CONTRIBUTED BY CAPTAIN IAN

Have any of you been to the ramen shop called Hachiren on 58, just north of Highway 12 on the left hand side, next door to a scuba shop and a local food market? The one that’s been featured on numerous Japanese TV shows, and written about in ramen books around the world?! If you have, then you know it is the absolute best ramen in all of the galaxy! So today, I have great news for you!! He opened another shop!! The universe just smiled at us here on Okinawa, because sometimes the lines at Hachiren can be tremendous…

The owner and I have become good friends over the past few years. So when he opened his new shop, naturally I wanted a free lunch! You know, just to test the quality and what not. It’s a rough job, but somebody’s gotta do it. Fortunately, the ramen and vegetables were spot on in taste, proportion and quality. It felt like I was eating Hachiren, but with a world class spectacular view, as oppose to the small eating spaces in his first shop. And you still order from a machine here too.

Speaking of the view, the photos in this article DO NOT give it justice! The view is truly remarkable! Ramen 7 is in the Uehara township of Nishihara, on the third floor of a building that is already perched atop a high hill in the heavens. It’s the type of restaurant I would go to just for the view, even if the food was subpar. But the food is out of this world delicious. Even the parking area has a great view!

There really isn’t much more to be said. The food speaks for itself! This is Okinawa’s # 1 ramen! You will be very happy if you decide to take the time and visit Ramen 7.

Ramen 7

Hours:

Lunch 11:30am – 3:00pm
Dinner 5:00pm until 8:30pm; closes at 9pm

(Closed on Saturday and Sunday as of August 2006. When he gets more staff, he will open on the weekend.)

Address: 〒903-0125 Okinawa Prefecture, Nakagami District, Nishihara, Uehara サンコーポラス西原２ 260-

GPS Coordinates:

Directions: Exit Kadena gate 1, go left onto 58. Head towards Foster. Make a left on 130 (Just as Foster base begins). Make right at the T onto highway 330. Make a left onto 81 (directly out of legion gate and Sam’s Café). Go Right onto highway 29 (towards expressway on ramp #3) Do not get on the expressway. Keep straight on 29 for a while. Just after highway 34 (at the second light after) make a right onto highway 29 again (towards Ryukyu University Hospital). You will see a Tomute book store on the corner. Then make your first Left. Look for the small blue and yellow ramen sign on your left as you head up the hill. It’s on the third floor. Pull past it until you see a big parking lot with yellow lines on your left. Park there.

Editor’s Note: Kastahamandap Nepal Spice Kitchen was originally reviewed on Okinawa Hai on April 29, 2009; you can read a PDF copy of that original review HERE. The post below is an updated take on this attraction, published September 21, 2016.

CONTRIBUTED BY LOUISE DUPUY

Have you ever wondered what the favourite dish of Japan is? Sushi? Udon? Surprisingly, it’s curry! Whilst most Japanese would mean their own spin on this most Asian of cuisines, happily on Okinawa, you can sample curry from other parts of the continent. Let me introduce you to Kastahamandap Nepal Spice Kitchen and a world of flavour you’ll never forget.

(photo by Pamela Oliveras)

Situated right off Highway 58 just a short drive from Camp Foster’s Commissary Gate, is where you will find Kastahamandap Nepal Spice Kitchen. It has a red facade, and a memorable logo; a pair of decadent eyes muse over you from above. Inside is a small, unmanned entrance, with a colourful Ganesha painting (Hindu God of new beginnings) on the left, and a secluded, Japanese-style table on the right (low, with a bench surrounding it, and a place to store your shoes before entry).

Pass through this into the main part of the restaurant, and be greeted by yet another Ganesha, this time a beautiful statue. There is a small counter in the far left corner, separating the modest kitchen from the dining area. A member of staff will come over to seat you and hand you a menu.

The tables on the right are large enough for 4 people (probably 4 adults and 2-3 small children actually), and are adorned with beautiful, traditional table cloths bearing Hindu symbols. The other tables are glass and wood, seating between 2-4 people. The decor is in keeping with the name; Nepalese and Hindu arts adorn the walls, my favourite being the huge panorama of the Himalayan mountain range.

The food is incredible. They have a good selection of set menus to choose from, as well as individual curries to try. I decided to go with a set. I went with D, consisting of a naan, rice, salad, tandoori chicken, two curries of my choice, and a dessert. It was served in a traditional way, on a large stainless steel platter and with the food in little stainless steel bowls. The curries I opted for were the dhal (a chickpea dish I recommend to everyone), and a chicken dopiaza (my favourite curry). Sublime. I felt like I was back in India, very authentic in terms of flavour and ingredients. When it first comes out, it looks like a small portion, but it was very filling. Dessert was a very sweet vanilla ice cream, which was also good. This set comes with a drink; I chose Mango lassi, an Indian yogurt drink. Again, delicious and authentic. Prices are very reasonable, with the largest set still costing well under 2,000 Yen.

Drinks wise, they have a decent selection. You can get soft, alcoholic, and they have a great range of Indian favourites. I Mentioned the mango lassi, but they also offer Chai, as well as other varieties of lassi. Aren’t driving? Why not sample one of the beers on offer?

Service was fair. The staff are polite, though the language barrier can be an issue at times. They accept card as well as cash (yen), which is very handy.

All in all, this was a very enjoyable meal. I liked the atmosphere, the decor (there are more Ganesha statues to spot), and of course, the food. Definitely worth a try.

