On the second day of my trip to Hokkaido, I arrived in Otaru in the evening and visited this restaurant. I had heard that if you come to Otaru, you must try the fried half chicken, which is quite famous with many reviews on YouTube. It was indeed a popular spot, as I had to wait for about 15 minutes in the waiting area inside the restaurant. There were also many foreigners there. The ordering process was unique, as you have to go to the counter to pay before being seated. Of course, I ordered the fried half chicken. Since I was in Otaru, I also got a Otaru beer. It came with edamame as a snack, which was a nice touch. The fried half chicken was served and it was huge! It was a bit difficult to eat with my hands because it was piping hot, but when I took a bite, the crispy skin was salty and juicy inside. It paired perfectly with the beer. The chicken was so delicious that I couldn't stop eating it. Even though it was a half portion, it was quite filling, but I managed to finish it all. It was really, really delicious! I wish I could have tried the Zangi as well... Next time I visit Otaru, I will definitely come back to eat this delicious fried chicken again. It was a memorable and tasty experience. Thank you for the meal!

Naruto has become a nationwide chain. It's been a while since my last visit. Most restaurants close after 2 pm until dinner time, but this place is open all day. You take a number at the reception, then wait in the waiting area. We waited for about 10 minutes with 3 groups ahead of us. Once seated, we placed our order and paid upfront. In about 5 minutes, piping hot half-fried chicken arrived. It was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. The portion was huge, definitely too much for one person! But everyone around us was ordering set meals with sushi. We shared the half-fried chicken between two people, and it was still quite a lot. But once it's served, finishing it is a must. I often get takeout from here, but eating in the restaurant is so much better. The juiciness level is on another level. The sushi was surprisingly delicious too. The rice was just right, not too big. We also asked for mayonnaise, which was extra and cost 80 yen.

A few minutes walk from Otaru Station. It was Friday afternoon around 12 o'clock and there were two people waiting in line. There was a ticket machine, and we waited in the waiting room. As we enjoyed the freshly fried chicken, we wondered which part of the chicken it was - was it the wing, thigh, or drumstick? The chicken was hot and delicious, with a hint of salt that paired perfectly with beer. If you eat it skillfully, you'll find that it's quite filling. You pay in advance at this restaurant. They have thoughtful amenities in the waiting room, making it a great place for tourists, but it seems that locals also frequent the establishment. Thank you for the meal.

There are many specialties in Hokkaido, but I have always been curious about something called "Zangi". When I stopped by Otaru, I purchased it at this well-known shop and had it as a car snack. It was indeed delicious, different from regular fried chicken perhaps due to the spices. This must be why people in Hokkaido like it. The chicken pieces were big and there were 5 of them, it took two of us to finish them. This shop is a chain and seems to be found all over Hokkaido. For takeout, you order and wait in a waiting area. However, I didn't find the female staff here to be very friendly. Maybe it's okay since there are customers inside as well?

I arrived at the restaurant on Monday night around 5:00 PM. The place was about half full. This time, I ordered fried half chicken and zangi. The fried half chicken had a crispy skin with a good amount of salt, and I was able to finish it in one go. The zangi was bigger than I expected, with a strong flavor and a generous portion. Since it was all fried food, I felt satisfied with just the fried half chicken and one zangi. There is a wide variety of dishes that go well with alcohol, so I think it's best to go on an empty stomach. It was really delicious.

Arrived at 1:36 pm, there were 4 groups waiting. Waited in the waiting room for 5 minutes. The restaurant is spacious, with counter seats and tatami seating. Orders are placed at the counter with prepayment. Take the table number card to the register. Ordered fried half chicken for 990 yen and a Otaru beer for 550 yen. The beer arrived quickly after returning to the seat. Otaru beer is a pilsner and comes with edamame. Five minutes later, the fried half chicken arrived. It was quite a generous portion, with crispy skin and juicy, tender meat. Not greasy and easy to eat with a perfect blend of spices that keeps it interesting. The slightly bitter Otaru beer also paired well with the chicken. While they also offer the fried chicken as part of a set meal, I think it's better enjoyed as a standalone dish. Otaru is known for its seafood, but I'm glad I tried something new this time.

