To preface, nothing beats Korean fried chicken IN Korea, but if you’re craving this delicacy in Japan, here are my recommendations!
1. Pedal Chicken (Kitakyushu)
Pedal Chicken exists all over Japan, but Kitakyushu just happens to be the first time I experienced it. These guys specialize in delivery (hence the name), but you can also walk in and order a takeaway box in person. Their fried chicken is truly exceptional with varieties including yangnyeom (Korean sweet chili), snow cheese, and garlic soy flavors.
One of their best flavors is what’s known as “prinkle” which incorporates a special blend of spices combining cheese, onion, and garlic powders. Pedal Chicken is quite affordable and they have options for boneless chicken, half-and-half flavors, and kimbap (Korean sushi…essentially) combo packs.
2. Nene Chicken (Tokyo)
You’ve probably heard of Nene Chicken before as they are a global franchise and quite popular even in Western countries. I tried this branch in Shin-Okubo which, by the way, is an ideal place to embrace Korean culture in Tokyo. You’ll find all the best Korean fried chicken restaurants in this place and, truthfully, there are many that I failed to remember the name of.
That being said, you truly cannot go wrong with Nene Chicken. Regardless of how the quality is back in your home country, I can assure you the branch at Shin-Okubo is the real deal, so much that I visited on multiple occasions during my stay there. In addition to amazing crispy fried chicken encompassing all your favorite flavors, they also offer amazing Korean dishes such as cheesy tteokbokki and seafood pancakes!
3. CHIBO (Sapporo)
Last but not least is a little hidden gem in Sapporo called CHIBO. This small and humble store is, apparently, a franchise according to my research, but certainly doesn’t project itself that way.
Their menu is quite vast and their flavors of chicken are, while predictable by name, presented in a different way.
I felt their cheesy chicken was their most iconic dish. Instead of the usual snow cheese powder used by most restaurants, they applied real melted cheese blends atop a pile of succulent yangnyeom fried chicken.
Of course, if you are planning to visit Japan, you’ll need a way to get around the country as efficiently and affordably as possible. Japan Rail provides an abundance of travel passes to suit your travel needs. So whether you are traveling individually or as a group, the JR Pass is every traveler’s go-to for getting around and making the most of your time in Japan!