Kastahamandap Nepalese Spice Kitchen

Payment: Yen & credit cards

Hours: Open daily 11.30am-2.00am
Lunch menu: 11:30am to 3:00pm
Dinner menu: 3.00pm until close

Phone: 098 936 6355

Address: 1 Chome-10-10 Kitamae, Chatan
Google Map

GPS Coordinates: 26.2982654, 127.76066820000005

Directions: Come out of Foster Commissary gate, take a right, and take the first left by cowcow. Kasthamandap is directly opposite. There is parking right in front and to side of restaurant. See you there!

Editor’s Note: Newport Sushi was originally reviewed on Okinawa Hai on March 23, 2001; you can read a PDF copy of that original review HERE. The post below is an updated take on this attraction, published September 22, 2016.

CONTRIBUTED BY NICOLE RUSSELL

Newport Sushi is very close to Kadena with English speaking staff and delicious sushi. My husband and I recently came to the island and loved this place!

The food was absolutely delicious and reasonably priced. The menu was extensive with plenty of choices of sushi, as well as salads, and hot dishes (soba noodles, and other typical Japanese cuisine). We chose sashimi and sushi rolls, trying salmon and tuna rolls, and yellowtail sashimi. The yellowtail tasted so fresh!

There are alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages available. I’ve never seen saki presentation like this and they did not disappoint. The saki bottle that we ordered came out in an ice bucket with a saki glass laying on top. They gave us a great recommendation based on our preferences. I also had the iced green tea and it was delicious.

The service was great and our waiter gave us great recommendations. They do take reservations, walk-ins are welcome, and take out is available. Family-friendly with highchairs available. This is a bigger sushi restaurant than many in the area with dining in the front and a bar in the back. Very clean and modern feel.

We would definitely go back again.

Newport Sushi

Hours:
Mondays: 14:30-22:00
Thursdays: 16:00-22:00
Fridays-Sundays: 14:30-22:00
CLOSED Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Payment:  AMEX, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and Yen

Phone:  098-926-0537

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newportsushi/

Address: 614-6 Kuwae Chatan Cho

Google Maps Coordinates: 26.3227744, 127.7706778

Directions: Turn left out of Gate 1 Kadena.  Head south on Highway 58, turn left on Kokutai road (Hwy 23). You will come to a white pedestrian overpass. Turn right at this traffic light and “NEWPORT SUSHI” will be located on your right (past Yoshi Hachi’s restaurant). 614-6 Kuwae Chatan Cho.

Parking: There is a small parking lot with 4-5 parking spots in front of the restaurant. We opted for a Panda Cab since we hadn’t even bought a car yet and we were planning to drink a little saki!

CONTRIBUTED BY BRANDI JAKUBOWICZ

When you think of a ball park, donuts may not be the first thing that come to mind. However, if you find yourself walking on the seawall and want a little treat you may be just in luck. I found myself doing just that after a pedicure at the nearby Cocok’s nail salon (which I also highly recommend!). You can see Breeze Café from the seawall.

It has a few small tables outside that you can sit at on a cozy patio that is dog friendly, and also is beautifully decorated on the inside. They have pancakes, sweet and savory sandwiches, coffees, smoothies and tea. We tried the tea and the blueberry smoothie which was tangy and delicious. I cannot speak to the sandwiches, but the pictures made them look to be quite tasty.

What we did try were the donuts. I had heard my friends talking about them and finally was able to try them for myself. We tried an order of the “simple ball” in the lemon flavor, and also the peanut butter “fantastic ball” which were in fact quite fantastic. The donuts came out warm and fresh and the lemon had sugar on them with wedges of fresh lemon to squeeze onto the top. I preferred the lemon donuts personally but the peanut butter ones were delicious as well with a variety of halved nuts sprinkled on top. Two of us split two small orders and it was the perfect size for an afternoon snack! I definitely recommend stopping to check out this little gem of a café!

They have an English menu that also includes pictures for most of their menu items.

(click photos to enlarge menu)

Breeze Cafe Sea Glass

Hours: 8am-4pm every day; CLOSED Wednesdays

Payment: yen or credit card

Phone: 081 98-936-2123

Address: 2-46 Miyagi, Chatan, Nakagami District, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan

GPS Coordinates: 26.3296944°, 127.7438611

Directions: From Kadena Gate One, go south on 58. Take your first right at the light by the pizza restaurant. Go all the way down to the seawall past Sidelines and turn right at the T. The café is 2 ½ blocks down on the right.

CONTRIBUTED BY NAOMI K.

Almost hidden behind a building facing the street, this cute burger place might be easy to miss, but the several welcoming “open” signs beckon you in.  With a large grass lot, parking is ample and there is spacious seating inside. Stylized like an American diner with big booths and Americana decor. I especially enjoyed the rotary phone mounted on the wall like a relic of the past and a poster of the Disney’s “The Rescuers” released in 1977!

The menu included several burger options (hamburger, cheeseburger, bacon burger, teriyaki burger, as well as a kid’s sized burger) which all come with the option of a set with drink only or drink and fries. There are several drink choices ranging from cola, to jasmine tea to juice, and also a la carte options like an iced caramel latte.

The burgers were impressive, great tasting and generous in portion. They were also quite reasonably priced (¥550-¥650). The fries were potato wedges which could have been crispier but maybe they were in a rush.

If you are not in the mood for a burger, there are also options for curry, a couple different pasta dishes, chicken nuggets and taco rice.

Save some room for dessert because they offer a number of portion sized desserts (tiramisu, apple pie, cheesecake, etc).

They have kid friendly menus, do to-go orders, have English menus and take credit card! They also sell some handmade jewelry and coasters at the front counter.

Definitely a close drive from Courtney or McT, for a great burger in a cozy diner atmosphere.

