17 Restaurants to Visit for Amazing Food in Okinawa
I got to the restaurant first, before it began trading at 5:30 PM, and soon saw her turn the corner toward me with a look of exhaustion – and perhaps a hint of annoyance – on her face.
“How the heck did you find this place? It’s in the middle of nowhere!”
With so many interesting dishes to try in Okinawa – many of which we’d never encountered before, like champuru, mozuku, and squid ink soup – this trip wouldn’t be any different. The wait was worth it because Yunangi is one of the best places you can try traditional Okinawan food in Naha.
We haven’t even made it through the first restaurant on this list, and it’s already clear just how different Okinawan cuisine is from what you’ll find on the mainland. We arrived around 10 minutes till debut, and we just missed the first seating – we were literally next in line – so we had to wait a bit to get a table.
Located in what looks to be an old two-storey house, it’s in a less commercial part of Naha so you won’t see the same crowds here as you would at a place like Yunangi. Address: 1 Chome-3-7 Higawa, Naha, Okinawa 900-0022, Japan Operating Hours: 12NN-3PM, 6-9PM, Mon-Tue / 12NN-3PM, Wed-Fri (shut down Sat-Sun) If you like the comfort of ramen, then you’ll probably enjoy Okinawa soba as well.
Address: 2 Chome-10-20 Matsuo, Naha, Okinawa 900-0014, Japan Taco rice may not be the healthiest or most refined dish, but it’s a quintessential Okinawan comfort food that fills you up for cheap. There are many shops serving taco rice on Okinawa Island (even vegan versions), but what better place to try it for the first time than at the very place that invented it?
Address: 9-21 Mihama, Chatan, Nakagami District, Okinawa 904-0115, Japan Being one of the world’s Blue Zones, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to eat healthy in Okinawa. Like many of these restaurants in Northern Okinawa, it’s kind of in the middle of nowhere, so it’s best visited by rental car. Address: 2661-1 Izumi, Motobu, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-0221, Japan Operating Hours: 11AM-4PM, 5-9PM, Wed-Mon (ceased trading Tue) Tamaki is basically just a roadside stall that serves an assortment of Okinawa tempura made from different ingredients like fish, squid, shrimp, crabstick, mozuku, beni imo, and vegetables.
As before that described, Okinawa tempura is more like fritters compared to the more delicate variety you’ll find on the mainland. Address: Japan, 〒905-0013 Okinawa, Nago, Gusuku, 1 Chome−4−11 1階 Operating Hours: 10AM-3PM, Tue-Sat (closed Sun-Mon) This is one of the most interesting restaurants we’ve visited in Okinawa, if not all of Japan.
Crab Noodle 3.0 is located in Nago, next to Okinawa Fruits Land and just around the corner from Nago Pineapple Park. It’s one of our favorite Japanese dishes and something we look forward to on every trip to Japan.
Address: 457 Kouri, Nakijin, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-0406, Japan Operating Hours: 11AM-5PM, Thurs-Tue (closed Wed) It may seem a bit odd to add a pizza restaurant to an Okinawan restaurant guide, but make no mistake about it, the Japanese are experts at making pizzas. Situated in what appears to be the backyard of the owner’s home, the restaurant basically consists of just one or two outdoor tables and a small shed with indoor seating. Address: 20 Kaneshi, Nakijin, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-0427, Japan As earlier on described, restaurant choices are quite limited in the northernmost part of Okinawa Island.
I read somewhere that the northern part of the island is home to some harder-to-find herbs and vegetables, which is probably what they used here. Address: 121 Oku, Kunigami, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-1501, Japan Operating Hours: 12NN-4PM, Tue-Sat (shut down Sun-Mon) To help you navigate, I’ve pinned the Okinawa restaurants recommended in this guide on this map.
Because of its geography, Okinawa is one of the most unique places you can visit in Japan, and the food is just one part of that.
FOOD IN OKINAWA QUICK LINKS
To help you plan your trip to Okinawa, we’ve compiled links to recommended hotels, tours, and other activities here.
HOTELS
Top-rated hotels in Naha, one of the most convenient to stay for first-time visitors to Okinawa island.
TOURS & ACTIVITIES
OTHER SERVICES
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THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN OKINAWA
I’ve organized the restaurants in this guide into three sections – Naha and Southern Okinawa , Central Okinawa , and Northern Okinawa . Click on the links to jump to any section of the guide. You’ll in addition find a location map at the bottom of the article. To experience Okinawa Honto to the fullest, I recommend getting a rental car .
