Restaurants

Cafe Gacchina: ガッチーナ

This small coffee cafe is hidden off Rt 34 in Ginowan. It is clean, modern, and relaxing. This was the perfect choice for a rainy day.

There are a ton of coffee options, hot sandwich sets, and a few other miscellaneous. There is also free (and fast!) WiFi. The food coffee are really good and not too expensive, especially compared to some other places here. I had the egg-mayo, although you can choose 2 different types if you wish… but I am boring. It came with kabocha soup andfresh green salad. I also got a cafe latte, and for dessert the Okinawan brown sugar pound cake. The baked good rotate constantly, and everything homemade.

There is also a study room off to the side, available for anyone’s use. The owner speaks some English and the menu is in both Japanese and English.

address: 〒901-2225 沖縄県宜野湾市大謝名３丁目６−１０

Local Foods, Restaurants

Cafe Soy Labo: カフェソイラボ

So for lunch I took a small adventure: a drive down the road in Nishihara, not so far from Shuri area to a small cafe called Soy Labo. This place is heavily geared towards mothers and children (I am child-free, so not really my scene per se). That being said, the menu is focuses on tofu and soy products, so as an ardent lover of tofu, this is a must-try!

I took a wrong turn, but ended up there okay (just gotta pay attention to your GPS). It is not very obvious from the main road that this place exists until you make the turn into it. It is a very cute place, I really loved the decor. For moms/kids, there is a play area, baby room, cribs, a room with low tables and floor seating. For everyone else, there are a few tables and a counter. The atmosphere was very comfortably (maybe a bit feminine). The menu is in Japanese… but there are some pictures so it is not so difficult for non-speakers I think. Everything was so delicious, I look forward to returning. Even though this place specializes in soy products, it is not necessarily vegan or vegetarian (although there seemed be options).

address: 沖縄県中頭郡西原町池田86-1

Restaurants

Korean Food in Okinawa: 韓国料理

韓国 “kankoku” means Korea in Japanese, 料理 “ryouri” means cooking/food, so 韓国料理 kankoku-ryouri means Korean food.

In Okinawa, there is not a whole lot of Korean food, unfortunately. However, you can find some Korean ingredients in a few of the stores and a there are a few decent restaurants where you can get your fix.

Some common grocery stores, such as SanA, will carry gochujang paste, pepper flakes, Korean seaweed, and kimchi. Usually grocery stores carry Japanese-style kimchi (a lot less spicy, different flavor), which to me is not as good, but often they will carry a few imported kimchi in jars from Korea. Some stores have a better variety of imports; depending on what you are looking for Kaldi, DonQuijote, APrice, and Gyomu Super have some decent selections of ingredients and products that you cannot find in the typical Japanese supermarkets.

Awhile ago, Ryubo department store in Naha opened up a kimchi counter inside the basement grocery/food floor~ pretty good selection and taste; there is also a sit-down Korean food cafe there.
address: https://goo.gl/maps/WxXoNYyqEVF2

Gejol Korean restaurant in Ginowan has a good variety of Korean dishes, and is worth checking out. I want to go back and try the homemade makgeolli some evening when I have time. You can also buy kimchi to go. The owner is very sweet and nice.
address: 〒901-2215宜野湾市真栄原3-33-30 https://goo.gl/maps/kSs4yG1eheE2

On the second floor of あっぷるタウン (Omoromachi Apple Town) in Naha is Tokyo Sundubu restaurant, 東京純豆腐. It is a bit Japanese style, but still pretty good, especially when you feel like jjigae.
address: 〒900-0006 那覇市おもろまち３丁目３−１ https://goo.gl/maps/h1hdfkrot422

There are several yakiniku restaurants (grilled meat) in Okinawa, and while derived from Korean cuisine, these places rarely offer much in the way of actual Korean-style banchan, kimchi, or even Korean-style meats. The only one that I have found to close to Korean-style food is Myeongdong (2 locations). Not only this, but the dolsot (stone bowl) bibimbap was pretty good, too.
Urasoe, address #1: 〒901-2131 浦添市牧港4丁目 6-1 https://goo.gl/maps/iJFDFR8Vy9x
Naha, address #2: 〒901-0146那覇市具志３丁目１２−１https://goo.gl/maps/xM8T5oFpEuv

In Urasoe is 大長今 Dae Jang Geum restaurant. They were so-so and parking was impossible. The food was not good enough for me to deal with that parking again…
address: https://goo.gl/maps/gT11pLAhYzG2

I have not tried every Korean restaurant Okinawa has to offer (yet). I have heard rumors of a good place somewhere on the west side near Araha, and some people swear by a few up in Awase/Uruma area. Hopefully I can find out soon if these places are indeed the Korean soul food I so dearly miss.

Luckily, for those of us that love Korean food, culture, and beauty products, Seoul is only a 2 hour plane ride away for the things you simply cannot find here in Okinawa.

Local Foods, Restaurants, Travel: Japan

Miyako-jima: 宮古島

We just took a short weekend trip to Miyako-jima, one of the southern islands in Okinawa prefecture. You must fly (cannot take a ferry to Miyako-jima), but luckily it is a short 50 minute flight. When you get there, it is highly recommended that you rent a car, or at least a scooter, since the island is decently big (compared to some of the others in Okinawa).

There are a few things to “sight-see” on Miyako-jima, but really it is all about the diving, swimming, and snorkeling. Beautiful beaches are plentiful, and many of them have snorkeling spots (although these are mostly for novices, avid snorkelers will want to take a boat tour to some of the more spectacular reefs).

We stayed at a quiet AirBnB on Kurima-jima, which is connected to Miyako-jima by a bridge. There are other islands also connected to Miyako-jima by bridge: Ikema-jima and Irabu-jima/Shimoji-jima.

Miyako-jima is known for mango– so of course I indulged at every opportunity! We had mango smoothies from some cafes, fresh mango juice from a farm, and anything else mango I could find.

We ate dinner the first night at a great Italian spot near the main city area. It was called ADish. We had pizza, pasta, salad, crostini, and wine. We sat at the counter, but reservations are recommended for this place. We were too busy eating to take photos unfortunately. When we returned, we bought some cans of Orion and sat outside, gazing at the milky way and millions of stars, listening to the insects.

