Shrimp Rice, Okinawa Donuts, A&W Burgers, Happiness Pancakes | Must-Try Foods in Okinawa.
When it comes to must-eat foods in Okinawa, many travelers planning a trip to Okinawa often sift through lists of restaurants in the north, central, and south, finding it difficult to determine which are worth the long queues and which are convenient to include along the way. This article compiles and references blogger Leas_wonderland's Okinawa travelogue, listing restaurants she actually ate at, as well as those she couldn't visit during her trip but had on her wish list, presenting a realistic list of must-eat foods in Okinawa for reference when planning your itinerary.
Leia's Okinawa trip has begun!
This comprehensive map of attractions for independent travelers to Okinawa (North, Central, and South) includes a list of frequently searched routes, making it a great resource for first-time Okinawa planners. It features Instagram-worthy spots, must-see restaurants, recommended souvenirs, and must-do attractions all in one place.
Due to time and schedule constraints, some locations were not visited this time and are listed as alternatives for future visits. This information is provided for your reference in advance.
Shrimp Rice | A Must-Try in Okinawa 👉 Cream and chili powder are the soul of the dish; adding them or not makes a huge difference.
We added some chili powder and cream.
I originally thought it would be stir-fried directly with the shrimp, but—
No, no, no, it's a whole dollop of cream plus a box of chili powder.
This combination requires an additional charge.
To be honest, this combination of shrimp is really flavorful and delicious.
Photo caption: Must-try in Okinawa | Original shrimp rice (right plate) vs. shrimp rice with chili powder and butter (left plate)
Okinawa Donuts | Must-Try Desserts in Okinawa 👉 Claimed to be among the top three in the universe, located in a remote area but generating a lot of buzz
The title of being among the top three in the universe is just too arrogant!!
The shop's location is really remote; there's almost nothing nearby.
Once you see that circular sign, you'll know you've arrived.
The store is very small, giving you the illusion of stepping into a miniature world.
The donuts have a texture similar to cake, and the filling is very generous.
Overall, it tastes quite unique.
As for the claim of being among the "top three in the universe"...
I personally think the millet donuts are pretty good too (hey!).
👉 Further Reading: [Okinawa x Food] Top 3 Delicious Donuts in the Universe! Are Okinawan Donuts Really That Amazing?
Photo caption: Must-eat in Okinawa | Okinawa donuts
Kishimoto Shokudo | A must-try restaurant in Okinawa 👉 A century-old establishment, highly recommended by celebrities
Besides travel expert Stanley's high praise, Hiroshi Abe has also dined here.
It is a century-old establishment, renowned far and wide.
It wasn't included in this trip, so I'll just add it to my wishlist and visit it another time.
Must-try in Okinawa | Hana-jin Pizza 👉 I heard the scenery is beautiful
The pizzeria recommended by the travel show "Fashion Player" is a restaurant with a beautiful view. I'll add it to my list for next time.
Blue Seal Ice Cream | A must-try in Okinawa 👉 Handmade experience only available at the Makiminato branch
An extravagant Okinawan ice cream.
There are also hands-on workshops available, but please note that these are only offered at the Mugang store.
👉 Further Reading: [Must-Try in Okinawa] Blue Seal Ice Cream! Extravagant American Ice Cream!
Photo caption: Must-try in Okinawa | Blue Seal Ice Cream
A&W Burgers | A must-try in Okinawa 👉 Local fast food with adorable packaging, though the taste is average.
There are really many branches.
The more I look at it, the more I feel like I absolutely have to try it (?).
Okay, so it's actually just a burger joint.
However, the takeout bag packaging is very cute, featuring a bear pattern.
Photo caption: Must-eat in Okinawa | A&W Burgers
Must-try in Okinawa | American Village Ramen 👉 The most memorable bowl of ramen during your trip
This was the best bowl of ramen I had in Okinawa during my trip.
Human memory is truly limited (maybe it's just me).
The details of the taste are a bit blurry now, but I remember that at the time I was truly amazed by how delicious it was, and it left a deep impression on me.
Photo caption: Must-eat in Okinawa | American Village Ramen
Must-try desserts in Okinawa | oHacorte Fruit Tart 👉 Too popular to list here, but add it to your dessert list first.
Pork and Egg Rice Balls | A Must-Try Breakfast in Okinawa 👉 I ate there twice, and the taste was quite different depending on the time of day.