NAHA & SOUTHERN OKINAWA
1. Yunangi
Located just off Kokusai-dori, Yunangi is one of the most popular traditional Okinawan restaurants in Naha. We arrived at least 15 minutes before they threw open its doors and there was already a long queue of people waiting to get in. The line was so long that we couldn’t even make it into the first seating! The wait was worth it since Yunangi is one of the best places you can try traditional Okinawan food in Naha. Pictured below is one of the prefecture’s signature dishes – goya champuru . It’s a stir-fried dish made with bitter melon, egg, tofu, and pork. Champuru can be made with a variety of different ingredients, but this version made with bitter melon is arguably the best-known. We wanted to order mozuku (seaweed) tempura, but our server, who spoke limited English, recommended the day’s mixed tempura special . It contained mozuku tempura and, if I remember correctly, tofu tempura and squid te
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Going on a trip soon? Enjoy up to 50% off on selected experiences and activities with Klook and Get Your Guide . Click on the links for a list of discounts, promo codes, and limited-time offers. This was another interesting local dish we were eager to try in Okinawa. Called sukugarasu tofu , it consists of a block of business shima tofu (Okinawa island tofu) topped with small salted fish. The fish, typically young rabbitfish, is a delicacy in itself. The combination of the intensely salty fish and the mild tofu goes great with beer. We haven’t even made it through the first restaurant on this list, and it’s already clear just how different Okinawan cuisine is from what you’ll find on the mainland. The interesting dish pictured below is called umibudo or “sea grapes”. Resembling tiny clusters of grapes, these delicate seaweed pearls pop in your mouth when you bite into them, releasing a subt
Yunangi
Address: 3 Chome-3-3 Kumoji, Naha, Okinawa 900-0015, Japan Operating Hours: 5-10PM, Mon-Sat (ceased trading Sun)
2. Ameiro
Compared to Yunangi, Ameiro offers a much more focused menu. On the day of our visit, they had just four Japanese set meals on their menu. Each entree comes with an assortment of sides like steamed white rice, Japanese pickles, soup, and miso paste. I went with the saba (grilled mackerel) , which, as I would later tell our server and the chef, was the best saba I’ve had thus far anywhere in Japan. It was delicious. Mrs Traveleater went with the minced Agu pork and egg rice bowl . Another must-try component, Agu refers to an Okinawan breed of pig prized for its rich marbling, sweetness, and softer texture. Ameiro was a great find. Located in what looks to be an old two-storey house, it’s in a less commercial part of Naha so you won’t see the same crowds here as you would at a place like Yunangi. We loved how lived-in and homey this restaurant feels. This picture was taken from the second
Ameiro Shokudo
Address: 1 Chome-3-7 Higawa, Naha, Okinawa 900-0022, Japan Operating Hours: 12NN-3PM, 6-9PM, Mon-Tue / 12NN-3PM, Wed-Fri (ceased trading Sat-Sun)
3. Maisukuya (そば処 まいすく家)
If you like the comfort of ramen , then you’ll probably enjoy Okinawa soba as well. It refers to a warming bowl of noodle soup topped with slices of simmered pork, kamaboko fish cake, and sliced scallions. Despite its name, it’s made with wheat flour instead of buckwheat. Mrs Traveleater enjoyed this delicious bowl at Maisukuya, a small shop that serves only Okinawa soba. You can get it topped with soki (boneless pork ribs), san-mai niku (stewed pork belly), or both. I used Google Translate to get “Maisukuya”, but the restaurant is listed only by its Japanese name – そば処 まいすく家.
Maisukuya (そば処 まいすく家)
Address: 2 Chome-13-26 Tsuboya, Naha, Okinawa 902-0065, Japan Operating Hours: 11:30AM-3PM, Tue-Sat (closed Sun-Mon)
4. Piparchi Kitchen
Piparchi Kitchen is another off-the-beaten-path restaurant that’s worth the extra effort in Naha. It’s a cozy space – slightly more upscale than the previous restaurants on this list – offering Japanese set meals made with local components like Agu pork and mozuku. I went with the fish steak served with white rice, soup, salad, and an assortment of four vegetable dishes. Mrs Traveleater went with this beautifully cooked Agu pork steak . If you eat meat, then you need to try Agu pork at least once in Okinawa. Located in a less busy part of Naha, I don’t think you’ll find too many tourists at this restaurant. Piparchi Kitchen is a casual restaurant that feels more modern and a bit more polished than the typical shokudo.
Piparchi Kitchen
Address: 2 Chome-6-16 Nishi, Naha, Okinawa 900-0036, Japan Operating Hours: 11AM-3:30PM, 5:30-9:30PM, Tue-Sun / 11AM-3:30PM, Mon
5. Tashimaya (たしまやー)
Walking around downtown Naha, we stumbled upon Ukishima-dori, an interesting street with a more contemporary lineup of boutiques, bars, cafes, and restaurants. It was cooler than the rest of downtown Naha, which sometimes struck us as a little too touristy. We wanted to include one restaurant along Ukishima Street in this guide, so we went to one of the most highly-rated places we could find – a small izakaya called たしまやー. Using Google Translate, the name translates to “Tashimaya”. Being an izakaya, they offer a good lineup of alcoholic drinks and a few small dishes to enjoy them with. If you’re interested in trying local food, then mozuku is a must in Okinawa. Personally, I like it best when deep-fried as tempura, but it’s interesting to try it in its uncooked form as well. Served cold, it has a slippery texture and a mild ocean flavor. This Okinawa papaya salad was forgettable – tasty