The second night, we decided to try the local place by the AirBnB house. So we walked down the road to Hanafuu 花風, which is some shipping containers converted into a small restaurant. The menu was written on fans on the wall; we started with some Orion draft beers. The owner was happy to see us, and we chatted a bit in Japanese. She gave us some yakiimo (baked sweet potato) that was grown in Miyako-jima and a hair tie with bingata print on it. We ordered another round, as well as goya chanpuru and salt yakisoba. At this point, a few more customers started to arrive (most of them it seemed like this place was their second home). So we ended up also chatting with some of them. She ended up giving us a few extra side dishes for free, and everything we tasted was amazing. After a few more rounds of beer, the owner was convinced to break out her sanshin to play and sing for us. In this small place, we were truly able to feel the kindness and vivacity of the Miyako-jima people. Finally we were tired, settled the bill, said our goodbyes and headed out. We were greeted with the millions of stars in the dark sky, surrounded by rustling sugarcane fields.

Overall, it was a fabulous trip, with great food, friendly people, nice beaches and gorgeous views.

full album of random pictures: here

Local Foods, Restaurants

Studio & Coffee Miyanchi: みゃんち

Miyanchi is a nice cafe in a clean, new Okinawan-style building. For lunch, there are set meals, sort of a Okinawa-style fusion. The main dishes are Okinawa soba noodles, but in various styles; I always get the Thai green curry soba. It also comes with seasonal salad, taro juushi, tea or coffee, and dessert. I love the tea; it is a special blend of Okinawa tea and herbs. I even bought some to take home, it was so relaxing. Everything is served in pottery made at the shop, and there is a small gift shop area with art, house tea, and other local items. There are a few regular tables, counter seats overlooking the yard, and a tatami room. It is a very lovely spot for lunch! It is close to the Awase Living Design Center along Rt 329.

address: 沖縄県沖縄市与儀1丁目29番22号

Japanese sweets, Restaurants, Shops

Dessert Labo Chocolat: デザートラボショコラ

Dessert Labo Chocolat is a patisserie in Shuri. They have many gift biscuits, cookies, meringues, macarons, etc., as well as many types of whole and cut cakes. The reason for my visit was to have an afternoon cake and tea set: for 750円 you can choose any cut cake/pastry in the display case and (ice/hot) tea/coffee/juice. There were so many choices, it was very difficult to choose, but I ended up with a raspberry tiramisu, as well as 2 macarons, with an iced tea. There were tables both inside and out, but since it was a lovely day, I chose to relax outside on the patio, which surprisingly had a rather nice view. Overall, it was quite delightful, and if you happen to be craving something a little sweet and relaxing in the Shuri area, I recommend you drop by.

address: 〒903-0815 沖縄県那覇市首里金城町4-70-4

Local Foods, Restaurants

Bakery Munakatado: 宗像堂

Munakatado is a bakery (or pan-ya パン屋) in Okinawa that makes natural yeast breads. It is in a wooded area in Ginowan. They sell many types of breads and baked goods, but also have a vegetarian-friendly lunch (sandwich, soup, and drink). It is really good and a very relaxing location, but I recommend bringing the bug spray (the only tables are outside). After you finish eating, there are a few parks within a short drive to stroll about.

address: 沖縄県宜野湾市嘉数1-20-2

Restaurants

Italian Food in Okinawa: イタリア料理

I am not Italian, nor am I an expert on Italian food. But I do enjoy eating Italian-style cuisine, and surprising there are quite a few good (non-chain) restaurants here in Okinawa (yes, some very bad Japanese-Italian as well). I will make no claims to their “authenticity,” but there are some places where I have had good pasta, pizza, and wine.

One of my favorites is next to the university. A small place called Mou run by a couple, no other workers; there are probably only about 4 tables and a few counter seats. They are open for dinner every day but Tuesday. It is great food, and actually pretty cheap. Plus they are so nice, and even will specially prepare food with no meat for me. The menu is handwritten in Japanese, but they seem like they might know a smattering of English words, although all my conversations of been in Japanese. I especially love the kinako (roasted soy bean powder) tiramisu… it is tiramisu style but no chocolate/cocoa, just kinako. It is incredibly delicious, so I always order it if it is available. For great service, food, and cheap price, I definitely recommend Mou.
address: 沖縄県宜野湾市志真志3-8-7

Yona Salute in Shuri is also another favorite; but reservations are highly recommended! Again, the price is very reasonable and the food is really good. Always order from the chalkboard specials instead of the regular menu at dinner! Also the view is amazing, on a hill, you can lookout over the twinkling city lights. They have a pet tortoise that lives on the balcony. We usually order a salad or appetizer, pasta and wine, as well as some sort of beef or lamb for my husband, and tiramisu for dessert. Desserts come with a side of gelato~ ! Somehow I always eat and drink everything before thinking to take photos when I come here…
address: 〒903-0825 沖縄県那覇市首里山川町1-87-1

There are a few more to add to this list, some I have separate posts for now, and some I will eventually write up:

Uchina SOLA in Ginowan
~~HOUSE in Ginowan~~ CLOSED
Italian Shokudo Amani in Naha
Bufalo in Naha, Bacar in Naha
ADORIANO in Naha
Campagna in Urasoe
youBAL in Yonabaru
Onda in Naha

Some chain restaurants, which are okay, but usually far from “authentic.” They tend to be more family-type places

Pizza Marino
Lala Primo/Primo Kitchen
Italian Tomato Cafe Jr.
Napoli (this place is decent and has cheap pizza lunch deals!)
Capricciosa (they advertise during the movie previews, and if you bring your movie ticket you can usually get some sort of discount)

If you are looking for pizza, check out this post: Pizza in Okinawa: ピザ

Japanese foods, Local Foods, Restaurants

Tantan men (spicy ramen): 担々麺

担々麺 (tantanmen) or 坦々ラーメン (tantan ramen) is a popular “Chinese-style” noodle dish in Japan. It is typically seen as ramen (but occasionally as tsukemen, aka dipping noodles). It is often found at ramen and Chinese restaurants. A few shops in Okinawa will advertise it as a specialty dish of the shop. I know of quite a few shops with tantanmen not far from my area. I frequently see banners outside of ramen shops advertising tantanmen.

Tantanmen usually has a spicy broth with thick sesame taste, topped with minced pork and green onions. It is supposedly Sichuan-style, although Japan often tones down the spicy levels and focuses more on the rich, sesame qualities of the broth.

