Torikyu @ Kamata - Karata Bento 900 yen Torikyu is a long-established bento shop in the downtown area of Kamata in Ota Ward, boasting over 90 years of history since its establishment in 1928. The main store is located along the Toho Medical University Street about 1km northeast of JR Kamata Station, and there is also a branch near the east exit of JR Kamata Station. Specializing in chicken dishes such as karaage, chicken cutlet, and meatballs, Torikyu is popular not only among local residents but also among celebrities who enjoy their bento for TV studio meals and location shoots. Comedians like Matsumoto Hitoshi, Matsuko Deluxe, and Bakarhythm have openly declared themselves as fans of Torikyu, and in June 2021, Torikyu's "Special Bento" was ranked first in a segment on "Wide na Show" where program staff selected their favorite bentos. The menu includes classic options like the "Karaage Bento" (700 yen) and the "Special Bento" with karaage and yakitori (800 yen), among about 10 other choices, with most bentos featuring the famous karaage. The karaage, which is actually more like Tatsuta-age as it is coated with potato starch instead of flour, has a crispy texture that remains even when cold due to being double-fried. I chose the limited "Karata Bento" (900 yen) which includes a large karaage piece on a bed of rice with umeboshi in the center, along with teriyaki chicken thigh, simmered swordfish, simmered potatoes, tsukune (meatballs), daikon radish, shibazuke pickles with red pickled ginger, and kombu. The tsukune in all bentos is made by blending meat from parent chickens to add a chewy texture, and it is fried before being simmered to prevent it from falling apart. The rice is cooked in a traditional gas pot, resulting in shiny, plump grains that retain their texture even when cold. To ensure that both the rice and side dishes taste delicious even when cold, they are carefully prepared to be enjoyed at room temperature without the need for reheating in a microwave. Torikyu also pays attention to the details, using chopsticks made from naturally shaved wood from thinning materials of hinoki cypress trees in Yoshino, Nara. Despite the increased cost, they switched to domestically produced chopsticks to prioritize safety for the users and support domestic forestry.

I finally got to eat the bento from Torihisa that I've always wanted. I was lucky to be able to purchase it in between the lines. It was more like fried chicken than karaage. It was delicious even after some time had passed. The minced meat was also well seasoned, and I had a delicious bento after a long time. I will definitely come back!

Bird Hisa 2023/8/28 KUMA Survey (Daily Use) (-80 ☆ Excellent: / -60 ◎ Excellent / -50 ◯ Pass / -40 △ Average) (Taste: 80%: Cost performance 20%) ■ Overall rating 48/100 points (Taste: points) Representative fried chicken restaurant in Kamata! ■ Overview There is a narrow street right outside the east exit of Kamata Station, and there is a small bento shop. It is a good shop for lunch bento as it is open from the morning. There are also Western-style bento boxes such as hamburger bento, but the main dish is fried chicken bento and fried chicken. The bento includes one piece of fried chicken (50-60g) and several other items such as simmered bamboo shoots, offering a decent variety. It is sold like a station bento, so it is convenient to buy and eat at lunchtime. It has a nostalgic feel of an old-fashioned bento shop that was popular in the good old days. ■ Ordered dish/price/taste/cost performance ◯ Fried chicken bento ¥800 ------------Always critical detailed evaluation----------- ■ Detailed evaluation of dishes 55/100 points 44pt It is a delicious bento with tasty fried chicken and simmered dish. Everything else feels like a commercial assortment. It was a well-made bento with no flaws in the traditional style. ◯ Fried chicken: A slightly large piece of about 50g. It is fried in wheat flour and then coated with potato starch. The chicken, seasoned with soy sauce and mirin, is also delicious. I bought it in the morning and had it for lunch, so it wasn't crispy, but still quite good. ◯ Simmered bamboo shoots: The large bamboo shoots are well seasoned and go well with white rice. ◯ Shumai ◯ Kamaboko ◯ Potato simmered dish ◯ Kombu, pickled ginger, umeboshi The umeboshi is very sour!!! ■ Cost evaluation 20/100 points 4pt Fried chicken bento ¥800 Retail price statistics for bento ¥613 Recently, there has been an increase in specialty fried chicken shops, and even in Kamata, I think the specialty shops offer cheaper prices and larger portions. Compared to station bentos, it may seem affordable, but honestly speaking, it feels expensive from a commoner's perspective. Base point 40 points - Price 20 points = 20 points

