My experience of trying raw chicken in Japan.. It all started when I met a Japanese friend during the time I was stuck in Chile due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We were both in the lockdown period, so we had plenty of time to talk about all sorts of things (especially when we were roommates and stayed together for a month!). One topic that came up was food, and I quickly discovered that my new friend had a taste for the unusual.
In Japan, she told me, they eat raw horse and raw chicken. I'm always up for trying new things, but the idea of eating raw chicken made me a little hesitant. Nevertheless, my friend promised me that one day she would take me to a place where I could try it for myself.
Fast forward a few years later (2020 to 2023), I found myself in Kyoto, Japan, with my friend. My friend and her boyfriend revealed that she had found the perfect place for us to have dinner. It was a restaurant that served a dish called "torisashi" - raw chicken sashimi.
At first, I was excited to try this dish that I had heard so much about. After all, Japanese cuisine is famous for its delicate flavors and beautiful presentation. But as the dish arrived at our table, my excitement began to wane. The chicken was somewhat thinly sliced and arranged on a plate like they usually do with salmon and other raw fish, served with soy sauce and green onions. The texture of the raw chicken was soft and slimy, and the flavor was, well, raw. It was not like any other chicken dish I had tried before, and not in a good way. Well.. to be honest with you though, if I didn't know it was chicken, I might have enjoyed it as it's not that much different from raw fish that we're used to.
I took a few bites, hoping that the initial shock would wear off and I would start to appreciate the flavors. But no, it just didn't sit well with me. The idea of eating raw chicken, with all the potential health risks that come with it, made me feel uneasy. Not to mention that it's not just meat, there's also raw heart, raw gizard, raw liver.. #lol please send welp!
Now, I know that eating raw chicken is a delicacy in Japan, and it's something that many people enjoy. And I respect that, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to try it for myself. But for me, it's not something I would ever do again.
We also tried some other dishes there, including the famous tofu. Now, I love tofu, and I've tried it in different dishes. But the tofu in Kyoto was something else entirely. It had an incredibly soft texture, almost like custard, which made it very challenging to eat. The flavor was subtle, but the texture just put me off completely.
I know that many people love Kyoto tofu and that it's considered a delicacy in Japan. But for me, it just wasn't my thing.
Sorry, not much of yummy stuff here I'm sharing but more like sharing experience and let's explore food of the world together! :D