Some of the better places in Okinawa to try tantanmen (I will try to add some more restaurants):

坦々亭 Tantantei, Ginowan: https://goo.gl/maps/krvCHNVhthE2

ラーメン工場無双 Ramen Factory Musou, Ginowan: https://goo.gl/maps/ab42CAQ7peR2

あけぼのラーメン Akebono Ramen, Naha: https://goo.gl/maps/8u1aZTAQHTw

燕郷房 YanKyouFan, Naha: https://goo.gl/maps/548MMuMrwAu

*Arashi ramen 嵐, Stripe ramen, and Tenkaipin ramen 天下一品 are very popular with Americans, most likely due to the fact they have English menus and are close to American bases. I do not tend to patronize these places, but many other people seem to enjoy them, so decide for yourself if you want to check them out. My husband says the fried rice at Arashi is pretty good. Both Arashi and Tenkaipin are large restaurant chains from the mainland. I am not sure on the menus, but I am fairly certain they have tantanmen, or some variation.

Japanese foods, Restaurants

Okonomiyaki: お好み焼き

お好み焼き Okonomiyaki is considered Japanese junk food… but it is delicious! It comes from the phrase “as you like it”; basically it is a simple recipe with cabbage and a pancake-like batter that you add toppings as you desire. There are 2 main styles: Kansai (or Osaka) style and Hiroshima style. I tend to prefer Kansai style, even if it is a bit more simple. In Okinawa, there is something not quite the same, but many people refer to as Okinawan okonomiyaki, called hirayachi.

Kansai style (関西) is a mixed batter, then cooked in a fry pan or on a flat grill top. If adding bacon, it is just added in strips to top side before you flip and cook the top side. When its cooked, it is served with nori (seaweed sprinkles) のり, katsuobushi (shaved bonito flakes) 鰹節, a thick sweet brown sauce (called okonomi sauce) お好みソース, and mayonnaise. Often there is benishouga (pickled ginger) 紅生姜 on the side.

Hiroshima (広島) style is layered instead of mixed, making it a bit more complicated to cook. Usually it includes a fried egg and yakisoba noodles inside as well. It is served in a similar way to Kansai style, with the okonomi sauce, nori, ginger, and mayo.

I enjoy eating at okonomiyaki restaurants, especially the ones where you can grill it at your table. In Okinawa, there are not many okonomiyaki restaurants, but there is a really good one called Heshin 海神 located in Awase that is not too far from me and serves Kansai style. Red Helmet 赤いヘルメット is a Hiroshima style place in Okinawa city. They are really good, for Hiroshima style. I think I may prefer Kansai style for its simplicity, though. But I think everyone should try them and decide for themselves which style they prefer. Heshin and Red Helmet are definitely the top 2 okonomiyaki places in Okinawa. There are some other places you can find it in Okinawa, these 2 places just happen to be some of the best. You can nearly always find okonomiyaki at summer festivals (natsu matsuri 夏祭り), too, as it is a very popular summer festival food.

Simple okonomiyaki is fairly easy to make at home though; all the ingredients are widely available. You can even buy kits that have all but the fresh ingredients inside (just buy your own cabbage, egg, bacon, green onion).

What do I like in my okonomiyaki? Well, definitely benishouga (pickled red ginger) on the side. I go for vegetable-based and skip the bacon. I usually order extra green onion. If I feel a bit different, I might add kimchi, cheese, and/or mochi bits. For those of you that like seafood, there are usually various things like shrimp (海老), scallops (ホタテ), octopus (たこ), or squid (いか) to mix in the batter. Many places will usually offer different types of meats for the batter as well.

When you visit Japan, eating okonomiyaki is a must-do!

address for Heshin 海神: 沖縄県沖縄市与儀715 マンション伊波 1F
https://goo.gl/maps/kxS1eeLp5nR2

address for Red Helmet 赤いヘルメット: 1 Chome-14-16 Hiyagon, Okinawa, Okinawa Prefecture 904-2173
https://goo.gl/maps/6AXYDmCeU372

**neither of these places have English menus… just be prepared for when you visit!

Here is a list of some other decent Okonomiyaki restaurants in Okinawa. Again, most of these do not have English menus; I think Sanshiro in Ginowan is the only one with an English menu. Other than that, there was an okonomiyaki shop in American Village with an English menu but they were not very good in my opinion (so I have not listed it here).

Maido まいど: https://goo.gl/maps/dXQ57V5DXSw

KO菜YA (Shintoshin location): https://goo.gl/maps/KgPaTCjxpRs

Sanshiro 三四郎: https://goo.gl/maps/psodkY3E6TL2

Umanosuke 馬之助 (Ginowan location): https://goo.gl/maps/LcAp67rvLwK2

Local Foods, Restaurants

Hirayachi: ヒラヤーチー

Hirayachi is considered Okinawan okonomiyaki, but I think it resembles Korean chijimi (チヂミ in Japanese). The word hirayachi means to “fry flat.” This is a popular snack food and izakaya food, I think because it is simple yet delicious, as well as easy to eat.

It is a pancake type of batter with only a few ingredients: flour, egg, water, salt/pepper, and green onion mixed together, plus a little oil to fry in the pan with. To serve, most people top with shaved katsuobushi (or bonito flakes) and with either Worcestershire, yakisoba sauce, or okonomiyaki sauce (whatever you prefer). I confess that I will typically use Bulldog brand tonkatsu sauce to serve, and add some pickled ginger on the side.

Local Foods, Restaurants

Book Cafe: ブックカフェ

Confession: I really love Asian cafes. They are often so cute, relaxing, and clean. Depending on the type of cafe, sometimes the prices can be a little high, but the ambience is so good.

One of my favorites is a small, hidden book cafe. The name is “Bookish” and it is located in Nishihara, near to the university. It is off a back road, off another back road, and up a hill. Parking is on the first level, and take the stairs up to the second level. Through the set of doors you enter into something that looks like a cross between a library and a quiet restaurant. I often choose the seats at the window bar, overlooking the valley to the Nakagusuku Bay. The menu is pretty simple, some sandwiches, a pasta, pizza toast, fancy coffees and teas, and of course, desserts. The menu is in Japanese (but katakana mostly because they are westernized foods) and no pictures, so I suppose many English speakers might shy away; but with a little patience, it is not too difficult to order, just practice reading katakana. I enjoy getting a vegetable bagel sandwich (it has delicious ume 梅 pickles on it) with a soy chai latte and just clearing my mind of the days busyness.

address: 沖縄県西原町字棚原83-1

Japanese foods, Local Foods, Restaurants

Tea house Ichiyou: 茶房一葉

茶房一葉 Sabou Ichiyou, translated means “teahouse one leaf.” It is the name of an adorable tea room and shop in Nanjo, Okinawa. It is kind of my secret spot since- I may have been her only gaijin customer. I found it after searching online where to find mooncakes in Okinawa, which turns out to be a bit scarcer than one would imagine (the irony is that the popularity of mooncakes has now risen, and are a bit easier to find over the last year). I was desperate, and I really wanted mooncakes 月餅 for moon-viewing ceremony. I finally found this place after sifting through results in Japanese, and decided to seek it out.

