling due to the impact of COVID-19, so it's understandable that they had a lot of items sold out. [Drinks] - They don't have a wide variety, but they are cheap. [Food] - Since most items were sold out, I had what was available. There weren't many filling options, mostly snacks, so it feels more like a place for a second round of drinks or a quick stop before going out for drinks. The fried chicken was decently tasty.

This place has been raising the flag of Nakatsu's specialty even before Nakatsu Karaage became famous. It's primarily for takeout, but there are counter seats inside from the previous tenant, making it suitable for a casual drink. The appearance may be rough, but the sake made by the kind owner is strong, so you'll get drunk quickly (laughs). There may not be extravagant dishes, but there's a good base of chicken, so you won't feel inconvenient. It would be nice if they also offered some lighter options since they mainly serve fried foods.

Delicious! piping hot! The spices worked their magic and healed the wounds in my heart after being let down. Freshly made and hot, with a soy sauce flavor. Delicious.

The portion was small. The salt-based dishes were delicious, I guess.

Soft and tasty but lacking in flavor.

I found a small drinking establishment near the Okura Land bus stop on Setagaya Street. They mainly offer bento boxes and fried chicken, with a choice of lightly salted or mildly spicy soy sauce flavors. I ordered the salted chicken breast and spicy soy sauce chicken breast, both in stick form. The chicken was light and tasty, perfect with white rice. I would like to try the chicken thigh next time.

Ham cutlet has disappeared from the menu, and instead, rice bowls and other side dishes have appeared. At this chicken place, you can now choose between breast or thigh for the salt or soy sauce chicken rice bowl. Other options include deep-fried fish cake, quail egg tempura, and more. As for vegetables, only cold tofu, cabbage, and pickles are available. The menu has evolved, with new items like the large mountain chicken mince cutlet and even the requested ham cutlet making an appearance. Everything is handmade at this restaurant, evident in the carefully arranged chicken pieces. The large mountain chicken mince cutlet now includes cartilage for added texture. The ham cutlet is served in three layers for a satisfying volume. Other options include deep-fried gizzard, domestic chicken skewers, deep-fried fish cake, and potato fries. The menu also features teppanyaki dishes like cut steak, grilled green onions, and okonomiyaki. The gizzard could benefit from a lighter batter for a crispier texture. The okonomiyaki resembles the one from a famous akashiyaki shop in Roppongi, but with a lighter appearance. The tofu is firm and reminiscent of country-style tofu, while the cabbage is generously seasoned with salt, pepper, and sesame oil. A bit less sesame oil may be preferable. It is hoped that the menu will continue to expand with items like potato salad and more vegetable options to balance out the fried foods. This independently operated restaurant is a local favorite, serving as a gathering place for food and drink enthusiasts. Support is given to help the restaurant thrive.

On Sunday afternoon, I went to Kyodo. I took a slightly different route than usual from Sakurashinmachi and walked there. And guess what I found! There is a shop called "Oita specialty Karaage Yamaki" - the karaage (Japanese fried chicken) holy land of Nakatsu! The shop is next to the curry restaurant "Spice Magic". It seems that it used to be a different type of shop before, but the owner is from Nakatsu, and it was renovated as a karaage specialty shop in May 2010. Takeout seems to be the main option, but there are also counter seats inside the shop where you can eat in. There are only two types of karaage on the menu, thigh meat and breast meat. You can choose between "lightly salted" and "spicy soy sauce" flavors. Besides karaage, there also seems to be some small appetizers available. Now, I ordered 100g of both thigh and breast meat. I chose the salted flavor for the thigh meat and the spicy soy sauce flavor for the breast meat. The karaage is fried after you order, so it takes a little time. Here are the karaage pieces. The bubbly liquid is a must-have item, right? The thigh meat is juicy and the salted flavor is just right. The spicy soy sauce flavor, despite being labeled "spicy," didn't have much spiciness to it. I felt like it could use a bit more spiciness.

In September 2015, I revisited this place and the flavors had improved! They offer spicy soy sauce (the traditional soy sauce flavor), soy sauce flavor, salt flavor, and spicy salt flavor, but I still prefer the spicy soy sauce! I wish the oil was a bit lighter though... I always get takeout from here. I have been using this place many times since I lived in Setagaya. When driving along Setagaya Street, the sign for "karaage" catches my eye! The karaage here has become famous, it's the Nakatsu-style karaage. You can choose from soy sauce or salt flavor, and from thigh or breast meat. My recommendation is definitely "soy sauce with thigh"! The thigh meat is juicy and the soy sauce has a spicy kick that really stimulates the appetite. It's also perfect as a snack with drinks!! Even though I have moved to Yokohama, I always make sure to stop by when I'm in the area. It's always a hit as a souvenir, so I always buy a large quantity (lol). There are also many other menu items available in the store, so I would like to visit the store once.

There is a new specialty fried chicken shop in the neighborhood! When I told my fried food-loving husband, he immediately went out and bought some on the weekend. We got 100g each of thigh with soy sauce and salt, and breast with soy sauce and salt. After tasting them, my husband preferred the thigh with soy sauce, while I liked the breast with salt the best. The soy sauce flavor had a strong garlic taste that matched well with the thigh's fat, while the salt on the breast was simple and refreshing. Recently, they also started offering standing room to enjoy your food! I would love to go there on a weekend afternoon with a cold beer in hand, enjoying some fried chicken bites. Although there are standing bars and food stalls near Setagaya Street and Matsuga Shrine, there weren't any in this area until now. I'm looking forward to trying it out soon!

The fried chicken had a well-seasoned flavor, but the oil used for frying seemed a bit old as it caused some heartburn. Nevertheless, it was still delicious.