12 recommended Zangi dishes, a local delicacy originating from Kushiro, selected by local writers [2021 edition]

First of all, what is "Zangi"?

First of all, how is Zangi different from fried chicken? You may be asking that question right away, but the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' introduction to food culture, "Our Local Cuisine: Important Tastes We Want to Pass On to the Next Generation," states it as follows:

Zangi has been eaten since childhood on sports days, special occasions when all relatives gather, as a side dish for dinner, in bento lunches, etc. As it is something that Kushiro residents eat as a matter of course, many may not even know that it brings good luck. In this article, Tatsuya Shimizu, editor-in-chief of Field Note, a local media outlet in the Kushiro region, will explore the appeal of Zangi once again.

Torimatsu, the legendary restaurant that created Zangi

If you see someone carrying a souvenir in their hand in the downtown area of Kushiro, "Suehiro," it may be this zangi. Torimatsu is the restaurant where zangi originated, and is known to all Kushiro residents.

If you don't have any prior knowledge of Torimatsu, the staff may seem unfriendly, but the interactions with the staff are what make it so appealing, and it's an experience you can't get at a franchise restaurant.

While watching the second-generation owner, Mr. Takakura, skillfully fry the chicken right in front of you, you can wash down the crispy, juicy, freshly fried zangi with cold beer. Please come and experience this amazing routine.

The recommended dish is the "Bone-in Zangi," which Takakura says is "the meat around the bone is the tastiest." Enjoy it hot with the special spicy sauce.

Torimatsu

Simple yet profound: Toriyoshi, a traditional zangi specialty restaurant

Uchimaki of Torizen was so impressed by the taste of the food of Kuwabara Kiyoshi, the founder of Torimatsu, who is said to be the creator of Zangi, that he became his apprentice and opened his own restaurant.

The menu is simple, with only three items: bone-in, boneless zangi, and fried chicken, and Torizen's style is to add pepper to a slightly sweet special sauce.

This is the original zangi specialty shop, which uses chicken from Hokkaido and deep-fries it in high-temperature lard. The unchanging flavor has many fans, and the zangi is known for being delicious even when cooled. Regular customers, who trust Uchimaki's attentiveness and warm personality, continue to order large portions of zangi to take out today.

Zangi Specialty Store Torizen

A famous restaurant known only to those in the know. When it comes to Zantare, Nanbantei is the place to go.

The lively shop is run mainly by female staff, including the owner, Ms. Fujino. Nanbantei is known for creating "Zantare," crispy twice-fried zangi soaked in a sweet and sour sauce. Originally operating in Suehiro, the downtown area, the restaurant's reputation for its deliciousness spread by word of mouth even after it moved to Kushiro-cho, and it has become a popular restaurant that is indispensable when talking about zangi.

The Zantare is famous for its generous portion size, with one serving apparently weighing in at about 700 grams. In addition to Zantare, they also offer a spicy "Karatare," which you can choose between a normal or half size.
By dipping it in the special sauce, the taste is not too strong and you will never tire of it, making it the perfect accompaniment to rice and beer. This restaurant is popular with office workers and families during lunch time.

Southern drunkenness

"Sumiyaki Senka Tamatori"'s specialty zangi, popular among women

Tamatori's Zangi does not use garlic and has the same taste as when the restaurant first opened. It is a gentle, home-style Zangi that was passed down from the owner, Mr. Tamura's mother.

Among them, the "Shirotama Zantare" is a dish that has a history of being crowned the King of Kushiro's Zangi Championship in 2015. The crisp texture of the shredded cabbage and the refreshing taste of the mellow acidity of the special French dressing make it very popular among women.

They also have a popular menu item called "Black Egg Zangi" which is kneaded with squid ink and has a honey mustard flavor that goes well with beer or highballs. As it is directly managed by an egg specialty store, it is also well-known for its egg dishes, and many customers order the Zangi to go along with their signature tamagoyaki (rolled egg).

Charcoal Grilled Senka Tamadori

The classic takeaway Zangi bento: "Yum Yum"

This is a popular local bento shop with locations not only in Kushiro but also in Obihiro and Sapporo. Famous for its "Zangi bento with a lid that won't close," Yum Yum offers a surprisingly reasonable price of just 630 yen including tax for this volume! (Prices vary depending on the store)

They also offer half-size portions, allowing you to choose between thigh meat for juicy meat and breast meat for a lighter taste.

They also use special A-grade rice produced in Hokkaido. In keeping with their concept of "revitalizing the town through food," this restaurant is helping to revitalize Kushiro with their zangi.

The first store, the Kaiun store, also has a ramen restaurant called "Mensho Hachiya" attached to it, making it a gourmet spot where you can enjoy Yum Yum's menu items as well.

BENTO FACTORY Yum Yum

Joy Pack Chicken: Curry chicken loved by people of all ages

Joy Pack Chicken was founded in Kushiro City in 1980. Although it closed once in 2018, it relocated and reopened the following year due to enthusiastic requests from local residents, becoming a local phenomenon and a fast food restaurant full of local love.