On this particular day, I woke up late and decided to have brunch since it was already past 9 am. I headed to JR Kamata Station East Exit to buy the "Kiji-yaki Bento" that goes on sale at 10 am for 900 yen. This bento, featuring the world's best fried chicken, is always delicious, but the "Kiji-yaki Bento" is also quite special. It's a popular item that sells out before 11 am every day, so it's not easy to get your hands on it. I arrived at the store around 9:45 am, but the "Kiji-yaki Bento" was not available yet. I was informed by the staff that they don't accept reservations, so the only option was to line up at 10 am. Some customers even buy all 15 boxes at once, so it can sell out in about 15 minutes. I waited around and returned at 9:55 am. While waiting in line, a minivan arrived from the main store on Toho Medical University Street at 9:56 am. After the red, brown, and green bento boxes, the eagerly awaited "Kiji-yaki Bento" was brought in. I was able to purchase the first two boxes while they were still warm. I hurried home and opened the bento box, revealing four pieces of grilled chicken thigh on top of the rice, along with pumpkin tempura, shishito pepper tempura, simmered bamboo shoots, pickles, and seaweed. As usual, I set aside the pickles, seaweed, tempura sauce, and chili pepper. I sprinkled the chopped seaweed and drizzled the tempura sauce over the chicken before tasting it, and it was as delicious as ever. The chicken had a nice crispy char and the meat soaked in the sauce was delightful. Each side dish was of high quality and truly worth the 900 yen. It's a bit challenging to get your hands on one, but if you see it, it's a must-buy recommended bento box.

From July onwards... before starting the triple work with one day shift and two night shifts, this week I started my second job (first night shift). Working consecutive night shifts with detailed job responsibilities made me feel flustered and exhausted. The feeling after finishing the night shift was not great. I wanted to boost my motivation, so I felt like eating at a restaurant I had been curious about for a while, "Torikyu." I decided to stop by and try it out. I had been wanting to buy the "Kiji Bento" for 900 yen, but I missed the opportunity as it was sold out when I waited in line. However, I ended up buying some other items impulsively. The Kiji Bento had a delicious aroma of kiji meat and the rice was quite generous. The side dishes were also very tasty, especially the simmered bamboo shoots. Overall, the meal was satisfying. The small fried chicken pieces I bought were just average.

Torikyu's fried chicken bento, which contains the world's best fried chicken, is almost on par with the original Bensho in terms of completion as a bento box. The side dishes and rice, in addition to the fried chicken, are delicious, and the balance between them is exquisite, leaving little room for amateurs to improve. However, sometimes you may want a little more of the main dish, the fried chicken. So, for lunch this day, I decided to buy the fried chicken separately and have "fried chicken on rice" at home. There are two types of packs available, one with 200g of fried chicken for 500 yen, and another with 2 pieces for 360 yen, and I bought the latter this time. At home, I placed the two pieces of fried chicken, rice, and lettuce on a plate, and served it with simmered seaweed and pickled vegetables. The fried chicken, which looks like it has been dusted with flour, has a rich flavor that goes well with sake, but it also pairs perfectly with rice. It may not have the liveliness of a bento box (priced from 800 yen), which includes meatballs, shumai, simmered vegetables, etc., but this simple way of eating is delicious. The best part is that you can enjoy two pieces of fried chicken for just 360 yen.

I recently visited the food floor "Kamachika Gourmet" on the basement floor of Grande Duo Kamata Nishikan and tried out a couple of bento boxes in a row. I came to the conclusion that there are not many bento boxes that can rival Torikyu. Their world-famous bento box with the best fried chicken seems to have a secure position in Kamata. So, the next time I bought a bento box, I went to this place near JR Kamata Station East Exit. I purchased the "fried chicken bento box" for 800 yen around noon on a weekday. I was pleased to receive a still warm bento box. I ate it as soon as I got home, and my initial thoughts were confirmed. The fried chicken, with its crispy appearance and rich flavor, was delicious, as well as the shiny rice and other side dishes. While Torikyu in Oimori has transformed into "Naruto Kitchen" after going through "Karaage no Tensai," it is unlikely that this place will follow the same path. For any bento or deli shop considering entering Kamata, I highly recommend trying out this bento box first before deciding whether to set up shop here.

Revisit. There is a bento shop in front of Kamata Station. The shop may not look that big, but it might be the most popular bento shop in Ota Ward, or even one of the top in Tokyo. They often sell out of bento boxes by early afternoon due to their popularity, but on this day, they still had some left in the afternoon. So, of course, I had to buy one (laughs). I had the Karaage and Soboro Bento (900 yen) for dinner that day. The good thing about Torikyu's bento is that the rice is delicious and it still tastes good even when it's cold. In fact, I think it's even better not to microwave it. The main dishes, karaage and soboro, are seasoned on the stronger side, but when eaten cold, this level of seasoning feels just right and goes perfectly with the rice. The side dish, shumai, is as good as Sakurayokan's, and the sweetened potatoes and salty bamboo shoots are also delicious. It's a bit heavy on the side dishes, so the rice may feel a bit lacking, but it's better than not having enough side dishes, right? Instead of eating an overrated dish with just a famous name in a crowded tourist spot during Golden Week, this bento will make you much happier. I will definitely go buy it again.

