Sushi for anniversary

Tsukiji Aozora the 3rd in Naha is our best affordable sushi bar in Naha. They have the head sushi bar in Tsukiji, Tokyo fish market, and several other locations.  It’s a joint venture by the Tsukiji fish supplier who has been in business for 100 years and the sushi chef who has 40 years of experience.   It’s very nice to know a nice authentic Edo-style sushi bar in Okinawa for special occasions.   And this was a special occasion.  It was our anniversary.   Yes.  Hit yourself honey.   We ordered 11 chef’s choice + 1 sushi of your choice.  JPY4650. They have sushi course from JPY2400 to JPY6450.  Also Japanese cuisine […]

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Cold Udon Lunch

Sans Souci is a very popular cafe in Kita Nakagusuku, specialized in Udon and other Kyoto – Okinawa hybrid food.       We were seated in the kid’s room.  There’s open floor in the middle where little kids can play while parents can sit and eat at the tables around it.  A very family-friendly space here.   We were hungry for lunch.  The menu has very nice pictures, nicely laid out.   They have lunch set which comes with the little daily plate of the day and desert.  Today’s plate is Kujo Negi (Kyoto green onion) and deep-fried tofu from Kyoto in a vinegar miso.   And that’s what YuYu had with their […]

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Detox lunch of traditional medine

This is a little while back.  We went to Cafe Garamanjaku to detox our toxicated friend from Osaka!!!   As usual, starting with today’s mix.  Seasonal veggies, fruits, wild plants and herbs.   It really nourishes your digestive system with enzymes.     Just look at the beautiful plate of traditional medicine of local veggies and wild plants. Yummmmmm, soooooo soothing!   Kiyoko-san gave us a special treat.  Miki is a naturally fermented drink made of rice powder, sweet potato, and sugar that they have made traditionally around okinawa islands.  This one is made of purple potato.  Tastes like Yogurt. The taste depends on how many days it has been fermented, but this one is young, just a couple […]

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Fresh Japanese Tiger Prawns

Tamaya is a Japanese Tiger Prawn restaurant, operated by the prawn farm in Ginoza. Japanese Tiger Prawn is a close relative of black tiger.  Very firm and crunchy in texture and very sweet in flavor because it’s richer in Umami components than other shrimps.  It’s a very sensitive and fragile species.  They are so hard to raise that the Japanese farmers are still proud of their privilege of its production in hard competition with other cheaper foreign shrimps from foreign countries.   Yuyu likes Kirin draft beer.   She had Tenpura bowl. It’s Japanese style tenpura. Okinawan tenpura is a little different than Japanese style.  Okinawan is like fritters. They rapid-freeze the prawns in a -40C degree freezer, […]

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Black curry and skewered fries

On the backstreet near the Makishi public market in Naha is Nuji Bonbon Kushi.   Nuji Bonbon Kushi is the second location of a very popular restaurant in Naha, called Nuji Bonbon Z.   This second restaurant features their signature Black Curry Rice and skewered fries.   The interior isn’t really presented in integrity, just like the first restaurant.  But we know the food is a real thing.   Yuyu ordered the breaded fried meat loaf.  It’s a sure thing. The meat loaf is Japanese beef and pork mix and it’s got lots of flavor and lots of juice inside.   Yes, yes. yes.  We know it’s good.   It’s sure the Nuji Bonbon, […]

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Heart-warming brunch

Ploughman’s Lunch Bakery is a very popular and a very high-quality bakery cafe in Kitanakagusuku. We had an old friend visiting the island.  We took her there for a brunch on the way to the airport.   This is the first sign you see.  Park you car to the left and walk to the cafe on the right.   It’s an American house cafe. They serve breakfast and lunch, also pastry on a go.   This vegan oat meal cookie is gooood.   The menu is in English too. 7 kinds of sandwiches, including 4 vegan.  Every entry comes with soup and drink.   I had an uncured ham and Japanese basil […]

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Offal Hot Pot Dining

“Nabe” means a pot in Japanese. It also refers to a Japanese dining style where you have one hot pot cooking in the center and everybody shares it. Motsu Nabe, Offal Nabe is a modern invention started in Fukuoka. Ripalo is the specialized old-house restaurent for Offal Nabe.   It’s off Route 58 near Kadena rotary.     The dining space is nicely laid out.  I felt really comfortable.  I love those old wood pillars which have traces of shipwright works.   Off we go!   Simmered beef tendon in Teri and vinegar seasoning.   Crispy fries of local Taro   Here comes the Nabe.  There are 4 soup choices. Light soy […]

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Food is energy wave

The little vegan cafe Shizen Inu is located in the residential area on the Yomitan side of Hija river.   I don’t even remember how I managed to get there.   Very little cute signs here and there.  So easy to miss.   Very simple menu.   Vegan lunch plate. Vegan cake. Decafe. Black sugar enzyme juice.   That’s it.  You don’t have to choose.   Small space.  There are a pair of chairs behind me.  But that’s it. It’s the chef’s one-person operation.   The chalk board states the names of all the farmers who provided today’s vegetables. The chef often visits these local farms to talk to farmers, […]

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Chilling out with soft serve

In the corner of farmer’s market in Ginoza is Cream Cream. A little soft serve ice cream shop using local fresh milk with no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.   It’s always amazing to see the variety of people who’s fond of this little shop.  From little kids to the aged.  From local to visitors, international tourists.   Hand-painting menu pumps them up for sure.   There’s my favorite.  Yogurt Sandae.  JPY400.   From the bottom, corn flakes, yogurt, and soft serve on top.  I like this refreshing combination.   She’s got the plain soft serve on the cone.  I think it was JPY200. We love the soft serve here.  Using fresh local […]

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Chinese dim sum buffet

It’s not known much, but Kanucha Resort has chinese dim sum buffet only on weekends. And it’s surprisingly JPY2000 (JPY2160 with tax).   In about 30-minute drive off the exit of Ginoza on R331, you see Kanucha Resort opening the gate on your right.   The chinese restaurant is in the club house of the golf course.   Beautiful course.   The restaurant is looking down Oura Bay and the beautiful Pacific.   Buffet table has lots of stuff.   Fried foods. Good to see chinese radish cake which is my favorite.  Chinese radish cake is a simple food and it is the kind of food Japanese people love, but somehow it’s […]

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Our favorite Thai

Aridoi is our favorite Thai food in Okinawa.  Located near Route 329 in Okinawa-shi.   The owner is a certified chef by Thai government.   The simple soup is served to everyone.  Simple and gentle taste with mushrooms and Japanese radish.   Khao Phad Gai, chicken fried rice.  Fluffy Thai rice seasoned with Nam Pla, Thai fish sauce.   Red curry stir-fry with chicken.  You can choose how hot you want it to be in 5 grades.  5 is the hottest, the Thai hot. I can see that they use Thai spices and herbs, such as Thai basil, coriander, kaffir lime leaf, tamarind and lemon grass.  I’d say it’s pretty much authentic […]

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Our Usual

If you want to try Japanese home cooking, Umiyuri is one of the places you should come. Hearty homey everyday meals.   Umiyuri is located in the deep Kadena. It’s supposed to be Asian fusion cuisine, but I think it’s really the kind of food that Japanese people have at home.  The mother cooking. Japanese home cooking has been under a lot of influence from all over the world anyway, especially Chinese and Europeans.  We just add plain steamed rice and miso soup to make it a Japanese meal.   It always feels like visiting a good friend’s house. It’s a one-person operation.  Avoid weekend dinners if you don’t have time.  This place has solid local […]

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