Shiojiri, Nagano, Japan｜Sanzoku

You can't miss the set of boiled chicken, horse sashimi, and sashimi grill! ️

In Japan, there are two completely different chicken dishes called ``Sanzokuyaki.'' One is the Sanzokuyaki served by Irori Sanzoku, which has its roots in a pub called Matoba Daigaku in Hiroshima City, and currently has a shop in Kuga-cho, Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. This is chicken marinated in a teriyaki-style sauce and grilled. Another dish, Sanzokuyaki, is said to have originated in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, and is made by rubbing chicken with seasonings, coating it with potato starch, and then deep-frying it. It is a local dish of the Chushin region. It is said that there are two shops where it originated, one of which moved to Shiojiri and was named ``Sanzoku.'' Sanzokuyaki in Shinshu is fried rather than grilled. There is a theory that this is derived from a play on the word ``chicken frying'' because bandits = taking things away, but I don't know the details. It is truly strange that two completely different chicken dishes with the same name were created in eastern and western Japan, but both are delicious. That's a long introduction, but my wish came true and I became a bandit in Shiojiri. The volume of the piece of meat, which was partially on the bone, was huge, and the potato starch coating was delicious. I also get the impression that the flavor has been well incorporated. They also have horse sashimi and chicken offal. This is a famous store that you should visit when you go to Chushin.

I visited the original Sanzoku-yaki restaurant, Mr. Bandit, for dinner. It was a Saturday night so it was very crowded and you couldn't get in without a reservation. If you want to visit in the evening, a reservation is required. I ordered the Sanzoku-yaki set meal and the chicken offal set meal, and the size of the Sanzoku-yaki was amazing. The Sanzokuyaki is crispy and has a great taste. It had a strong flavor, so I would have liked more vegetables as an accompaniment. The chicken thighs were flavorful and very delicious. With the set meal, you can get one refill of rice for free, so you'll be full and satisfied.