There was a segment on a show where each participant recommended their favorite bento for filming on location. The final presenter, Matsumoto, recommended a bento that everyone stood up and praised. The bento featured large pieces of karaage, with one piece being quite big and resembling fried chicken. According to Matsumoto, it's irresistible to eat it by rubbing mustard on it like rubbing your back (laughs). Mustard is included because that's the recommended way to eat it. The recommended karaage is also available for purchase separately, so it's recommended to buy it as a snack for the evening.

On this day, I went out for errands before breakfast and returned to Kamata before 11 am. For lunch, I decided to get a bento box from a shop known for its specialty of fried chicken bento in Kamata. I have been a resident of this town for over twenty years. I think I have used this shop over a hundred times, but this was my first visit in 2023. There isn't much to write about, but the highlight this time was buying side dishes that I hadn't seen for about a year and a half. There was simmered tripe, simmered potatoes, and sweet and sour sauce lined up, so in addition to the basic fried chicken bento, I bought one pack of each to take home. At home, I enjoyed a full lunch course from Torikyu. The fried chicken bento was still warm and delicious as always. I believe their fried chicken is the best in the world, and all the side dishes are tasty, and the rice is also delicious. The simmered tripe, simmered potatoes, and liver and heart are all delicious, but the chicken skin that they all have in common is the best. Its chewy texture is good, and it has a rich umami flavor. The sweet and sour sauce is like replacing pork in sweet and sour pork with chicken. It's delicious on its own, but when I stir-fried half of it with onions, carrots, and green peppers and had it for dinner, it was a big hit. In 2022, this bento was my routine after getting vaccinated. In 2023, I hope to use it frequently for different reasons.

Fried chicken, 2 pieces for ¥320 - Perfect for beer. The crispy texture from the potato starch is irresistible. If you come late, there might not be any bento boxes left, but they usually have fried chicken until closing time. Even one large piece of fried chicken is enough to enjoy with alcohol. I love it.

Revisited. A bento shop near JR Kamata Station. It is not a joke, but a bento shop very popular among residents of Ota Ward, so you need to line up from the morning to buy the desired products. I have never tried the famous Tsukune... On this day, I was in Kamata before noon, so I decided to buy a bento from Torikyu for the first time in a while. Unfortunately, all the bentos were sold out by late morning. Seriously... Torikyu is too popular!! Feeling regretful to go back empty-handed, I bought the remaining karaage. 200g of karaage (560 yen). I had it when I got home. The karaage with its distinctive white coating was surprisingly delicious. It had a rather strong marinade, which suited my Kanto-born palate very well. But... I realized I should have had rice or beer with it (laughs). Regretting not buying beer on the way home, I enjoyed the karaage. Since I didn't buy a bento this time, I'll refrain from giving a rating.

To a famous bento shop that often appears on TV. I extended my journey to Kamata. It was around 8:30 on a Sunday morning. There was no line, but customers kept coming in constantly as I was deciding which one to choose. The Special Bento for 800 yen includes white rice, simmered kelp, pickled ginger, fried chicken, yakitori, chicken cutlet, meatballs, fish cake, and potatoes. The rumored fried chicken has a distinctive coating. Is it made with potato starch? It is nicely soaked in oil but not soggy. It goes well with the soy sauce-based seasoned meat. It becomes slightly milder when dipped in mustard. I bought it in the morning and had it for lunch, and it was delicious even when cold. I am interested in trying other items as well. I would like to eat it again if I have the chance. Thank you for the meal.

Two orders of fried chicken (2 pieces each) / ¥320 each Three packets of hot mustard / ¥10 It's been a while since I had fried chicken. This cornstarch-fried chicken is really delicious. It's even better with the hot mustard. It was still early so there were bento boxes left, but I was looking for a beer snack today so I passed on them.

Maruyama Keina, who is from Ota Ward, used to visit this restaurant since she was a child. I thought the food would be mediocre since the place seemed a bit eccentric, but upon researching, I found out that it's a popular spot among celebrities, with Matsuko also being a regular customer. I decided to try their special bento since the price was similar to a regular shumai bento, and I was surprised to see that the fried chicken looked different from what I was used to. When I took a bite, I was blown away by the taste - it was like nothing I had ever experienced before, truly magical fried chicken. It was so delicious that it brought tears to my eyes. This place is amazing, with great value for money, and I will definitely be going back every week.

