ToTos | Full of Okinawa

April 7, 2016April 7, 2016 by ToTos

Sara is back and here to stay!

Chef Akiyuki Nasu is definitely one of the best skilled French chefs in Okinawa. And I know that he’s such a good hearted man with such abundant passion and knowledge. He used to run his restaurant successfully in Onna, but unfortunately he had to move several times, and now he finally built his own restaurant. Grand open on March 30. On the beautiful hill top overlooking Onna and the ocean near OIST. Very nice view and breeze. They are planning to extend the balcony. That would be awesome. Teppan Yaki counter. I stopped by to give him my celebration. Amberjack and Pale Snapper I caught the day before, Ike-Jime on […]

March 26, 2016March 26, 2016 by ToTos

Authentic Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen

Fu-Un Ramen is authentic Hakata Tonkotsu ramen. Tonkotsu (creamy pork soup) is probably the most popular type of Ramen now. But it was only available in Kyushu before. It is originated in Hakata, Fukuoka, and Hakata city has always been the capital of Tonkotsu Ramen. Now Tonkotsu ramen is so popular and spread throughout the nation, and there are many luxury fancy ramen. But Hakata ramen is originally simple fast food. People come in, just order how stiff you want the noodle to be boiled, ramen comes within a minute, you slurp it all up and go, leaving one coin (JPY500) behind on the table. Fu-Un is that kind of simple, fast, but good […]

in Fu Un Ramen / RESTAURANTS 0 comments

March 26, 2016March 26, 2016 by ToTos

Fu-Un Ramen | Slurp!

Authentic Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen in Urasoe. Very busy in lunchtime. Closes on sell-out. There are 5 parking slots near by. You may have to wait a while for your slot. Please be patient. Please do not park around the restaurant as they will have hard time with neighbors.

in Area 1: Okinawa South / Cat 3: Slurp! 0 comments

March 25, 2016March 26, 2016 by ToTos

Hearty Healthy Breakfast of Okinawan Tradition

Just off the bustle of Kokusai Street, Okinawa Dai-ichi Hotel maintains its premises quite, private and very comfortable. 3 buildings are surrounding a nice garden in the middle. Okinawa Dai-ichi Hotel is a small hotel with only 5 rooms, operated by a local family. No relations with a nation wide hotel chain of Tokyo Dai-ichi hotels. Their breakfast was started 40 years ago by the lady owner and now has been passed on to her daughter. It has solid reputations for nourishing veggie cooking. This is the restaurant. Reservation is required a day prior. Breakfast starts from 8:00, 9:00 or 10:00. We had a reservation at 9:00. 50 minutes for each group. […]

in okinawa daiichi hotel / RESTAURANTS 0 comments

March 23, 2016April 10, 2016 by ToTos

Okinawa Dai-ichi Hotel | Japanese!

Hearty, healthy, traditional Okinawan cuisine by a local family-operated hotel. Just off the bustle of Kokusai Street.

in Area 1: Okinawa South / Cat 2: Japanese! 0 comments

March 12, 2016March 26, 2016 by ToTos

The best Kanpachi of the season!

Now the Kanpachi (amberjack) fishing season is in its mid-season here in Okinawa. Time to fish and party! This is a mackerel tuna. The best tasty one in Katsuo family. “Suma” we call it. It’s got the signature black dots under pectoral fins. You hardly find this fish in the market. They move in very small groups and they are scattered in the open waters. They are so good to eat, and fast to go bad. So fishermen usually keep and eat them, and don’t sell to the market. It’s an angler’s privilege to enjoy this fish. Look at the marble in the belly. This fish is fast […]

in FOOD 0 comments

March 3, 2016March 26, 2016 by ToTos

Medium-rare Pork from Ganaha

It’s ignorant of me, but only recently I learned that in 2011 USDA: United States Department of Agriculture has officially lowered the recommended safe cooking temperature for whole cuts of pork from 160F degrees to 145F degrees and adding a 3-minute rest time. 145F is about 62C degrees. That is medium rare! And I love medium rare. (New guideline does not apply to ground pork.) I’ve always thought the pork had to be cooked thoroughly. That’s what my mom taught me. Even though I have been kind of eating pork while pink at good Yakiniku (grill-your-own-meat type) or shabu shabu restaurants recently, I was feeling a little guilty […]

in FOOD 0 comments

February 26, 2016February 27, 2016 by ToTos

Stuffed with Organic Veggies

We’ve heard that a lady who used to run a little organic vegetable store in Okinawa-shi moved and opened a restaurant last year. The lady had such a good touch and a wonderful view about foods that we tried to buy her greens every time we had a chance. Gotta check out her restaurant. A nice open space. So she still sells her veggies too. Sharp looking veggies. There is a long counter and a nice private little room for 4. Plus 2 tables out in the terrace. Here’s Mika-san. The owner. It’s a buffet style. JPY1200. Steamed Cauliflower with garlic olive oil sauce. […]

in RESTAURANTS / Vegeful 0 comments

February 26, 2016February 26, 2016 by ToTos

Vegeful Lunch Cafe | Japanese!

Lunch buffet with organic local fresh vegetables by a former greengrocer. Comes with organic tea and coffee too. Great place to be stuffed with energetic veggies.

in Area 2: Okinawa Central / Cat 2: Japanese! / INFO 0 comments

February 23, 2016March 26, 2016 by ToTos

Kyushu Trip Day 3: Fujimoto Onsen Spa

Fujimoto is a traditional Japanese Onsen spa, located a little off of famous Kurokawa Onsen. We just love this place for many qualities and this is our third visit. Just see some photos of this beautiful spa. They got only 8 rooms. We’ve got a Japanese style room, but some rooms have beds. The rates depend on the seasons and dates, but it’s about JPY20,000 per night per person, including dinner, breakfast and of course Onsen. We can’t afford to stay for several days, but we find it worth to travel all the way and stay even just for 1 day. Ohagi for complimentary sweet. We go straight to Onsen […]

in Kyushu / TRAVEL 0 comments

February 23, 2016March 26, 2016 by ToTos

Kyushu Trip Day 2: Fish, Soba in Kumamoto

We stayed a night in Fukuoka. Today we were renting a car and heading out to Kurokawa Onsen in Kumamoto. But first, we need to fill up. Hakata Uogashi, on the 1st floor of fish market building. This is my kind of restaurant! Fresh fish in simple cooking for cheap price. Sashimi Bowl, JPY980. Breakfast of the day, JPY650!!! 2 breaded sardines and teri braised yellowtail. The yellowtail was so juicy. Grilled yellowtail. JPY650! This was a big fillet! 2 big sardines. Simply grilled with salt. JPY760! This kind of grilled fish like sardines and mackerels used to be so common for Japanese everyday meals before our […]

in Kyushu / TRAVEL 0 comments

February 23, 2016March 26, 2016 by ToTos

Kyushu Trip Day 1: Sushi, Ramen, Street Stall in Fukuoka

Fukuoka has become one of our favorite get-away places since this LCC started flying out of Okinawa. By getting the promotional rate, we bought the round trip for JPY14000 each this time. Tatsumi Sushi. We came here 4 years ago. Loved the quality and the price. We love eating at the counter. But we were a group of 4 this time and they have assigned a room for us on the 2nd floor. A nice room with privacy. Lunch course is available at JPY2900, JPY3900, JPY5200. We chose JPY3900 course. Starting with steamed egg pudding. Based on very flavorful chicken broth. A little salad. Gari, pickled […]

in Kyushu / TRAVEL 0 comments