Sweet Potato Chips @ Koedo Osatsuan, Kawagoe, Saitama

 

Some time ago during the beginning of the autumn season in Japan, I was fortunate enough to visit the historical town of Kawagoe. Located in Saitama, this town has retained some (if not, most) of its traditional buildings and hence is given the nickname of Little Edo. This place is a perfect spot for a day trip outside Tokyo but you do not have the time or means to go to further places like Kyoto for that medieval flavour. I came with my cousin as she was attending school in Tokyo and it is not too difficult for her to come along. 

Blast from the past

The quaint town was indeed a sight to behold. And when they say it looks like a little Edo, it is no mere nickname. The main streets were time capsules to a bygone era. Old-style brick buildings, classic shrines, and pebble roads aplenty, this town felt like a set for a samurai movie. There have been movies shot here as well. But architecture is not the only thing that is famous here. Sweet potatoes are a special delicacy too in these parts. Since this is a food blog, we have to talk about some food right? 

Look at the queue!

And since the sweet potatoes are the main highlight of the cuisine in Kawagoe, it is no surprise that the crispy fried version will be ultra-famous. One such shop that sells this treat is Koedo Osatsuan. Despite being just a simple corner shop selling these chips and ice cream, it has gained a reputation as being the definite place in getting those chips.  How famous is that? Let's say that the line for this was longer than a whole building block. Yes, I had to wait for quite a long while for this. 

Oh yes!

Once I was in front of the counter, I was given the hard choice of choosing the dip for this. But my decision-making turned much easier when I saw "cheese" on the menu. It seemed to be the most popular dip as well, as most people were having containers filled with that creamy and cheesy delight. One pack of chips that came in a frappe cup and a serving of dip was for 500 yen. Pretty hefty. 

Deceptively good. 

Still, this was really good. The chips were very this, almost wafer-like. But they pack a serious crunch. The sweetness of the sweet potatoes was very obvious with a hint of nuttiness. The light sprinkle of salt gave it a savoury edge. All things changed when the dip was involved. The cheese dip was sweet, salty, creamy, and oh so delectable. Cheap cheese whiz it was not. It had a velvety smooth texture that added some moisture to the chips. With all of the flavour and textural contrast melding together in some strange yet amazing harmony, this was a serious snack work reckoning. 

The other choices, if you are curious. Not sure if the chocolate will work well. 

So if you are in Kawagoe, I strongly recommend trying this place out. The small town is famous for its street snacks as well and you will see many satisfied faces of stuffed customers around with all the snacks in store. However, if you want to give Koedo Osatsuan a visit, then the address is as follows:

Koedo Osatsuan, 15-21 Saiwaicho, Kawagoe, Saitama 350-0063