CONTRIBUTED BY ELIZA GROFF

We worked up an appetite on our weekend expedition exploring the Nakagusuku Castle Ruins and Nakamura House. While those are both worthwhile cultural visits, our meal at Bangasa in the Plaza House Shopping Center was equally as impressive. Bangasa is a Japanese restaurant featuring both Western table seating and recessed tatami mat seating. We arrived just after 2:00 p.m., which is that weird time when restaurants close between serving lunch and dinner. We actually intended to go to Krishna next door, but they were closed for the 3-hour afternoon break. We got lucky, because right next door was this fantastic café.

As you approach the restaurant from the outside, you see the yin and yang door curtains, meant to brush off the evil spirits as you pass through the doorway. Upon entering, you see a clay dragon pot fermenting Awamori, and a couple of other Okinawan specialty crafts displayed: a crab mural made of sea glass, hand painted Shisa tiles and Shisa statues, pottery flower vases with the openings in the shape of Okinawa, paper cranes, paper umbrellas, horse figurines out of clay, and some signs written in kanji. There is even a spikey shell like those used to ward off evil and bring good luck that are often placed on the gates to Okinawan homes. They also had art for sale on the walls – mostly water colors of traditional Okinwan homes, typhoon trees like those in Bise, and dragon boats in the beru (the Great Wave of Kanagawa) blue water roped to the coastline.

We chose to sit at a Western style table, and we picked our lunches from the kanji picture menu. There was not an English menu, so you have to be a little adventurous, or speak a little Japanese to know what you are getting. Luckily, we were pleased with our set menu orders. I got a cold green noodle soba dish with a raw quail egg, vegetable and shrimp tempura, and some various kinds of sushi. I loved the chewy sweetness of the pickled mushroom sushi roll. They were generous with lunch portion sizes, and the coconut gelée with sprinkles was a kiss of pleasure to close the dining experience.

My husband was pleased with his grilled eggplant rice bowl and inari soba served with sweet egg pudding. We were impressed with the meal prices. Hot tea was included, and our lunch total was 2,100 yen. They also offer set menus for more than one person of various kinds of sushi that looked fantastic.

A note to the cold-blooded – Bangasa is air-conditioned in the Western way; my husband loved it, but I found it to be too cool. Bring a sweater, ladies.

The Plaza House Shopping Center is not far from Kadena Gate 2, Plaza’s main gate or the Foster Legion Gate. If you find yourself in Kita-Nakagusuku exploring the village, going to Okinawa Zoo, or simply shopping at the Plaza House, I recommend swinging by this restaurant on the 3^rd floor.  It was a fantastic, convenient, and casual lunch.

Directions: From Kadena Gate 2, Road 20, turn right (south onto 330). The Plaza House Shopping Center is before you get to 85 on the left-hand side.  Bangasa is on the 3rd floor.

Address: 3-1-12 Kubota Okinawa City Okinawa

Map Coordinates: 26.3197637, 127.79401529999996

Phone: 098-930-1910

Hours: 11:30 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. (Last order 10:00 p.m.)

Payment: Yen or credit card

CONTRIBUTED BY ANTHONY CAMINA

Charming atmosphere, hospitable owners, and creative craftwork await you alongside some delicious meals at Igokochiya Izakaya. The restaurant is a new addition along the 329 in Yaka and stands out due to the in-house woodworked signs, décor, and furniture.

Both times I have visited, I was warmly greeted by the owner, Mina-san who is very welcoming and speaks a decent amount of English. She is very attentive and is willing and ready to answer any questions about the menu or Izakaya in general. The other owner, Midori-san smiled and waved from the kitchen but is usually busy preparing the meals.

Menu – click to enlarge

The majority of items on the dinner menu are Okinawan-themed with a bit of the owners’ own touches to make things interesting. I ordered the Yakebuta Soba which is a savory onion and leek soup with thinly sliced pieces of smoked pork. If you have been on-island any length of time you may be soba’d out, but I recommend giving this dish a try as it was quite tasty and different enough to stand out among traditional Okinawa Soba.

My wife was feeling more adventurous and ordered the Obanzai set which is comprised of a collection of various serving cups which contained a mini bowl of soba, fried tofu in caramelized potato starch, white rice, egg carrot and lotus root salad, sautéed eggplant,  sautéed mushrooms with pork and cabbage. Both sets were a generous amount of food considering they were only 800 and 950 yen respectively.

After our great dinner experience we decided that “in the name of science” we would return for lunch so we could write a more complete review. Of course a few weeks would go by until this actually happened and after returning we noticed a great deal more English posted on signs and on the menu. It was also very evident that Mina-san had been working very hard on her English as she perfectly described the items on the lunch menu from memory.

My wife had the subata set which was a sweet and sour pork stir fry with onion, bell pepper, and carrots. On the same plate as the stir fry were garlic pasta, potato salad, and salad with sesame dressing. The meal was accompanied by a bowl of white rice and a cup of egg drop soup. It was a ton of food for only 750 yen.

I went with the “special of the day” which happened to be the tempura set. With this set I got tempura, a bowl of sauce for dipping, white rice, pickled sliced plums, and some yummy miso soup. Considering I was stuffed to the gills it was a heck of a deal since my meal was only 500 yen. You can’t even get a value meal that cheap anymore.

If while dining you happen to take a liking to any of the décor in the Izakaya, Mina-san has a showroom filled with handmade crafts that are all for sale. The showroom is worth a look and will give you a chance to walk off a little of your meal before you have to squeeze behind your steering wheel after such generous portions.

Hours: Lunch 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., Dinner 6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Payment: At the time of this writing, the Izakaya only can accept Yen.

Phone: 09087989045

Directions: From the 6 Expressway exit in Ishikawa drive north toward Camp Hansen. When you get to Yaka you will see a concrete factory on the left. Igokochiya is across the street on the right, or side of the road closest to the ocean. Park under the tall large pavilion.

