I traveled to Otaru and was planning to buy some fried half young chicken from Naruto, so I was thinking of stopping by the main store. However, the tour guide mentioned that there are small shops gathered in the alleys off the main street where they also sell it, so we decided to go there instead. It was closer and easier to access. The shop turned out to be a group store of Naruto, so it wasn't exactly the same, but the ingredients and seasoning were identical. The shop was small and only offered takeout, making it perfect for eating on the go. I purchased the half young chicken for 980 yen, and it was delicious with tender and moist meat that was well-seasoned. I wonder if it would be even tastier at the main store? I would love to visit there if I have the chance.

Recently, there has been an increase in the number of franchise stores for Narutoya, a popular restaurant in Tokyo. I first tried their food a few years ago at a Hokkaido product exhibition and ever since then, I stopped eating at a certain fast food chain. Their flavors are not too strong, and I love the juicy taste of the meat. During my recent trip to Hokkaido, I stayed overnight in Otaru. The day before, I had sushi and the next morning I had the hotel buffet, so I was wondering what to have for lunch. That's when I found a takeout store! I bought a set with Kushi-zangi and tebasaki (6 pieces) for just over 1000 yen. The Kushi-zangi had three large pieces skewered on chopsticks. The taste and juiciness were spot on. My family often uses Narutoya's frozen zangi at home, so it would have been great if they had offered that for sale or as a recommendation. The only downside was that it made me crave beer too much (I was the driver). It had been a while since I visited Otaru, and I was surprised by the high prices of parking lots and the overall cost of living, but I would recommend Narutoya's zangi over a seafood bowl any day! Thank you for the delicious meal!

I love the half-fried bird, especially the naruto (^^). Today, I went to Otaru for sightseeing and food. When I used to work there, I would always go to the original store of naruto. The combination of sushi and half-fried bird was the best tag team back then, haha. Now, I just grabbed a bite with nori at a convenient takeout store! The taste was reliably delicious as always.

It's a bit salty, so it's better to eat it with rice.

We shared the half-fried chicken for 980 yen between two people, and it was quite satisfying. It was my first time trying the half-fried chicken, and it was delicious.

This is a great restaurant. Naruto-san seems to be appearing in various places! I remembered visiting the main store over a decade ago. The taste is consistent. Just this is enough to make me full!

"Delicious and juicy grilled meat."

On the second day of my Hokkaido trip, I had a buffet breakfast at the hotel and then headed to Otaru. I arrived around 11 AM, which was a little too late for breakfast but too early for lunch. However, I found something interesting that I wanted to try - a Hokkaido specialty called Zangi. It was a skewer with three large pieces of Zangi for 150 yen each. I was surprised by how big the pieces were. I found a spot with tables and benches in a back alley where I could enjoy my Zangi. The first bite was juicy and the flavor was a delicious garlic soy sauce base. It was different from regular fried chicken, with a strong and tasty seasoning. The size of the pieces made them satisfying to eat. I initially ordered it as a snack, but it turned out to be a great choice.

On the second day of the bullet family trip to Hokkaido, for lunch (?), I realized that I hadn't eaten zangi yet. I remember putting some small items on my plate at the breakfast buffet, but that was more like fried chicken. So while walking around Otaru, I broke away from the group and bought zangi sticks at a food court-like storefront. The half chicken is famous, but I chose the zangi sticks that are easier to eat on the go. The menu photo showed 3 pieces on one skewer, so I ordered 2 skewers. When they handed it to me, I thought it was heavy. I wondered if I could eat all of this after a late breakfast (and a buffet) earlier. I didn't need to worry at all. It was a big hit with my family. When I took a bite, the aroma of ginger and garlic filled my mouth as the juicy meat oozed out. The chicken is said to be from Brazil. The skin was crispy and the meat was tender. Kids, this is zangi. It was gone in no time. Thank you for the meal.

Otaru foodie tour gourmet (*´꒳`*) 2nd item ♫ Zangi ♫ Fried chicken! It's on a skewer! Alright, let's eat this ♫ It was handed to me by the staff... It's so heavy Σ੧(❛□❛✿) And it's still on the skewer without breaking the chopsticks haha. The fried chicken is huge haha. I took a bite! It's crispy and juicy (*≧∀≦*) Super delicious ♫♫ It's big so it's satisfying to eat ♫ I shared it with my mom haha. Otherwise, I won't be able to eat other things haha. Thank you for the meal (*´꒳`*)

[2017.6.4-9 Honeymoon in Hokkaido Day 3 Evening Snack] Located on the main street facing the same block as Da Lian Shokudo is "Otaru Naruto-ya." Since arriving in Otaru, we've seen this shop here and there like Lucky Pierrot in Hakodate (laughs). This is a takeout-only shop. It is famous for its half chicken fried chicken, but if we ate that, the day would be over, so... Cup Zangi 320 yen (tax included) This time, we decided to eat while walking to the next shop. The batter was crispy and the inside was juicy and delicious. It was gone in no time (^_^;) There are various interpretations of what Zangi is, but recently, some say that "fried chicken in Hokkaido is Zangi." As long as it's delicious, anything goes (´ω｀*) Thank you for the meal!

