Welcome to Karaage-ya Curijju

Hello travelers! This is Asukarando, writer for Sarukuma.

Today I’m taking you to Kurokami in Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, to a local gem called
Karaage-ya Curijju.

Have you ever tried karaage (Japanese fried chicken) that won the title of “Best in Japan”?
The shop’s signboard proudly displays those words — “Nihon-ichi” (No. 1 in Japan)!

Here’s the entrance to Karaage-ya Curijju.
There’s no dedicated parking lot, but the shop has an arrangement with the nearby convenience store, so you can briefly park there while picking up your order.

“Crispy and Juicy”

The shop’s motto: “We want to support working moms! Karaage makes a perfect side dish for any meal!”
What a thoughtful concept — it really shows how much heart they put into their food (*^.^*)

Juicy Thigh Karaage

Karaage Bento (3 pieces) — 540 yen

À la carte (5 pieces) — 540 yen

Crispy Breast Karaage

Karaage Bento (3 pieces) — 540 yen

À la carte (5 pieces) — 540 yen

Flavored Karaage — Bento 640 yen / À la carte 640 yen

Flavor options are wonderfully varied: Spicy Karaage, Yangnyeom Chicken (Korean-style), Chicken Nanban, Ajillo, Kuro Mayu (Black Garlic Oil), Honey Mustard, Grated Daikon Ponzu, Garlic Butter, Garlic Soy Sauce, Chili Sauce, Cheese Karaage, Salt Tare, and Kimchi (^3^)/

Word on the street is that garlic soy sauce is the favorite among dads (*^.^*)

They also offer plenty of à la carte options!
You can grab croquettes (korokke) and minced cutlets (menchi katsu) too — perfect side dishes when you want a quick, easy meal.

Karaage-ya Curijju — Recommended Menu

I went with the chicken thigh karaage à la carte.

They fry each order fresh after you place it, so the aroma of just-fried karaage is absolutely irresistible!

Beautifully round, evenly shaped pieces — no lumpy or uneven bits in sight!

Can you feel how generous the portions are?

Each order comes with a bamboo skewer, making it super easy for kids (or anyone!) to grab and eat without messy fingers (*^.^*)

As for the taste — since they don’t use garlic in the basic recipe, even children can happily munch away. Thanks to the master’s frying skill, the chicken lives up to the shop’s name: crispy on the outside, juicy and steaming on the inside. It works equally well as a snack or a main dish (^-^)v

Honest confession — the aroma was so tempting that I couldn’t wait until I got home and ended up eating some on the way! 😄
I brought the rest home and ate it cold later, but guess what? The crispiness was still there! It’s the kind of karaage you’d want packed in a bento — delicious even when it’s no longer piping hot.

Pro tip: call ahead to place your order, and you can pick it up smoothly without any wait time!
Whether for lunch, dinner, or a takeaway treat while exploring Kumamoto, Karaage-ya Curijju is definitely worth a try ＼(^_^)(^_^)／

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Frequently Asked Questions

※Information is accurate as of the visit. Prices and hours are subject to change. Please confirm before visiting.