Address: 2600 Yaka, Kin-chō, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa-ken, Japan

Map Coordinates: 26.442936, 127.847493

CONTRIBUTED BY KASSIE O’DRISCOLL

About two months ago, my friend Manami introduced me to her friends, Wakako & Tsukasa. She told me about their dessert cafe in Naha and how it was famous for crepes. During our conversation, we had a pretty intense exchange about the difference between American cupcakes vs muffins. It was both hysterical and amazing, and by the end of the night I knew I had to find my way to their cafe.

Picture this: A month or so later, I was exploring Naha for some handmade goodness and, naturally, I was completely lost. With hopes of finding the street that my map was telling me existed, I turned off of Kokusai Street down a random side street. There it was, the “Sweets Cafe O’Crepe” sign on the side of the road. I’m not even sure how I remembered that that was the name of the restaurant, but I immediately pulled over! It was destiny!

I got a friendly greeting from Tsukasa when I walked in and I took in all that is O’Crepe. It’s a charming little cafe on the second floor that’s been completely decorated by Wakako. I chose the seat by the big window, where you can look over a small schoolyard and take in the Kokusai area from above.

There’s a small table right with some handmade goods for sale and a nice book that I think was made for their opening anniversary. While I waited for my crepe, I flipped through the book and saw my two friends, Homary and Manami, were featured in the back and had signed it! Super cool!

After having a delicious chocolate, rice flour crepe with tasty fresh fruit, I vowed to bring my friends back here the first chance that I got! Luckily for me, that chance came up just a few a week later. Yay for me!

The second time around, we had time to enjoy lunch AND dessert – what a concept! O’Crepe has three lunch set options: a pork sandwich, green curry, and an omelet that are all made by Tsukasa’s mother. With the set, we got shrimp spring rolls and a pumpkin potato salad. You can also choose from coffee or tea.

I ordered the pork sandwich, which was a nice combination between salty bacon and fresh veggies. It was on a crunchy baguette with a light mustard and was just enough to leave me satisfied.

My friend, Michelle, let me try her green curry and I was happily surprised. It wasn’t the typical Japanese curry. Instead, it had a coconut milk base (so we think) and was light! Interesting and oishii!

Then, to my delight, everyone was given a miniature crepe for dessert. My friends were surprised that it was a rice flour crepe and loved that there was a little crunch within the filling. Also, can we just talk about how tiny that fork and knife are?! Adorable!

Overall, both trips to O’Crepe have left me happy and eager to return! I will go back every chance that I get!!

Address: 沖縄県那覇市松尾2-6-12 2階

Phone: 098-868-3113

Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. Closed Wednesday and the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of the month

Map Coordinates: 26.2146651, 127.68675889999997

CONTRIBUTED BY MEGAN WATERS

Awase Sanchome is my favorite ramen spot on Okinawa. A bold statement, I know. But having sampled about a half dozen ramen spots around the island, I can say with some confidence that this place is the best. Sanchome is set up as a typical ramen shop: a bar that seats 6 or so, and a few tables that in total can accommodate about 20.

It’s a true locals place; my husband and I go at least once a week, and we’ve only ever seen two non-Japanese people there besides us. The owner is a very sweet woman who is a big fan of jazz music, which always plays over the speakers, and American paraphernalia, as seen by the various decorations of U.S. license plates, old signs for Route 66, and toy locomotives. Although the staff does not speak much English at all, there is an English menu available and so we’ve never had any difficulties with communication.

Now, on to the food. On the menu are three choices of absolutely delicious, piping hot ramen—salt, soy, or miso broth, with the usual fixin’s—which range from 600-700 yen. Toppings can be added to any soup for about 100 yen—hard-boiled egg, extra pork, extra niri (dry seaweed), corn, extra noodles, spicy miso, etc.

In addition to the ramen, Sanchome serves excellent gyoza made with local pork and a superb green dipping sauce that I believe is made from shikwasa (citrus similar to a lime). You can also order kimchi, which has a really nice kick to it but isn’t overly spicy, either a small dish for 100 yen or rice topped with kimchi for around 450 yen. There is a limited selection of drinks, including beer. My favorite meal is the miso ramen with an egg, and a side of gyoza or kimchi depending on how hungry I am.

If I have a craving for ramen (which is often), no other shop can satisfy. I think it’s all in the broth. I have such an obsession with this place that I recently googled ramen recipes to see if I should just start making it at home. Turns out that good ramen takes 15 hours to make. Now I know why it’s so delicious, and I’m just going to leave this one to the experts.

Finally, Sanchome offers reward cards, which is really useful for me: purchase 5 meals and your 6th bowl of ramen is half off.

Hours: Lunch 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Dinner 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Closed Tuesday dinner and all day Wednesday

Payment: Yen only

Phone: 098-934-0155

Address: 〒904-2172 沖縄県沖縄市泡瀬3-39-15

Directions: From Foster Legion Gate, once out the gate, turn left onto Route 330. Follow 330 for 3km until you come to the intersection with Route 85. Turn right on 85 and stay on this for 4.3 km (down the hill, through the tunnel, and into Awase). At the 4km mark is the intersection with Route 20/85. Don’t turn; keep straight through the light. Awase Sanchome is 0.3km further down on your right. You’ll see a black/white/red sign with both kanji and “Awase Sanchome” and a little parking lot with four spots. If the lot is full, just park on the street.

Map Coordinates: 26.3147174, 127.8344194

CONTRIBUTED BY ANTHONY CAMINA

To most Americans, family-friendly and Kin town are not synonymous terms. There is a new establishment in Kin which is hoping to dispel that misconception by offering a delicious oasis of creative flavor in an atmosphere that caters to patrons of all ages. This culinary delight is Café Del Cielo which sits high above the 329 and overlooks Kin town and Camp Hansen.

