Toriten and Karaage: The Southern Comfort 　Dishes of Oita

Hello readers!

This August, we've seen dramatic weather shifts, from long, rainy spells to sizzling hot weather in Japan.
Whether rain or shine, one thing that remains consistent in Oita is our endless variety of local cuisine to savour
throughout the year. While we may debate which of our gastronomical highlights such as fresh seafood, fleshy
shiitake mushrooms or kabosu citrus fruit is our favorite, the one holding the crown as Oita's soul food may
arguably be our deep-fried chicken.

Out of all deep-fried chicken dishes, Oita's claim to fame are toriten and karaage. Toriten is a tempura-style fried chicken probably created in the 1920s when a restaurant in Beppu is thought to have been the first to serve this now-ubiquitous dish in Oita. The chicken is seasoned with garlic powder, ginger, and sake, then rolled in flour
and deep-fried tempura-style, creating a succulent chewy texture loved by many locals.

Karaage is a crispy version, coated in seasoned flour before deep-frying to its mouth-watering crisp finish. Each
shop has its own toriten and karaage recipe with a side of ponzu-vinegar dipping sauce, Oita-style tartar sauce, or hot mustard, or a drizzle of kabosu lime on top. With Oita city’s reputation as the largest consumers of chicken in all of Japan(2020), it makes sense that this has become Oita's southern comfort food, showing up on menus
in mom-and-pop shops, high-class restaurants, and convenience stores!

When you visit, go for a simple toriten and karaage lunch set with a side of rice, miso soup, and salad. The
options are endless, with an extravagantly large lunch set option, including a toriten-karaage combo with fried
shrimp and a mouth-watering hamburger steak. You won't leave Oita hungry for sure! And for those who prefer not to eat meat, the variety of fresh produce grown in Oita provides plenty of opportunities for delicious vegan
and vegetarian meals too!

As always, we hope you're all staying well and safe and hope you enjoy our southern comfort food when we
welcome you to Oita!