At the time, the mild yet exquisitely spicy curry chicken was invented to compete with a major fried chicken specialty restaurant that had opened nearby. Its reputation spread by word of mouth among junior high school students returning from club activities. Furthermore, when those junior high school students grew up, they would eat it again with their children, making it a soul food that is loved by generations.

The secret spice recipes are only taught to a limited number of staff, and the unchanging taste has been passed down to this day.

Joy Pack Chicken Ashino Main Branch

Enjoy the taste of home-cooked zangi at "Onigiri-ya Banban"

Onigiri-ya Banban, located inside JR Kushiro Station, is a popular shop that offers onigiri rice balls, side dishes, and bento boxes that emphasize the home-style flavor that can only be achieved through handmade products.

The Zangi, made with chicken breast from young chickens produced in Hokkaido and free of chemical seasonings, tastes just like the familiar home-cooked food of a mother. Its unmistakable deliciousness has earned it the trust of flight attendants and has gained a reputation through word of mouth.

Personally, I recommend the Zangi mayonnaise rice balls, but the reasonably priced and mild-tasting Zangi bento has many loyal fans. The shop opens at 7am, so many people stop by on their way to work or school, or buy some before leaving on a trip, and this handmade Zangi continues to be loved by a wide variety of people.

Onigiri Shop Banban

Everyone loves the Izakaya Zangi. "Izakaya Akebono"

Izakaya Akebono has a wide variety of menu items, including grilled dishes, fried dishes, seafood, and meat, and a cozy, retro Showa-era atmosphere.

This Shio Koji Zangi is a dish that has sold over 20,000 meals. The outside is crispy and the inside is juicy, with a special salt sauce that fills your mouth, making it a dish that will definitely make you crave rice. They also serve lunch during the day, and their Zangi set meals are popular.

In addition, you can enjoy soup curry from the sister store Soup Curry & Cafe CRABON in the restaurant, so you can enjoy Hokkaido gourmet at once. Enjoy zangi in any way you like, such as changing the zangi in your bento to shio-koji zangi or topping your soup curry with zangi.

Izakaya Akebono

Crispy batter and addictive homemade sauce. "Izakaya Inagaki"

This restaurant is often mentioned in word-of-mouth reviews by local residents. It is an izakaya that has everything going for it: good taste, good portions, friendly service from the owner who is dedicated to cooking, and good value for money.

This restaurant is proud of its homemade sweet and sour sauce with white sesame. The sauce soaks into the crunchy batter and shredded cabbage, and the texture and flavor of the chicken are addictively delicious. Whether you eat it with rice or beer, you'll never be able to stop. The recommended course with all-you-can-drink is especially popular, and it's the perfect place to chat with friends while eating zangi.

Izakaya Inagaki

Not just chicken! Robata Izakaya Hatagoya's derivative Zangi

Hatagoya, a long-established local cuisine restaurant in Kushiro that is part of the Komagata-ya Group, has recently become popular for its non-chicken zangi dishes, such as whale zangi and octopus zangi, which use local Hokkaido ingredients.

In Kushiro, where commercial whaling is permitted, there is a culture of eating whale dishes, and seafood such as octopus, which is familiar to people, is also included in the zangi. Please try the hot and plump octopus zangi and the flavorful whale zangi.

In addition, this famous restaurant also offers creative zangi made with locally produced ingredients, such as oyster zangi, cod zangi, and venison zangi, available for a limited time only.

Robata Izakaya Hatagoya

How about a souvenir? Zangi rice crackers "Hogaja (Zangi flavor)"

How about a long-lasting Zangi product as a souvenir from Hokkaido? This rice cracker is made with potato starch from Koshimizu Town in eastern Hokkaido and is kneaded with seafood such as squid. This Zangi flavor is comparable to the standard flavors such as scallops, shrimp, and kelp, and sells like hotcakes when lined up in the souvenir section.

This is a collaboration with the famous Sapporo restaurant "Chinese Cuisine Hotei," and when you actually try it, it's a little spicy and definitely tastes like Zangi. If you spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on it, it's the perfect snack to go with beer.

Enjoy authentic Zangi at home! "Nippon Flour Mills Hokkaido Limited Zangi Mix"

Finally, let's look at the taste of home cooking. In fact, in Hokkaido, they even sell home-use zangi mix (made with Hokkaido wheat, of course) along with fried chicken flour. That's how deeply zangi culture is integrated into everyday life in Hokkaido. Here's what it looks like when you fry chicken wings using the zangi mix.

The crunchy texture of the batter and the juicy meat that fills your mouth is irresistible. This is also recommended for those who want to easily enjoy authentic zangi at home.

What did you think? We explored the gourmet food of Kushiro, Hokkaido, focusing on Zangi. However, what we introduced this time is only a small part of it. Kushiro has many more local restaurants unique to this city, and there are many different ways to enjoy Zangi, from the taste of izakayas and specialty restaurants to the unchanging taste of each household. When you come to Kushiro, be sure to experience and enjoy the culture and diversity of Zangi.

Photos and text: Tatsuya Shimizu (Field Notes)

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