I don't know if the demand has increased or the supply has been reduced, but recently it has been quite difficult to buy the soul food bento from Toriku in Kamata. When I go to the east entrance in the evening, most of the bentos are sold out, so for the past two times, I have only been able to buy the fried chicken. When I went around 11 am, the "kiji yakitori bento" that was supposed to be restocked at 10 am was already sold out, so I thought that some products might be temporarily unavailable. On this day, I had various procedures at the Ota Ward Office since the morning. After finishing at around 10:30 am, I went to this store. To my surprise, apart from the nori bento that appears at 11 am, almost all the lineup, including the rare "kiji yakitori bento," was available for sale. So, I bought the "kiji yakitori bento" for 800 yen, which my friend has always wanted to try, and the "yakiniku bento" for 600 yen for lunch. The pork yakiniku is seasoned with a salty soy-based sauce and goes well with rice. The meat is about 80g, but the flavor is rich, and there is also spaghetti sautéed in ketchup and a wiener, so there is no shortage of side dishes. For 600 yen, it's definitely worth it. However, compared to the general standard, it's not as exceptional as the fried chicken here. The only exception is the "kiji yakitori bento" that my friend ate. Once again, he was highly impressed.

I tried the most famous fried chicken bento boxes in Tokyo all at once. The white coating was sweet and the dark meat was juicy and delicious. The rice had a good firmness without any unpleasant smell, which complemented the delicious side dishes. The most satisfying one was the special bento box with grilled chicken skewers. The sweet leeks and large pieces of chicken made me feel uplifted. If I were to come back, I would choose the special bento box. Salmon bento box 900 yen, special bento box 800 yen, fried chicken bento box 700 yen, grilled meat bento box 600 yen.

When I first tried it, I was shocked and for some reason tears welled up. Since then, I have bought it dozens of times. I still haven't been able to buy the 500 yen bento, but I was lucky to get the purple special bento and salmon bento today! It's just too delicious, it brings tears to my eyes. I'm so lucky to live nearby!

On the first day of March, I received an additional vaccine dose at the large-scale vaccination site in Otemachi run by the Self-Defense Forces. The vaccination itself went smoothly, I didn't even feel the needle. The Self-Defense Forces are amazing. However, it seems that there is almost a 50% chance of getting a fever of around 38 degrees after a cross-vaccination. I returned to my local area of Kamata early and bought a Karaage bento from Torikyu for lunch. I decided to eat it at home. By the way, the first and second vaccinations were done at the Nihon Kogakuin venue in Kamata, so I also had Torikyu's Karaage bento afterwards. When it comes to bento takeout, Torikyu's Karaage bento is unbeatable. This time, I bought the Karaage bento with the yellow packaging. It's a basic bento with one piece of Karaage, meatballs, shumai, etc., but it's delicious. I enjoyed it while still feeling a bit fuzzy. After eating the bento, I lazed around at home. The day passed without any issues, but the next morning I woke up feeling unwell. When I checked my temperature, it was indeed close to 38 degrees. I didn't notice it, but the vaccine had worked. Since it was a Saturday, I spent the day resting, but it seems it's better to not have any plans the day after receiving the Moderna vaccine.

Tori Hisa in Tamagawa is a popular chicken restaurant in Kamata. They are well-known for their delicious bento boxes. Their Tatsutaage (deep-fried chicken) is especially tasty and can make you finish your rice in no time. The large-cut potatoes and bamboo shoots are cooked in a sweet and savory sauce, making them a perfect match with rice.

On this day of the weekend, for the first time in almost two years since the beginning of the pandemic, I went on a one-night, two-day trip. I headed to a cottage with a hot spring in Izu Kogen, trying out a workation. Before boarding the limited express train from Kawasaki, I went to buy a bento box to eat on the train, which was here. It's the famous "Most Delicious Karaage Bento Box in Japan" from Torikyu at the east exit of Kamata Station. It was around 11:30, but many bento boxes were already sold out. I lined up with 7-8 people and this time I bought the "Makunouchi Bento Box" for 1200 yen. This "Makunouchi Bento Box" is the highest-priced flagship among their bento boxes. I've been going there for about 25 years, but this is the first time I've bought this bento box. I got on the Odoriko train from Kawasaki and opened the slightly larger than usual nine-inch bento box. Oh, there's no karaage! But that was a mistake, as I moved the yakitori skewers aside, I confirmed that the karaage was hidden under the large grilled swordfish. Phew. In the end, the bento box contained karaage, shrimp fry, swordfish, yakitori, tsukune, potato, kamaboko, bamboo shoots, etc., with the feeling that the chicken cutlet in the "Special Bento Box" was replaced with shrimp fry and swordfish. Among those side dishes, of course, the best is the karaage, but the swordfish comes close. I have never eaten a bento box with such a large and thick grilled swordfish. Not only is it big, but it's also delicious without any strong taste. The other side dishes and rice were also stable in taste without any shortcuts. It was a very satisfying bento box. The price of 1200 yen may be high for a Torikyu bento box, but compared to today's station bento boxes, it's quite normal. I think you will be much more satisfied with Torikyu's karaage bento box than buying a station bento box.