I ordered the Chicken Set Meal and the Zangi Set Meal. The chicken was crispy on the outside, juicy and delicious on the inside. The Zangi had a good portion size, but personally, I prefer the chicken. With a beer, I could eat to my heart's content and still stay within 2,000 yen per person, which was very much appreciated!

It's been a while since I visited Otaru for sightseeing. My wife, daughter, and I waited for about 20 minutes before being seated for lunch. We ordered the most popular dishes: young chicken set meal, zangi donburi, and chicken nanban set meal. The half-fried young chicken was piping hot and very satisfying. The chicken nanban was sweet with a rich flavor. The zangi was surprisingly refreshing. The portions were generous and we left feeling full.

When I visited Otaru, I tried this restaurant recommended by my colleagues. It's located about a 5-minute walk from Otaru Station. The fried half chicken was delicious! It had a Hokkaido flavor, which was great. I would definitely like to visit again if I have the chance!

The triangular market in front of the station was very crowded. I waited as the third person in line, but was quickly seated inside. Here, you have to go to the counter to place your order. The half-fried fish was so hot that I couldn't hold it with my hands right after it was served. I managed to eat it somehow. It was juicy, perfectly salted, and delicious. It's best to eat it by hand rather than with chopsticks. Otherwise, it might be difficult to eat. Recently, the pattern seems to be seafood in Sapporo, half-fried fish in Otaru, and ice cream in a retro coffee shop. Thank you for the meal. I will visit again.

I came here after a few years. The half-fried and fried chicken were crispy and juicy, very delicious. The seasoning was a bit salty, so it made me thirsty without beer or rice. However, the sushi menu was not that great. Also, the system where you have to pay at the second floor register when ordering is very inconvenient. I probably won't come back. For this price, you can have much better sushi elsewhere like fresh sashimi.

~Son's Travel Diary~ On August 14th, we planned to arrive in Kutchan Town by 1:00 PM for canyoning. We left Sapporo around 9:30 AM and arrived in Otaru at 10:20 AM. We waited for about 30 minutes in the car park as the ticket machine was the 5th in line and the restaurant opened at 11:00 AM. The ordering system was to pay in advance, then go to the register to place the order and pay, and finally wait at the table. ~Ordered items~ - Chicken set meal x3 - Galana x2 - Zangi x1 (shared by 3 people) The chicken set meal included fried half chicken, rice, miso soup, cold tofu, and pickles. The fried chicken was crispy on the outside and delicious. The meat inside was not heavily seasoned, so it was recommended to eat it with the skin for better taste. The zangi was surprisingly delicious, and they thought they might try the zangi set meal next time. They thought they would finish eating in about an hour, but the large portion of the fried chicken took them one hour to finish. They arrived at the meeting place in Kutchan Town just in time, with only a little over an hour drive. It was a close call! Overall, it was a satisfying meal, and they are eager to visit again.

Enjoying the summer vacation in Otaru. My husband suggested going to Naruto for lunch. We decided to go, even though we knew we might have to wait in line because they don't take reservations during the Obon holidays. We arrived just before the opening time and were seated after a 10-minute wait. The waiting room was cool and comfortable, so it was nice to be able to sit and wait. We placed our order and paid in advance before being seated. The sushi was delicious, so our child had their favorite nigiri. My husband had the half-fried fish set for ¥1250. I opted for just the half-fried fish for ¥990, a vegetable salad for ¥700, and a draft beer for ¥580. Our child had zangi for ¥800, sushi for ¥340 and ¥320, and orange juice for ¥220. The skin of the fish was crispy and delicious from the first bite, and it was served piping hot. The portions were generous, and we left feeling satisfied. Thank you for the delicious meal! 🍣

Half-fried fish~ What? I've never heard of this before. The deliciousness of this dish goes so well with beer! I even ordered an Otaru beer to go with it. The outside is crispy and the inside is juicy! It was my first time experiencing half-fried fish on my first Hokkaido ski tour. I also ordered Zangi as an extra and it was huge! I couldn't help but exclaim. My stomach was fully satisfied. I ended up eating it twice during my stay (laughs).

