17 Restaurants to Visit for Amazing Food in Okinawa

I spent our first day exploring key attractions in southern Okinawa while Mrs Traveleater did some shopping along Kokusai-dori. We agreed to meet for dinner at a local restaurant I had found through my research.

I got to the restaurant first, before it opened at 5:30 PM, and soon saw her turn the corner toward me with a look of exhaustion – and perhaps a hint of annoyance – on her face. Before even saying hello, she asked: “How the heck did you find this place? It’s in the middle of nowhere!”

Trying to play it cool and nonchalant, I replied: “Well, I am Mr Traveleater.” Har har.

Jokes aside, it’s important to me to seek out restaurants that serve the best examples of local food whenever we travel. With so many interesting dishes to try in Okinawa – many of which we’d never encountered before, like champuru, mozuku, and squid ink soup – this trip wouldn’t be any different.

If trying the local cuisine excites you as much as it does us, then here are seventeen restaurants you should visit on your next trip to Okinawa Honto (Okinawa Main Island).

THE BEST RESTAURANTS IN OKINAWA

I’ve organized the restaurants in this guide into three sections – Naha and Southern Okinawa, Central Okinawa, and Northern Okinawa. Click on the links to jump to any section of the guide. You’ll also find a location map at the bottom of the article.

To experience Okinawa Honto to the fullest, I recommend getting a rental car.

NAHA & SOUTHERN OKINAWA

1. Yunangi

Located just off Kokusai-dori, Yunangi is one of the most popular traditional Okinawan restaurants in Naha. We arrived at least 15 minutes before they opened and there was already a long queue of people waiting to get in. The line was so long that we couldn’t even make it into the first seating!

The wait was worth it because Yunangi is one of the best places you can try traditional Okinawan food in Naha. Pictured below is one of the prefecture’s signature dishes – goya champuru. It’s a stir-fried dish made with bitter melon, egg, tofu, and pork. Champuru can be made with a variety of different ingredients, but this version made with bitter melon is arguably the best-known.

We wanted to order mozuku (seaweed) tempura, but our server, who spoke limited English, recommended the day’s mixed tempura special. It contained mozuku tempura and, if I remember correctly, tofu tempura and squid tempura. Okinawan tempura is delicious, but be advised that it more closely resembles fritters than traditional Japanese tempura.

Like goya, mozuku is a key ingredient in Okinawan cuisine and something you should try in some form. Mozuku tempura, for me, is one of the most delicious.

 

This was another interesting local dish we were eager to try in Okinawa. Called sukugarasu tofu, it consists of a block of firm shima tofu (Okinawa island tofu) topped with small salted fish. The fish, typically young rabbitfish, is a delicacy in itself. The combination of the intensely salty fish and the mild tofu goes great with beer.

We haven’t even made it through the first restaurant on this list, and it’s already clear just how different Okinawan cuisine is from what you’ll find on the mainland.

The interesting dish pictured below is called umibudo or “sea grapes”. Resembling tiny clusters of grapes, these delicate seaweed pearls pop in your mouth when you bite into them, releasing a subtle, briny flavor.

Squid ink is a commonly used ingredient in Okinawa. In this case, it was used to make squid ink fried noodles.

What better way to wash down all that delicious food than with bottles of ice-cold Orion Beer? Accounting for roughly 60% of the local beer market, Orion Beer is an iconic Okinawan brand that’s become an integral part of the island’s drinking culture.

Yunangi is only open for dinner, from 5-10 PM, so it’s best to arrive early. We arrived around 10 minutes till opening, and we just missed the first seating – we were literally next in line – so we had to wait a bit to get a table.

I love how traditional the restaurant’s interior looks, like it hasn’t been changed in decades.

Yunangi

Address: 3 Chome-3-3 Kumoji, Naha, Okinawa 900-0015, Japan
Operating Hours: 5-10PM, Mon-Sat (closed Sun)

2. Ameiro

Compared to Yunangi, Ameiro offers a much more focused menu. On the day of our visit, they had just four Japanese set meals on their menu. Each entree comes with an assortment of sides like steamed white rice, Japanese pickles, soup, and miso paste.

I went with the saba (grilled mackerel), which, as I would later tell our server and the chef, was the best saba I’ve had thus far anywhere in Japan. It was delicious.

Mrs Traveleater went with the minced Agu pork and egg rice bowl. Another must-try ingredient, Agu refers to an Okinawan breed of pig prized for its rich marbling, sweetness, and softer texture.