The unique perspective of Café Del Cielo adds to the laid back beach cottage in a tree house vibe of the entire establishment. The interior of the Café is also very spacious and even has child-friendly amenities such as high chairs, an impressive playroom, and even a crib.

All the child-friendly items would not amount to much if the food was not able to impress, and fortunately it delivers on many levels. My wife and I noticed the signs and decided to park in the municipal lot adjacent to Hansen gate one and pop over for dinner. I will have to admit that the name of the Café is a bit deceiving. I was really expecting some version of Mexican or Spanish cuisine but was surprised that the menu mainly contained western or Italian-themed food.

My wife ordered one of the dinner courses, which range from rib steak with onion sauce to chicken stewed in red wine, to name but a few. We ordered the lamb chop with blueberry sauce since we were feeling adventurous. The dinner was a no-kidding five course meal. It consisted of an antipasto, any pasta on the menu, main dish, salad, and desert.

The antipasto was an avocado and tuna tartar in which the tuna was marinated in a way that gave it a savory flavor.

We ordered the puttanesca as our pasta dish and it was very good, but a little on the spicy hot side. If you like heat to your food than this is your dish.

The lamb chops were perfectly cooked. I personally am not a fan of the gamey-flavored meats like goat or lamb, but the blueberry sauce and rosemary did an impressive job in neutralizing a lot of the wild taste.

Next up was a tomato and pepper salad with garlic vinaigrette, which may sound very exotic, but was very tasty.

The course ended with a cup of coffee and a benimo tart which both hit the spot.

It is also worth mentioning that the course sets come with a beverage of choice and can be a glass of wine, beer, or mixed drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic). My wife and I are not big into alcohol and just ordered iced teas. All this food was fairly priced at 2700 yen. Honestly, I have to say that you will not find a better course set offered anywhere in the area; it even rivals the upscale options over at Jack’s Place on Kadena.

I was not as hungry that night, so I just ordered the cream sauce omurice (smoked chicken and mushrooms). The portion size was generous to say the least. The egg omelette was perfectly cooked and the cream sauce was absolutely fantastic. It was a hearty plate of smoky, creamy goodness which I will definitely be going back for. This plate was also a very good value at only 750 yen and comes out very fast from the kitchen.

Once again, in the name of science, we returned for a sampling of the lunch menu. You can order anything off the dinner menu for lunch but the real value is in the lunch sets. You have the option of ordering the pasta or omurice as a lunch set for 850 yen.

My lunch started with an onion soup, house salad, carbonara penne pasta, drink and desert. Everything was just as flavorful and artfully presented as the dinner dishes, but at a fraction of the price.

My wife got the lunch special, which was the Ahi Poke Don set. It was a tuna avocado concoction on a bed of semisweet rice that was fresh, bright and healthy.

I also have to make special mention of the brownie desert served at the end. It was probably one of the best I have had to date. The texture was silky smooth and the chocolate had just the right amount of sweetness to balance with the taste of the cocoa without overpowering the dish. It was sweeter than most Japanese desserts, but not as sugary as most of the artery petrifying confections found on base.

The owner of Del Cielo is Naoya Masaki-san, who previously worked at Camp Hansen’s Palms and Gold Hall in Kin. After lots of hard work and savings, he finally decided to realize his dream and set up a shop of his own in Kin Town. He is completely self-taught and makes nearly every item from scratch, which is impressive when you consider this requires not only cooking but baking as well. Naoya-san speaks very good English and is very attentive and charismatic.

He and his staff also provide impeccable customer service and work hard to ensure patrons have as perfect a dining experience as possible. The casual atmosphere and near four star quality food will make this writer a regular of Café Del Cielo for a long time to come. See you there!

Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. weekdays, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m. weekends. Closed New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Takeout OK.

Payment: U.S. dollars or yen. No credit cards.

Phone: 098-968-2844

Website: Café Restaurante Del Cielo

Address: 4250-1 Kin, Kin-chō, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa-ken, Japan

Directions: From the Okinawa Expressway Exit 8 go north toward Camp Hansen. Just before getting to Camp Hansen Gate 1 is a gated municipal free parking lot. I recommend that you park here. Café Del Cielo will be across the street from Camp Hansen’s main gate, about a half block north of the main crosswalk.

Map Coordinates: 26.454014, 127.917026

CONTRIBUTED BY KASSIE O’DRISCOLL

You guys, I have to tell you about this love affair of mine. It’s with soup curry and, recently, I found a new restaurant that I really enjoy! I first heard about soup curry from my sister, who lived in Japan for a while, and encouraged me to learn how to make it upon finding out we were moving to Oki. It was her favorite while she was here and originated from Hokkaido, Japan’s second-largest island. That’s all she could tell me (besides all of the amazing details about how delicious it was)… so the search for the experts on the matter began.

Danian offers Sapporo soup curry and they have three options – veggie, chicken, or pork. I’ve tried the chicken twice and my sister had the veggie. I love the large pieces of veggies that they put into all of the broth and I appreciated that it doesn’t come spicy. Instead, they give you red pepper paste to add to it yourself.

I should mention that they also sell pancakes, but I haven’t tried them so I can’t speak on how good they are. I will say that if they compare at all to the soup, they’ll be oishii!

My love for soup curry first started with Ajitoya, a small soup restaurant near our house. We still frequent Ajitoya often, but I have to admit that it’s nice to have another option to give me my “fix” when I need it! Danian’s building, like many of my favorite restaurants, is old US military base housing. However, they’ve found a way to make it their own and it’s got a unique, relaxed vibe.

The restaurant is pet-friendly (there’s a small patio where, I assume, all pets and their owners can sit), they offer take out, and are close to a plethora of other restaurants. I’ve mentioned Monoca numerous times and Danian is right down the street. The view is nice, too, overlooking Ginowan!

To the left and right are the signs at the entrance to the restaurant.

Below, the sign you’ll see at the parking area for Cafe Monoca.

