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Home » Travel » Japan » Okinawa Food & Restaurant Guide // Japan

Okinawa Food & Restaurant Guide // Japan

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An Okinawa food guide from my trip to Japan. What foods to try, explanation of traditional Okinawan food and restaurant recommendations!

Epic Food Guide for Okinawa, Japan with explanations of traditional foods

Okinawa, Japan is a foodie’s paradise. If you were following me on Instagram during my trip last month, you’ll know that every meal I ate on the island was an actual feast, for the eyes and for the belly. The food there is unlike anywhere else in the world, even mainland Japan.

The Okinawan people have one of the longest life expectancies in the world. Why exactly is a mystery that researchers are still trying to crack, but much of it has been credited to their diet.

Read on for what to eat in Okinawa with some video inspiration too!

Surprisingly, the Okinawan diet is heavily pork-based. It also includes a lot of strange-looking seaweeds and bitter greens. Luckily my guide for the trip, Naomi Ohara, specializes in traditional Okinawan food and actually teaches ‘Food as Medicine’ courses for visitors to Okinawa. She introduced me to so many foods on the trip that…how do I say this politely, tasted very healthy. Naomi explained that Okinawan children are forced to eat these healthy foods until their palates adapt and their bodies start to ‘crave them’. This sounds suspiciously similar to my personal experience with brussels sprouts here in the US.

I was struck by the joy that surrounds eating in Okinawa, and the appreciation they have for food and its health benefits. Here are some of my favorite Okinawan foods that you must try if you visit the island. I’ve also thrown in a few restaurant ideas to check out while you’re there.

If I had my way, all my meals would be broken up into dozens of tiny dishes. ?????Okinawa, you are CRUSHING it on presentation. ?? Those splashes of yellow were shikuwasa (a citrus ?) jello. OMG. ? #asideofjapan

A post shared by Kelly – A Side of Sweet (@asideofsweet) on Mar 6, 2017 at 7:17pm PST

Okinawa Food & Restaurant Guide

Shabu SHABU. ??? All the meats and veggies of your dreams cooked in broth right on your table. Like fondue but better! Two days left in #Okinawa. Any last minute recs for me? #letsgosomewhere #travelstoke #asideofjapan

A post shared by Kelly – A Side of Sweet (@asideofsweet) on Feb 28, 2017 at 11:09am PST


Shabu Shabu Hotpot - Restaurant & Food Guide Okinawa Japan
Shabu Shabu Hotpot - Okinawa Food & Restaurant Guide, Japan Travel

Shabu Shabu Japanese Hotpot

Oh shabu shabu. Seriously one of the most fun, most delicious things I’ve ever eaten. Best experienced with a group, shabu shabu is like Japanese fondue. You order an assortment of uncooked thinly sliced meats, noodles and fresh vegetables and cook them yourself right on your table in a pot of boiling broth. SO good.

Ufuya is well-known in Okinawa for not only hot pot, but also Okinawa soba. It’s worth going for soba for lunch and then back again for hot pot for an epic foodie adventure! Not only is their food amazing, but the setting is also pretty fantastic. Think waterfalls, rock walls with floral arrangements and  multiple levels of seating.

Restaurant Suggestion:
Ufuya
90 Nakayama
Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
http://ufuya.com/en/

Taco Rice American Village - Restaurant & Food Guide Okinawa Japan

Taco Rice in Okinawa

Of all the foods I mention here, this is the dish that everyone mentioned when I said I was visiting Okinawa. Because of the military base presence on Okinawa Island, a portion of their cuisine has been inspired by the American influence. Taco rice is a perfect example of this. I was a little skeptical that it was just a gimmick, but it actually tastes amazing. Taco rice is all of your favorite taco ingredients – ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, and avocado served on a bed of rice. It’s like nachos but better.

Restaurant Suggestion:
Taco Rice Cafe Kijimunaa
American Village Okinawa
〒901-0233 Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
Tomigusuku, Senaga, 174−6

Sea Grapes - Okinawa Food & Restaurant Guide, Japan TravelSea Grapes (Umibudo)

Sea Grapes aren’t grapes at all! They are . It’s usually eaten raw and in Okinawa it commonly accompanied sashimi. The experience of eating sea grapes is hard to describe. Biting each one is like bursting a tiny air bubble. It’s the foodie equivalent to popping bubble wrap. They have a slightly salty taste and are the perfect accompaniment to a cold beer on a warm night.