Very Berry Cafe

Hours: 11:00-17:00 with last order at 16:30. Closed on Wednesdays and holidays

Phone: 081-98-989-8838

Website: veryberrycafe.ti-da.net

Payment: yen, credit card

Address: 253 Taba, Uruma, Okinawa Prefecture 904-2213253

GPS Coordinates: 26.3668512, 127.866976

Directions: From Courtney tower gates, make a left out of the gate and another left onto 75 going South. Take a right onto 8 and pass 224 intersection and pass three stoplights. Just before you get to the 4^th stoplight, it’s on your left (there’s a big Family Mart billboard).

CONTRIBUTED BY SARAH BANCROFT

Whenever I have friends or family visiting Okinawa, I always make sure to take them to do some shopping on Kokusai Street in Naha. It is a fun experience and this time was no different as my friend and I stumbled on quite the find!

Have you ever wanted to indulge in an extra fancy or expensive-looking treat? Well now you can at this Gold-Leafed Ice Cream Shop. They offer two flavors of ice cream: Green Tea and Vanilla. You can get either flavor in a cone or cup. You can also choose between either gold flecks or a whole sheet of gold leaf on your ice cream. Of course we opted for the whole sheet.

The vanilla ice cream was good and the gold leaf melted into the ice cream and added little to no flavor, but it did add to the novelty of the treat. Something to note, that while eating the gold leaf it may get on your lips which will give you gold-leafed “lipstick” which was a hilarious surprise! My next visit will be to try their rainbow slushies that they also offer on their menu.

The shop workers were young and friendly and answered our questions in a warm and friendly manner. They did not have any website information or business cards. They did not have posted hours but I assume they would coincide with nearby shops and Kokusai Street itself.

Gold-Leafed Ice Cream Shop

Payment: Yen

Location: Kokusai Street, Naha, Okinawa Japan

GPS Coordinates (approximate): 

Directions: If starting on the south end of Kokusai it is down the first tunnel shopping area and about 1/3 of the way down on your right. Look for the rainbow slushy machines.

CONTRIBUTED BY SARAH BANCROFT

Last time I was down on Kokusai Street was in the beginning of August 2016 with a friend, and as anyone who has lived on Okinawa for some time knows, it was hot. A cool and refreshing beverage was much needed. We were in the mood to try something new; we found a fun shop called KOI Cafe and tried their Bubble Milk Tea.

KOI Cafe’s menu offered various flavored standard tea, bubble teas, milk teas, fruit juices, coffee based beverages, and specialty macchiatos. When ordering you first choose your drink size, small or medium, then your level of sweetness, and finally if you want your beverage hot or iced.

You can even choose how much ice you want in your drink! The amount of ice in your drink is a nice touch as sometimes cafes add a bit too much, which waters down the drink. Good call KOI Cafe!

The Bubble Milk Tea was very refreshing. Be prepared for the little tapioca pearls that make-up the “bubble” part of the tea. They offer a burst of flavor and an interesting texture to the drink. The flavor was delicious and the sweetness level was spot-on, just the right balance. A small drink costs about ¥320. I’m looking forward to trying some of their other offerings in the future.

KOI Cafe

Hours: Monday-Sunday 1:00pm to 10:00pm

Phone: 098-943-0880

Website: http://www.koicafe.com/jp/

Location: Right off of Kokusai Street on the right hand side if headed north

CONTRIBUTED BY NAOMI K.

When I saw this delicious BBQ featured at the Okinawa Food flea in downtown Naha, I had to check out the restaurant. It’s a bit hidden from the 73 which connects Ishikawa to Onna. They have a big lot with some outdoor space that seems great for hosting large events and makes for easy parking. There is a gazebo with a pond with fishes and lilies that make the wait a little easier if there’s a line.

The restaurant has an inviting porch and large unmistakable wooden letters that say Smoke BBQ.

The windows are lettered with English words and the inside wall is decorated with the different cuts of pork and beef. There are large picnic style benches for communal sharing and eating. The smoker is in the front and the strong smell of smoked bbq is enticing.

Drinks consist of a few simple beers, some cocktails, sodas, juice, tea, coffee and a decent bourbon list.

click to enlarge menu

I tried the BBQ plate which was a huge wooden plate filled with a leg of chicken, one rib, a mound of pulled pork, a tiny scoop of delicious potato salad, some grated carrots and bread for ¥2000.

The burger was loaded with onions, lettuce, tomato, beef patty, cheese and a slab of Okinawa pork, accompanied with potato wedges and a small salad for ¥1600. The burger was amazingly big as well so come with a huge appetite or a large group. The portions were so huge we had to take them home and were fairly decent as left overs.

They just announced a special lunch set, a BLT (smoked bacon, lettuce and tomato) for ¥1000 or a chilibean burger.

Bones BBQ

Hours: Open Daily, 11:00-15:00 lunch; 17:50-22:00 dinner and 11:00-22:00 on weekends.

Phone: +81-98-965-7517

Website: https://www.facebook.com/BONES-BBQ-Steak-453338801506031/

Payment: yen, credit card

Address: 1515-32 Ishikawa Iha, Uruma, Okinawa Prefecture 904-1115

GPS Coordinates: 26.433529, 127.808724

Directions: From Courtney main gate, make a right on 75 toward the north (and Courtney commissary). Take another right at intersection of 329. Make a sharp left at the intersection of 6 (3 stoplights down) which winds around until it splits into 73. Keep to the right and the restaurant is on the right side of that intersection. Signs direct you down a road to the parking lot.

CONTRIBUTED BY NAOMI K.