Directions: From Foster Legion Gate, go straight through the intersection. Go under the expressway and turn right at the first light (the CoCo intersection). Take that road up the hill. When you come to a funky curve at the Onishi Terrace Golf Course, curve to the right. Cross over 146 and, at the fork just after the intersection, stay to the right. You will pass Monoca and Cupcakes and Scones on the right. At a weird, forking intersection stay to the left. Follow the pizza signs (it actually looks like a pizza) and A Danian Cafe is next door. It will be on the right.

Address: 638-1 Adaniya, Kitanakagusuku-son, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa-ken, Japan

Map Coordinates: 26.2920162, 127.7929828

Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; limited hours on Wednesday, closed Thursday

Payment: Yen Only

CONTRIBUTED BY JASON ANNIS

What was once a traditional Okinawan Tea House has been transformed into a charming restaurant called Bari Bari. For something that just opened up in late October 2014, it has quickly become the go-to taco joint. When a restaurant has only one menu item, you know it has to be good.

They serve four delicious tacos with fresh mild or hot salsa for just 550 yen. Your choices of beverages include Orion beer for 300 yen or Pepsi, orange soda, or tea for 150 yen. They also brought us a complimentary dish of fried dough sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.

With comfortable seating and a great view, I think this place will soon be one of Ginowan’s best places to eat.

Bari Bari is conveniently located only one mile from the Futenma main gate. The Ginowan Convention Center & Tropical Beach are just a few blocks away.

Hours: Open daily 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Payment: Yen or dollars accepted, no cards. Takeout available.

Phone: 098-898-9889

Directions: From Foster go out gate 5 (the commissary gate) and take a left onto Highway 58. Go down 3.2 Kilometers. After passing Nitori furniture store (on your right) turn right at the next stop light with a large purple, green and white Onishi Housing Company apartment building on your left side. Drive down 180 meters and the restaurant will be on your right side at the first stop light you come to. There is parking for up to four cars in front of the building, and limited street parking.

Address: 6 Chome-9-6 Ōyama, Ginowan-shi, Okinawa-ken, Japan

Map Coordinates: 26.27523158282226, 127.73940274603274

CONTRIBUTED BY ELIZA GROFF

If you find yourself on Hamahiga for a day of kayaking, kite surfing, or other adventures, I recommend that you splurge and spend 500 yen on Okinawa soba from this local restaurant. They don’t have an English menu or an English speaking staff, but the food was phenomenal.

My husband and I ordered two bowls of Okinawa soba by pointing to a photo advertisement of the special feature at the outdoor ordering window, and then plopped down on a comfy vinyl loveseat overlooking the café’s fish farm and the bridge looking back towards Henza Island. Our Okinawa soba was topped with green onions, pickled ginger, and three different kinds of succulent pork – one canned, one sausage, and one cut. They also had fresh fried butterfish, and several other pictures features to choose from – for the non-Japanese speaking adventurer.

This café boasts a great location with indoor or outdoor seating, both western-style and Japanese-style. They also sell locally pickled seaweed, three types of brown sugar, salt, and local wares such as hand-crafted key chains. It was very casual, cheap and delicious. Our food came out within minutes, and we were amazed by the sweet and tangy flavor of the broth. It was the best Okinawa soba that I’ve had in my year here in Okinawa thus far!

This place is not frequented by many tourists, indicated by the lack of English everything; Japanese menu, Japanese-speaking only staff – no subtitles to be found anywhere. That was part of the charm of the whole place. It reminded me of a sea-side café in Newport, Oregon, with the raw wood, casual patio seating and smiling staff. I immediately felt at home while devouring my tasty soba noodles!

Hours: Unknown (Editor’s Note: if you know, please comment below and we will add them!)

Phone: 098-977-7905

Address: 72-2 Katsurenhama, Uruma, Okinawa

Directions: From Yonashiro, take 10 towards Hensa Island. Before you get to Hamahiga, take a right on 238. When you get to Hamahiga, the road comes to a T. Take a right and follow that around until the road is about to take a hard left. The café is across from the fish farm and dock on the left hand side. You can also find this café by typing in the phone number 098-977-7905 into Google Maps.

Map Coordinates: 26.3270064, 127.95190809999997

CONTRIBUTED BY LAURA SNELL

I’ve never had so many pancakes as I have here in Okinawa. I’m used to the ones at Coffee Casa, small perfect sized pancakes that don’t leave you super full. The experience at the Hawaiian pancake house was much different.

First, I recommend going early. The first time I went and tried to order the most popular dish (the Macadamia Nut Cream Pancakes) they had already sold out of them for the day! I settled for some chocolate chip pancakes that were pretty amazing! When I finally went back I was able to get the Macadamia nut ones. They didn’t disappoint (even for a non-pancake lover like myself)!

The portions are good, you can also get things added on such as Spam, bacon, an egg, and typical breakfast items. This is a great stop on your way to Nago for the day, or just as a special occasion to get in the car and drive for some pancakes!

If you go during “peak” hours there will likely be a wait, so you sign your name in the book and wait on the benches that they have outside.

As is with most things here in Japan, presentation is key. They leave no detail overlooked. The plating is beautiful but not complex. The Macadamia Nut Cream Pancakes are plated with sliced banana, just the right amount!

Hours: 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Phone: 098-966-1154

Payment: Yen

Address: 698 Serakaki, Onna-son, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture 904-0404, Japan

Directions: From Kadena gate 1, turn right on 58 heading north along the coastline toward Nago. When you pass the ANA hotel it will be on your left hand side (parking is a lot on the left hand side of the street). Very easy to see and park.

Map Coordinates: 26.5089792, 127.87232470000004

Website: Paanilani: Hawaiian Pancake House

CONTRIBUTED BY KASSIE O’DRISCOLL

A few weekends ago, I was finally able to indulge in some delicious breakfast food at C&C Breakfast. It was my sister-in-law’s birthday and we wanted to go explore. Best place to start? How about some french toast with fresh fruit, homemade whipped cream, and strawberry syrup?!