Started the day in Yoichi with a visit to Kakizaki Shoten and Nikka Whisky Rita's Kitchen, then moved to Otaru in the early afternoon. For lunch, chose "Wakadori Jidai Naruto", a famous restaurant known for its fried half chicken and zangi, which has been expanding its network of stores across various locations since its establishment in 1952. With a strong presence even in Tokyo, including at the new home stadium of the Nippon-Ham Fighters, Escon Field, and regular participation in major Hokkaido exhibitions in the capital region. The half fried chicken allows you to enjoy various parts of the chicken, while the zangi, made with thigh meat and fried crispy with a rich seasoning, pairs perfectly with highballs. The large restaurant was fully booked, but after a short wait in the waiting room, we were seated. Orders are placed at the counter and paid for in advance. The excellent operation may be attributed to the accumulation of 70 years of history. The fried half chicken was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

I was recommended a popular sushi restaurant in Otaru called "Wakadori Jidai Naruto". It was crowded with families and we had to wait for about 30 minutes even though the restaurant had 270 seats. I tried the fried half chicken for 990 yen and the shrimp salt fry for 900 yen. The crispy skin was delicious! I couldn't drink alcohol as I had to drive later, but I'm sure it would go well with it. When you feel like having some meat during your Hokkaido trip filled with seafood, I recommend this place. #OtaruGourmet #HokkaidoGourmet #FoodiesConnect

No, the portion was huge~. Once you finish eating, the first thing everyone says for sure, yes. And then you line up to get in. The atmosphere of the restaurant has a Showa era vibe, which is nice. The taste is good too, and despite the half-fried look, it's surprisingly easy to finish. Ah~ if only there was beer with this... Regretting that I came by car. Overall, the rating is a bit lower due to the wait and the restaurant being a bit warm. The staff's service was excellent considering how busy it was.

I had purchased Zangi several times at local product exhibitions, and finally visited the main store! It's great that you can make a reservation in advance. The freshly fried Zangi is delicious as always! The half fried pieces were extremely hot, making it a bit difficult to eat. However, I still think it was worth coming here. Just note that the half fried pieces take some time to be served, so it might be something to consider when ordering for multiple people.

The restaurant was bustling from the moment it opened, and I could tell it was very popular. The pre-payment system, which I don't see often elsewhere, was a bit cumbersome, but the food was delicious. Personally, I really enjoyed the salted chicken skin. The Zantama-don I ordered to finish was not too rich in flavor and easy to eat.

◎Day/TimeFriday/Before 6:30 PMWait time10 minutes◎OrderFried half chicken 990 yenZangi (5 pieces) 800 yenBottled beer medium (Sapporo Classic or Super Dry) 580 yen◎Access7-minute walk from Otaru Station◎InteriorTable seats, sunken kotatsu seats, regular table seats◎Customer baseTourists, takeout customers, families, couples, solo diners◎PaymentCredit cards accepted◎NoteWhen it comes to Otaru's soul food, the fried half chicken at "Naruto" is a must-try. This place is well-known for it. Even when I visited during the 2021 Tabelog Top 100 Izakaya ranking, there was a long line. However, I surprisingly got in quite quickly, perhaps due to the fast turnover. When lining up, you need to take a numbered ticket at the machine, and then you can wait in the designated waiting area inside the restaurant. It operates on a prepayment system, so you need to settle the bill at the register each time you order. The fried half chicken may look voluminous, but the meat portion is not as much as you might expect, so you can surprisingly finish it. The skin is crispy and salty, making it a great accompaniment to alcohol. The zangi is more substantial than expected, with juicy and flavorful meat that may leave you feeling full. Personally, I found it more delicious than the half chicken. If I ever come back, I would love to enjoy it with a glass of Garana.

I came to Otaru for sightseeing and also wanted to visit this restaurant that caught my eye. Since I wasn't very hungry, I ordered half-fried chicken and a beer. When I entered the restaurant, I had to input my name and wait, but despite the empty seats, they didn't call my name until I asked. It would have been better if they had called out from the beginning. The system was to decide on the menu first and then pay at the register. I thought I would have to wait for the half-fried chicken, but surprisingly it was served quickly. The skin was crispy and the meat was moist. If I had been hungrier, I could have eaten it all by myself because it wasn't too fatty.