The cuisine of Okinawa is distinct from that of mainland Japan and similar to cuisine found in Southern China and South East Asia. Let’s take a look at some tasty Okinawan delicacies!

Awamori: Derived from distilling techniques in Thailand, Awamori is perhaps Okinawa’s most well known alcoholic beverage. Awamori can range from 50 proof to as strong as 120! Needless to say, we encourage anyone not to drive after consuming some Awamori.

Chanpurū – Influenced from the Indonesian dish, “Campur”, Chanpurū is a tasty stir fried dish often consisting of tofu, goya, and meat. There are many variants of this dish which use different ingredients. The number of variety is stems from the fact that Chanpuru simply means “mixed” in the Okinawan language. Many popular Japanese fast food chains also serve Goya Chanpurū bento meals in their Okinawa locations!

Chinsukō – A sweet biscuit comprised mostly of lard and flour that can be found throughout Okinawa. There are many variants of Chinsukō, such as Okinawan Sweet Potato, Okinawan Salt, etc.

Gōyā – Gōyā, or bitter melon in the Okinawan language, is one of the most popular ingredients used in Okinawan cuisine. Popular during the summer, Goya is often used when making Chanpurū or Tempura. Many fast food restaurants in Okinawa offer Gōyā Bento and even Gōyā burgers!

Habu Sake – A variant of Awamori that also includes the indigenous Habu snake coiled at the bottom of the jar. It is believed that the addition of the Habu provides additional health benefits when consumed. Needless to say, we do not encourage anyone to drive after consuming this potent alcoholic beverage.

Okinawa Soba – Okinawa Soba, or “Suba” in the Okinawan language, is a noodle dish native to Okinawa. Originally, this dish was exclusive to Ryukyuan royalty and its consumption by commoners was prohibited. Today, this dish can be consumed by anyone and there are many variants such as Miyako Soba and Yaeyama Soba. Typically, Okinawan Soba consists of wood ash, wheat noodles, pork, ginger and served hot rather than cold.

Rafute – One of the many pork dishes in Okinawan cuisine is “Rafute”. This meat dish usually consists of boiled belly pork, soy sauce, and sometimes Awamori. Please check our site for Rafute recipes contributed by our members!

Sātā Andāgī – Deep fried buns made out of dough, Sātā Andāgī is a popular snack in Okinawa. The “Andadog”, a variant of the Sātā Andāgī that includes a hot dog, can be found in Hawaii.

Taco Rice – A more recent addition to Okinawan Cuisine, Taco Rice consists of ground beef, lettuce, shredded cheese, tomatoes, salsa and rice. It is said that Tacos were not very popular in Okinawa, but once the tortilla shells were replaced with rice, the rest became history! Taco Rice has become so popular that many restaurants in mainland Japan have begun serving this Okinawan cuisine.