I had first heard about this place from a blogger friend, Carola, who had written about a great vegan meal she’d had from there with some friends. I put it on my “must eat” least and, weeks later, stumbled upon it one day while exploring Kokusai Street. I didn’t have time to actually eat that day, but I now knew where it was and vowed to return!

When Jenn and I made it there for brunch, I was so excited! Everything on the menu looks absolutely delicious. We had a little trouble narrowing down our favorites, but ultimately decided on the french toast and salmon eggs benedict. We definitely let our eyes speak instead of our stomachs and also got an order of pancakes and a green smoothie for each of us. I wasn’t kidding when I said I was able to indulge!!

Photo from C&C’s website

We were not disappointed! The pancakes had blueberries in the batter and the french toast had raisins (I think they were raisins – regardless… delish!). Each of these dishes came smothered in fresh fruit and had maple syrup in the tiniest little “pitcher” on the side.

The eggs benedict was just as tasty as it was beautiful, from what Jenn told me. As for the green smoothies, they were really good. I’m very picky when it comes to healthy “green stuff” and I would order this if I went back tomorrow.

Photo from C&C’s website

The restaurant is small, yet charming. Naturally, seating is limited. We were lucky to get a table right away (the last one available), despite the fact that we were there on a Saturday. If you do have to wait, be patient… it’ll be worth it! Also, if you’re not a breakfast person or looking for more lunch-ish options, they have plenty of that on their menu.

The service was spectacular and, like so many of my favorite cafes, you barely hear any noise coming from the kitchen. How do they do that?! This is such a welcomed change from the fast-paced, gimmicky restaurants that you find so often on Kokusai St. and I definitely recommend it the next time you’re in the area or if you’re looking for a comforting, “feels-like-home” kind of meal!

Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, Closed Tuesdays. 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Weekends & Holidays

Payment: Yen Only

Address: Japan, Okinawa Prefecture, Naha, Matsuo, 2 Chome−9−6

Directions: Take Expressway to Exit 1. Turn right onto 82 after exiting the Expressway. Turn left on 29. Take 29 to Kokusai Street and turn left. At the 4th light, turn left. It’s a small street so be careful! Drive down a small hill and you’ll turn left again. You’ll be right by a playground and school. You’ll see a parking lot on the left. Park there. Then, walk out of the parking lot and turn left. C&C Breakfast will be just before you reach the covered road and it’ll be on the right.

Map Coordinates: 26.215054, 127.68799490000004

CONTRIBUTED BY ELIZA GROFF

Okinawa Hai has long had a write-up on Café Natura near Camp Foster Legion Gate, but there is another Café Natura worth a visit much nearer to Torii Station. This Café Natura is under different ownership, and thus the feel of the café is very different.

When you walk in the door, there is a gate that stretches across a small inner doorway to ensure that none of the three kitty cats escape into the street. Air filtering plants like pothos hang from the walls, and flowers, fish, driftwood and coral pieces make up most of the décor. Each table is adorned with Ryukyu glass holding napkins and toothpicks.

The one room dining area is tiny, seating maybe 15 people. The largest table size seats four people. It is perfect for an intimate lunch date, or for conversation with a few friends, but not a great place for a big party, unless you plan to arrive early and take up the whole place.

Café Natura specializes in hamburger steaks and pancakes, with homemade delicious drinks such as their hot shiquasa juice. My husband and I are not big meat eaters, so we opted for the pancakes.

I chose the pancakes topped with homemade apple butter and cinnamon confiture. My husband had the daily special, which was made with dragon fruit sauce and ice cream. The pancakes were typical of the Okinawan style – two light and fluffy pancakes near seven inches in diameter with a light creamy texture. On the side, they include a dollop of decadent whipped cream, my favorite part of the pancakes!

This corner café is unique because it is run out of an Okinawan family’s home. They have converted the front room and the kitchen into a café, with taste and ingenuity.

Menu – click to enlarge

Hours: 11:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday-Saturday, closed Sundays

Phone: 098-989-9755

Address: 904-0314 Okinawa, Nakagami district, Yomitan, Furugen, 868-2

Directions: Café Natura is near the Starbucks on the 58 bypass and 16. From Starbucks, go east on 16 for about two blocks until you come to a stoplight. Café Natura is on the corner on the left hand side at the stoplight. Follow the signs for parking around the corner. You can also type their phone number, 098-989-9755 into Google Maps and it will take you directly to the café.

Menu – click to enlarge

Map Coordinates: 26.3709274, 127.74988039999994

CONTRIBUTED BY KYLE

Burrito lovers rejoice! If you are anything like me, one of the main food items you miss from the States is good burritos, or more specifically Qdoba and/or Chipotle. A large helping of meat and rice with fresh veggies piled on top and all wrapped up in a layer of goodness that is the flour tortilla. So you can imagine my joy in discovering Rollup. My wife and I have been on this island for two years already, and having already tried Tortilla Factory, I swear that Rollup is the closest thing we have found to the aforementioned restaurants on all of Okinawa. Located a short drive from Kadena on the Sunabe Seawall, Rollup is sure to satisfy all of your burrito cravings in a quick and cheap way!

Though I have always ordered my food to go at Rollup, there is seating for “ten” inside, though it would probably be a squeeze for all ten seats to be occupied. The owner, Hide, though camera-shy, is hard to miss with his big smile and tell-tale goatee. He speaks very good English and is happy to answer any questions you may have. The menu is very simple; you have a choice of eight different types of burritos, with the option to upgrade to a combo with a drink, (midly) spicy chicken nuggets, or both. My favorite burrito to get at Chipotle was always the steak, and the story is no different here, while my wife is loyal to the chicken teriyaki burrito, both of which are delicious.

A comparison of the 12-inch and 9-inch burrito

Piled high with fresh veggies!

