ToTos | Full of Okinawa

November 19, 2016November 20, 2016 by ToTos

A New Sushi Bar in Naha

We heard that there is a new sushi place that opened this year in Naha. We went check it out. A low-profile, sharp-looking door is sitting on the quite street near Tomari port. Sushi Izumi is the name. Only one sushi chef, one assistant chef, 9 guests, and a counter. That’s all in this place. Reservation is strongly recommended. The sushi chef is apparently Okinawan local. He will serve a Edo-style sushi. I like seeing that. 8 Nigiri + 1 roll, JPY3500. 5 Sakana dishes + 8 Nigiri + 1 roll, JPY6000. A clean, well prepared kitchen. There’s no electrics. It’s probably some […]

November 19, 2016November 20, 2016 by ToTos

Sushi Izumi | Japanese

A new sushi bar of Edo-style sushi by a Okinawan chef.

September 26, 2016 by ToTos

Hawaii Big Island | East Coast

We finally came down to our final episode of our vacation on the west coast. Kona district, the dry, sunny side of the island. It’s amazing the big island has all the climates. From this sunny dry heat of the West, wet jungle of the East, cool grassy area of the North, and freezing high land of the Middle. Seafood Bar and Grill, Kawaihae This is a restaurant that the ranch owner recommended us. He described it as “not a fancy restaurant, but good food that locals love.” That sounds like what we were wanting to hear. But we were not really hungry, so we just dropped […]

in Hawaii / TRAVEL 0 comments

September 23, 2016September 25, 2016 by ToTos

Hawaii Big Island | North Coast

Our exploration continued to the north part of the island. We stayed at a vacation rental in a beautiful ranch near Waimea. Yuyu loves horses. That is why we chose this place. And right after the gate, we were greeted by a dozen of horses. You could never imagine such encounter in Japan. A dozen of horses, free on the lawn, coming to greet us on their own will. She is in heaven. It was a nice place with lots of space. We were cooking grass-fed filet mignon we bought in Whole Foods in Honolulu. We are having it with Papaya sauce. Along with the […]

in Hawaii / TRAVEL 0 comments

September 22, 2016September 23, 2016 by ToTos

Hawaii Big Island | West Coast

We landed on Oahu on August 31 on our way to our 1-week holidays on the big island of Hawaii. YuYu has wanted to visit the big island for a long time, and here we are in Hilo, greeted by a full rainbow. Looking good ahead. A double typhoons were on the way but we didn’t believe that it would bother us. A beautil tunnel of trees on Puna coast. Snorkeling in the tide pool in Kapoho. Warm pond where hot spring meets the ocean water. We planned to stay in some vacation rentals. To be honest, we didn’t expect much from restaurants in Hawaii first. It’s […]

in Hawaii / TRAVEL 0 comments

July 16, 2016July 16, 2016 by ToTos

Sweets of the Week

Just hanging out to my neighbor to pick up some breakfast for the next couples of days. Kino Store opens on Thu, Fri, and Sat. They change menu weekly. Usually they all sell out before late afternoon. A lot of people buy the weekly choice by mails regularly too. You can freeze them without losing quality. You can buy a whole package to last for the next couples of weeks. Apple Muffin. JPY200 This is my favorite muffin. Loaded with braised apple chunks with cinnamon. Pitaya Bowl Muffin. JPY200. This is another one I’ve never had. Okinawan dragon fruit, island banana, blue berries, and topped with Kino Store […]

in Kino Store / RESTAURANTS 0 comments

July 15, 2016January 16, 2017 by ToTos

Our Favorite Steak

When we want to get a steak, we come here. We don’t go to a steak house. We don’t go to a Teppanyaki place. When we want serious red meat, Bistro Kato Shokudo is it for us. Of course this place is fantastic for a lot of other dishes, but today we are here to celebrate with serious steak… As always. The house starter to kick off my appetite. French plate from today’s special. Recently the owner chef family took a trip to Europe. France and Basque region of Spain. Our favorite place to visit. And they brought back some serious stuff. We can’t miss this plate. It […]

in Kato Shokudo / RESTAURANTS 0 comments

July 14, 2016July 14, 2016 by ToTos

My Pop-Up Fish Restaurant

A lot of people believe that Okinawa has no good fish. So did I. But when I started fishing in the deep off shore here, I quickly learned that the fish that this ocean can offer is amazing! There’s cold, mineral-rich deepsea current flowing through the area and I catch some gorgeous fish. They are very expensive fish if purchased. Now I decided to share it with fish lovers in a pop-up restaurant style with a help of cafe Miyabi Chaya in Okinawa-shi. The restaurant will really pop up. I usually go fishing on Wednesday. Once or twice a month. I will make the announcement on facebook ‘Full of Okinawa’ on Thursday. The […]

in FOOD 0 comments

July 14, 2016July 14, 2016 by ToTos

Okinawan Seafood in Yomitan

Ohki Seafood is located on Route 6 in Yomitan. Operated by one of the old fish suppliers in Okinawa, this restaurant is a good place to eat fresh local seafood in very local cooking. Plenty of tables. 80 people capacity. There are private rooms too. Reservation is recommended to make before you come. Chaotic decoration, which is pretty common, almost a characteristic feature, for Okinawan traditional restaurants. The only thing we don’t like about this place is smoking is allowed. Soumen Champuru. JPY500. Soumen is a Japanese angle hair pasta, pretty common throughout the nation. But it’s rare that Okinawa people like to have it in stir fry […]

in ohki kaisanbutsu / RESTAURANTS 0 comments

July 14, 2016May 1, 2019 by ToTos

Ohki Kaisanbutsu | Japanese

Located on Route 6 in Yomitan, Ohki Kaisanbutsu is one of the best Okinawan seafood restaurants. Operated by one of the oldest fish suppliers on the island.

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

July 8, 2016July 8, 2016 by ToTos

Shaved Ice in a Hot Day

It was late afternoon in a hot day. We came to Sans Souci in Kita Nakagusuku. We bumped into the owner, Ganta-san. It was 14:30. They stop serving lunch meals at 15:00. Starts dinner at 17:30. They serve only sweets in the afternoon between. They were going to close for the day at 15:00 this day. This place is always crowded with long line at lunch time. But now only a couple of people waiting. Slipping ourselves in for our lunch. Here’s the co-owner and main chef, Makoto-san. At lunch time, you can add JPY300 for drink and a side dish to your […]

in RESTAURANTS / Sans Souci 0 comments

July 8, 2016 by ToTos

Casual but Serious Sushi

As our exploration for good sushi bars in Okinawa continue, one came up to ring our bell finally. Sushi Kawaji in Matsuyama, Naha. Beautiful sushi counter. They have private rooms as well. It looks good. You can tell the diligent preparation. A young sushi chef who served us. He said they fly in their fish from Tsukiji, Tokyo central fish market. Nowadays, the fish at the morning market can be in Okinawa in the afternoon on the same day. Yuyu ordered standard sushi course, JPY2000. I ordered deluxe, JPY2500. Omakase course is from JPY3500. My #1. Red snapper. A nice work with the washed skin […]

in Kawaji / RESTAURANTS 0 comments