The 10 unmissable restaurants in Okinawa and Southeast Islands, August 2019 Discover Oishii Japan -SAVOR JAPAN -Japanese Restaurant Guide-

Update-date: Jun 05 2020

Author: SAVOR JAPAN

The 10 unmissable restaurants in Okinawa and Southeast Islands, August 2019

Planning a trip to Okinawa and Southeast Islands and looking for something specific to eat? There are plenty of restaurants to suit every tastes. Discover the best places to eat here, from traditional meal and quintessentially comfort food to western-style dishes and varied ethnic cuisine.

See full listings of Japanese Cuisine restaurants found in and around Okinawa.

1. Sakanakakumei Haranbanjo

[Sakanakakumei Haranbanjo], run by a young yet skilled owner, tries to bring about a revolution to Okinawa seafood cuisine. They use seasonal freshly caught seafood from all over Japan airlifted from Kawasaki north market in Kanagawa. Once the fish arrive, the chef drains the blood of fish in a perfect manner, and age them for a few days. Enjoy the excellent seafood dish cooked by the original method, to bring out the flavor of fish the most. He came up with this original method through a process of trial and error without being afraid to depart from common practice. You may even get a pleasant surprise when eating the fish you are familiar with, by discovering the fish is this delicious! Upon receiving the fish, the chef listens to its voice without preconception and decides the menu of the day. Even dishes like Japanese omelet and seafood steamed in sake will turn into heavenly dishes when prepared by him with his commitment to deliciousness. You can encounter the revolutionary delicious flavor of fish in a relaxed space with warm hospitality.

Sakanakakumei Haranbanjo

Open: Dinner 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY
Access: 20-minutes drive from Naha airport
Address: 1-24-10 Mihara, Naha city, Okinawa

2. Ramen Gado

At [Ramen Gado] you can choose the heat level from 0 to 100. Adding the house-original [super hot spice] into the rich soup infused with the flavors of domestic ingredients such as Agu pork: that is what makes the [Super hot ramen noodles]. They say only 3% of people manage to finish the hottest 1000X [Volcanic Ramen EXTREME], and there is a small gift for those who can. They also offer non-spicy normal ramen, so you can still enjoy their food even if you are not keen on spicy hot food. They have cushion seats and sofa seats as well as counter seats in an American restaurant style decor. On the terrace, you can enjoy your meal in a relaxing atmosphere while feeling the sunshine and the breeze.

Ramen Gado

Open: [Monday - Wednesday, Friday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] 11:00 am - 10:00 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm)
Closed: Thursday
Average price: [Dinner] 900 JPY
Access: Near Chatan-undo-koen-mae
Address: 2-2-11 Mihama, Chatan-cho, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa (Map)
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3. Kappo Ren

[Kappo Ren] is 4-minute walk from Miebashi station of Yui Rail Line. The attraction of this authentic Kappo (Japanese cooking style) is its style of serving Tempura or Char-grilled BBQ of seasonal ingredients in front of the guests. The recommended Tempura dish [Kurumaebi (Japanese tiger prawn)] is deep-fried in crispy light batter, you can enjoy the freshly fried tempura with salt. The two popular ways of appreciating Black wagyu is light [Shabu-shabu wan], the owner's recommendation, or [Oba-maki] thick sliced Wagyu in deep fried Tempura. After seasonal [Otsukuri (Sashimi)] or [Sumibi-yaki (Char-grilled BBQ)] with sake, you can finish off your meal with seasonal rice, for example, Niigata produced Koshihikari rice cooked in an earthen pot. This is the way you can fully enjoy the essence of Japanese cuisine. The white wood decor of the restaurant gives a modern and sophisticated impression, with eight counter seats as well as two private rooms which can cater for up to 14 people.