I visited Otaru after a long time in December 2016. I parked my car at a parking lot along Sakai Street and enjoyed shopping and dining in Otaru. I bought half-fried chicken here. When I first saw half-fried chicken, I was very surprised and wondered how to eat it, but now I see it in many places. The half-fried chicken from Narutoya still has a special feeling. It's a big half-fried chicken. I have lemons that I grow at home, and since they are ripe now, I will pour plenty of lemon juice over it. I don't usually like to eat chicken skin, but the skin here is clean and delicious without any strong taste. The meat is tender and juicy. I couldn't help but eat too much. Thank you for the meal. ✿ฺ(๑´ڡ`๑)✿ฺ

On the 4th day of the Hokkaido tour, we started with free time in Otaru city. After having sushi for lunch, on our way to Otaru Canal, we stopped by here on Denukikoji street. My companion had been wanting to try zangi in Hokkaido even before the trip, so I looked up in advance and found out that we could easily buy zangi near Otaru Canal at this place. We bought the "Cup Zangi for 320 yen". I was looking forward to trying it and found that zangi had a flavor, but it wasn't too strong and was easy to eat. However, I didn't feel that much difference compared to regular fried chicken.

When it comes to Otaru, the "fried half chicken" from Narutaya is also a specialty. In addition to the main store, takeout is also available at Otaru Station and Deba Koji. The outside is crispy, while the inside is moist and juicy. The seasoning is quite light compared to fried chicken, making it easy to finish the half piece. I purchased it this time as a snack for a hotel room drink, and even after some time, the texture remains intact and it is still delicious. Even though your fingers may get a bit oily despite using the included hand wipe, it is a must-try dish.

I visited during lunch on a holiday. Based on advice from a veteran who said that in Otaru, chicken is better than sushi, I came to Narutaya. We lined up almost as soon as the store opened, ordered four half-fried chickens for four men, and some beer. I didn't know, but half-fried chicken is quite large. It's not a size that you can eat while walking, so we sat at a table behind the store. I tore off a piece and took a bite. The crispy skin and tender meat. I see! The flavor isn't just on the skin, it's also soaked into the meat, so it's delicious even without the skin. Hmm, hmm. With half a chicken, you can enjoy various parts, but... the portion is quite large (laughs). It might have been enough to just order a smaller size and add some zangi (laughs). Also, your hands get sticky after eating, so wet tissues are a must. If you're interested in local gourmet food, be sure to give it a try.

I found this place on my way back to the hotel after getting tired of sightseeing in Otaru. When I saw the words "naruto" and "fried half chicken", I remembered that I wanted to go here! However, I think I was looking for a sit-down restaurant, not a takeout place. Oh well, I thought, and ordered one piece of fried half chicken for 980 yen. They said it would take 10 minutes to fry, so I had to wait. Maybe because it was during Golden Week, there were many people waiting around the shop for their orders too. When I received the freshly fried chicken and opened the bag back at the hotel, I was surprised by how big it was. Even though I had been eating a lot while walking around, I was worried if I could finish it all. But when I took the first bite, I thought, "Oh, delicious!!" It was even better than I expected. I ate it enthusiastically with my hands, getting all oily, and finished it in no time. It was messy, but maybe it was better that it was takeout instead of dine-in (laughs). Thank you for the meal~♪ 2015.05.02

In the 2014 Hokkaido series, right next to the Otaru seafood restaurant Sawazaki Suisan was a popular place known for their half-fried chicken. However, after lunch, the half-fried chicken was too large and expensive at 980 yen. As a compromise, I opted for the cup version. The cup zangi for 320 yen was enough for me, a chicken lover. It was soft, light, and crispy, perfect for a snack. I wanted to try the half-fried chicken, but the cup zangi was satisfying enough.

When we went to eat half-fried chicken at the shop, it was our first time trying it (laughs). There were three of us men, and we bought two half-fried chickens. We sat on a bench outside and ate them. They were juicy and delicious. Since it's half-fried chicken, you can enjoy different parts like wings and thighs. But they were huge, really huge! Even though there were three of us, we found that two were too much (laughs). If you plan to have half-fried chicken as your main dish, it's not a problem. But if you are like us and planning to eat at multiple places, be sure to consider the portion size before buying!

From Otaru to various places in Hokkaido, you can find "zangi" shops. Although the half-fried chicken is famous, due to time constraints, we ordered the "zangi." It is larger than the fried chicken we typically imagine, with a satisfying texture. They use local chicken (Date chicken), which adds depth to the flavor and juiciness. Overall, it is delicious, but personally, it was not my favorite "zangi." It might be a bit too rich or greasy. I think a more subtle seasoning that enhances the natural flavor of the chicken would be better.