Ameiro was a great find. Located in what looks to be an old two-storey house, it’s in a less commercial part of Naha so you won’t see the same crowds here as you would at a place like Yunangi.

We loved how lived-in and homey this restaurant feels. This picture was taken from the second floor.

Ameiro Shokudo

Address: 1 Chome-3-7 Higawa, Naha, Okinawa 900-0022, Japan
Operating Hours: 12NN-3PM, 6-9PM, Mon-Tue / 12NN-3PM, Wed-Fri (closed Sat-Sun)

3. Maisukuya (そば処 まいすく家)

If you like the comfort of ramen, then you’ll probably enjoy Okinawa soba as well. It refers to a warming bowl of noodle soup topped with slices of simmered pork, kamaboko fish cake, and sliced scallions. Despite its name, it’s made with wheat flour instead of buckwheat.

Mrs Traveleater enjoyed this delicious bowl at Maisukuya, a small shop that serves only Okinawa soba. You can get it topped with soki (boneless pork ribs), san-mai niku (stewed pork belly), or both.

I used Google Translate to get “Maisukuya”, but the restaurant is listed only by its Japanese name – そば処 まいすく家.

Maisukuya (そば処 まいすく家)

Address: 2 Chome-13-26 Tsuboya, Naha, Okinawa 902-0065, Japan
Operating Hours: 11:30AM-3PM, Tue-Sat (closed Sun-Mon)

4. Piparchi Kitchen

Piparchi Kitchen is another off-the-beaten-path restaurant that’s worth the extra effort in Naha. It’s a cozy space – slightly more upscale than the previous restaurants on this list – offering Japanese set meals made with local ingredients like Agu pork and mozuku.

I went with the fish steak served with white rice, soup, salad, and an assortment of four vegetable dishes.

Mrs Traveleater went with this beautifully cooked Agu pork steak. If you eat meat, then you need to try Agu pork at least once in Okinawa.

Located in a less busy part of Naha, I don’t think you’ll find too many tourists at this restaurant.

Piparchi Kitchen is a casual restaurant that feels more modern and a bit more polished than the typical shokudo.

Piparchi Kitchen

Address: 2 Chome-6-16 Nishi, Naha, Okinawa 900-0036, Japan
Operating Hours: 11AM-3:30PM, 5:30-9:30PM, Tue-Sun / 11AM-3:30PM, Mon

5. Tashimaya (たしまやー)

Walking around downtown Naha, we stumbled upon Ukishima-dori, an interesting street with a more contemporary lineup of boutiques, bars, cafes, and restaurants. It was cooler than the rest of downtown Naha, which sometimes struck us as a little too touristy.

We wanted to include one restaurant along Ukishima Street in this guide, so we went to one of the most highly-rated places we could find – a small izakaya called たしまやー. Using Google Translate, the name translates to “Tashimaya”. Being an izakaya, they offer a good lineup of alcoholic drinks and a few small dishes to enjoy them with.

If you’re interested in trying local food, then mozuku is a must in Okinawa. Personally, I like it best when deep-fried as tempura, but it’s interesting to try it in its uncooked form as well. Served cold, it has a slippery texture and a mild ocean flavor.

This Okinawa papaya salad was forgettable – tasty but a little mushy.

Intense in flavor, this Okinawan anchovy is quite pungent and may be too fishy for some people. It’s best paired with beer or some other type of alcoholic drink.

As previously described, champuru is a core Okinawan dish that can be made with different ingredients. Goya is our favorite, but fu champuru isn’t far behind. Made with wheat gluten, it’s delicious.

Tashimaya serves mostly small side dishes, but you can fill up on more substantial dishes like the fu champuru and this plate of fried somen noodles.

Tashimaya is located not too far from Makishi Public Market. It’s a great place to grab a drink and some bar chow in an area that feels less touristy than Kokusai-dori.

Tashimaya (たしまやー)

Address: 2 Chome-10-20 Matsuo, Naha, Okinawa 900-0014, Japan
Operating Hours: 4-10PM, Wed-Mon (closed Tue)

CENTRAL OKINAWA

6. King Tacos

Taco rice may not be the healthiest or most refined dish, but it’s a quintessential Okinawan comfort food that fills you up for cheap. It consists of Tex-Mex taco ingredients served over white rice instead of inside a tortilla.

There are many shops serving taco rice on Okinawa Island (even vegan versions), but what better place to try it for the first time than at the very place that invented it? King Tacos is a chain of taco rice shops with branches throughout the island. If you want to try it at its original location, then head out to Kin, a small town in Central Okinawa that’s home to US military base Camp Hansen.

