14 Must-try Food and Drinks in Okinawa

ENG must-eat okinawa food topics banner.jpg

Okinawa's culture is often referred to as "champuru culture" (champuru means "jumbled" in Okinawan), as it has matured through the fusion of many different cultures. Okinawa's food culture has also been influenced by a variety of countries, including China, Korea, Japan, and Southeast Asian countries, with which it had diplomatic relations during the Ryukyu Kingdom, as well as the United States after the war. Okinawa is home to many unique foods that are not often found in other parts of Japan. Here are some of the Okinawan delicacies that you must try when you visit Okinawa.

Okinawa Soba

Taco Rice

Rafute

Bitter Gourd Champuru

Okinawa Style Tempura

Jimami Tofu

Sata Andagi

Sea Grapes

Mozuku Seaweed

Beef

Pork

Fruits

Beer

Awamori

沖縄そば

Okinawa Soba

沖縄そば

Okinawa soba, the soul food of Okinawans, is a dish that you must try at least once when you visit Okinawa. Unlike most soba noodles, which are made with buckwheat flour, "Okinawa soba" is made with wheat flour instead of buckwheat flour. Ingredients placed on top of the Okinawa soba include braised pork belly, Japanese fish cake stick, green onions, and red pickled ginger. The broth is mainly made using pork bones and bonito dashi.

There are differences in the shape of the noodles and toppings of Okinawa soba in different regions of Okinawa, so be sure to enjoy the Okinawa soba unique to each region!

Taco rice

タコライス

Taco rice, an adaptation of the Mexican dish taco, is a dish of rice topped with taco ingredients, and is said to have originated in Kin town, Okinawa, where U.S. military facilities are located. It is served not only at taco shops, but also at restaurants, cafes, and various other places in Okinawa.

タコライス

Rafute

ラフテー

Rafute is so-called “Kakuni" (braised pork belly) and is made by simmering pork belly with ingredients such as Awamori and soy sauce. It is a signature local dish of Okinawa, where there are many pork dishes. It is often served at izakaya (Japanese style pubs).

Okinawa is full of traditional dishes that are rarely found in other parts of Japan. In addition to Rafute, another famous dish is “Tebichi”, a pork dish made by simmering pig's feet with kombu (kelp) and radish for a long time.

ラフテー

ゴーヤーチャンプルー

Bitter Gourd Champuru

ゴーヤーチャンプルー

It is a popular Okinawan home-style dish made by stir-frying goya (bitter gourd), a vegetable that represents Okinawa, with pork and tofu. Sometimes luncheon meat is added instead of pork. This dish is perfect especially for those who love bitter gourd.

Champuru refers to a cooking method in which tofu and seasonal vegetables are stir-fried together. In addition to bitter gourd champuru, there are also somen champuru and fu (wheat gluten) champuru!

Okinawa Style Tempura

沖縄風天ぷら

Unlike typical Japanese tempura, which is crispy, Okinawa style tempura is thickly battered and shaped more like a fritter. There are various kinds of tempura such as fish, squid, sweet potato, mozuku seaweed, and asa seaweed. You can find them at tempura shops, supermarkets, and restaurants.

In Nanjo City in southern Okinawa, there is a small island with a circumference of 1.7 km called Ojima famous for Okinawa style tempura. Make a stop at Ojima to enjoy the unique tempura when you are visiting the southern part of Okinawa.

天ぷら

Jimami Tofu

ジーマミー豆腐

Despite having the name "tofu," it is actually made from squeezed juice of peanuts and sweet potato starch, without using soybeans. It is pure white just like tofu and has a characteristic creamy texture.

ジーマミー豆腐

Sata Andagi (Okinawan doughnut)

サーターアンダギー

Sata Andagi is a popular Okinawan doughnut made by kneading eggs, sugar, and flour and deep frying them in oil. It is characterized by its round spherical shape with one side popped open.

This sweet treat is very famous even among people from other parts of Japan. Besides the common plain flavor, other flavors such as brown sugar and purple sweet potato are often sold at stores.

サーターアンダギー

Sea Grapes

海ぶどう

Sea grapes, characterized by their crunchy texture and slightly salty flavor, are one of seaweeds that represent Okinawa. It is cultivated in many parts of the prefecture.

Sea grapes are recommended to be stored at room temperature and consumed within a few days, as they lose their plumpness when stored in a refrigerator or other low-temperature places.

Learn more about sea grapes

海ぶどう

Mozuku Seaweed

もずく

Mozuku, a seaweed with a unique slimy texture, is widely produced in Okinawa. Mozuku is a low-calorie, healthy seaweed, and its slimy surface contains a large amount of fucoidan. In Okinawa, it is often served at hotel breakfasts.

In Japan, mozuku is generally used in vinegared dishes and soups. In addition to those, it is also used as tempura in Okinawa.

Learn more about mozuku

モズク

Beef

牛肉

Okinawa Prefecture is one of the top producers of Japanese Black Wagyu calves in Japan. Many calves raised in Okinawa are shipped to various parts of Japan and become premium-branded beef, such as Omi beef and Matsusaka beef. Major brands of Okinawa beef include Ishigaki beef, Yanbaru beef, Ryugyu-O, Miyako beef, Ie beef, Yamashiro beef, and Motobu beef.

牛肉

Pork

豚肉

Okinawans eat pork so often that it is said that "everything can be eaten except for the squeak” in Okinawa. In particular, Okinawa's Agu is a precious pig indigenous to Okinawa, and Agu pork produced from it is marbled and its fat has sweetness and palatability.

豚肉

Fruits

フルーツ

Many fruits are produced in Okinawa, including mangoes, pineapples, watermelons, guavas, passion fruits, and shikuwasa. Among the fruits produced in Okinawa, mango, pineapple, and shikuwasa are produced the most in Japan and are fruits that represent the prefecture.

Fruits produced in Okinawa are sold at markets and supermarkets. Enjoy the fresh local fruits during your visit to Okinawa.

フルーツ

Beer

ビール

Many people drink Orion Beer, a well-known Okinawan beer, when they come to Okinawa. Enjoy the beer beloved by the locals with Okinawa food!

In Okinawa, toasts are made with the call of "Karii," which means "good luck”. Try toasting with "Karii" in Okinawa with your friends and family.

ビール

Awamori

泡盛

Awamori is Okinawa's iconic alcoholic beverage. It is the oldest distilled spirit in Japan and is said to be the predecessor of shochu (another distilled spirit in Japan). There are 47 distilleries in Okinawa, each producing unique awamori.

The most important characteristic of awamori is that it becomes "Kusu". “Kusu" refers to awamori that has been aged for more than three years. The aging process in a jar or bottle gives it a mellow aroma and a smoother taste.

Learn more about awamori

泡盛