I had lunch at a Chinese restaurant called Narutoken in Otaru. While strolling along the canal, I found this restaurant and decided to try it out. I saw that they offer the famous fried half chicken from Watadori Honpo, which was a pleasant surprise. In addition to the chicken, I also ordered gyoza (5 pieces), crab fried rice, and two glasses of draft beer. The gyoza was generous in portion, and the crab fried rice had a rich flavor with crab miso. The only downside was that the beer glasses were too small, so we had to order refills multiple times. The fried half chicken was delicious as always, a consistent favorite. Although you can also find it in Osaka, it was a treat to enjoy it in Otaru. Overall, it was a delicious meal. Thank you!

The set meal of zangi (3 pieces) for 830 yen at the popular restaurant "Zangi" run by the famous chef Wakadori Jidai was undeniably delicious. My companion ordered the half-fried young chicken, which also looked very appetizing. Before leaving, I spotted Naru-san's original canned guarana drink and couldn't resist buying it.

On June 21, 2023, after having seafood bowl and gelato in Shakotan, I visited this place. It was past 1 pm so the restaurant was empty, and I sat at the counter seat. Lettuce fried rice ¥570 was smaller in portion than I expected. When I took a bite, it was indeed quite bland, almost lacking in flavor. Just a sprinkle or two of seasoning could make a big difference. It felt like they just added a couple of lettuce leaves without much thought. It would be nice if they could add some more creativity like cutting it into bite-sized pieces or keeping some crunchiness. Chicken wing dumplings 3 pieces ¥480 were juicy and delicious with a nice color. It made me crave for a beer. It seems that they really know how to handle chicken meat well. With the signboard boasting about being a chicken specialist, expectations were high. However, when it comes to fried rice, even though it's cheap, it might end up disappointing... Maybe they need a clear concept? Thank you for the meal♪

Spacious and easy-to-enter area. A popular Chinese restaurant run by Mr. Naru. The menu is extensive and reasonably priced. They have many set menus as well. I wanted to try the tantanmen, but they couldn't make noodles, so I opted for dan dan noodles instead. It took quite a while for the food to arrive. When it finally did, it was completely white! I think it was made with white sesame seeds. It looked beautiful, but I got bored after just two bites. I've never had an experience like this before. The taste was very flat, lacking any accents, whether good or bad. Maybe that's the concept behind the abundance of condiments on the table? I wanted to add garlic or chili, but they weren't available. I didn't want to rely on chili oil, and pepper seemed too weak of an accent. I ended up adding a lot of salt for some flavor. I initially thought the portion was small, but it was actually quite decent! Why can't they make sanratanmen though? Next time, I want to try their dumplings. Thank you for the meal!

I visited the Chinese restaurant Narutoken, famous for its half-fried chicken, for lunch. My friend ordered the half-fried chicken set, so I decided to go with the Jajangmyeon and egg fried rice set. We exchanged a bite of each other's food, and I must say, the half-fried chicken at Narutoken is the best. Although the Jajangmyeon was different from what I expected, it was still delicious. Also, the Zangi set that the person at the next table ordered looked very tempting. Next time, I will stick to the half-fried chicken set without getting sidetracked. By the way, there is a 24-hour frozen Narutoken vending machine on the premises!

It's been a while!! I've been craving Zangi so much... I ordered a dumpling set and a side of Zangi. The Zangi arrived first! It was piping hot and crispy!! I prefer Zangi over half-fried chicken. And then, my dumpling set arrived! Ta-da!! It was unexpectedly huge and shaped like a disc! What a volume. The dumplings were small with wings and a filling with lots of vegetables, light and refreshing. I could eat it easily this time because I was so hungry. The rice was a large portion and oh boy, I ate too much (´∀︎｀；) I ended up with a stomachache. Thank you for the meal.

I went to a revolving sushi restaurant and after eating halfway, I felt like I needed a bit more food. I was drawn to a restaurant called "Naruto" because there was only one group of customers there at that time, sharing half-fried chicken among three people. I ordered the "Chuka Soba" for 500 yen, which was one of the few ramen options on the menu. It arrived quickly and I noticed that it only had green onions on top of the noodles. I thought it was just plain ramen, maybe because of the price. The soup was delicious and the straight thin noodles were slightly soft but absorbed the soup well. Even though there were no toppings, the ramen was surprisingly satisfying. I kept drinking the soup until it was gone. It felt a bit lonely without any toppings, but it was just right for my half-empty stomach. It was a new discovery for me.