A local Okinawan took me to this special spot. It is attached to a special group home formed in 1978 for adults with disabilities. To help raise money and give people jobs, they run this amazing little restaurant. They have a large open grass parking lot and a simple cafeteria style restaurant.

The lunch menu offers a variety of options from breaded shrimp to curry to tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) which comes with a number of side dishes to complete the typical Japanese style lunch set. The shrimp dish had three huge prawns with a bowl of rice, small salad, a bowl of miso soup, some pickles, tofu, seaweed, and some fish balls.

Everything tasted quite excellent, the portions were generous and the prices are really reasonable. There is also a self-serve counter which has a number of small dishes for you to sample, as well as some dessert and coffee and tea which is all included in their lunch set. They are also open for dinner.

They sell a few small gift items at the front register as well.

Everyone was very polite and service was excellent. It is great concept and wonderful way to integrate everyone in the community.

Restaurant Budonoki

Hours: Open Daily, 11:00-15:00 lunch; 17:30-20:00 dinner (hours may vary)

Phone: 098-989-4000

Website: http://arinko3776.chu.jp/zigyouannai/index.html

Payment: yen, credit card

Address: 572 Uken, Uruma, Okinawa Prefecture 904-2211

GPS Coordinates: 26.385450, 127.868717

Directions: From Courtney housing gate, make a right on 224 and a left at the light, toward Uken beach, but make a sharp left and it takes you down a small street. The restaurant is on the right, marked with a clear sign and open grass parking lot.

CONTRIBUTED BY JENNIFER GILES

Warren and JJ’s Place is a fantastic Cajun restaurant… the best on Okinawa. You will not find a restaurant with more personality or a better story… just ask Warren when you meet him.

Don’t be surprised if Warren sits down with you at the table, gives you the background on the feature entrees, and banters with you like he has known you his whole life.

The restaurant was previously called Warren’s Place but is now Warren and JJ’s Place as his daughter has taken up the reigns and is working alongside her father.

Many of his recipes take days to prepare. Warren and his family prepare every item from scratch in their downhome-style kitchen.

Warren slow cooks his meat, buys local ingredients and ensures top quality preparation of every item.   All meats are smoked on site in his homemade smoker. This man is passionate about his food.

The Smoked Duck Caesar Salad was a hit. The fresh vegetables, balanced dressing and well-prepared meat pleased even the non-salad eaters in our party.

The Sauce Piquant was another win. The smoked chicken and spicy sausage deepened the rich flavors of this dish.

The Seafood Gumbo was excellent.

By far, the biggest hit was the smoked chicken and potatoes, fresh out of the smoker. This dish was phenomenal.

The food is exceptional and authentic, but what makes this place stand apart is Warren. He is boisterous. He is passionate. He is Cajun. And he’s a heck of a cook.

Warren and JJ’s Place

Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 6pm-11pm

Website: http://warrensplace.jp or https://www.facebook.com/yanaamerica

Requires reservations. He prepares a fixed number of entrees each night and has limited seating. Contact them via message on their Facebook page.

Featuring: seafood gumbo, jambalaya, sauce piquant, smoked chicken, and powdered beignets

English Menu Available: Yes. You can find their menu on Facebook

English Service: Yes

Payment: Yen, Dollars, Credit Card (but Yen is preferred)

Address: 476 Seragaki, Kunigami-gun, Onna-son 904-0404, Okinawa Prefecture

Google Map

GPS Coordinates: 26.5014416, 127.875104

Parking Available: Yes, but be warned, Warren’s place is on a narrow side street and there is limited parking available. He requests guest carpool when able.

Editor’s Note: Coffee Casa was originally reviewed on Okinawa Hai on April 16, 2008; you can read a PDF copy of that original review HERE. The post below is an updated take on this attraction, published December 14, 2016.

CONTRIBUTED BY ANDREA GRACE WOOD

This is my friend and me after having coffee and brunch outside of Coffee Casa.

If you don’t live by Kadena Air Base you may not know about Coffee Casa, but if you do live in Sunabe you may have heard of it. It’s the cutest little coffee shop where you can get fresh brewed coffee, homemade bakery treats, and pasta or sandwiches for lunch. In the morning you can choose from bread plates.

There’s different types of bread options such as french toast, cheesy toast, or the homemade bread baked fresh, and it’s served with scrambled eggs and your choice of bacon or sausage. I have yet to eat there for lunch, but the menu option of sandwiches and varieties of pasta especially fettuccine will have me coming back for more. For my first time however, I ordered the lite breakfast plate which is eggs, sausage or bacon and your choice of smaller scale bread. I chose the lemon coconut and it did not disappoint!

They have hot or cold coffee, lattes, espressos, etc. My favorite part is of course the pretty designs on the lattes!

My little girl loved the “movie theater” seats while she waited for her cinnamon walnut bread. I had a taste and it was to die for! Also, there’s a toy area for the kids to choose something to play with and bring it back to their table. Perfect when you want to chat with your friend and your children have something new to entertain them with! It doesn’t matter what you bring it’s just something new they want, right?!

The decor is very retro and hip. Perfect little place to meet for coffee, small lunch, or sit out on the deck and get some work done.