I plugged the address into my phone and drove off through a rural area of Nanjo. I pulled up to this small place, and it seemed a bit quiet and off by itself. Tentatively, I opened the door and sure enough I was greeted by a gentle looking woman. She seemed very surprised to see a pale foreigner entering, but nonetheless was extraordinarily kind. I explained in poor Japanese that I was seeking out mooncakes for Tsukimi (moon-viewing). She was excited and decided to serve me some green tea and a jelly dessert called youkan 羊羹. It was indeed wonderful. Then she gave me some acerola jam to take home and asked to take a photo with me. She was so sweet and kind.

Later, after actually reading the website more in depth, I realized she very skilled and professional at tea and tea ceremony. Maybe I can convince her to teach me some of her knowledge one day… but I will probably need to be better at Japanese. Hopefully this will motivate me to continue to learn.

address: 沖縄県南城市大里嶺井502-2

Japanese foods, Local Foods, Restaurants

Sushi-go-round: 回転寿司

寿司: sushi

回転: rotator belt, conveyor belt

回転寿司 Kaiten sushi is conveyer belt (rotator) sushi. By no means is this usually high quality, it is sushi for the masses! Entertaining, low-stress, easy for when you do not remember all the Japanese names for things.

In Okinawa, some of these places will be hundred yen sushi plates. 100円 sushi is definitely good for the wallet, but usually not great quality or variety. Hamazushi, Sushiro, and Kura Sushi are examples of 100円 sushi chains in Okinawa. I like Kura Sushi because they have little game you play for every 5 plates is a chance to win a gachapon (capsule toy). Sushiro has a good seasonal menu, and the quality is a little better than the other 100円 chains. And all of these places tend to have kid-friendly and picky-eater friendly types of foods as well.

Some places are better quality sushi-go-round, and tend to have some better variety. Enraku and Yazaemon are probably the better ones I have been to. Again, it is kaiten sushi so it is not going to be super high quality like you would get from a real sushi chef or anything. But that’s okay– sometimes you just want some cheap, filling sushi, not some fancy “Jiro-dreams-of-sushi” experience. Any time you are in Japan, be sure to visit a kaiten sushi joint to watch as the many plates rotate around and are devoured by the patrons.

Most places have a delivery system where you have a touchscreen at your table; if you do not see what you want on the conveyor belt, simply use the touchscreen to place an order. Some places have little trains or boats on the track that will “deliver” it to your eating station. At your eating station, besides a touchscreen, there is usually green tea, small plates, hashi, shoyu, pickled ginger, wasabi, wet naps, etc. Don’t be intimidated and just watch what other patrons do if it is your first time… it is easy once you get the hang of it. When you are finished, there will be a call button on your touchscreen or at your station, the server will come over and tally up your plates for the bill. Almost all of these touch screens have multi-language options as well.

Sushi-go-round chains in Okinawa: (just copy&paste into GoogleMaps to find the closest to you!)

Hamazushi はま寿司

Kura sushi 無添くら寿司

Sushiro スシロー

Enraku 円楽

Yazaemon やざえもん

Gourmet Kaiten Sushi グルメ回転寿司

Restaurants

Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurants in Okinawa: ヴィーガン

So, I am not a vegan (mostly I eat a primarily vegetarian/pescatarian diet), but I really enjoy many of the local vegan (some are only vegan-friendly but not exclusively vegan) spots here in Okinawa. Many other places will serve items on the menu without the meat (fish, eggs, dairy, etc) if you ask, but if you are not very good at Japanese, that may not really be an option. The places listed here are primarily vegetarian/vegan focused, and highlight the vegetarian/vegan options on their menus.

Here is a current list of places where you can find vegan (and vegetarian) friendly food while in Okinawa: *please note some places may be ONLY vegetarian-friendly, not vegan-friendly due to my ignorance, so always check ahead of time.

SOUTH

Ukishima Garden: Pretty good place located in Naha. 2-12-3 Matsuo, Naha

Mana: Nice cozy place where you can get a plate lunch in Naha; they can get busy for dinner so get a reservation in advance. 1-6-9 Tsuboya, Naha

Kintsubo: Taiwanese. So good and cheap, it is vegetarian Chinese food. But not like American Chinese, like real Chinese.. yum! It felt very homey and comforting for me. 1-7-9 Tsuboya, Naha

Rakurobi Kitchen: Macrobiotic (mostly) vegan. Follow the link to the blog post I wrote.

Cafe Grandma: Yonabaru. 1423-1 Itarashiki, Yonabaru

Yama-No-Chaya Rakusui: Definitely vegetarian friendly, but not sure about vegan. Love this location and food. I wrote a previous blog post on this place.

Ie-jima Shimabukuro 伊江島食の家　しまぶくろ: Located in Naha, this place serves Okinawan soul food with vegan and vegetarian options. The chef has challenged himself to make hometown food for everyone to enjoy. 3-10 Makishi, Naha 900-0013

LaLa Zorba: Located in Naha, I went for lunch and it was fabulous. It bills itself as “vegan ethnic” food, read more in the linked post. https://goo.gl/maps/tSiwY8DMaV22

Niffera にふぇ～ら: https://goo.gl/maps/5XkRhAeHX8s

Vegetarian Cafe Brown Sugar ベジランチカフェブラウンシュガー: Located in Itoman area. https://goo.gl/maps/wK858hkpJHP2

Parlor de Jujumo: tiny place down south near the Ashinbinaa outlets. Read the linked post.

Book cafe＆hall ゆかるひ: Stop be here for some vegan oyaki (Nagano-style dumplings). Info in linked post.

Rakurobi kitchen, macrobiotic cafe:楽ロビkitchen: they use fish sauce/dashi, but if you ask they will make it vegan!

Cafe detox felicidad: vegan, raw food, and even gluten-free choices here.

CENTRAL

Tami’s: located in American Village and recently re-opened. It is also vegan and super delicious. I will have to make a new post for this one. https://goo.gl/maps/TFNjrWyqjZ72

Sprout: 28 Samashita, Ginowan

plant-HOLIC: https://goo.gl/maps/1ZNTFXt54ru

L’Orange: Has some vegan muffins, and they are pretty darn good. 1-21-5 Kiyuna, Ginowan

Ploughman’s: Unfortunately, this place has caught on with a lot of people, and reservations are recommended even for lunch. But it is delicious. 927-2 Adaniya, Kitanakagusuku

Parlor Poka Poka パーラーポカポカ: https://goo.gl/maps/JsiK7dwjLVU2

Rockers: Okay food, unfortunately in American Village, so not an area I go to a lot. I got the vegan burger and my husband the curry set, both were okay but not spectacular. 9-39 Mihama, Chatan 2F

Bollywood Dreams: I don’t especially recommend this place; it is a bit overpriced, slooooow service, and the food is not that great. But they do have vegetarian and vegan curries on the menu. Located in American Village: *update: they now have 2 locations in American village.