Visited for the first time in September 2021, the 20th visit of the year. Due to the continued self-restraint period, it had been a while since I had lunch with the local boss. Feeling like having Chinese food, I decided to try the "Chinese" restaurant recommended by the boss for the first time. I had a slight concern about the boss's recommended "Ankake Yakisoba" resembling "Canton noodles" and whether the way it was made would be okay. "Naruto-ya" is a well-known place in Otaru famous for their "fried half chicken." Lately, they have been actively expanding their stores throughout Hokkaido, whether through franchises or directly operated stores. They even have collaborations with drugstores in Sapporo. This Chinese restaurant is run by the same people behind the famous "fried half chicken." The weekday lunch menu is quite reasonably priced, attracting a lot of working-class people. I really wanted to try the taste of their "fried rice," but ordering it separately seemed risky, so I opted for a set. I chose the "Jajangmyeon and Egg Fried Rice Set" for 690 yen. I was tempted by the "Chinese soba," but considering the price, I decided to go with this set instead. The noodles were topped with a sweet and salty minced meat sauce, garnished with cucumber and egg yolk, making it a unique type of Jajangmyeon I had never seen before. The flavor was quite strong, making it difficult to eat on its own. On the other hand, the egg fried rice had almost no flavor, so it might be best to eat it as a side dish to the noodles. However, that seems a bit odd. While the price for this set is cheap, I don't think I would revisit. I wonder if the people behind this place have actually learned how to cook authentic Chinese dishes. Although the price is low, I'm not sure if it really lives up to the standards of Chinese cuisine. I believe it would be better if they focused more on their original business, the well-established fried half chicken shop "Naruto-ya."

Lunch with the long-awaited My Rebichahani Sto, for the second time in September 2021? This time at "Naruto-ken". Last time, I had the ankake yakisoba, which was like Cantonese noodles or ankake ramen, a few days after the opening, but this time I went for a set meal! The Dan Dan noodles and egg fried rice set (tax included 790 yen) is very reasonably priced, which is great for office workers! The kitchen, which I couldn't see well last time, is manned by two people, a man in his 30s and a female assistant. I was a bit worried about whether they could handle it with this capacity, but maybe because there were no waiting customers, the food was served surprisingly quickly, which made me a bit concerned. Now, the Dan Dan noodles come in a slightly small bowl, or maybe it's just my imagination, and it feels a bit less than a regular serving for one person, but well, it's 790 yen. The soup looks similar to the "Kin Goma Ramen" that used to be on the menu at "Appare-tei" in the city, thick and creamy with a strong sesame flavor, and a clear and distinct taste. The noodles, however, are on the thin side and have a slightly awkward texture. It's like the texture you feel when you boil noodles without changing the water for a while, but I can't say for sure. The fried rice looks light in flavor at first glance, and it turns out to be quite bland. So it might be a wise choice to eat it with the remaining Dan Dan noodle soup at the end. Both this time and last time, it seems like there are some issues with the noodles here... And the fried rice might be better if you add some sauce on top!

I was curious about this place but never had the chance to go in. Chinese cuisine, huh? Is it okay...? I thought to myself as I entered on an empty stomach. It was crowded... very lively. Families, solo male customers. I waited for about 10 minutes before sitting at the counter. Customers kept coming in one after another, and takeout orders were selling like crazy. The kitchen was being run by 2 people, and there were 3 staff members in the dining area, creating a very energetic atmosphere. With ramen on my mind, I ordered the tantanmen with egg fried rice set. Despite the crowd, I didn't feel like I was being kept waiting. The tantanmen had a strong flavor, with plenty of ground meat (lol). The thin noodles were coated in rich soup. The egg fried rice was being cooked right in front of me, and I could see the rice dancing in the pan. Topped with green onions and pickled ginger, it was light and delicious. The rice was a bit firm in some places, but that's okay. The staff were attentive and quick to assist in the dining area. They even refilled my water at the perfect time. Overall, it was a great experience. I will definitely come back here again. Thank you for the meal.

It was lunchtime near the port of Otaru. As I was driving, I saw a sign for Naruto. I was thinking of getting some half-fried chicken as a souvenir, so it was perfect. I quickly ordered the Zangi set meal and noticed that many people around me were eating Chinese food. Oh, so they also serve Chinese food now. Back in the Showa era, it used to be a small fried chicken shop, but it has grown quite a bit. The Zangi was fried to a firm texture with a salty flavor. It was more like fried chicken. And it was big, with 5 pieces included. The meal came with a bowl of rice, Chinese soup, pickled vegetables, and almond jelly. This is a hearty meal. Just finishing the chicken was already quite filling.

I went to a Chinese restaurant called Otaru Naruto and ordered the shrimp fried rice and Otaru's famous ankake yakisoba. The fried rice was delicious with a nice flavor. However, I was honestly disappointed by the ankake yakisoba. It had a terribly salty taste. I could only eat half of it. I want to believe it was a cooking mistake.

Otaru Naruto opened a Chinese restaurant, and I was quickly seated at the counter. After waiting for about 3-5 minutes, someone finally noticed me and brought water. I ordered the Ankake Yakisoba, which arrived surprisingly quickly and was quite delicious. It's the second best in Otaru, but in July, it's almost the best.