Taco rice is basically drunk food – cheap, filling, and the absolute best thing on earth after you’ve had a few beers.

You know what else would be great after a night out? Chicken fried rice. King Tacos certainly knows what its target market wants.

Kin isn’t the nicest neighborhood in Okinawa, but people obsessed with local food and its origins may want to visit the original branch of King Tacos.

King Tacos

Address: 4244-4 Kin, Kunigami District, Okinawa 904-1201, Japan
Operating Hours: 10:30AM-9PM, daily

7. Po-Tama

Po-Tama is another local chain that makes great comfort food. It’s named after the dish it specializes in – pork tamago onigiri, which is basically the Okinawa equivalent of Hawaii’s SPAM musubi.

Like SPAM musubi, pork tamago onigiri consists of a thick slice of pork luncheon meat served with rice and nori. Unlike the Hawaiian version, however, it contains a Japanese-style omelette. It’s also softer and more substantial, and can be served with any number of different ingredients.

Pictured below is the standard version served with mentaiko mayo. The chain makes them with other fillings as well, like stir-fried beef, shrimp mayo, teriyaki chicken, and goya.

There are a few Po-Tama branches on Okinawa Island, but we went to the shop within the American Village complex.

Po-Tama

Address: 9-21 Mihama, Chatan, Nakagami District, Okinawa 904-0115, Japan
Operating Hours: 7AM-8PM, daily

8. Gajimaru

Being one of the world’s Blue Zones, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to eat healthy in Okinawa. Gajimaru, a plant-based restaurant near Cape Maeda, is one of them.

Gajimaru has a good-sized menu of vegan dishes like ramen, salads, pasta dishes, rice plates, and desserts. What you’re looking at here is the Gajimaru salad, an overflowing bowl made with a variety of seasonal vegetables.

I wanted ramen, so I went with the bestseller – creamy tantanmen. It’s spicy, creamy, and unsurprisingly delicious.

Gajimaru is a good place to have lunch after visiting Cape Maeda. There’s ample parking out front.

Gajimaru is a fairly large restaurant (by Japanese standards) with indoor and outdoor seating.

Gajimaru

Address: 330-1 Maeda, Onna, Kunigami District, Okinawa 904-0417, Japan
Operating Hours: 12NN-10PM, Sat-Thurs (closed Fri)

NORTHERN OKINAWA

9. Miki (海喜食堂)

We loved this seafood restaurant in Motobu. It was raining pretty heavily on Mrs Traveleater’s birthday, but she found this restaurant not too far from where we were staying. They offer a variety of seafood dishes at reasonable prices, like this mixed sashimi platter for just JPY 1,000 (April 2026).

For her entree, Mrs Traveleater went with this delicious acqua pazza set meal. Inspired by Italian cuisine, it’s a dish of poached white fish served in a lightly herbed broth. Miki prepares it with broccoli, tomatoes, and a few pieces of shellfish.

I love dishes made with squid ink, so there was only one entree on the menu for me – ikasumi-jiru or squid ink soup. Commonly paired with steamed white rice and eaten like a stew, it’s made with a substantial amount of squid, pork, and vegetables.

Don’t be put off by the blackness of the broth. It’s delicious and not as intensely flavored as it looks.

Miki Shokudo is listed on Google Maps as 海喜食堂. Like many of these restaurants in Northern Okinawa, it’s kind of in the middle of nowhere, so it’s best visited by rental car.

The restaurant’s interior is surprisingly large with just a few tables, so it feels quite comfortable and spacious.

Miki (海喜食堂)

Address: 2661-1 Izumi, Motobu, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-0221, Japan
Operating Hours: 11AM-4PM, 5-9PM, Wed-Mon (closed Tue)

10. Tamaki (玉城天ぷら 今帰仁の揚げたて専門店)

Tamaki is basically just a roadside stall that serves an assortment of Okinawa tempura made from different ingredients like fish, squid, shrimp, crabstick, mozuku, beni imo, and vegetables. As previously described, Okinawa tempura is more like fritters compared to the more delicate variety you’ll find on the mainland.

Everything was delicious, but two types you have to try are mozuku and beni imo. Beni imo refers to the prized Okinawan purple sweet potato. Earthy and sweet, it’s commonly used for a variety of desserts like tarts and ice cream, but it also makes for a fantastic filling for tempura.

Listed on Google Maps as 玉城天ぷら 今帰仁の揚げたて専門店, Tamaki is a great place to stop for lunch or a snack before or after visiting Nakijin Castle Ruins.