Coffee Casa

Payment: US$ or yen (no credit cards)

Hours: 7am-5pm

Phone: 098-936-8141

Website: http://www.coffeecasa-okinawa.com
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/CoffeeCasaOkinawa/

Address: 3-51 Miyagi, Chatan
Google Map

GPS Coordinates: 26.3308512, 127.74451769999996

Directions:
From Hwy. 58, turn onto the street with Lawson’s and US Auto Sales Car Lot on the corner.  Go down this street past 2 stoplights.  At the 3rd stoplight (the last one before you hit the seawall), turn RIGHT.  Go down for about 2 blocks.  The street will begin to widen.  Coffee Casa will be on your left-hand side of the street.  The small bldg. will have a front wooden porch with a green awning and is next to Kebab House restaurant.

parking: Parking can be a bit of a situation. You have to find street parking that isn’t blocking a driveway or entrance to a house. I was able to find a spot a little ways down from the shop, so keep that in mind when meeting a friend or eating with little ones!

Editor’s Note: A Danny was originally reviewed on Okinawa Hai on December 14, 2011; you can read a PDF copy of that original review HERE. The post below is an updated take on this attraction, published December 16, 2016.

CONTRIBUTED BY LOUISE DUPUY

Indian food! Now that I have your attention, allow me to impart some spice-laden wisdom about a particular Indian restaurant, A Danny, and why it’s worth a visit.

The name is a little convoluted, but don’t let that put you off. This is some seriously good food. I’m both biased and extremely picky when it comes to the subject of Indian food, simply because it is my absolute favourite cuisine. So, how does A Danny stack up? In short, pretty well, but allow me to divulge a little more.

Located a stone’s throw from Camp Foster and easily accessed from Highway 58 (it’s behind Sukiya; if you’ve gone past Warp furniture heading north you’ve gone too far!), it has a decent amount of parking and is in a prominent location. The restaurant itself is spacious and clean, with a good amount of seating. They can accommodate large groups but if you plan to visit on a Friday night or the weekend it may be prudent to book ahead.

There is a well stocked bar, booth seating that is slightly enclosed, giving you privacy and that VIP feel, and a huge window into the kitchen so you can watch your food being cooked. I like this feature in particular. It’s interesting to watch them prepare and cook the naan breads. The decor is actually fairly modern and not all that Indian, but overall the atmosphere is great. Staff are for the most part polite and helpful.

Let’s talk business now. The food. It is amazing. As mentioned previously, it’s all cooked to order, so you know you’re getting fresh. They have some great value sets available, which allows you to sample a good portion of the menu without breaking the bank (so you can try a naan, curry, and a tandoori dish on most of the sets, even more on their most expensive set).

By far their best offerings sit in the curry section of the menu. They have a pretty good selection, including vegetarian friendly options. Actually, one of my favourite dishes here is the chickpea curry. You can choose the spice level of each curry, and each one comes hot off the stove and packed with flavour. If you aren’t feeling curry, they have tandoori dishes too.

This is also a pretty decent selection, and goes great with a salad. They also do naan sandwiches, a great option if you’re looking for a light option at lunch time.

Wash it all down with a drink from the aforementioned bar! They have all sorts to offer. For those of drinking age who have foregone driving duties, you can sample beers, wines and spirits, as well as cocktails. Underage or designated drivers need not despair, there’s plenty of sans-alcohol options too. Soft drinks, hot drinks, and smoothies are top of the list (especially the matcha smoothie, it’s divine!), but you can also try a traditional Lassi (yogurt drink, often with fruit in), or jazz it up with an alcohol free cocktail.

Want the food but not the dining experience? They offer take out! You can pick up and peruse a menu at the restaurant, or call to order. They have mini versions of the menu you can take home, handy if you want to order out but like to decide before you go. Another thing they have, if you’re feeling particularly brave/ hungry, is an eating challenge. If you can consume 5 curries, 4 rice dishes, 3 naan’s, and 2 tandoori’s in 1 hour, you will be the proud (and at time of writing, only) owner of ¥10,000 A Danny vouchers, and a nice mugshot of you (probably looking full and a little sick!) will go up on their wall of fame for all to admire.

Lastly, price. It’s pretty fair, you get what you pay for. You can save money by ordering sets though, and they accept dollar, yen, and card as payment, which is very convenient. Ready to give them a try? Here’s a location to help you out:

A Danny

Phone: 098-863-6683

Payment:  Yen, US $, credit cards

Address: 2 Chome-12 Chatan, Chatan-chō, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa-ken 904-0116, Japan
Google Map

GPS Coordinates: 26.3024179, 127.76130119999993

Directions:  From the Foster Commissary Gate, take a right. Just past the 3rd light (Hamby Town San A) take a left into the Sukiya parking lot. Follow the signs to A Danny.

CONTRIBUTED BY ANDREA WOOD

I found a taste of Italy in Okinawa Japan! Ok, I’ve never been to Italy, but my husband lived in Rome for two years and he says it’s the closest tasting pizza to Italy that he’s had since he’s lived there. It’s located in Yomitan and overlooks the water. We ate during sunset and it was gorgeous!

There is a bar area, wood burning fireplace, patio for eating outside, and a beautiful lounge and dining experience inside, not to mention very pristine and cute bathrooms. I like places where I eat to have clean bathrooms, it tells me they take pride in their business. You can see in the below picture where they cook the pizzas in the big stone fireplace and ENZO written above the fire opening. They also toss the dough and make the pizza in front of you, always a favorite of mine to watch!   

   
It’s reasonably priced within the average of any pizzeria and bar back in the states. The average pizza is about 1,700 yen.  We ordered two pizzas, one with 4 cheese and came with a side of honey for dipping.  You might think honey on pizza?  But let me tell you, it was out of this world!  The other pizza we ordered was ham, mushroom and basil with egg, again it was delicious! The selection is amazing! Everything from prosciutto to eggplant to the fish of the day. They have a mix of everything pizza, vegetable, and plain cheese. The pizzas are a bit on the smaller size but I don’t know if it’s because I just wanted more, or we Americans are used to eating super sized portions! Either way, If you love pizza and are craving a taste of Italy then you’ll love this place!

