Hokkaido-style Deep-fried Chicken with Sauce and Set Meal -Nanbantei in Kushiro-

Seiyodo Nanbantei (西洋堂 南蛮酊) is a popular restraunt near Toya Station in Kushiro town next to Kushiro city. Kushiro is known as a birthplace for Hokkaido specialty food Zangi (ザンギ * Hokkaido Style Deep-fried Chicken), and the Nanbantei is famous for serving Zantare (ザンタレ * Hokkaido Style Deep-fried Chicken with Sauce). Lawson (ローソン), famous convenience store in Japan, used to sell Karaage-kun Hokkaido Zantare flavor (から揚げ君 北海道ザンタレ味) supervised by the Nanbantei, so I see that it is very popular.

I visited here around 14:00 on weekdays. The restraunt had all tables, and family customers seem to enjoy dishes. Visitors can sit at a table without taking off their shoes on the 1st floor, and the visitors must take off their shoes and sit at the table on the 2nd floor. I took off my shoes and went to the 2nd floor, and there were 2 customers. I sat the table and ordered the Zantare. The price was JPY 950. The Zantare was served only Zangi without rice and soup, so I ordered a set meal (rice, miso soup, a side dish and pickled vegetables). The price was JPY 350. The total amount was JPY 1300. The Zantare seems to be large in quantity (around 800 g), so Zantare Half (ザンタレハーフ) is served, too, and the price is JPY 600. The Zantare Half and the set meal are most popular.

About 10 minutes later, the Zantare and the set meal were served. Zangi tower with about 15 cm in height cought my eyes. That was amazing! That would look great on Instagram! I ate it without delay. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It was tasty! The Zangi without dipping the sauce can be enjoyed around the top, and the Zangi with sweet and sour sauce can be enjoyed around the bottom.

As expected getting bored only of Zangi, the visitors should eat alternately the Zangi and the rice, and add a cahnge with the side dish and the pickled vegetables. I was a big eater, but 4 Zangi were left. A waitress told me "If the Zangi was left, You bring a dish with the left Zangi to a cash register, and the waitress pack the left Zangi for takeout". It is a pleasure to not leave the food. By the way, I ate too much, and did not eat a dinner that day.

A page of Kushiro is here