People believe that chicken namban was born in Nobeoka City in the 1950s.  It was a dish for employees at a local western-style restaurant.  At the time, it was called “fried chicken in sweet vinegar,” but it became popular in its current form with salad and tartar sauce on top.

    The term “namban” originally referred to the Portuguese and their culture during the Warring States period in Japan.  The Portuguese brought foods such as nambanzuke to Japan.  It involves marinating ingredients in sweet vinegar with chili peppers.  Over time, this dish with chicken became chicken namban.