Bali Noon Bali Moon: Not exclusively vegan, but has vegan options. They also sell their tempeh which is a bargain at 500grams for 500yen!

Esparza’s Tacos & Coffee: According to husband, pretty good. They also sell vegan their cheese. https://goo.gl/maps/epFFj49nwDF2

Guacamole Burrito Truck: Not so much a restaurant, but a cool little trailer that will make a vegetarian/vegan burrito. Get this and take it to the nearby beach to eat. https://goo.gl/maps/LrtWvo4Bxfz

Citta Bakeshop (NEW!): located just outside of the Ryukyu University East Gate. Google Map link, pictures, and review coming soon!

Essence963 Hammock Cafe: vegetarian-friendly, and possibly vegan-friendly.

Kokopelli Pizza: info coming soon.

NORTH

Dechibika: This place is in Yomitan, an area I rarely visit due to the high traffic of Americans. I have not been here, but people rave about their curry, so I will have to bite the bullet sometime soon. 648-1 Furugen, Yomitan

Gubgub’s: Closed as of Feb 2020 🙁 They still sometimes show up at Vegan Foodfairs! Vegan “junk food,” also in Yomitan; it is as awesome as you hear from others and I highly recommend it. 410 Toya, Yomitan

Suien bakery: LOVE. Delicious sandwiches and located in Yomitan. Go early as it gets busy. 367 Zakimi, Yomitan

Shizen Inu: Another vegan restaurant located in Yomitan. 183 Furugen, Yomitan

Bakery and Cafe Coo: LOVE. Delicious sandwiches in Motobu peninsula by Nakijin-jo. 3313 Imadomari, Nakijin

There are a few others that I know of, but have not had a chance to visit yet. And maybe 1 or 2 that were not good and they simply do not go on the list (Example: Jai Thai in American Village… I simply cannot understand why anyone would go there, it is highly NOT recommended unless you like to spend a lot of money on terrible food. Also avoid Pizza Sun (previously known as Pizzakaya), for various reasons I will not get into. These restaurant are a majority veg-friendly; there are even more restaurants with a few veg options, but I cannot possibly list them all…

Several of the Indian restaurants have veg options, as well as a place called Istanbul Kebab House in Sunabe; all of these are also pretty good options for vegetarians and vegans as well. There are obviously many other places that can accommodate vegetarians and even vegans, but these are some of the better known places that understand what vegan/vegetarian diet is.

Japanese foods, Local Drinks, Local Foods, Restaurants

Izakaya: 居酒屋

Izakaya are Japanese-style bars. But these are really nothing like American-style bars.

Often there will be an all-you-can-eat (食べ放題 tabehoudai) and all-you-can-drink (飲み放題 nomihoudai) option, which has a time interval, 90 minutes, 2 hours, or even up to 3 hours. Sometimes this is a bit risky, and you encounter some cheap, watered down beer… usually it depends on the pricing and the place. Most dishes are meant to be shared and are more appetizer style then full meals.

Izakaya are a great place to hold an informal gathering of coworkers, friends, classmates, etc. I have found Japanese people get much louder and outspoken at these gatherings, it is a good place to learn about people. For instance, I participate in a hula dance class once a week and we held a 忘年会 bonenkai (end of the year party) at a local izakaya to celebrate the success of our Christmas show. After months of nervously struggling to express myself in Japanese, I found out one of the members speaks somewhat decent English and studied at a US university for 3 years. Sigh. So, maybe I will use English when I am stuck on Japanese now.

A word of warning: some places have a “sitting” fee, which basically ensures that you spend some minimum amount. They will bring out a small appetizer dish that is “required” to purchase. Usually it is cheap, ~300円; this is done in lieu of an entrance fee. This is called “otoshi” お通し.

A tip: if you want draft beer, just order “nama” 生 (and how many you want). Draft beer is nama bi-ru 生ビール, and for short, just nama will do.

Another thing to remember: the drinking and driving BAC is very low 0.03, so always take advantage of public transport, taxi, or DAIKO services! DAIKO is a service in Japan, where someone will drive your car home for you (teamed up with a taxi). It is very convenient and fairly cheap, just a little more than a regular taxi one-way. And much cheaper than a DUI.

In Okinawa, one of the izakaya I like is called Paikaji ぱいかじ and it has a location near to the university. It is more local food and has Ryukuan entertainment on weekends. You and your party get a private room (with a bing-bong so you can ring for the staff when you want to order something), unlike in a western bar. It also has cheap beer specials.

Next time you are in Japan or Okinawa, be sure to stop by a local izakaya (the more salary men, the better).

Paikaji address: 〒901-2211 沖縄県宜野湾市宜野湾３丁目１５−１９

Restaurants

Patisserie Cocolo

Not really Okinawa-themed, but I stopped by a local patisserie in Nishihara, Patisserie Cocolo. It is absolutely adorable, inside and out… there are little kitty paw prints leading to the doorway, and inside are cute cat decorations. They have the cutest caricatures of the owners/patisseries and the kitty logo. They even have a special dessert, COCO, that is a caramel mousse in the shape of a kitty paw. Ultra kawaii.

I was a bit overcome with cuteness, but managed to order desserts for the evening’s dinner party. The desserts were a huge hit with the guests, and everything I have tried here has been good. The patissier gave me a free milk pudding with my purchase…! Sometimes I really love Japan.

So, if you are a cat-lover and living in Okinawa, I highly recommend you check this place out and support a local small business.

address: 〒903-0125　沖縄県中頭郡西原町上原179-10

I have been following their website, and each month they seem to come out with a new themed dessert. They also do custom cakes, and there are some cute cat designs available!

Japanese foods, Local Foods, Restaurants

Naha’s Yatai mura: 屋台村

屋台 yatai: street-style dining
村 mura: village

Previously, I wrote about Fukuoka’s yatai restaurants. Okinawa does not really have any yatai quite like this, however, a few years ago, a “yatai mura” (street for yatai stalls) was established in Naha nearby Kokusai-dori. It is sort of touristy, but fun. There are a few small restaurants set up, similar to a yatai-style street. You sit at counters surrounding the chef’s cooking area with other patrons and so it is easy to have the feeling of yatai-dining. There is also an entertainment stage where they hold performances and events. It is a unique nightlife that you can find here in Okinawa, so if you have never visited yatai before, it is a good opportunity to discover the atmosphere of yatai.