I ate there twice during this trip, and it was really delicious.
The first time was around 10 a.m. when I went to queue up.
When I visited again at 4 PM, there were far fewer people (the shop closes at 5 PM).
Photo caption: Must-try in Okinawa | Pork and Egg Rice Balls
Warm Night Ramen | A must-try restaurant in Okinawa 👉 Always long lines, the flavors are more suited to Taiwanese tastes.
Claimed to be the number one ramen in Japan
It's even better than Ichiran Ramen.
Are almost all the people in line Taiwanese?
The flavor isn't too salty or greasy; it's exactly the kind of flavor Taiwanese people would like.
The wait in line is at least half an hour, and it's the same no matter what time of day.
We arrived at the site around 8 PM and started queuing.
It was past 10 p.m. when I got back to the parking lot, and there were still people queuing outside.
Photo caption: Must-try food in Okinawa | Warm Momo Ramen
Jack's Steakhouse | A must-try restaurant in Okinawa 👉 Waiting half an hour in the car, but it was worth it after eating.
This is another restaurant that requires queuing.
However, there is a parking lot outside the store, so waiting in the car is quite convenient.
We waited for at least 30 minutes.
But after eating it, I really felt it was worth it. The meat was very tender, and it was delicious with just a little black pepper and salt.
Photo caption: Must-eat in Okinawa | Jack Steak
Happy Pancakes | A must-try dessert in Okinawa 👉 Make a reservation or arrive early to avoid getting tired.
One bite and I felt absolutely blissful.
There are basically two ways to get it successfully:
The first option is to make an appointment in advance.
Online reservations are available for the first two weeks, with new dates released every night at 11 PM.
Reservation link 👉 https://magia.tokyo/reserve/
The second option is to arrive at the site early to register.
Arrive about 30 minutes before opening time; the store is usually already open.
Guests will also be allowed to register outside.
We arrived at 9:30 am on a holiday and were registered as number 4.
It is important to note that
The online reservations are for indoor seats, and there are fewer than 20 seats available.
On-site registration involves seating outside, so you can order food almost immediately after registering.
We finished eating around 10:30.
A long line of people had already formed outside, waiting for them.
Business hours are:
- Open from 11:00 to 19:30 on weekdays (last order at 18:40)
- Open from 10:00 to 20:30 on holidays (last order at 19:40)
- The actual public holidays are not fixed, so it is recommended to confirm them again before departure.
Photo caption: Must-try Okinawa food | Happy Pancakes
Must-eat in Okinawa | Outlet Okinawa Noodles 👉 Not a must-try, but perfect after shopping.
Actually, this isn't a must-try restaurant.
It's more like a place to sit down and eat when you're tired from shopping XD.
The store is located on the second floor of the Okinawa Outlet.
If you want to experience authentic Okinawa noodles, you can give this a try.
The pork was so tender it almost melted in my mouth.
The fried rice was surprisingly delicious, which I highly recommend.
Photo caption: Must-eat in Okinawa | Okinawa Noodles at the Outlet
Must-eat foods in Okinawa | A list of what you've tried and what you haven't.
This must-eat list in Okinawa is compiled based on actual visits, notes taken at the time, and photos taken. Some of these restaurants I have actually eaten at, while others are temporarily on my wish list due to time constraints or limited stomach capacity. But it is precisely because of this that I can more clearly distinguish which ones are worth making a special trip for and which ones are suitable to decide on when passing by.
Restaurants in the northern, central, and southern regions are not concentrated in one area. Instead of chasing after famous restaurants for every meal, it's better to adjust your itinerary flexibly according to your schedule and how you feel each day. Hopefully, this list will be a helpful and stress-free reference for planning your trip to Okinawa.
On my next trip to Okinawa, I might add a few more places to the list; but at least for this trip, I'll leave all the places I've eaten and want to eat here for now.
Creator Profile | Lea Leiya ( leas_wonderland )
Content themes: Primarily documenting food, travel, and lifestyle experiences.
Highlights: One of only three travel creators from Taiwan invited to Google headquarters in the United States.
Original source: leas's Wonderland blog
This article is compiled and quoted from the travel and lifestyle records of media creator Leia (leas_wonderland); all the pictures attached to the article are used with the permission of the original author.