Tamaki (玉城天ぷら 今帰仁の揚げたて専門店)

Address: 3318-1 Imadomari, Nakijin, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-0428, Japan
Operating Hours: 10AM-6PM, Wed-Sun (closed Mon-Tue)

11. Fukusuke’s Tamagoyaki

Like Po-Tama, Fukusake’s Tamagoyaki is a popular chain that specializes in pork tamago onigiri. What sets them apart is the supremely thick slice of Japanese-style omelette they stuff in their onigiri.

Pictured below is the classic pork onigiri with herbed egg. Look at the size of that tamagoyaki!

We didn’t try it, but they offer a version of pork tamago sandwiched between two slices of toasted white bread as well.

We love unagi, so naturally, we had to try this version made with freshwater eel. Unagi tamago onigiri sounds divine in theory, but we found the thick omelette to be a little overwhelming in this case. A thinner slice of egg, perhaps?

You can also try a version of unagi tamago without the rice and nori.

You can enjoy onigiri at this branch of Fukusuke’s Tamagoyaki after taking a stroll through Bise-Fukugi Tree Road.

Fukusuke’s Tamagoyaki

Address: 415 Bise, Motobu, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-0207, Japan
Operating Hours: 10AM-5:30PM, daily

12. Bear Kitchen (くまキッチン)

Located in downtown Nago, Bear Kitchen is a takeaway shop that puts together these fantastic plant-based bento boxes. We were driving to Cape Hedo on that day, where restaurants are few and far between, so we wanted to pack a substantial meal we could enjoy for lunch. These healthy bento boxes from Bear Kitchen fit the bill nicely.

The lovely owner tried her best to explain each dish to us, but it didn’t really matter. Everything in this bento box was delicious. Such a joy to have tasty, healthy meals like this!

Listed on Google Maps as くまキッチン, Bear Kitchen is basically just a kitchen that prepares these plant-based bento boxes for takeaway. It can be a little hard to locate, so I’ve included this picture of its facade to help you find it.

As you can see, it’s literally just a kitchen space with no seating.

Bear Kitchen (くまキッチン)

Address: Japan, 〒905-0013 Okinawa, Nago, Gusuku, 1 Chome−4−11 1階
Operating Hours: 10AM-3PM, Tue-Sat (closed Sun-Mon)

13. Crab Noodle 3.0

This is one of the most interesting restaurants we’ve visited in Okinawa, if not all of Japan. Combining Japanese cooking with French-inspired presentation, it takes one of Japan’s most iconic dishes – ramen – and serves it in ways we’ve never seen before.

Crab Noodle 3.0 is helmed by Japanese Chef Saka Shota. He trained in France before spending fourteen years working as the sous chef at a 2-Michelin-starred restaurant. In 2017, he transitioned into the ramen industry to create what could very well be the most visually striking bowls of ramen in the world.

Artfully arranged on the lip of every custom-made bowl of ramen is an accompaniment of Okinawan ingredients like goya, umibudo, mozuku, shikuwasa, burdock crisps, and seasonal vegetables.

Pictured below is the special crab truffle ramen. The dishes are listed as “soba” on the menu, but like Okinawa soba, the noodles don’t contain any buckwheat – they’re made with durum semolina flour.

The ramen is elevated with crab foam, caviar, and truffle oil, adding a French spin to one of Japan’s most beloved comfort foods.

I enjoy ramen with more punch, so I ordered the spicy crab tantanmen. As delicious as it is beautiful, I couldn’t get over how unique and creative this bowl of ramen was.

Crab Noodle 3.0 is located in Nago, next to Okinawa Fruits Land and just around the corner from Nago Pineapple Park. We found its location a little surprising, given how quiet the area is and how little foot traffic it gets. A restaurant this stylish and creative feels better suited to one of the island’s busier, more cosmopolitan neighborhoods.

Crab Noodle 3.0

Address: Japan, 〒905-0005 Okinawa, Nago, Biimata, 1220-71 トロピカル王国 OKINAWAフルーツらんど 3号館 １階
Operating Hours: 11AM-10PM, daily

14. Maruyama (円山)

Who doesn’t love unagi? It’s one of our favorite Japanese dishes and something we look forward to on every trip to Japan.

In Northern Okinawa, you can enjoy it at Maruyama, a tiny unagi restaurant located in downtown Nago. They specialize in freshwater eel and offer it in three sizes. This was the middle size, the una-ju. It’s served over rice in a jubako lacquered box with miso soup and a few side dishes.