The chef-san at the fried skewer (kushikatsu 串カツ) restaurant posed with us:

Local Foods, Restaurants, Travel: Japan

Kuruma Ebi: 車海老

海老, えび, or エビ ebi means shrimp. Here in Okinawa, there is very famous shrimp named Kuruma ebi. Oddly, kuruma 車 means car or vehicle… I do not know the meaning behind this shrimps name.

There are a few famous areas to indulge in fresh kuruma ebi (not frozen!).

On Kume-jima 久米島, there are many kuruma ebi farms and most restaurants use fresh ebi in their dishes. On our overnight trip to Kume-jima, my husband ate 3 out 4 meals kuruma ebi at different restaurants, they were so fresh. Fried, grilled, sauteed, etc, he could not get enough. Kume-jima is a short 35 minute plane ride from Okinawa main island, or 4 hour ferry ride.

On Okinawa mainland, there is a famous farm, shop and restaurant in Ginoza which is located in the northern part of the island. We have not been yet but all the pictures look so good.

In the southern part of the island located in Nanjo, there are some kuruma ebi farms where you can buy them fresh.

Probably in the Makishi public market in downtown Naha you can also purchase kuruma ebi, but I do not go there often, just have seen pictures.

Ginoza Ebi farm and restaurant map link: https://goo.gl/maps/TqVcDHTQotB2

Japanese foods, Restaurants, Travel: Japan

Street Food: 屋台

屋台 yatai are small street stalls typically only open at night. It is a small wooden structure with curtains, and inside is a counter for customers to sit around while the owner(s) cook and prepare dishes. And as with most things Japanese, alcohol is often involved.

These are not common in Okinawa, unfortunately (there is one small “yatai mura” 屋台村 where there are about a dozen clustered together on a street in Naha, here). However, in Fukuoka (the site of my most recent adventure) they line the streets around train stations and canals in the evening.

We saw the most famous Kokin-chan 小金ちゃん, but the line was very long so we searched around and came to Yosaku 与作. It had a Japanese-only menu, and while still in the touristy area, a bit removed from the ones aimed solely at gaijin. My very tall husband and I took an awkward seat. I read the menu, and noticed this sort of savory pancake looking item on another customer’s plate. It looked oishii, so I asked “sumimasen, nandesu ka?” while pointing. She pointed at 山芋ネギ焼き on the menu, assuming I would not understand the answer. So I read it, turned to the owners and ordered (in Japanese) 1 regular ramen ラーメン, 1 yaki-ramen 焼きラーメン, 1 yama-imo negi yaki 山芋ネギ焼き and 2 bottles of beer ビール. The other Japanese folks decided to clap, I guess they were surprised. I feel like plenty of gaijin can speak Japanese, and mine is barely passable, but it is pretty much always a shock to 日本人 Japanese people. Anyway, when we got our beers, everyone kampai’d us and we spent an enjoyable time eating and drinking with the customers next to us.

If you find yourself in Fukuoka past 6pm, be sure to wander the streets near the train station and pop into one of these small stalls (avoid the canal area, it is mostly geared towards foreign tourists). Each one has different specialities, although Hakata ramen is available at pretty much all of them. Order a drink and some food, then slowly soak in the evening with the other patrons. It is a sort of quaint and unique experience that shows the real feeling of Japan.

Fukuoka also has some nice gardens where you can have tea during the day: here.

Local Foods, Restaurants

山の茶屋楽水: Yama-no-chaya Rakusui

山の茶屋 Yama-no-chaya means “mountain tea house.”

Located in Nanjo (南城市), the southern area of Okinawa, this charming restaurant is quite popular and offers beautiful views, delicious food, and a garden walk. It is very popular, so it is important to show up early. It has a sister restaurant called Hamabe-no-chaya 浜辺の茶屋 (meaning “teahouse by the beach”), a few meters down the way located on the beach front and offering a more casual menu. Hamabe-no-chaya also has nice view overlooking the ocean, but I much prefer the food at Yama-no-chaya.

From the parking lot, you will see some walking sticks at the base of the stairs; feel free to use these, although the “climb” is not difficult, it may make it easier for elders or fun for children. When you get to the restaurant, they will present you with an English menu if you do not look Japanese. Try to get one of the window seats on the top floor if possible, although the entire inside is gorgeous.

We order a wood-fired pizza, salad, and the Sachibaru set meal, which is a vegetarian teishoku: it usually comes as miso/asa/tofu soup, tenpura, purple rice, pickles, umibudou, fruit, jimami tofu, konbu/konnyaku side dish, some kind of leafy green and peanut sauce, and sweetened barley. It may change a bit depending on the season, but the set meal is really so amazing. A must-try.

Sachibaru-no-niwa さちばるの庭 is the name of the gardens on the premise, and if you eat there you can enter the gardens for free. It is a very pleasant area to walk after lunch, however be sure to utilize their free bug spray during summer months.

Not only this, but it is reasonably priced! For the two of us it ends up to by ~3000円 since we do not hold back, but overall the quality is well worth this price.

I can never understand why gaikokujin insist on going to the low-quality and overly touristy restaurant in the area (I will not comment the name, but ask any gaijin about “food with a view in southern Okinawa” and they will probably mention something about “thai in the sky,” a place I highly do not recommend!) when such a wonderful place like Yama-no-chaya exists!

Address: 〒901-0604 沖縄県南城市玉城字玉城2-1

BONUS: Hamabe-no-chaya pictures. This place shares the same parking lot as its sister restaurant, so just copy & paste the same address into google maps. You can sit inside or outside, or even on the rooftop tables. Here you will be closer to the beach.

Local Foods, Restaurants

Cafe & Restaurant Magazines

Wander into any bookstore in Okinawa and you will see a variety of local guides to food (not paid ads!). These guides are typically less than 1000円 (10 USD). Although they are in Japanese, they are great resources; simply look at the pictures for each place and whatever looks good, find it on the map insert, or better yet put the phone number into google maps. Easy-peasy. Pretty much every place I have tried from these books is pretty good.

Japanese foods, Restaurants, Travel: Japan

Skewers: 串

串 kushi: skewer. The kanji even looks like a skewer, so easy to remember!

串屋: kushi-ya, the place where you will find grilled or fried skewered food. Kushi-yaki 串焼き is grilled, kushi-katsu 串カツ is fried. Similarly, there is 焼き鳥 yakitori which is grilled chicken and 炭火焼き sumibi-yaki which is charcoal grilled foods. All of these tend to mean skewered food in different variations.

