An Illustrated Japan / Saga / Life & Daily

Sicilian Rice

Also written: シシリアンライス · 西西里饭

A Saga City local dish of rice topped with stir-fried meat and fresh vegetables, finished with mayonnaise. This casual “B-grade” comfort food is popular with both locals and foreign visitors.

Saga Kyushu-Okinawa Life & Daily

About this place

Sicilian Rice is Saga City's local soul food, often called B-Grade Gourmet, consisting of a flat plate of warm white rice crowned with stir-fried meat, raw vegetables and mayonnaise dressing. The standard uses thin-sliced beef and onion stir-fried in sweet-savory sauce, lettuce, tomato and cucumber and a lattice of mayo; variations include pork or chicken, addition of curry spice or soft boiled hot spring egg, cabbage under rice style, or luxurious Wagret? Actually luxury version using Saga beef steak. Born around 1975 at a central Saga kissaten, possibly derived from a Fukuoka shop “Denden-mushi”, the name's origin likely combines tricolour salad reminiscent of Italian flag and admiration of Scorsese? Actually Francis Ford Coppola's Godfather set in Sicily as cited locally. As origin remained unclear, Saga's PR machinery seized momentum when TV program in 2007 sparked inquiries, leading Saga City Tourism Association to decree April 4 as Sicilian Rice Day via wordplay “shi-shi” 4-4, registered with Japan Anniversary Association. Civic group “Saga City is Sicilian Rice de dot com” established 2011 joined B-1 Grand Prix allies, winning silver at 1st Kyushu B-1, ranking 5th at NTV Super Surprise 2010 among 50 B-kyu Gourmet, and collab of 620 Seven? FamilyMart bento 2010. By 2024 about 40 eateries serve it, plus Kantō outlets. Official mascot Sicilianna-chan, a 4-year-old kappa idol from Matsubara River kappa kingdom, wears dish on head, sometimes sings song 'Sicilian na ga yatte kita' composed by Shimazaki Tomoko, its belly button turns heart shape when in love, designated 100-year Food (Future category). Representing everyday affluence of Saga dining.