Boy does this place bring back lots of memories.....of the days when I used to party until 3 or 4 in the morning and head on over to California's for a bag of chicken to take home. Yes, the Marines used to be able to party all night here. And California Chicken used to open at around 9 or 10pm and stay open until 3 or 4am. Now they open around 5pm and I'm not sure what time they close. My guess would be around 1am since the most of his customers have to be out of the bars by midnight. The owner has watched me grow from a party girl into a girl who rarely stays up past 10pm anymore. I do make an exception every now and then and have been known to party until midnight. I know. Pretty impressive huh?
Now that I am done impressing you, I suppose I should tell you a little more about California Chicken. The chicken is amazing. Especially after you've been drinking. You know you gotta have that drunk food. Everyone has a spot they go to after drinking. Right? For some, it's Taco Bell (in the States....and I don't get it) and for a lot of people here in Iwakuni, it's California Chicken.
Here are a couple of shots of the menu -
Oh! I had to take a picture of this because I have never heard of this or seen it anywhere else.
Okay. Back to the food. I am so easily distracted sometimes.
I used to always get the bag of chicken with the mayo/ketchup sauce. Mmmmm. So good. Now that I am older and trying (I did say "trying") to be a little better about what I eat at midnight, I usually get the chicken sandwich and share it. Not to say that you shouldn't have the chicken because you absolutely should! Just go at 5pm and get it for dinner instead. Andy got a bag of chicken and Kelly and I got a chicken sandwich.
We took our food to our favorite little karaoke place by the base, Niagara. It's not very big, but we love the guys who work there. And we just love to sing. It's 200yen per song. Oh. AND they let us bring our food in and take pictures of it and eat it.
What a great evening. I'm really going to miss my friend Kelly and her goofy husband, Andy.
It's one thing I don't like about being on a military base......saying goodbye. We didn't say goodbye though because we are already making plans of seeing each other again very soon.
To get to California Chicken, go out the main gate and go straight through the intersection after the railroad tracks. Once you go through, you'll keep going straight for just a little bit (maybe not even a minute if you are driving). California Chicken is on your right side. Just look for the American Flag and the California sign -
thanks for posting. I was stationed in Iwakuni back in 1997. I used to come out to California chicken every Sat night / Sunday morning. Chicken Sandwich and a Breakfast sandwich to go! Great food!
ReplyDeleteCalifornia Chicken was the late night drunken "go-to" for virtually all the 7011's I was there with back in '95-'96. I miss that place more than I'd like to admit.
ReplyDeleteI love the sandwhiches. Was part of mals-31 stationed in iwakuni on 6 month det in 09. Cocos curry was good too.
ReplyDeleteI WAS STATIONED ON THE MCAS DURING DESERT SHIELD AND DESERT STORM 1990-1991. DURING THOSE TIMES I REMEMBER THE BEST CHICKEN, WAS CALIFORNIAS CHICKEN. THANX FOR THE PICS. GOD BLESS
ReplyDeleteGod I loved this place. I still get cravings 20 years later. Semper California Chicken, and beer at Jerry's.
ReplyDeleteJerry's was the spot. Used to get a calsberg party bowl. 96 to 97
DeleteWould eat their all the time. If I was out I would eat here or coco curry. Does anyone have any recommendations on curry here in the states that is similar to coco curry. Im in SE. Also i would like to have someone deliver me some California Chicken the sandwiches were the best. They had the little bit of lettuce on them. Yeah i wish my friends could have tried some.
ReplyDeleteI used to love eating here. I was stationed there from 04-07 and have been back a couple of times. I am going back in March for my Brother in laws wedding in Kobe, and will be making a special trip here just for their chicken sandwiches.
ReplyDeleteMan I miss that place I was there back in 98,99 and I always got the bag of chicken around 4am. It always tasted great and always hit the spot. Glad to see they're still going strong.
ReplyDeleteVisiting Japan after being away 18 years and making a side trip to Iwakuni just to eat California chicken
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have the recipe I loved this chicken
ReplyDeleteAbout the recipe my email is bobcanales2@gmail.com I've been looking for something like this in the states .miss it
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone have the recipe? The guy who used to run it needs to write a cookbook
ReplyDeleteA great night in Iwakuni was a drink at Terry's and a California Chicken on the walk back to base! I miss everything about being in Japan. 2004-2006
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