After stopping by for lunch I can tell you that the food quality is still as high as it was before. The ingredients are exceptionally fresh. The buns are custom ordered from a local bakery, the patties are 100 percent beef, and the lettuce, tomato and onion look like they were picked that day. I can also say that the French fries were crispy and perfectly salted. The overall experience of biting into a 50’s Café burger is the perfect balance between the crunchy texture of the lettuce and grilled buttery bread blending with the smoked char of the beef cooked on an aged seasoned grill.
You also cannot beat the value when you consider these are gourmet quality burgers for much the same price as the fast food counterparts. Most of the main items are around the 500 yen range.
Yet as some things remain the same others are destined to change. The owners have decided to no longer serve any breakfast items, though you can still get great tacos and burrito rice. The Café is also more of a takeout style place. There are a few picnic tables outside and a small bar with stools inside but the seating options are far more modest than before. Parking is also limited as it is only found directly in front of the store.
After my meal I chatted with the owner of 50’s Café, Mr. Oshiro, who explained the reasons for the move and changes. Apparently the location was the primary problem before. Business was great on the weekends but dead on weekdays. It was difficult to maintain a profit so he moved to a busier street and focused on selling quality food for customers on the go. The move has been a challenge as his Japanese clientele has increased but his targeted American base of customers have thinned out. If you enjoy his food, you can do him a favor by spreading the word.
Despite a few noted changes, the food is still delicious enough to warrant stopping by and stepping back into the 50’s Café. All items are displayed on the wall in English with pictures.
Menu – click to enlarge
Payment: U.S. Dollars or Yen.
Phone: 098-923-2550, Mr. Oshiro speaks very good English.
Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Closed Mondays.
Website: 50’s Cafe
Directions: From the Camp Courtney main gate travel south on the 74 until you get to the 224 intersection. Turn left on the 224 past the Courtney towers gate and past Yukon beach. You will eventually get to an intersection where the 224 crosses the 10. Just past this intersection on the left is 50’s Café.
Address: Gushikawa Loop Road, Uruma, Okinawa 904-2226, Japan
Map Coordinates: 26.363790, 127.853477