The name value of "Naruto" also contributes to its low threshold. There are various lunch menus, but for some reason, everywhere offers "Ankake Yakisoba" for 700 yen, with large portions of 3 shrimp, 3 quail eggs, squid, and wood ear mushrooms. The noodles are unusual thick noodles like those in Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki! They have a satisfying texture and I really liked it. The seasoning was slightly strong, but I want to try other menu items too, like the tempting fried chicken! I wish I had a strong heart to deal with the old man who talks endlessly without wearing a mask...

Since the snow was still lingering this year, I noticed a sign for Narutokun's opening, so I decided to check it out. The restaurant has a large parking lot with many modified containers. I remember reading an article about Narutokun opening a franchise specializing in takeout using modified shipping containers, so I wonder if this is it. One of the containers had a sign for Japanese-style soup curry, which caught my interest. Inside the restaurant, it was quite crowded but I was seated right away at the counter. Given the current situation, I wish there were partitions between the seats at least. The menu seemed reasonably priced. I ordered the Jajangmyeon and egg fried rice set (790 yen). It arrived in about 5 minutes. The Jajangmyeon had thin, soft noodles and was quite light in flavor, almost like Chinese noodles. It wasn't very spicy. Breaking the egg yolk made the broth smoother. The noodles and broth were decent, and the minced meat was tasty. Overall, it wasn't bad. The fried rice, on the other hand, tasted more like homemade fried rice rather than restaurant-style. I hope they improve on that. I'd like to try other menu items as well. I'll definitely be back. Thank you for the meal!

Visited the "Chuka Shokudo Narutoken / Wakadori Jidai Naruto Minatomachi Store" located further towards the sea side of the city's coastal line, right in front of the old ferry terminal or rather the former Lawson store site, which can accommodate up to 30 parking spaces. Due to the grand opening event (6/2-4) being crowded for 3 days, I visited 4 days later to avoid crowds. I ordered the single item Ankake Yakisoba from the lunch menu, which is a weekday exclusive. - Ankake Yakisoba (700 yen): The appearance may seem soupy with the sauce, but when I pulled out the noodles hidden under the ingredients, I could see the charred marks. The thin noodles had the strongest soft texture in AKY history (^^;) The sauce had a sweet and thick taste, different from any other AKY I've had in the city, and personally, I didn't dislike the flavor. The ingredients included pork, cabbage, thick carrots, wood ear mushrooms, squid, bamboo shoots, quail eggs, and a small amount of bean sprouts. There was supposed to be shrimp according to the menu image, but perhaps they forgot to add it? Not a big deal (laughs). Recently, many AKY dishes I've seen don't include quail eggs, so having 3 eggs here is a big plus! However, as mentioned earlier, the soupy sauce and soft noodles give it a Cantonese noodle-style yakisoba feel! The taste is not bad, but it feels like a waste due to the soupy sauce and the small amount of noodles compared to the ingredients. I felt like I wanted rice to finish off the remaining ingredients, but they only offer regular and large portions, so there is room for improvement in the future. However, the price of 700 yen seemed attractive, so I would like to revisit in the future and try various dishes. Thank you for the meal.

A Chinese restaurant in Otaru Port town. It used to be a convenience store, so the parking lot is spacious. It's a Chinese restaurant called "Naruto". Yes, it's the shop for fried half chicken and zangi from "Naruto". We visited as a family during the open commemoration menu pricing from June 2nd to 4th. In this corona crisis, there are customers lining up outside for takeout. It's crowded (laughs). At first, we were thinking of getting takeout too, but with the state of emergency, the inside of the restaurant was empty, which actually made us feel more at ease, so we decided to dine in. I had the ankake yakisoba. My partner had the sweet and sour pork set. Our daughter had the spicy minced pork noodles. We also ordered zangi separately. Ankake yakisoba... there were a lot of ingredients. The noodles were nicely stir-fried, but the ankake sauce was not thick enough, leaving it in a watery state. I didn't get to enjoy the pleasure of adding vinegar to the "sauce-covered" yakisoba. There were quail eggs in the sample, but mine didn't have any. Maybe they forgot to add my quail eggs because of the busy takeout orders. My partner didn't like the sweet and sour pork with potatoes in it. There were quite a lot of potatoes in it. Our daughter's spicy minced pork noodles looked delicious. The zangi... zangi and fried half chicken from Naruto are indeed delicious. There is a vending machine for zangi and fried half chicken outside the restaurant. Those are definitely the main items on the menu. My partner said she won't eat sweet and sour pork here anymore. Maybe we'll try a different menu when things calm down a bit. I wonder if they will also set up a Chinese vending machine?

Tantanmen with egg fried rice set for 840 yen. It's a substantial portion. Tantanmen is really satisfying. I shouldn't have ordered a set, sorry!

The amount of food was generous and it was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

In the current situation, there were many customers ordering takeout. The zangi is big, the ankake yakisoba is soupy, and the jajangmyeon has thin noodles. The parking lot is spacious.