Restaurants in Okinawa & The Southwest Islands
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
Yakiniku Station Bambohe
If you've got a big appetite and quantity is important, head here where you'll find an all-you-can-eat yakiniku (grilled meat over table-top hibachi grills), including dessert and soft drinks, for a reasonable price. The restaurant is just off of Kokusai-dōri, across from the covered arcades, and is easily recognised by its bright yellow English sign.
reviewed
-
Asian Dining
Sure, it's a bit tacky, but there is definite novelty value in eating dinner at the top of a three-storey plastic banyan tree, and the views of the nearby port aren't too shabby. The speciality of the house is Southeast Asian cuisine, though there's also a good offering of Okinawan specialities and other Japanese fare. The tree (which isn't too hard to miss) is right around the corner from the Okinawa International Youth Hostel.
reviewed
-
A
Daitō Soba
This dinky little noodle house is the perfect spot for sampling your first bowl of okinawa-soba (Okinawan style noodles). We like ours with extra shima-tōgarashi (pickled hot peppers in sesame oil). It's one block north of Kokusai-dōri on Midori-ga-oka Park (look for the red banners and plastic food models).
reviewed
-
B
Yūnangi
You'll be lucky to get a seat here, but if you do, you'll be treated to some of the best Okinawan food around, served in traditional but bustling surroundings. Try the okinawa-soba set (¥1400). Look for the wooden sign with white letters in Japanese and the plants.
reviewed
-
C
Uchina Chaya Buku Buku
- Naha, Japan
- Restaurants › Cafe
This incredibly atmospheric teahouse near the east end of the Tsuboya pottery area is worth a special trip. It takes its name from the traditional frothy Okinawan tea served here: buku buku cha. It's up a small lane just north of Tsuboya-yachimun-dōri.
reviewed
-
Ten Ten
On the main road in the middle of Miyanoura, this friendly little izakaya (pub-eatery) serves a mouth-watering yakizakana teishoku (grilled fish set meal; ¥1000). It's a little hard to spot; you might have to ask a local to point it out.
reviewed
-
Soba Dokoro Takenoko
This tiny restaurant on the northwest side of the village (look for the blue banner and the umbrellas) serves up sōki-soba (¥800) and yaki-soba (fried soba; ¥800), and you can wash it all down with some Orion beer.
reviewed
-
Shinpachi Shokudō
Just 200m south of the port in Uehara, this no-frills noodle shop is the perfect spot for a hot bowl of sōki-soba (¥700) or a gōya champuru (¥800), washed down with a nice draught beer. Look for the blue front and the banners outside.
reviewed
-
Resutoran Yakushima
On the 2nd floor of the Yakushima Kankō Sentaa (look for the green, two-storey building on the main road, near the road to the pier), this simple restaurant serves a ¥520 morning set breakfast with eggs, toast and coffee and a tasty tobi uo sashimi teishoku (flying fish sashimi set meal; ¥980) for lunch. You can also access the internet on two Japanese laptops here.
reviewed
-
Pōcha Tatsuya
Just off McCrum-dōri, this hospitable izakaya serves delish local fare like kobushime-yawaraka-ni (steamed cuttlefish; ¥730) and sūchiki (vinegared pork with bitter melon; ¥630). From McCrum, go past the National store on your left. Look for the green latticework over the windows and a seahorse curled around the sign above the door.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Paikaji
No relation to Naha's Paikaji, this local favourite serves all the Okinawan and Yaeyama standards. Both the atmosphere and kitchen get top marks. Try the ikasumi chahan (squid ink fried rice; ¥650), the gōya-champurū (gōya stir-fry; ¥700) or the sashimi moriawase (sashimi assortment; ¥750/1300/1800 depending on size). There's no English sign or menu. Look for the traditional front, coral around the entryway and a red-and-white sign.
reviewed
-
Paikaji
In Omoromachi, this convivial traditional eatery has rocking sanshin minstrels, private rooms and an open kitchen bar. Okinawan eats include tōfu-champurū (tofu stir-fry; ¥500) and, for the adventurous, yagi-sashi (goat sashimi; ¥1250). From Exit 1 of Omoromachi Station, turn right and walk about six blocks (15 minutes) along the boulevard, past the Okinawa Prefectural Museum; it's the old-fashioned wooden building after Big Echo karaoke on the left.
reviewed
-
Oshokuji-dokoro Shiosai
This fine restaurant offers a full range of Japanese standards like sashimi teishoku (sashimi full set; ¥1700) or the wonderful ebi-furai teishoku (fried shrimp full set; ¥1400). Look for the blue and whitish building and the automatic glass doors.
reviewed
-
Laugh La Garden
Near the road from Uehara port and beside the petrol station, this relaxed cafe-restaurant has sets like ishigakibuta-no-misokatsu teishoku (miso-seasoned Ishigaki pork cutlets; ¥950) and oddities such as inoshishi-sashimi (wild boar sashimi; ¥600).
reviewed
-
Koja Shokudō Honten
One block northwest of the intersection between Ichiba-dōri and Nishizato-dōri, this nondescript noodle house is something of a local legend. For more than 50 years, Koja has been serving up steaming bowls of sōki-soba (¥650). It's across from a parking lot; look for the white tiles around the entryway. The owner speaks English.
reviewed
-
D
Gen
This atmospheric yakiniku (grilled meat) place is one of our favourite places in Naha for a good meal. If you're a carnivore and want some excellent grilled meat washed down with great awamori, this is the place. Look for the English sign at the bottom of the steps. If you can't speak Japanese, ask your accommodation owner to call and order the yakiniku course (¥3500 per person) as it must be ordered in advance.
reviewed
-
Eifuku Shokudō
This hole in the wall is plastered with write-ups from old editions of Lonely Planet. It's also a shrine to 1950s actor Akagi 'Tony' Kei-ichirō. Tony Soba, as it's known, is one of the cheapest places on the island for yaeyama-soba (thin noodles in broth; ¥300), though we recommend the stinky (but tasty) yagi-soba (goat soba; ¥500).
reviewed
-
Dō-rai
In the centre of Sonai is this delightful little Okinawan izakaya that serves local specialities like ishigakigyū-sutēki (Ishigaki-style steak; ¥1300) and rafutē (gingered, stewed pork; ¥700). It's about 100m southeast of the post office in Sonai. Look for the blue and white sign on the brick wall.
reviewed
-
E
Daichi Makishi Kōsetsu Ichiba
We highly recommend a meal at one of the eateries on the 2nd floor of this food market. Just have a look at what the locals are eating and grab a seat.
reviewed
-
Chūzan
This popular izakaya is a great spot that offers a variety of locally caught seafood. You can't go wrong with the sashimi-moriawase (sashimi assortment; ¥1000), which washes down perfectly with a tall glass of nama-biiru (draught beer; ¥250). Service can be a little slow. Look for the green carpeted steps outside.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Asian Kitchen KAPI
Next door to Mori-no-Kokage (look for the English sign), this trendy Pan-Asian bistro is a good choice if your Japanese is limited. In addition to the local cuisine, KAPI also offers an impressive range of Asian favourites, from Korean-style hotpots to fiery Indonesian curries.
reviewed
-
Ashibiunā
Perfect for lunch after touring Shuri-jō castle, Ashibiuna has a traditional ambiance and serves staple set meals like gōyā-champurū (bitter melon stir-fry; ¥840) and okinawa-soba (¥840) around a picturesque garden. Facing the entrance to the Kankai-mon gate, turn left and follow the road until just before the intersection. It will be on your right with a black and white sign and plants over the gate.
reviewed