You can call or make reservations online.  My family and I went during the week and didn’t have a problem getting a table.  It is so good though and I can only imagine as the word gets out and it becomes more popular that I recommend making a reservation for a weekend night.

Pizzeria da Enzo

Website:  http://www.pizzeriadaenzo.ryukyu

Facebook: @enzoryukyu

Address: Japan, 〒904-0417 Okinawa-ken, Kunigami-gun, Onna-son, Maeda, 恩納村真栄田塩焼原715-3

GPS Coordinates: 26.440319, 127.768710

Phone: 098-923-5924

Hours: Daily 11:30 – 15:00 (L.O. 14:30) & 17:30 – 22:00 (L.O. 21:30)

Payment: Yen, Visa, Mastercard

CONTRIBUTED BY Andrea Wood

My husband and I love our date nights and most of all love when we can walk to our destination without having to worry about a daiko or a taxi.  It’s even better when I can get a little fancy with my outfit in a swanky place.  We discovered Regalia Resort Dining when we were at the local Family Mart and noticed a hotel (Yomitan Transit) tucked behind it.  Once we saw tables out on a patio and the 2nd floor roof top, we knew we had to check it out for date night!

The dining experience is airy  with beautiful glass folding doors.  Even if you’re eating inside, your view isn’t obstructed and you still feel as if you were outside.  My husband and I ate outside as it was a beautiful breezy night and we had a perfect view of the lights from Yomitan Village.  During the day you would be able to see the water, but unfortunately dinner is from 1700-2400 and it’s dark.  However, they do have a cafe open during the day and I will be writing a review on that as well later.

Ok, let’s get to the food….it’s a must!! We started with escargot (I know it’s an acquired taste) but if you like escargot you will LOVE it!  Then we ordered a side dish or appetizer, and had the fondue cheese with fried chicken, vegetables, and bread for dipping.  There was something about that fried chicken and melted cheese goodness mixed together that gives a little something to the meaning of soul food!  I ordered the pork butt as my main dish and my husband got the duck.  Both meals are served with vegetables and rosemary mashed potatoes.  Most of the main dishes offered are of some meat/fish variety.  The appetizers are a good mix of spring rolls, carpaccio, ribs, fried pig trotters, just to name a few.  They also serve beautiful salads (we were eyeing our neighbors) but opted out because the other dishes were just too good to pass up.  There was also dessert but we rather fill our bellies with the main course, but they did look delicious as well!

After dinner we went up to the 2nd floor, onto the rooftop bar.  You have to purchase drink tickets before you proceed upstairs.  Once we were up there the lighting was electric blue all along the bar, and it was just beautiful, pristine and clean.  What a great night!

Regalia Okinawa

Website: http://yomitan-transit.com/regalia-okinawa/

Facebook: @yomitan.transit

Online Reservations: https://r.gnavi.co.jp/fg6mn1wb0000/

Phone: 098-958-6555

Address: Yomoya village Nagahama 1660-1, Nakagami gun, Okinawa Prefecture 904-0324

Hours: Lunch 11:00 – 16:00, Dinner 17:00 – 24:00

Payment:  Yen, Credit Card

GPS Coordinates: 26.415699, 127.731648

CONTRIBUTED BY THERESA BUYCO

I take bread pretty seriously. French bread, sourdough, ciabatta, croissants — you name it; I love them all. My eyes almost roll back into my head every time I break apart a warm, crusty baguette. “Where am I going to get my fix?” I wondered before coming to Japan. Little did I know, bread and other delicious baked goods are plentiful here because panya, or Japanese bread bakeries, are everywhere! Found on almost every corner, inside major groceries stores, at department stores, at train stations, and so on.

Although European-inspired, Japanese bakeries are wonderfully unique in and of itself, with their own twist of ingredients that you would never find anywhere else. (I’m still trying to wrap my head around the tuna and corn pairing, or the ever-popular cheese and mayo.)

Since living in Nago, I’ve had the chance to try many of the great bakeries in this area in hopes of fulfilling my perpetual bread craving, but one, in particular, deserves special recognition: Panchori-na.

The popularity of this bakery is nothing new among locals, which I could immediately tell by how crowded it was when I visited one late Saturday morning. I also immediately knew from the moment I stepped inside that I would love this place! Small, yet charming, this bakery is overflowing with baked goods left and right that are so visually enticing you’ll want to try every single item there. Bakers swiftly move past customers to replace empty trays and bring in new items from the back. I saw an entire cart with batches of pastries that were just finished and ready to be put the oven. Everything is so fresh — you’ll definitely recognize it by the smell in the air. Sweet and savory goodies, fruit tarts, bread with cheese oozing out of the center, flaky chocolate croissants, sandwiches on small baguettes, and of course curry pan (Japanese curry baked inside a crust-coated dough that’s been deep fried.) Plus so much more!

Just like all self-serve panya, I grabbed a pair of tongs and a basket-tray and began to shop. All the handwritten labels are in Japanese, so I had to let my eyes and nose do the picking. I tend to be indecisive when it comes to food, but when there are so many good things to choose from, it’s easy to go overboard! (Which I did!) I chose the bigger of the two sized trays, and I still didn’t have enough space for everything I wanted to try. I didn’t want to take up more time and space inside the tiny bake shop than I had to, since there were customers piling in behind me, so I decided to pay for what I had to rush home to try it all! Luckily I had my husband and daughter to help indulge with me. Everything tasted just as good as it looked, if not better! And trust me, I am not easy to please when it comes to baked goods! I decided right then and there that a stop by Panchori-na will be a new part of my Saturday morning routine.