Once a burrito selection is made, you are given a choice of different types of rice, salsa, and sauces to top your burrito. The burritos are then loaded with cheese, lettuce, red cabbage, corn, tomatoes, and cilantro. Each burrito is, of course, fully customizable, although some ingredients of the topping bar, such as sour cream and guacamole will cost you an extra 100 yen. You can also make use of a small selection of hot sauces to accompany your burrito, with spiciness ranging from mild to deadly.

Oishii!

A word on the chicken nuggets: They are all-white meat, mildly spicy, and very delicious! They go perfectly with the burritos served here.

Menu – click to enlarge

And that’s it! You are now ready to enjoy the best burritos on Okinawa. While Rollup is currently closed on Mondays, Hide tells me that they plan on moving to a seven days a week schedule in early 2015, and they plan on introducing a breakfast burrito to the menu. I for one cannot wait!

Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.; CLOSED Mondays although that should change soon!

Payment: Yen and cash currently accepted. (Hide is in the works of getting a card machine.)

Phone: 098-926-5068

Address: 2-198 Miyagi Chatan-Cho Okinawa 904-0113

Menu – click to enlarge

Directions: From Kadena Gate 1, go straight through the light and weave around Family Mart to continue to the Seawall. Go straight until you hit the Seawall (By Sidelines) and make a right. You will see Rollup a few blocks down on your right.

Map Coordinates: 26.3303679, 127.74341779999997

Facebook Page: Rollup Burrito

CONTRIBUTED BY KASSIE O’DRISCOLL

From 2 Jerks’ Facebook Page

A few weeks ago, I participated in the NIOSC Amazing Race with my husband, Mark, and our friends, John and Alisha. One of the destinations was 2 Jerks, a Caribbean restaurant that took me back to my days spent in Priory, Jamaica with the old Rend Lake College crew!

From 2 Jerks’ Facebook Page

We were skillful (or lucky, you decide) enough to win two dinner certificates to … you guessed it, 2 Jerks! Mark and I, eagerly, went back the following weekend with a friend. We weren’t disappointed! The restaurant is cozy with an island feel and the owners make you feel welcomed from the time you walk in until you leave.

I ordered jerk chicken and Mark ordered the combo meal, which was jerk chicken and chicken curry with rice and beans. Incredibly flavorful and delicious!  He also makes his own spiced rum. Seriously, imagine this place on a nice day… sitting on the patio, enjoying a cocktail, and having some spicy jerk chicken.

From 2 Jerks’ Facebook Page

All this restaurant needs is Jamaican Festival and it would be complete, but don’t be confused … I have no complaints! I will be back and I will continue to brag for them. It’s good food, people!

Photo from Courtney Fest

Hours: Wednesday & Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Friday – Sunday: 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Payment: Yen or Dollars Accepted

Phone: 098-989-9563

Address: 103 Enobi, Uruma-shi, Okinawa-ken 904-2205, Japan

Directions: From Kadena Gate 2, go straight on 20, then left on 330. Take 330 to 329 and turn left on 329. When 329 splits, take the right turn. Shortly after passing over the 8 intersection, 2 Jerks will be on the left. If you come to the light after 8, you’ve gone too far.

Map Coordinates: 26.3933352, 127.8323514

CONTRIBUTED BY ANNA WISHERD

Menu – click to enlarge

Since moving on island this past August, we have been in search of a pizza joint that serves delicious food and made fresh to order. A neighbor suggested this pizza place she had wanted to try that is located on the way to and from the airport. After picking up my hubby from the airport, we decided to stop off at Napoli Pizzeria Bar for lunch. The pizza and pasta we ordered were so good that we returned again two weeks later with some family friends after flying home from a Christmas vacation trip from Taiwan.

The place was easily accessible off the main road on Route 331 and there are a few parking spots right in front of the corner location. Upon entering, there is a shelf of different types of wines. The place has several tables, enough to accommodate our party of 10 with no problem. There is also comfortable sofa chair seating with coffee tables to enjoy your drinks or meal along the windows that face the street. Placed in the center of the restaurant is a wood-fired pizza oven and a small bar off to the side, which has a variety of drinks, coffees, and alcoholic beverages.

Our group ordered several pizzas to share: Quattro Formaggi, Diavola, Prosciutto, Margherita, and Salsiccia. They cost about Y500-Y600 and were about a medium-sized American pizza. You will see the owner, Romano, an Italian/French chef tossing pizza dough in the air and adding fresh ingredients before baking it right in the wood-fired oven. We also decided to try a dish of gnocchi that was utterly amazing.

For dessert, the kids tried a variety of gelato flavors and the adults shared some tiramisu and cream cheesecake paired with Americano coffee and café lattes. I promise you, this place will not disappoint. After eating the different types of pizza on island, to include Domino’s or Anthony’s … you’ll want to stop here every chance you can get.

Hours: Daily 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 a.m. (Lunch served 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Dinner served 3:00 p.m. – 4:00a.m.)

Phone: 098-851-9353

Payment: Yen or credit card

Address: Japan 〒901-0145 Okinawa-ken, Naha-shi, Takara, 3 Chome−3−15

Directions: From any of the northern bases (Kadena, Foster, Camp Courtney), take the expressway south and follow the signs to the Naha airport. Once you get on Route 331, Napoli Pizzeria Bar will be on your right side.

Map Coordinates: 26.1909834, 127.65930950000006

Website: Napoli Pizzeria Bar

CONTRIBUTED BY ALLI M.

If you find yourself down in Naha and don’t have an idea of where to stop and eat, you can try Akebono Ramen. I think this is a place where the local businessmen come to grab a bite to eat. It reminds me of an American sub shop during lunch hour – filled with businessmen and construction workers looking to make a quick pit stop. Although they do not speak English, they have great customer service.

The picture above is of the inside of the restaurant. Their menu is written in Kanji! The menu is displayed all over the walls and even from the ceiling. Great, “how do we order…?” You get creative. We stood up, walked the server outside to the food display window, and pointed to something that looked good. She was so happy that we were able to communicate with each other, despite the language barrier!