Kappo Ren

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Dinner 5:00 pm - 1:00 am (L.O. 0:00 am)
Closed: Sunday
Average price: [Dinner] 8,000 JPY
Access: Walk along the river towards the prefectural office from [Miebashi station] of Yui Rail Line, turn left at Kumoji bridge then turn left again on the second street, it is right there
Address: 1F, Ichigin-kumoji heim, 1-12-16 Makishi, Naha city, Okinawa (Map)
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4. PIZZAHOUSE

[PIZZA HOUSE] was founded in the city formerly known as Koza in 1958. They are the well-established Italian restaurant which closed down in 2010, to make way for a new highway, then reopened in March 2017. They have many traditional dishes, including [Roast beef] which is still loved by customers after half a century. Their evolution is ongoing, for example, the third owner-chef Sakamoto's meat dishes using dry-aging technique. [24 months long-term aged prosciutto of Agu pork] is an ultimate masterpiece. This dish uses Okinawan prosciutto aged in the breezes of nature-rich Yatsugatake. Mariage with sommelier-selected wine is also excellent. They will treat you with a hospitable trustworthy spirit, giving you peaceful moment in this sophisticated space with a beautiful view.

PIZZAHOUSE

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday, Sunday, National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm) / [Weekdays Saturday] Dinner 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm) / [Sunday National Holidays] Dinner 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm (L.O. 9:30 pm)
Closed: Tuesday
Average price: [Dinner] 6,000 JPY / [Lunch] 2,500 JPY
Access: Drive along Route 58 away from Naha towards Urasoe, turn right soon after passing Manga Soko Urasoe branch
Address: 2-20-5 Minatogawa, Urasoe city, Okinawa (Map)
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5. Grilled fish and Sushi Yakino Uojima

Grilled fish and Sushi Yakino Uojima cuisine

[Grilled fish and sushi Yakino Uojima] is the place where you can enjoy caught-on-the day fresh seasonal seafood cooked in a variety of styles. Having a seafood wholesaler parent company assures the freshness and great cost. Their masterpieces include sashimi, sushi, and genshi-yaki, a grilled dish cooked in the hearth of the open kitchen. Once excess fat is drained, the good essense is trapped to create a sophisticated flavor. Eating the grilled fish with coarsely grated daikon raddish is so irresistible. They also have wines selected by the head chef, who has extensive knowledge of wine and selected sake from all over Japan, they will complement these dishes. This luxurious restaurant has a private room for up to 8 people, suitable for business meetings and anniversary dating.

Grilled fish and Sushi Yakino Uojima

Open: Lunch 11:00 am - 3:00 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm) / Dinner 5:30 pm - 0:00 am (L.O. 11:00 pm)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 4,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Access: 3-minute walk from Yokoyama intersection on Route 58
Address: 2-16-3 Kumoji, Naha, Okinawa (Map)
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6. AI. WEDDING. Restaurant & Cafe

Recommended restaurant for breakfast on the southern Okinawa main island. They offer [Morning plate] in which the chef carefully selects each item from recipes and home-brewed coffee produced by a popular coffee shop. Luxurious breakfast in this stylish setting will start your wonderful day. Their lunch time specialty is a buffet filled with seasonal dishes and desserts prepared with pride by the in-house patisserie. In cafe time, you can spend an elegant afternoon with home-brewed coffee. They take bookings for dinner time course meals perfect for girls' gathering. [AI. WEDDING. Restaurant and Cafe] delivers happy food moments to people from eight o'clock in the morning.

AI. WEDDING. Restaurant & Cafe

Open: Lunch Buffet 11:30 am -3:00 pm (L.O. 2:30 pm) / Tea time 8:00 am - 6:00 pm (L.O. 5:30 pm) / Dinner 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm (L.O. 8:30 pm)
Closed: Irregular
Average price: [Dinner] 2,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,500 JPY
Access: 20-minute drive from Naha, 5-minute drive from Haebaru-minami interchange. It is conveniently located at the center of the southern area
Address: AI. WEDDING 492-2 Kochinda, Yaese-cho, Shimajiri-gun, Okinawa (Map)
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7. Pengin Shokudo

Mr. and Mrs. Pengin developed the renowned [Pengin Shokudo's Ishigaki-jima Chili Oil] that triggered the boom of [chili oil to eat]. This [Pengin Shokudo] first opened as a tasting place to spread [how to enjoy the Ishigaki-jima Chili Oil]. With the concept of [dishes serving to own sons or to the guests who are visiting Pengin family], they serve carefully-selected vegetables and fruits grown at home. The menu has been developed with the concept of [Nuchi-sugui (the medicine of life)], using chemical-free, seasonal, and natural ingredients. Feel the affection through their dishes with a warm taste which is good for your body and mind. The dishes express their thoughts that cannot be put into words. Please visit to encounter the [Pengin's home cuisine].