Have you ever tried fried eel bones? They’re nice and crunchy and make for an interesting appetizer, especially when paired with cold beer. Maruyama offers grilled eel livers as well, but unfortunately, they were out of them that day,

Listed as 円山 on Google Maps, Maruyama is a cash-only restaurant that opens only for dinner.

As described, the restaurant is tiny – with just two sunken tables and a counter that can accommodate roughly five or six people. We didn’t have reservations, but we were seated right away shortly after they opened at 4 PM. I suggest having an early dinner if you’d prefer not to wait.

Maruyama (円山)

Address: 1 Chome-13-5 Minato, Nago, Okinawa 905-0014, Japan
Operating Hours: 4-10PM, Tue-Sun (closed Mon)

15. Bun-chan (お食事処 文ちゃん)

Bun-chan is a cute mom-and-pop restaurant located on Kouri Island. They offer mostly seafood, but they do have a few traditional Okinawan dishes on the menu like champuru, Okinawan soba, and Agu pork rice bowls.

Served over a bed of rice, what you’re looking at here is the seafood bowl with sea urchin.

This is their version of goya champuru. They make it with thick slices of pork luncheon meat.

Listed on Google Maps as お食事処 文ちゃん, Bun-chan is a great place to enjoy an inexpensive meal before or after visiting Kouri Ocean Tower.

The best part about Bun-chan other than its solid food and affordable prices? The view. Sit outside, and you’ll be treated to this clear view of Kouri Bridge. Okinawa is so beautiful!

Bun-chan (お食事処 文ちゃん)

Address: 457 Kouri, Nakijin, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-0406, Japan
Operating Hours: 11AM-5PM, Thurs-Tue (closed Wed)

16. PIZZAbordo

It may seem a bit odd to add a pizza restaurant to an Okinawan restaurant guide, but make no mistake about it, the Japanese are experts at making pizzas. For some people, the best pizzas aren’t in Italy, but in Japan.

PIZZAbordo doesn’t make the best pizzas we’ve had in Japan – those are in Tokyo – but their Neapolitan-style pizzas are quite good and did an excellent job of satisfying our cravings. On top of that, the restaurant is hidden in a residential part of Nakijin, making it feel like a real find.

Situated in what appears to be the backyard of the owner’s home, the restaurant basically consists of just one or two outdoor tables and a small shed with indoor seating. We just love finding and supporting places like this.

PIZZAbordo

Address: 20 Kaneshi, Nakijin, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-0427, Japan
Operating Hours: 4-7PM, Tue-Sun (closed Mon)

17. Satsukimaru

As previously described, restaurant choices are quite limited in the northernmost part of Okinawa Island. Thankfully, we found this highly-rated tempura restaurant just a short drive from Cape Hedo.

Satsukimaru basically offers just three dishes on their menu – Okinawan tempura, Okinawa soba, and zenzai. Though a tad oily, their tempura was delicious and consisted of interesting vegetables we hadn’t seen at other tempura shops. I read somewhere that the northern part of the island is home to some harder-to-find herbs and vegetables, which is probably what they used here.

For just JPY 500 (April 2026), this overflowing bowl of tempura was a steal, so we got an extra order to go.

What better way to cool off after a day of hiking than with a bowl of zenzai? People who’ve had zenzai on the mainland may think of it as a warm dessert, but in Okinawa, it’s served over a bed of shaved ice. So refreshing!

Satsukimaru is located in Kunigami, a small village in the northernmost part of Okinawa. I suggest enjoying a meal here after visiting Cape Hedo or going hiking at ASMUI Spiritual Hikes.

Run by an elderly woman and what appears to be her granddaughter, the restaurant consists of just one large table with bench seating on three sides. Again, we love finding places like this!

Satsukimaru

Address: 121 Oku, Kunigami, Kunigami District, Okinawa 905-1501, Japan
Operating Hours: 12NN-4PM, Tue-Sat (closed Sun-Mon)

OKINAWA RESTAURANTS LOCATION MAP

To help you navigate, I’ve pinned the Okinawa restaurants recommended in this guide on this map. Click on the link to open the map in a new window.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE FOOD IN OKINAWA

As you can see from the map above, the restaurants recommended in this guide are spread out across the island. The restaurants in Naha are pretty easy to get to on foot, but anywhere north of that will require a car. Renting a car opened up a lot of possibilities for us and allowed us to really explore the main island. It made the trip so much more enjoyable, even though driving on the right side of the road took some getting used to.

Because of its geography, Okinawa is one of the most unique places you can visit in Japan, and the food is just one part of that.

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