Below is a picture of our food. I ordered Yakisoba (sautéed noodles) and Mike ordered the fried chicken. They were both delicious!

I wish we could read Kanji, because there are TONS of food options. We were limited by the outdoor food window display. All of the food that people at other tables had ordered was not in the window display, which means there’s a lot of good stuff on that menu! Next time I think I’ll just point to one of the menu banners behind me, or point to someone’s food at another table!

Hours: 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.

Payment: Yen only

Phone: 098-857-4101

Address: ‪1-4-3 Akamine, Naha 901-0154, Okinawa Prefecture

Directions: Take the 58 south all the way down toward Naha airport. Follow the signs to stay on the 331. When you hit the 231, turn left on that street. Turn left at the second light and it is on your left hand side.

Map Coordinates: 26.1940999, 127.66290359999994

Website: Akebono Ramen Oroku on TripAdvisor. It is very reasonably priced, but Yen only.

CONTRIBUTED BY BRONSON ROBINSON

Have you ever eaten at a new restaurant and enjoyed it so much that you wanted to tell everyone about it, and then immediately you decided that this was a bad idea and you didn’t want to tell anyone so as to keep it all to yourself? Well, this is exactly what I experienced after eating at Gozza for the first time.

Gozza has been in town for about six months now, and for the last three months, my wife and I have been enjoying their food routinely. It wasn’t until recently that I decided to finally share this hidden gem with the rest of the population.

Photo courtesy of Gozza

I asked the owner/head chef what type of food he would classify his restaurant as and he explained that he didn’t want to box himself (and restaurant) into one specific genre or category and that he preferred to offer many different dishes from many different categories. It was immediately apparent to us the first time we ate there that it was a special place (which is somewhat rare in Okinawa, in my opinion), but after hearing the owner (who recently moved here from mainland Japan with his wife) describe his style of cooking and not wanting to limit his tastes and creativity to a particular style, it just solidified to us the level of individual we were dealing with and his passion for cooking.

Photo courtesy of Gozza

The chef said he worked at a fancy Cajun restaurant in Osaka which is where he got his passion for creating Cajun-styled dishes and for thinking outside the box, but if I had to try and put Gozza into a category myself I would say it is world cuisine. There are some French dishes, some Italian dishes, even a Spanish dish or two, but all sort of put together in that way that Japanese do.

There are over 40 dishes to choose from on their normal dinner menu, not including dessert. Most of their plates are about the same size of if not a little larger than your average tapas plate found in the states and are good to share between two people. The average price per plate is between 450 yen and 850 yen. My wife and I usually eat 4-5 plates plus a glass of wine for her and the bill is around 3,000 – 4,000 yen (depending on what exactly we ordered of course).

The atmosphere is cozy and would be a great spot for a date or a social get together (we have done both here). The thing we love about the place is that it is off the beaten path. Oh yeah, and the food is excellent; did I mention that yet?

Their English speaking skills are limited and they do not take credit card, however their menu is written in both Japanese and English and contains many pictures. I haven’t had any difficulties understanding what is in the dish and/or ordering personally, so I think it is a good place to eat at even if you don’t do Japanese.

Back to Gozza though, I highly recommend trying out this place. My prediction though is that it they are going to get really busy in the future, and if the chef grows from his successes, the food may become fancier and more expensive in the future. My advice is to try it while you can still walk in with no reservation needed.

Some of my personal favorites are their pepper tuna which is like a tataki style tuna with this amazing sauce drizzled over it and some delicious pepper corns on top.

The fried catfish they serve, although a personal American favorite, is the first I’ve ever eaten in Japan and is so much better than any catfish I’ve eaten stateside! They serve it with some homemade pickle tartar-type sauce, which surprisingly really works for me.

Photo courtesy of Gozza

Almost all of their pasta is great, but my favorite was the pescatore. Their anchovy potato wedges are also insanely good.

The Caesar salad with a wet egg on top and big strips of Okinawa pork makes me hungry just thinking about it. They serve pizzas and desserts, both of which I’ve heard are personal favorites of other patrons, however, I’ve just not yet tried them. This place was recently on Japanese TV and their desserts seemed to get half of the 8 minutes of airtime all to themselves from what I recall, so I shall have to try them out sometime; I’m just not a big dessert guy.

Photo courtesy of Gozza

Gozza is set in a unique location with great views and lots of space inside. If timed right you can see the sunset behind Cape Zampa (or Zanpa, depending on who you talk to) in the far distance while eating a delicious dinner. I would say check it out for yourself and pick your own future favorites from the menu.

Photo courtesy of Gozza

Hours: 12:00 p.m. – midnight Wednesday through Monday.  Closed Tuesday.

Payment: Yen only

Phone: 098-923-3137

Address: 2427 Yamada, Onna-son, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa-ken 904-0416, Japan (Parking is no problem)

Directions: From Kadena gate 1, turn right on 58, heading north. Pass routes 16, 6, 12. At the light where you would turn left for Ryukyu Mura, stay straight. You will go through one more intersection, and then when you come to the next intersection after that, turn right. Make your first left and Gozza will be on your left. (Editor’s Note: These directions were written by the editor using the pin below.  If you feel these directions are not up to standard, please submit your own in the comments below and we will be happy to update this post.)

Facebook Page: Gozza

CONTRIBUTED BY KACEY A.

Tucked away on Mibaru Beach, on the southern coast of Okinawa, you’ll find a lovely Nepalese curry stand that’s open ALL YEAR ROUND!

If you need to work up an appetite, there is plenty of room to lounge in the sand, swim in the crystal clear waters, or participate in watersports and glass bottom boat rides from next door rental shops.

You’ll order and pay at the counter (menu is in Japanese and English), and they will call you when your order is ready.