Items are bought so quickly it was almost impossible the capture the abundance of baked goods in a picture.

So if you do find yourself in Nago and want to give Panchori-na a try, here are a couple of my tips for you:

• DO visit early for the best selection. Freshly baked items were flying out of the kitchen during the Saturday morning rush, but since I don’t know when they stop putting out fresh items, I can assume the earlier the better.
• DO take your baked goods with you to one of the lovely nearby parks or beaches to enjoy (but DO eat immediately, because that’s when they taste the best!) There are no tables or stands inside Panchori-na to eat.

Panchori-Na (パンチョリーナ)

Website: pancho-ri-na.jimdo.com

Phone: 0980-52-7172

Address: 3 Chome-1-18 Ōnaka, Nago-shi, Okinawa-ken 905-0017

GPS Coordinates: 26.5943188, 127.9891043

Hours: 7:00-19:30; closed Sundays & 4th Monday

Payments: Yen

Parking: Lot

CONTRIBUTED BY Julia O.

photo contributed by editor

I recently had the pleasure of walking around my neighborhood on a beautiful January day and stumbled upon this café. It is now one of my favorites! What drew me in was the welcoming exterior. They have a few parking spots outside of this house turned café, with a seating area in a small garden in the back. I couldn’t resist and I was not disappointed! It is just as cute on the inside as on the outside.

When you enter, there is a bar and some seating, but down the hall way there are two separate rooms in which you can sit as well.  It was super cozy.

photo contributed by editor

They have a full drink menu complete variety of coffee, cocoa, and teas to choose from.  I ordered a Café Au Lait and it was delicious!  I love how fresh the roasted coffee beans and Dutch drip they use.  They also have a variety of food items for breakfast and lunch, such as cinnamon toast and rice bowls and curry.  They also have desserts, one which caught my eye was pumpkin baked cheesecake that I will definitely try next time.  Check them out of Facebook!

Frontman’s Cafe

Facebook: @frontmanscafe

Website: Tabelog

Phone: 090-5728-8518

Address: 183-s-94 Hamagawa, Chatan, Nakagami, Okinawa

Hours:
Monday – Thursday: 8:00 – 17:00
Friday: 8:00 – 17:00, 19:00 – 22:00
Saturday: 11:00 – 17:00, 19:00 – 22:00
Sunday: 11:00 – 17:00
Closed Wednesdays

Payment: Yen Only

Parking: Lot

Take Out Ok!

GPS Coordinates: 26.329539, 127.749823

CONTRIBUTED BY: semibalancedmama.blogspot.com

The Awase area is a little known gem that is just minutes from both Kadena and Camp Foster.

It is jam packed with little eateries, restaurants, the Awase Fish Market and parks. BB coffee

opened just a few short months ago and it is quickly becoming a popular stop in Awase.

With a convenient location to Comprehensive Park, it is not taking long for both locals and

Americans to enjoy. The atmosphere is welcoming and comparable to something you would

see in any major city, but comfortable enough to feel like you are in your neighbors family

room.

It has plenty of parking and outdoor seating, which is not so common Okinawa. It also

opens at 7:00AM, which is the earliest I have ever seen a cafe open on the island. The menu is

offered in English and everything is extremely easy to understand. The owners are super nice

people who are usually present, along with their house dog Stanford.

During the hours of 7-11:00AM you can enjoy a complimentary toast and mini salad set with

the purchase of any drink (dine in only). They are also offering something called the BB Coffee

Smart Tag. With a one-time purchase of ¥1,000 you can enjoy 10% off any order for one year,

perfect for return customers.

The hazelnut latte is one of the best, I have ever had and while we have not tried the house

shakes, I am sure they are delicious. They also offer Decaf coffee and a list of juices for those

of us who enjoy a coffee late in the day or just prefer a no caffeine option.

The food menu has quite a variety of coffee house selections. They offer many different

deserts, ranging from the homemade cookie, to a variety of yummy donuts and even a

delectable Tiramisu.

The pizza bread is absolutely something that is on our list to try, and the

avocado toast is already a favorite.

BB Coffee is a breath of fresh air for those of us who love to explore the cafes of Okinawa. Next

time you are exploring Awase, make sure to stop into BB Coffee!

Address – 泡瀬3-12- 12, Awase, Okinawa 904-2172

DIRECTIONS-

BB Coffee is located near the intersection of 85 and 20.

From Kadena Gate 2

 Turn right at Koza Music Center onto 330.

 Continue on 330 and take a right onto 85.

 Continue on 85 into the town of Awase.

 Turn right onto 20.

 At the first light take a Left.

 BB Coffee will be on your Left.

Website- https://www.facebook.com/bbcoffee.ohc/

Phone- 098-989- 7212

Payment- Yen and Major Credit Cards

Hours- 7AM – 7PM Closed Wednesday

CONTRIBUTED BY: Maria Johns

Many of you may be familiar with Bollywood Dreams, but did you know they recently opened a sister restaurant, Bollywood Jewel?

Bollywood Jewel offers a gourmet spin with a side of Indian movie flair. Their newest place is located just around the corner from Bollywood Dreams, but sets itself apart with a bright colorful atmosphere, a VIP room, and a completely new menu. The menu is modern Indian food coupled with fusion dishes. Did I mention the walls are dusted with sparkle and their screens feature Bollywood’s latest and greatest music videos?!

 

But let’s get to the important part, the food. Their menu features a variety of appetizers, curries, creative naan breads as well as an extensive drink menu featuring chai teas, lassi’s and delectable desserts. Their butter rich keema curry and butter naan is award-winning and should not be missed as well as the bacon cheese naan!

