Chicken nanban is Miyazaki’s signature dish. Originally made in the 1960’s, the dish consists of deep-fried chicken. It is smothered in a dressing made from mixing vinegar and tartare sauce.

After searching the internet for a list of local delicacies in Miyazaki, I used the TripAdvisor app to find restaurants. The Ogura Honten ranks first on the list of Miyazaki restaurants. In fact, Ogura Honten is the actual place where the chicken nanban was invented half a century ago.

It was half a mile from the Miyazaki train station, and it took me around 20 minutes to walk there. It was rainy, and the restaurant was quite difficult to find. Finally, I found a small shack located in an alley at the back of Yamakataya department store.
According to the restaurant’s reviews, Ogura Honten is very popular. There will always be a long queue of customers waiting to be served. I was lucky that I went there at exactly 6 p.m., and there were not so many people yet inside.

The chicken Nanban costs ¥1,010 and comes with rice, cabbage salad, and pasta. The chicken is tender and has a barbeque taste that blends well with the tartare sauce.

I have decided to have my first dinner at the Ogura Honten. This is truly a nice way of welcoming myself here at Miyazaki city.