Cold fried bean curd" is becoming increasingly popular as a souvenir from Fukuoka Prefecture. It is a remarkable product that has been featured several times on TV programs.

Chilled "Chilled Fried Chicken" which is fried but eaten cold.
Chilled "Chilled Fried Chicken" which is fried but eaten cold.

When you think of fried bean curd, you always remember how hot it is when it's freshly fried! and eat it while fighting the overflowing juices, and gulping down beer...that is the image one has of karaage. The idea of chilled karaage, however, is a bit of a shock to the system, and the fact that it is served chilled makes me curious. However, a quick look at the mail-order website revealed that the product was in short supply.

So I talked to an acquaintance from Fukuoka Prefecture, who bought some for me when he went back home. And two kinds! To his own surprise, they were featured extensively in the souvenir section at the airport.

I'll take that as a compliment.
I'll take that as a compliment.

One is "Tsutomu Chicken" ( Tori Ichiban Food Service), which is one of the many hits when searching for "cold fried chicken. The name is not "Dodo-dori" but "Yumeyume-dori. The other item is "Hana Karatto" sold under the Hakata Hanamidori brand, which is famous for its mizutaki.

Thanks to a kind acquaintance, we compared two kinds of "chilled fried chicken," Fukuoka Prefecture's hottest local delicacy.

Chilled "chilled karaage

Tsutomu Chicken comes in a yellow box. The yellow box is a fun little gadget with a small window and a message card holder, which would make a great souvenir.

Photo of the top left of the box, with the small window open. The artistry is very fine.
Photo of the top left of the box, with the small window open. The artistry is very fine.

In packs.
In packs.

Hana-Karatto, on the other hand, is a silver bag of meat packed in a bag. The packaging is simple, as is often the case with frozen souvenirs, but does it not make one feel a sense of security?

The bag came out of a cold bag.
The bag came out of a cold bag.

When I picked up the bag to take out the contents, I felt a cool heat on my fingertips, which made me feel uncomfortable. It feels as if I am about to heat up a frozen side dish for lunch.

When I put them side by side, I could clearly see the difference in shape between Hana Karatto, which is made with chicken wings, and Tsutomu Chicken, which is made with the inside of a chicken wing. Both are coated with sesame seeds, and red grains of what appear to be chili peppers can be seen on the Hana Karatto. The color of Tsutomu Chicken is slightly darker.

Hana Karatte on the left and Tsutomu Chicken on the right
Hana Karatte on the left and Tsutomu Chicken on the right

Let's try the Tsumotsudo Chicken first. I bit into it with all my might and was surprised. It was cold, but the texture was crispy, as if it had just been deep-fried. If I were to use an analogy, it would be similar to crispy fried chicken skin. The taste is far from the juicy image of karaage, but it is addictive. The strong flavor is so strong that it is sure to make your beer go down a notch.

Cold and crunchy!
Cold and crunchy!

The Hana Karatte, on the other hand, has a firm body, as is typical of chicken wings. The texture of the batter is "moist. And the seasoning is exquisite. It is not too rich, not too spicy, not too sweet, but deep. The piquancy is also pleasant. However, when asked if it tastes good chilled, it is not so good. The meat is dry and the moist batter is somewhat bland. If it were served without telling you, you might think that they had forgotten to heat it up.

Has body, like a chicken wing.
Has body, like a chicken wing.

Incidentally, Tsutsuzumi Chicken shows its true potential when it is eaten frozen. The crispy, crunchy texture is even more pronounced than when it is thawed, and it is truly a "new sensation" of fried chicken. The meat is not frozen solid and easily detaches from the bone, so there is no risk of breaking teeth. Of course, the bones are hard, so be careful.

I hope you'll try it frozen.
I hope you'll try it frozen.

Heat it up and enjoy "chilled fried chicken".

The package of Tsubotsumo Chicken says "Please do not heat it up. It is written on the bag for carrying around, on the outer box, and on the enclosed leaflet. However, I think it is inevitable that one would want to heat it up when it is so clearly stated.

Even the plastic handbag!  (Red circles are filled in by the author)
Even the plastic handbag!
(Red circles are filled in by the author)

The package of Hana Karatto includes instructions on how to warm up the chicken. In addition, many comments from people who have actually eaten it indicate that it tastes better warmed up. I had to try warming it up.

Into the microwave it went!

I placed one Hana Karatto and two Tsubotsu Chicken on a plate and warmed them up for less than one minute. Needless to say, the moment I opened the microwave door, the sweet and spicy aroma wafted over me, and I was shot down without even needing to eat it...

The smell alone is irresistible!
The smell alone is irresistible!

As for the taste, the Hana Karatte was by far the tastier when heated. It is not as juicy as freshly fried chicken, but the meat becomes softer and the seasoning of the sauce comes to life.

On the other hand, the Tsumotsu Chicken, although it had a nice aroma, was noticeably greasy and did not impress me as much as when it was served chilled. The texture is more pronounced when eaten cold...or rather frozen. The phrase, "Never heat it up," is "Never doubt...".

You can eat it right when you want!

Basically, chilled fried chicken does not need to be heated. It is a very good looking snack that can be eaten just by taking it out of the refrigerator (or freezer). For example, when you are in the mood for a snack with beer and don't want to eat heavy fried food, but don't want to eat dry food or sweets.... If you defrost them in the refrigerator, you can just take them out and enjoy a delicious beer. By the way, if you put it on ice, it is fine at first, but the batter will gradually become soft and watery. The taste is halved, so be careful.

Might be better not to put it on ice.
Might be better not to put it on ice.

When you see products in the same category, you may think that they are similar, but the two types of chilled fried chicken we compared this time were very different. In the end, it all depends on your taste, but in any case, they are perfect as snacks for sake. I will ask him to buy some more.