Pengin Shokudo

Open: [Weekdays, Saturday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, or until the supplies run out [Tuesday - Saturday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Dinner from 7:00 pm (reservations are always required)
Closed: -
Average price: [Dinner] 12,000 JPY / [Lunch] 1,300 JPY
Access: 30 minutes by car from Ishigaki Airport
Address: 199-1 Okawa, Ishigaki city, Okinawa (Map)
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8. wa no mi

Located near National Highway Route 58, [wa no mi] is a hidden gem where you can enjoy handmade soba, made with the best buckwheat flour in the country, and fresh fish from the Goto Islands in Nagasaki Prefecture. Two dishes worth trying are the [Kakiage], where vegetables are cut into chunks and deep-fried as tempura to bring out their natural flavors, and the [Tenzen Madai Ara-ni], in which red snapper trimmings are simmered in a sweet sauce. There's also a children's menu and play area, making it great for families! When you feel like having soba in Okinawa, this is the first place that should be on your mind.

wa no mi

Open: [Monday, Tuesday, Thursday - Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] Lunch 11:30 am - 2:30 pm (L.O. 2:00 pm), Dinner 6:00 pm - 10:30 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)
Closed: Wednesday
Average price: [Dinner] 2,500 JPY / [Lunch] 1,000 JPY
Access: Near National Highway Route 58.
Address: 330-5, Minatogawa, Urasoe, Okinawa (Map)
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9. Chicchi

[Chicchi] is a restaurant where you can enjoy yakitori (grilled chicken skewers) of Yanbaru chicken that has been prepared that morning. The [Yakitori Assortment] comes with 5 or 10 skewers and are excellent value for money, but the recommended yakitori is the [Homemade Tsukune] (chicken meatballs). The tsukune contain cartilage to give it a crunchy texture, while they also include grated mountain yam in it to make it fluffy. The sauce is a special homemade sauce that was created through trial and error and maximizes the umami (Japanese savory taste) of the chicken. The beverage selection includes the rare Dassai shochu (Japanese alcohol) as well as a selection of carbonated cocktails that go wonderfully with yakitori. The restaurant has an informal atmosphere but is warm and relaxing, making you want to go there every day.

Chicchi

Open: [Monday - Thursday, Sunday, National Holidays] 5:00 pm - 1:00 am (L.O. 12:00 am) [Friday, Saturday, Day before National Holidays] 5:00 pm - 2:00 am (L.O. 1:00 am)
Closed: None
Average price: [Dinner] 2,000 JPY
Access: Near Matsuyama Intersection on National Route 58
Address: 1F, Kumoji Bldg., 2-14-17, Kumoji, Naha-shi, Okinawa

10. Le Bois - Glass Wine Sakurazaka

A little off from Sakurazaka-dori Street where many small restaurants stand, you will find an outstanding stylish building. [Le Bois - Glass Wine Sakurazaka] is on the second floor of the building. The owner also runs a wine shop and visits wineries in Japan with his clients every year. As he felt like spreading challenges and efforts of the wine producers, he opened this restaurant. They offer various wine from all over the world, but mainly Japanese wines from Yamanashi and Hokkaido. Enjoy more than 30 kinds of glass wines available every day. Dishes served with wine are fusing Japanese to Italian or French cuisine, such as [Trippa Simmered with Tomato and Miso]. Fully enjoy various marriages of wine and foods in our oasis-like space in the town.

Le Bois - Glass Wine Sakurazaka

Open: [Monday, Wednesday-Sunday, National Holidays, Day before National Holidays] 3:00 pm - 11:00 pm (L.O. 10:00 pm)
Closed: Tuesday
Average price: [Dinner] 3,000 JPY
Access: 8 minutes walk from Makishi Station on Yui Rail. Go down along Sakurazaka-dori Street, then on the right side, a little off from the street
Address: 2F-A, Sakurazaka-shita Forest Garden, 3-2-41 Makishi, Naha city, Okinawa (Map)
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Disclaimer: All information is accurate at time of publication.