For a country well known for its low levels of obesity, a surprising amount of Japanese food is fried. There’s the traditional tempura to start with, along with the likes of deep fried pork cutlets, similarly oil heavy croquettes, and of course the incredibly common, chicken karaage. But in regards the latter, rather than frying small pieces of meat, this old school place opts for half the bird. An approach that perhaps not surprisingly is hugely popular, as along with a lengthy queue for the small eating area round the back, there was a steady stream of customers calling in for takeout. All good for business of course, but not necessarily good for the poor bloke in charge of staring into boiling oil all day and skewering suitably crispy chickens.
MrSatyre says
“Why are you looking at my chicken? I do not like it when you look at my chicken. Please. Stop looking at my chicken. Why are you still looking at my chicken? Will you stop? Stop looking at my chicken. If you do not stop looking at my chicken, I will stick one of these shishkabobs up your hiney and stuff you in this rotisserie and set the temperature to one million. That will teach you not to look at my chicken. What? You are not afraid of me and my shishkabobs? You want to fight me? You want to fight me over my chicken? I will show you! I will roast you and baste you and perhaps sprinkle some nice spices and herbs on you and poke you with a thermometer to make sure you are done! Come back here! Are you chicken?”
Lee says
Haha, funny. Fits perfectly too. Just hope the last part wasn’t true!
grant says
Unhealthy for sure, but I wouldn’t say no. Looks like a delicious guilty treat! 🙂
Lee says
I wasn’t convinced at first, but after seeing the long line, I think you are right. And once in a while wouldn’t hurt!
Hans ter Horst says
I bet it is delicious! And I bet the whole place was very greasy 🙂
I love the detail of the naked light bulb, like it is just like a garage or so 🙂
Lee says
Yes, it does have a wonderfully grubby, greasy look!
I know what you mean. See those naked bulbs surprisingly often, and they always create an interesting retro, back-to-basics feel.
june says
Looks finger-lickin’ good! Did you try it? I like the packaging, all tied up with string.
Lee says
It’s a nice little touch, isn’t it?
No, afraid not. We had plans to head somewhere else. But one day I’ll give it a go. Well, providing there isn’t a big queue!
cdilla says
There so much detail in this photo. A suprising amount of colour too, given the unrelenting brownity it must have been subjected to for years.
The widow glass looks intersting with the sort of pebble and swirl embossing.
Something certainly caught his eye at that moment – or was it that he can’t bear to look the poor demi-birds in the beak when he’s deep fried and skewered them like that?
Lee says
Yes, it’s a fascinating little place. Intrigued to know how long it has been there.
To be honest I think he was just averting his eyes from the spitting oil. Poor fella spend most of the time with his eyes closed to avoid getting hurt…
John says
They should offer a free roll of toilet paper with every chicken.
Every time I see photos like these I wonder if Japan has a health department…
Lee says
It does, it’s just presumably quite relaxed. So many of the places I go to that are a little grubby to say the least have their yearly sticker from the relevant authority proudly displayed. More often than not stuck on an ancient and decidedly dingy looking fridge. Simply being open and ready to serve food is quite possibly good enough!