---
title: Zangi
url: https://karigurashijourney.com/en/notes/zangi/
lang: en
journey: https://karigurashijourney.com/en/episodes/hokkaido/
---

# Zangi

A little of each town’s story　/　Noboribetsu, Hokkaido

Fried chicken eaten all over Hokkaido. It is said to have begun around 1955 at a chicken restaurant in Kushiro that chopped up whole birds and fried them; one story says the name comes from the Chinese dish zhaji, with an extra "n" added for luck. The chicken is marinated in a sweet soy-based sauce before frying, so it is more strongly seasoned than ordinary karaage.

## This moment in the journey: Miso ramen for a frozen body

In the falling snow, I ducked under the noren curtain of a diner. Miso ramen soaked into my frozen body and mind. Shibareru, the local word, means cold enough to freeze.

Yellow wavy noodles, a slice of naruto fish cake, chashu pork and green onions. Steam rose from the kitchen beyond the counter. I couldn't miss zangi either, Hokkaido's specialty: chicken marinated in sauce and deep-fried, served piled high on a plate.

A counter with red stools, a wall of framed calligraphy and signed boards, a menu on the table by the window. A homely diner that warmed me to the core.

![Eating the ramen with a plate of zangi alongside](https://karigurashijourney.com/img/hokkaido/s48-1200.jpg)
- Sources: https://www.maff.go.jp/j/keikaku/syokubunka/k_ryouri/search_menu/menu/zangi_hokkaido.html

Read this scene in the full journey: https://karigurashijourney.com/en/episodes/hokkaido/