In my opinion, these tend to be great drinking establishments; you can order individual sticks and small dishes over the course of the night.

Even though I do not eat meats, there are often times many other types of skewers and side dishes I can eat. Commonly you will find shiitake mushrooms, onions, shishitou peppers, garlic, potato, corn, tofu, ginkgo nuts, eggplant, lotus root… I also like edamame to snack on, and most establishments will serve you raw cabbage with tare (たれ sauce) for free. My husband likes the spicy cucumber pickles, too.

The kushi-katsu are fried, so this can be a little bit heavy while drinking. But fried foods and beer do seem to go well together. One of my favorites is 紅生姜 benishouga (pickled ginger). It sounds a little odd, deep-fried pickled ginger, but give it a try! Something about the flavor is really good to me. I always order it when we go to fried skewer restaurants.

There are even some chains that do all-you-can-eat kushi-katsu where you fry at your table! You get a plate and pick up the foods you want (meats, fish, vegetables, etc) and bring it back to you table, slather in batter and go. I warn you, you will smell like a fry pit when you leave; luckily they have storage underneath you seats for any jackets, purses, etc to protect them from the smell. It is a unique and fun experience, though, so try it out when you are in Japan.

Local Foods, Restaurants, Travel: Outer Islands

Toufu no Higa:とうふの比嘉

Toufu no Higa is located on Ishigaki-jima, a small island in the southern Ryukyu chain (Yaeyamas). If you find yourself on this island that has world class diving sites, you must make a stop here.

Yes, tofu is in the name because they make tofu products. No, it is nothing like the prepackaged junk they sell in the US. It is DELICIOUS. Even if you say “I don’t like tofu, that is slimey hippie stuff,” you must try it. It is amazing.

The best part is they are even open for breakfast (no they do not have Western breakfast foods). It is always busy with local workmen, so you know it is cheap and good. Their menu is all in Japanese, so if you have no working knowledge of Japanese language, just point to what everyone else is ordering and hold up the number of fingers of how many set meals you want.

One of my classmates was asking me questions about where I have traveled in Okinawa. When I mentioned I went to Ishigaki, she said she was from there and asked what I liked about, what I did there. I told her how much I loved Toufu no Higa, she burst out laughing and she explained her father ate there every day. She was baffled and could not believe a westerner would like such a place.

We had the yushi-doufu set. It came with fresh soymilk and it was seriously just amazing.

Address:

English: 570 Ishigaki, Okinawa Prefecture 907-0023

Japanese: 〒907-0023 沖縄県石垣市石垣島石垣570

Local Foods, Restaurants

Chanpuru: チャンプルー

チャンプルー chanpuru means something mixed in Okinawa language. In Okinawa, there is “chanpuru culture” because there are so many different influences (American, Chinese, Japanese and traditional Ryukyu).

Chanpuru is a classic Okinawan dish that is stir-fried. There are many types of chanpuru, each featuring different foods. Typically some vegetables are stir-fried with a bit of egg, spam (or maybe pork), and tofu. Some dishes have bean sprouts, some have green onions, some have carrot or cabbage… I notice there are not a lot of “hard and fast” rules when it comes to chanpuru. The sauce is some combination to your taste, involving shoyu, dashi, cooking sake, and perhaps miso. Again, everyone obaasan has her own recipe. Otherwise, in grocery stores here in Okinawa, you can actually buy a sauce in the bottle. I was gifted some by one of my ladies. She had heard how much my husband loved goya and thoughtfully put together a Christmas gift basket of foods for us.

Goya chanpuru: probably the most “popular.” It is sort of the quintessential Okinawan dish, using the classic goya (bitter melon) as the center of the stir-fry, alongside some tofu, egg, spam and maybe some other veggies.

Fu chanpuru: fu is an interesting thing. It is usually long tubes of wheat gluten, often bits are added to miso soup here in Okinawa. It is very cheap, available in all grocery stores, and no real taste so it really soaks up whatever flavors you cook with. It has quickly become a favorite for my husband as it is fairly low in calories and takes on so much flavor of what it is cooked with. He has taken to ordering it at local shokudo where the waitress will sometimes look at him funny; I assume most large American gentlemen are not inclined to order it normally. But seriously, what starts as completely tasteless turns into a really flavorful food that soaks up a ton of sauce and seasoning.

Somen chanpuru: somen そうめん are simply very thin noodles. So this is essentially noodles stir-fried with sauce and vegetables. The taste is very different than yakisoba, though, so don’t get your hopes up. It probably my least favorite of the chanpuru variations, but still, the taste is okay. They just don’t soak up the flavor like fuu does.

Tofu chanpuru: The other chanpuru only have a bit of tofu, so this version has a lot of tofu. It is probably what you would expect, large bits of tofu with some vegetables with pork or spam in sauce.

Hechima chanpuru: this one is actually pretty rare to find, but I have seen it on occasion. I mean, it is hechima (loofah in English, nabera in Okinawan) so it really is not so popular, even among Okinawans.

For those of us in Okinawa, making chanpuru could not be easier with the widespread availability of all the ingredients. There is even a chanpuru sauce sold in grocery stores (if you do not want to bother making your own).

Local Foods, Restaurants

Shokudo: 食堂

Shokudo translates to “dining hall.” This can mean a cafeteria or just a local restaurant. Whenever I see the kanji 食堂, I know I am going to get a cheap, simple meal popular with locals… which is pretty much always good.

At shokudo, there are often teishoku 定食, meaning “set meals.” You meal will come with small sides, like pickles or vegetables, maybe a small salad, miso soup, rice, etc. Often times, these places have self-service water and tea instead of offering much in the way of soft drinks.

In Okinawa, shokudo usually offer the local favorites of Okinawa soba, chanpuru, tonkatsu, ebi-fry, curry sets. Here are some examples:

Some recommended local shokudo:

Aichan Shokudo 愛ちゃん食堂: https://goo.gl/maps/YRyJLyW7hqJ2

Awase Soba Shokudo アワセそば食堂: https://goo.gl/maps/yBDpEFSrJKv

Cafe Mermaid カフェマーメイド: https://goo.gl/maps/Dmv4FLmVVFD2

Cafe Wa かふぇわ: https://goo.gl/maps/98BJHcF5WAJ2

Miyako Soba Nakayoshi: read the post here.

