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Chicken katsu brings jumbo heat in Japanese coffee house’s spicy twist

Komeda's Coffee is a popular "Nagoya-style" coffee house and diner chain in Japan. While it may have made it's name on especially sweet coffee and Nagoya-style breakfasts, it's built up quite the reputation for its generous portions.

Whether it's the super-loaded egg-stuffed pizza toast, triple beef rib sandwiches, or towering desserts, big eaters usually walk away pretty satisfied.

Komeda's Coffee has added something for spice lovers to its lineup of hefty sandwiches this summer, releasing a limited edition spicy chicken katsu sandwich called the Kome-Jan Chicken Katsu Pan.

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The new sandwich gets its name from using numbing but sweet soy-sauce and chili oil based sauce similar to Mala Jiang. Being big chicken katsu and Komeda sandwich fans ourselves, we had to give the new spicy addition to the menu a try. As you can see from the picture comparing it to the washcloth given out before the meal, it's not exactly lacking in size!

Thankfully Komeda's Coffee serves their sandwiches in slices.

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The sandwich is served up on Komeda's signature fluffy white bread. The main attraction is, of course, the hearty chicken katsu that is slathered with the sweet and spicy jiang sauce.

Taking our first bite out of it, we were surprised by just how sweet the initial taste of the sandwich is, letting you really savor the taste of the chicken katsu. This is because apples are used as a "secret" ingredient to undercut the initial spice. After that though, a combination of chili mayo, chili oil, and garlic really packs some lasting numbing heat.

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Adding some extra crunch to the sandwich are onion slices, as well as a bed of shredded cabbage that no serving of katsu would be complete without.

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Those looking to put a spicy twist on their chicken katsu love this summer will want to head to their nearest Komeda's Coffee and try out the hot and savory Kome-Jan Chicken Katsu Pan--although it may be best to wash it down with some of Komeda's signature sweet iced coffee at the end.


By - grape Japan editorial staff.