One bite of their fresh gourmet curry is an instant party in your mouth; the complexity of flavors, colors, and spices are unforgettable. I had the pleasure of sampling both the lunch and dinner sets complete with salad and naan, essentially a full course meal. Best of all these curries are family friendly with the heat-level made to order. Kids will fall in love with these sweet curries and leave happy and equally in love with their buttery naan bread. Lastly, don’t forget to cool your palette down with their fruity mango and berry lassi’s!

 

This new spot is a must try for Indian food lover’s, come check out how Bollywood Jewel sets a high bar with their gourmet curries and creative dishes.

 Their complete menu is available on their website:

http://www.bollywood-dreams.jp/bollywood-jewel/

And be sure to check out their Facebook page for special discounts, offers, and announcements.

 Location:

• Seaside Square A10, Mihama 9-8, Chatan

Hours:

• Sun-Thu from 11:00-22:00 (L.O 21:30)
  Fri-Sat from 11:00-22:30 (L.O 22:00)

Take-out service available.

Reservation Conditions:

-Reservations available for everyday.

-Reserved table will be held for up to 10 minutes.

-Reservations must be made one day in advance.

-Exact time and number of adults/children is required

Accepts: dollars, Yen, and card.

GPS coordinates

26.317797, 127.755614

Maria Johns

Bow & Arrow Photography

www.bowandarrowphotographystudio.com

Contributed By: Charity L.

When my husband and I have a morning off together, we like to get out and see what new café we can find for the day. Today, we found this great coffee shop down near the seawall. It’s called, Chocolate Jesus Coffee. The name alone was intriguing, so we knew we had to check it out.

When we walked in, the décor instantly spoke to us. It was very chill and low key. There were skateboards hanging on the wall, turned into a bench seat, and used as a gate for behind the counter. There were cat images and stuffed animals giving you the finger as well. Aside from everything you see decorating the walls, a lot of the items are for sale. There are coffee mugs, stickers, and even winter caps, with hilarious, explicit writing on them. It is a really refreshing environment. The vibe really speaks to a youthful crowd, but the menu speaks to all.

Now, let’s get to the menu. You will notice the menu written on the wall to the right. For beverages, you will find hot or iced coffees, flips (which are like Frappuccino’s), and fruit juices. For food, they have sandwiches and baked goodies. My husband and I both got coffee, one Iced Americano and one hot Café Latte. They were both very good and strong.

The guys working there were very friendly. While we were enjoying our coffee, our toddler played catch with a beach ball with one of the them. This shop is a must visit.

There is only one parking spot. Be thoughtful and aware of where you are allowed to park if it is busy.

• Hours: :10:00-7:00pm everyday/ CLOSED WEDNESDAY

• Payment: Yen 

• Location: 北谷町宮城1-760

Yomitan-son Nakagami-gun, Okinawa, Japan

• Phone Number: 098-955-7998

• WEBSITE: https://www.facebook.com/Chocolate-Jesus-Coffee-1620367648232218/

• Directions: From Kadena Gate 1, go left onto 58. Get in the far-right lane and turn right at that first light. Follow that road down till you hit the second stop light. Turn left at the light. Follow that road till it splits, veering to the left. Chocolate Jesus Coffee will be down the road, on the left hand side.

Contributed by Semibalancedmama.blogspot.com

Since moving to Okinawa we have really enjoyed finding new restaurants, especially those that are kid friendly. We recently came across Kozy’s Pizza and were thrilled with the discovery. It is located in Kitanagusku, which is easy
to get to from both Foster and Kadena. It sits on a hill and the views are quite spectacular day and night!

The building appears to be an old house and has plenty of parking behind it. When you first walk in you enter into the main dining room and kitchen area. I really like that this area was separate from the “child friendly” area, so anyone would be able to eat and enjoy their meal, even without kids. If you have kids, they immediately take you back to one of the two bedrooms that have a play area and a few tables. The play areas have tents, tumbling mats, slides and a lot of toys for all ages. Everything was super clean and well taken care of. One of the rooms has a raised seating area with benches and the other room is floor tables, so be prepared for that. Both rooms have indoor shoes provided for guests. If you are going and want to take advantage of one of the kid’s rooms, I would highly recommend calling ahead. Honestly, it was so nice to have an open space for our 4 year old to run around and be goofy.

The menu has many different pizzas to choose from. They have specialty pizzas and just a cheese pizza option that you can add up to three toppings on for the included price. The menus are in English, but I noticed there were some items on the Japanese menu that were not listed on the English one. The specials are also listed in Japanese. So bring your google translate, and you are good to go! We were so happy with everything we ordered and the specialty pizzas are ones that are unique and fun to try.

The restaurant is average priced, but definitely one of the cheaper pizza places we have visited on the island. You can choose the size of pizza, ranging from a personal pizza to an XL pizza. We got one personal pizza for our son, two mediums pizzas (one specialty and one cheese with two toppings) and an order of wings and our bill was about ¥4,500.

If you are craving good pizza in a kid-friendly restaurant, Kozy’s Pizza is definitely the place to go!

Address

沖縄県中頭郡北中城村字安谷屋638-1パークサイドテラス

＃1808

GPS Coordinates

26°17’31.3″N 127°47’34.7″E

Hours

11:30AM – 9:00PM

Last order taken at 8:00PM

Phone –

098-923-0993

Website URL

https://www.facebook.com/KozysPizzamasando/

http://kozys-pizza.com

Payment types

Yen and Major Credit Card accepted