Japanese foods, Local Foods, Restaurants

Japanese Soba: 日本蕎麦

There are two types of “soba” here in Okinawa: Japanese mainland-style soba 蕎麦, made from buckwheat, and Okinawa soba, made from regular flour (and are also thicker noodles). Okinawa soba is typically served hot in a broth derived from pork, and typically topped with some sort of pork meats (there are various types which is for a later post). Also in Okinawa language, it is pronounced すば “suba” (not soba).

Mainland-style soba is what most foreigners are familiar with when they hear the term soba. A few places here in Okinawa do in fact serve up some pretty delicious homemade soba noodles; zaru soba or mori soba (or sometimes seiro soba) served chilled with a tsuyu つゆ dipping sauce (dashi and shoyu* base) or kake soba served warm in a tsuyu soup.

*shoyu 醤油: in Hawai’i everyone calls “soy sauce” by the Japanese name, shoyu.

One of my favorite places is near the university. It has a really nice name: 美波 “Minami,” which in this case translates to “beautiful (美) wave (波).” I suspect it may also be a pun, because “minami” can also be written as the kanji 南 which means “south,” and Okinawa is the “southern islands.” I usually order up their monthly special, which last month was a real treat– wild mountain vegetable tempura 山菜天ぷら蕎麦:

kake soba かけ蕎麦, perfect for chilly days:

Mushroom tempura soba きのこ天ぷら蕎麦：

In the picture, on the top, what is in the little cup? When you order cold soba, after you finish dipping and eating your noodles, the waitress will come by with a cup of そば湯 soba-yu, hot water that the noodles were cooked in! You add this to your leftover tsuyu to make a broth, and drink it. Delicious.

Here in Okinawa, we also have some variations on traditional mainland soba. For instance “sannin” soba. Sannin is the Okinawan word for shell ginger; in Japanese it is “gettou” 月桃. There is a famous little soba shop in Naha called Minosaku that makes this type of soba. I highly recommend visiting some day. The gentle fragrance of the shell ginger really went well. Next time, I hope to try their tumeric noodles (ウコン ukon in Japanese, うっちん ucchin in Okinawan).

Gettou soba 月桃蕎麦 served with a side tempura 天ぷら, look at that lovely green color:

Addresses of soba places I have visited in Okinawa (and would recommend!), all noodles are made in house:

Minami 美波: 〒903-0125 沖縄県中頭郡西原町上原2-11-1

~~https://goo.gl/maps/Bug7JchEEQ12~~ After 10 years of business, the owner has closed this restaurant. I am still sad about it.

Kazokuan 日本蕎麦家族庵: 157 Morikawa, Nishihara-chō, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa-ken 903-0128

https://goo.gl/maps/hFEv6fv5heG2

*This is a located in what looks like a family home in a back neighborhood. Lunch sets also come with soba maki (cut soba wrapped in nori like sushi!).

Minosaku 美濃作: 3 Chome-8-2 Kumoji, Naha-shi, Okinawa-ken 900-0015

https://goo.gl/maps/RCSKCHdXzYU2

*Okinawan twist on mainland soba

Matsudaira 手打ち日本蕎麦松平 (separate blog post here): 2 Chome-19-3 Minatogawa, Urasoe-shi, Okinawa-ken 901-2134

https://goo.gl/maps/313rXc9qsPF2

*Speciality Izumo soba

Esu no Hana 江州の花 (separate post here): 326-224 Taiho, Ogimi Village, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa-ken 905-1315

https://goo.gl/maps/Ng2bZbbzb7z

*Come here for local Okinawa-grown buckwheat soba and unlimited tempura!

Minatogawa 日本蕎麦南都川: 〒901-2134 Okinawa-ken, Urasoe-shi, Minatogawa, 1 Chome−5−11

https://goo.gl/maps/HSW3Lbw9ptq

Local Foods, Restaurants

Bukubuku-cha: ぶくぶく茶

Bukubuku cha ぶくぶく茶 is a type of tea in Okinawa that is frothed. You use a bamboo whisk and froth the tea, creating foamy bubbles.

At this particular location, for the tea, I chose the traditional sanpin-cha さんぴん茶 (Jasmine tea) as the base, but there are several other flavors you can try at Kariisanfan in Shuri (I have tried ucchin/turmeric and hibiscus flavors previously as well). The tea for foaming is typically jasmine tea roasted with rice, making it a type of genmai-cha 玄米茶, one of the secrets to its foamy-ness. In addition, the minerals in the hard water found in the southern part of Okinawa help make it foam.

The set came with various little snacks, some traditional Ryukyu sweets (such as kunpen and chinsuko), some just general Japanese sweets. It is sort of the Okinawan equivalent to mainland Japan tea ceremony, as it was used during the Ryukyu era to entertain accredited Chinese envoys when they visited. This set also came with brown sugar and crushed island peanuts to sprinkle on top.

There are a few locations to experience a nice tea set, which usually comes with some traditional cookies as well. Some places you whisk/froth your own and others it is brought out to you all ready to go. There is even one place where they will dress you in kimono/yukata and have a small tea ceremony (again, another place located in Shuri area); I have not tried this place yet though it looks like a really nice experience.

The culture center on Kokusai-dori also offers it at certain times, so stop by there and check their schedule.

You can even buy a little (but expensive… 400yen for just 1 serving!) package at some omiyage shops on Kokusai-dori. It works! You need to make sure to use “hard water” such as mineral water. Read about how to make bukubuku-cha at home here; there is a “recipe” attached so you can skip buying the package and just collect the materials yourself, or if you purchase the package but do not read Japanese, you can follow my translated instructions. For a tea-lover, this is a must!

Some other places offer it on the menu, but not very many come with nice set like this. Some will even make it with a coffee base.

Uchinaa chaya Bukubukuうちなー茶屋ぶくぶく: Tsuboya yachimun (pottery) street, they make it for you.
〒902-0065沖縄県那覇市壺屋1丁目28-3
https://goo.gl/maps/pmdmvBXE4qt

Kariisanfan 嘉例山房: near Shuri-jo, you whisk it yourself for the full experience.
〒903-0824沖縄県那覇市首里池端町9
https://goo.gl/maps/zaYukFAuUWP2

Cafe Okinawa Shiki カフェ沖縄式: near Naminoue Shrine, serves bukubuku coffee.
沖縄県那覇市久米2-31-11
https://goo.gl/maps/fkvEi1AAqPS2

Nuchigafu 琉球料理ぬちがふう（命果報）: Along Tsuboya district’s Yachimun Street.
https://goo.gl/maps/V6M63qWvVXw

During the Nanmin festival at Naminoue Shrine in May, you can try FREE bukubuku-cha made by some expert ladies!