Feel free to bring your meal to the picnic tables in the sand under tents provided, or even to your towel/chairs on the beach. They have a great selection of curries, sides, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. We ordered khima egg curry, vegetable curry, an avocado lassi, and a mango lassie.

Obviously, we loved it.  We weren’t even finished with our meals yet when we started talking about coming back.

Menu – click to enlarge

Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (last order 9:30 p.m.). Closed Tuesday nights, during typhoons, during heavy rain

Phone: 050-5837-2039

Address: Hyakuna-1360 Tamagusuku, Nanjō-shi, Okinawa-ken 901-1400, Japan

Map Coordinates: 26.1337505, 127.78850650000004

Facebook Page: Shokudo Karika

Tabelog: http://tabelog.com/okinawa/A4704/A470403/47011198/

Menu – click to enlarge

CONTRIBUTED BY KASSIE O’DRISCOLL

A new, feel-good restaurant just opened on the Sunabe Seawall and you’re not going to want to miss out on the delicious eats! CC’s Chicken & Waffles is owned by Cody, an American who relocated to Okinawa to be with his wife and start a fresh, new life together.

The new start, eventually, led to the delicious restaurant that we now know as CC’s Chicken and Waffles. The menu is vast, ranging from juicy fried chicken to smokey sausage gravy, and the staff is super friendly! Cody seriously seems to have never met a stranger, which makes him a pretty great restaurant owner considering all of the questions and requests that he’s gotten since opening day.

Today, I chose the pecan waffle and the boneless chicken. The boneless chicken is the size of a boneless chicken breast that you could pick up at the grocery store and is perfectly seasoned… and the crunch! Oh, the chicken is so good! As for the waffle, it’s the perfect combination between soft and crunchy.

Next up is the biscuits and gravy. Mmm, Mmmm, Mmm! I should note that everything that is served is homemade (down to the lemonade). The biscuits are both dense and flaky. The gravy has a distinct smoky flavor with a mildly spicy sausage. It reminded me of the gravy from a down-home-country restaurant in the states.

All of the sides are generous portions, definitely enough to share with another person (maybe three people if you’re a healthier portion eater than I am). The mac and cheese is creamy and… velvety (yeah, I said it)… with multiple layers of flavors. They offer cole slaw, too, but I haven’t tried it yet.

The only thing I regret about my trip to CC’s this afternoon is that I didn’t try one of the desserts. My mouth was watering as I read the words, “Sweet Potato Pie.” Man, I should have ordered dessert…

Photo from CC’s Facebook Page

Phone: 098-979-9008

Payment: Yen or Dollars Accepted

Address: 1-68 Miyagi, Chatan-chō, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa-ken 904-0113, Japan

Directions: Make a left out of Kadena Gate 1 and an immediate right at the first light after the turn (it’s right after turning out of the gate). At the 2nd traffic light, make a left. You’ll make your 2nd right – it’s the 2nd major right, not a tiny street. Drive to the Seawall and make a right. CC’s will be on your right about a block and a half. It’s kind of tucked away under an apartment building. You’ll see the below sign on the left-hand side of the road.

Map Coordinates: 26.328153290298197, 127.7448458283111

CONTRIBUTED BY BOB ROBERTS

I recently went to K’s Town Cafe Restaurant and Bar in Yaese-cho and wanted to pass on what a nice little restaurant it is. Inside and out, the restaurant is immaculate in its cleanliness, and the wait staff were very helpful and friendly. The inside is bright with two walls of the building being made entirely of windows. There are also some tables outside on the patio for warmer days. There are live plants evenly spaced around the windows and there was plenty of space between tables, so there was no chance to feel crowded.

The menu is in Japanese only, but there are pictures of everything on the menu. The lunch set consists of the same items that are available for dinner, just in slightly smaller sizes. The fare includes: steak, chicken, seafood, pasta, pizza, and hamburger.

The salad bar is free with a lunch/dinner set, or it can be purchased separately for around 1000 yen. It comes with a non-alcoholic drink bar, soup, salad, and ice cream. My wife and I both had the grilled chicken lunch menu set. Really tasty, it comes with steak fries and a great dipping sauce. You also get a choice between bread and rice. I’m not sure what kind of rice it was, but it looked like a darker version of Spanish Rice, not the normal white rice that you get in most restaurants on the island.

Speaking about the wait staff, I got up to get a second plate from the salad bar and when I came back to the table, my initial dishes had been cleared along with my silverware. I started to ask my wife if she knew where I could get another fork when the waiter came over with a new set of silverware for me. Great service!

They also have pizza for take out and party platters, but I didn’t try either of them. While I’m talking about things I didn’t try this time around, there is also a full service bar in the restaurant. It looked like they had a wide assortment of Japanese adult beverages, along with the ones that you would find in your favorite bar back home. They only have five seats at the bar, so it didn’t seem to be the main focus of the establishment.

The parking situation is amazing for Okinawa. There is a full-size parking lot on two sides of the building, and a small parking area in front of the building. Each has signs saying it is reserved for K’s Town Cafe customers. Their business card says they have 50 parking spaces.

Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. Last order on the weekends for food is at 9:00 p.m., and drinks at 10:00 p.m.

Payment:  Yen only

Phone: 098-996-1571

Address: 93 Iha, Yaese-chō, Shimajiri-gun, Okinawa-ken 901-0405, Japan

Map Coordinates: 26.159717882997832, 127.7196212923127

Directions:

1. It’s Okinawa there are lots of ways to get there but the fastest is to go south on the expressway.
2. Take exit 1-1 Nishihara JCT
3. Stay on this road until exit A2 (stay on the left side going to Haebaru)
4. Turn left onto 507
5. Drive about 2 km on 507, until you see a KFC on the right.
6. Turn right on the next road (it has a turning signal)
7. At the next intersection turn left
8. Drive about 200 meters until you see the K’s Town Cafe Restaurant and Bar sign on the right side of the road.
9. Enjoy!

Website: K’s Town Cafe Restaurant and Bar