KARAMASA JAPANESE FRIED CHICKEN

What is Kara-age?

Kara-age is a traditional Japanese comfort food. Thought to have a history of over 300 years, it has remained a staple within Japanese cuisine. Kara-age has various styles of flavoring and eating methods across different regions of Japan. The most famous brands include “Nakatsu Kara-age” from Oita prefecture, and “Zangi” from Hokkaido prefecture. Having national popularity contests on a regular basis, kara-age is a widely beloved and popular street food in Japan.

The Difference between
“Kara-age” and “Fried Chicken”

Fried chicken is an internationally popular dish, where seasoning is added to the breading before or after frying, while leaving the meat unseasoned. The traditional Japanese kara-age flavors the base meat itself, before breading and frying. Kara-age in Japan is not limited to just chicken, and can also include seafood such as octopus, squid, and shrimp. There are also vegetable kara-ages made with potatoes, burdock root, lotus root, and more.

What is Karamasa?

Traditionally, Japanese kara-age is marinated in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, sake, and ginger, then fried crisp with a simple batter. “Karamasa” adds a fish-based umami to this base, and glazes a variety of sauces after frying. The “Karamasa” brand was conceived with the mission to arrange kara-ages in innovative ways, making it suitable for any part of a meal—whether it be main dish, side dish, snack or appetizer. The brand name comes from the words “kara-age” and “karamaseru,” which means “marinate” in Japanese. “Masa” also represents the brand creator’s name, Masaki Ikeda. Combining all three elements, the name “Karamasa” was born.

About the Sauces

Karamasa’s sauces are localized to each location. In addition to traditional Japanese flavorings such as wasabi, yuzu, and teriyaki, there will be popular western/local flavors such as honey mustard, garlic, and more. Tailor your order based on your needs and preferences for the day!

: Karaage With
Wasabi Mayo

The dipping sauce, made with plenty of wasabi and mixed with rich mayonnaise, is a perfect match for the crispy fried koromo.

: Karaage With
Honey-Mustard

Homemade honey mustard, with the aroma of honey and the acidity of mustard, is a very popular sauce for both children and adults.

: Teriyaki-Karaage

Secret teriyaki sauce. It has a strong sweet taste. The juicy meat of the "Karamasa" fried chicken and the teriyaki sauce are reminiscent of Asakusa. A great dish.