Restaurant Recommendation:
Uminchu Ryori Kaihomaru
1421-1 Yamakawa, Kunigami-gun
Motobu-cho 905-0205, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
Tripadvisor

Pig's Feet - Restaurant & Food Guide Okinawa Japan

Pigs Feet – A Traditional Okinawan Dish

Here’s one that is tough to swallow, literally. Although my first instinct is to recoil in disgust, Okinawan people eat pigs feet as a normal part of their diet. The women I met on my trip swore that the collagen in the feet prevents wrinkles and make their nails and hair stronger. They aren’t as disgusting as they sound (and look). Wondering what they taste like? Pigs feet actually taste like bacon!

Restaurant suggestion:
Nagumagai Restaurant
574 Yofuke
Nago 905-0022, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
Tripadvisor

Goya Bitter Melon - Okinawa Food & Restaurant Guide, Japan Travel

Goya or Bitter Melon

This spiny green veggie is something I’d never had before traveling to Okinawa. It’s super crunchy and tastes like a bitter cucumber. I ate goya so many ways – dried, pickled, fresh and stir-fried. It’s so versatile! Goya is one of the health foods that Okinawans credit for their long lifespan. It’s high in vitamin C, B vitamins and flavenoids, which in theory means it is immune boosting, aids metabolism, regulates blood sugar and fights cancer.

Okinawa Champuru Tofu Stir fry Goya Bitter Melon - Okinawa Food & Restaurant Guide, Japan Travel

Okinawa Goya Chanpuru Tofu Stir-Fry

This was my favorite way to enjoy the Okinawan goya (above). It’s basically a tofu scramble with miscellaneous veggies, and even spam. It’s great for any meal – breakfast, lunch or dinner. So satisfying – it’s total comfort food.

Buku Buku Froth Milk Tea - Restaurant & Food Guide Okinawa Japan Buku Buku Froth Milk Tea - Restaurant & Food Guide Okinawa Japan

Okinawa Buku Buku Foam Milk Tea

Okinawa buku buku tea is definitely worth seeking out if you’re on the island. The heavenly foam itself has no taste, but it’s so fun to drink! The millions of tiny bubbles are made by vigorously whisking a large bowl of tea with a wooden whisk. We weren’t lucky enough to catch an Okinawan tea ceremony, but I want to do that during a future visit.

No soba for YOU! ??? Fact: Okinawa soba is actually made with gluten, meaning it’s softer than traditional soba and perfect for slurping! ? #okinawa #soba #japanesefood #asideofjapan

A post shared by Kelly – A Side of Sweet (@asideofsweet) on Mar 3, 2017 at 5:30pm PST

Okinawa Soba Noodles

Soba is a traditional Japanese soup that contains tasty noodles and There’s an important difference between Okinawa soba and soba noodles in the rest of Japan. Okinawa soba is made with regular flour instead of the buckwheat flour used for typical soba. The Okinawan noodles are wider and flatter. There is a difference in taste too – Okinawa sobas are chewier and perfect for slurping.

Restaurant recommendation:
Ufuya
90 Nakayama
Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
http://ufuya.com/en/

Blue Seal Ice Cream - Restaurant & Food Guide Okinawa Japan Blue Seal Ice Cream - Okinawa Food & Restaurant Guide, Japan Travel

Blue Seal Ice Cream

Blue Seal’s slogan is “Born in America, Made in Okinawa”. It’s an Okinawan institution, having been on the island for 70 years. Blue Seal has a million flavors from traditional like Cookies & Cream to weird like Purple Yam. They are more than happy to provide samples too, so you can eat to your heart’s content.

Blue Seal Ice Cream
5 Chome-22-20 Agarie
Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
http://en.blueseal.co.jp/

Okinawa Doughnuts Purple Yam - Restaurant & Food Guide Okinawa Japan

Okinawa Doughnuts – Sata Andagi

Okinawa doughnuts are cake-style, sweet balls of happiness found all over the island. They are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Bonus points if you find a fancy one like we did that is stuffed with purple yam!

Zenzai Red Beans & Shaved Ice - Restaurant & Food Guide Okinawa Japan Zenzai Red Beans & Shaved Ice - Restaurant & Food Guide Okinawa Japan

Okinawa Zenzai Shaved Ice with Red Beans

Zenzai is perfect for a hot Okinawan summer day. You can find it on the island anywhere from food trucks to restaurants. We picked a little hole-in-the-wall place where you put your coins in a vending machine and a ticket is dispensed. You then take your ticket to the counter and a nice lady shaves the ice on the spot with a machine and scoops it over this super sweet red bean rice syrup.

Restaurant Suggestion:
Arakaki Zenzaiya
11-2 Toguchi,Kunigami-gun
Motobu-cho 905-0214
Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
Tripadvisor
Kotsuobushi Dried Smoked Tuna - Restaurant & Food Guide Okinawa Japan

Okinawa Kotsuo Bushi

Kotsuo bushi is a staple in Okinawan cooking for the umami flavor it imparts into food. It’s dried, fermented and smoked tuna that looks almost like wood when it’s done. For cooking, flakes are shaved off of the fish. You may have heard of bonito flakes, which are similar but made with a cheaper fish. It’s worth asking for a sample of the flakes at a market if you see it. We found it at the famous Makishi public market in Naha.

Makishi Public Market
2-10-1 Matsuo
Naha 900-0014, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan
Tripadvisor

Shikuwasa Alcohol - Restaurant & Food Guide Okinawa Japan

Okinawa Shikuwasa Citrus

The shikuwasa is a delightfully tart Okinawan citrus that looks like a mandarin but tastes more like a mix between an orange and a lime. It’s enjoyed in many ways, including as a liqueur (above), juice, jello and more. The Okinawans laud the health benefits of the shikuwasa, including improving the immune system and preventing cancer. They call it their “green jewel”. It’s one of the foods that they give credit for the famed long lifespan that Okinawans have.

Beni Imo Purple Yam Dessert - Restaurant & Food Guide Okinawa Japan

Okinawa Beni-Imo Purple Yam Dessert

People go crazy for the beautiful Okinawan purple yam. You can find it in many Okinawan desserts, from ice cream to the Beni-Imo tart. It tastes like a traditional yam or sweet potato, but it’s vibrant purple color makes any dessert better. Luckily, the souvenir store mentioned below has samples of each of the dozens of sweets they sell, so you can try them all before you stock up on gifts for home. They also have a cooking class yo ucan take where you learn to make the Beni-imo tart shells and how to pipe the beautiful purple swirls you see in the above photo.

Okashi Goten Souvenir Store & Cooking Class
1024-1 Nakayama
Nago City, Okinawa 〒905-0004, Japan
Website

Have you been to Okinawa? Do you have any recommendations for other foods to try or places to eat? Let me know in the comments below!

P.S. – Planning a trip to Okinawa? Check out these posts!

12 Things to Do in Okinawa, Japan

Okinawa Japan Travel Advice, Guide and Things to Do

Glamping at Nanma Mui Resort in Okinawa

Beautiful Okinawa Japan Hotels - Nanma Mui Glamping Nagox

Mahaina Wellness Resort in Okinawa

Review of Mahaina Wellness Resort in Montobu, Okinawa, Japan

Okinawa Taco Rice Recipe

Okinawa Japan Taco Rice Recipe with Black Beans, Cheese, Tomatoes and BACON!

Tips for Traveling to Japan

12 Things to Do in Okinawa Japan
Biking Across the Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco

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March 24, 2017  •  Filed Under: Japan, Travel 4 Comments

Comments

  1. suki says

    March 26, 2017 at 10:09 pm

    Okinawa is definitely on my list of places to go – so envious! And food all over Japan is amazing, so no surprise that Okinawa’s got a lot to try as well. Great photos!

    Reply
    • Kelly Egan - A Side of Sweet says

      March 28, 2017 at 5:32 am

      It was so amazing! Definitely a one-of-a-kind foodie experience!

      Reply
  2. Rebecca says

    April 7, 2017 at 8:39 am

    I love all the recommendations here! I loved Japan when I went, but I didn’t get the chance to visit Okinawa. It was definitely a foodie’s paradise!

    Reply
    • Kelly Egan - A Side of Sweet says

      April 7, 2017 at 3:23 pm

      I hope I inspired you to go! It’s such an amazing place!

      Reply

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