Local Guide
Five recommended dinner spots in Naha, Okinawa. Some famous restaurants loved by locals.

The Naha area, which is the bustling gateway to Okinawa, is full of restaurants where you can enjoy not only the standard Okinawan gourmet food, but also high-level delicacies prepared by chefs. If you have the chance, why not try dinner at a popular restaurant supported not only by tourists but also by locals? Here are some recommended dinner spots in Naha, from Okinawan restaurants rooted in the local community, Italian restaurants and tonkatsu restaurants where you can enjoy local ingredients, to handmade gyoza (dumplings) restaurants where you can enjoy the local atmosphere.

Neapolitan pizza baked in a wood-fired oven is a popular restaurant

Pizza Margherita
Pizza Margherita" (2,000 yen)

This Restaurant is well known among the locals for its wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, made to order and baked in a wood-fired oven using dough that has been slowly aged for more than 30 hours. The entire dough is crispy and light, while the thicker, chewy ears are delicious right down to the last bite.
The classic "Pizza Margherita" is a perfect combination of Italian tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil. The cheese is air-freighted in every visit, and its rich, melty flavor is irresistible.

Rediscover the deliciousness of Okinawan ingredients with a European twist!

Owner chef from Naha trained at a famous restaurant in Tokyo
Owner chef from Naha trained at a famous restaurant in Tokyo

In addition to pizza, the restaurant offers Italian and Spanish cuisine with plenty of Okinawan ingredients. Appetizers and main dishes such as motsu (beef) stewed with prefectural beef and carpaccio made with island goat from Hamahiga are available, incorporating the essence of Europe into ingredients unique to Okinawa.
You can also enjoy a wide variety of wines, from classic standard wines to natural wines. A sommelier is also available so you can consult with him about what goes best with your meal.

Local Guide Comment
It is a popular restaurant that attracts customers from all over Japan, from locals to tourists. Many customers become repeat customers after visiting the restaurant through introductions from acquaintances. Advance phone reservations are recommended.
BACAR
  • address (e.g. of house) 3-16-15 Kumoji, Naha City, Okinawa MAP
  • Direction 5 min. walk from Kencho-mae Station on the Yui Rail
  • Business hours 17:00-22:15 (L.O. 20:30)
  • Closed Sundays and Mondays *Non-scheduled holidays; check SNS
  • TEL 098-863-5678
  • Parking None

Dumplings and small dumplings wrapped in handmade dough with a chewy texture

Yaki gyoza (10 pieces): 770 yen, xiaolongbao (6 pieces): 825 yen
Yaki gyoza (10 pieces): 770 yen, xiaolongbao (6 pieces): 825 yen

This restaurant specializes in handmade dumplings and small basket dumplings wrapped in homemade skin. The recipes are created by the wife from Beijing who works with the owner. The authentic taste is arranged to suit the Japanese palate.
The crispy baked dumplings are filled with pork and chives for a strong flavor. They go perfectly with Orion beer. The hot xiaolongbao is a dish that is irresistible because of the juices overflowing from the soft, chewy skin. It is served with pickled ginger as a condiment. If you put it on a brick and break the skin with chopsticks before eating, you can enjoy the soup without burning your tongue.

Enjoy the local atmosphere in the arcade district

Through the glass doors you can see the owner's wife and Staff/staff members deftly stretching the dough and wrapping the bean paste.
Through the glass doors you can see the owner's wife and Staff/staff members deftly stretching the dough and wrapping the bean paste.

The restaurant is located in the nostalgic atmosphere of the Sakae-machi Market arcade. The restaurant looks like a food stall, with only four seats at the counter and a stainless steel table that looks like a cooking table.
The restaurant was founded in 1969 by the owner's father as a side dish store selling prepared foods. After taking over as the second generation, the owner turned the store into a family-run, gyoza-centered restaurant, and he and his wife started working in the kitchen together. Today, the restaurant attracts many customers not only from the local area but also from all over the country, and has become the face of Sakae-machi Market.

Local Guide Comment
Many locals use this restaurant as the first stop on a ladder of drinks, and it is a popular restaurant with a long line of customers before it opens. The arcade area with many locals offers a glimpse into the deep side of Okinawa.
Benriya Yi Ling Lon
  • address (e.g. of house) 388 Asato, Naha City, Okinawa MAP
  • Direction 3 min. walk from Asato Station on the Yui Rail
  • Business hours 17:00-23:00 (L.O. 22:30)
  • Closed Sunday
  • TEL 098-887-7754
  • Parking None

Taste all the fresh seafood dishes with a lifting system

Mibai and luminous shellfish sashimi
Mibai and luminous shellfish sashimi" and "Luminous shellfish with garlic butter," which can be ordered using a lifting system

This Okinawan restaurant is located on the second floor of the Daiichi Makishi Public Market. The centerpiece of the Daiichi Makishi Public Market is the "lifting system," in which food purchased at the fresh fish and butcher stores on the first floor is cooked for you at the restaurants on the second floor.
For this visit, locally caught mibai and luminous clams were ordered as ingredients for the "lift-up" system, which allows customers to enjoy one ingredient in two different ways. For example, the mibai can be served as sashimi and boiled, while the luminous shellfish can be served as sashimi and baked with garlic butter, giving you different textures and tastes.

Enjoy a relaxing time at a public market that has taken root in the local community

The restaurant is crowded with tourists and locals during dinner time.
The restaurant is crowded with tourists and locals during dinner time.

The plump and chewy mibai sashimi and the addictive yokogai sashimi with garlic butter are perfect as snacks for alcoholic beverages.
In addition to the pick-up service, the restaurant offers a full menu of Okinawan dishes such as "Okinawa soba set meal" and "goya chanpuru set meal. The tender raftae soaked in sweet and spicy sauce is also popular.
The restaurant has a small tatami room where you can relax in comfort. Since the restaurant was established in 1976, it has many regular customers and you can feel the local atmosphere.

Local Guide Comment
The "lift system" allows up to three items per person to be prepared for an additional 500 yen per item, plus the cost of the ingredients you pay on the first floor, and the market on the first floor offers a selection of seafood that is usually hard to find, so be sure to take your time in making your selections.
Toyonen (Daiichi Makishi Public Market)
  • address (e.g. of house) 2-10-1 Matsuo, Naha City, Okinawa MAP
  • Direction 9 min. walk from Yui Rail Makishi Sta.
  • Business hours 9:00-20:00
  • Closed Wednesday
  • Admission Fee 098-862-9164
  • Parking None

Superb pork cutlet using Okinawan brand chateaubriand pork

Chateaubriand, a rare part of the meat, is served as part of the dinner course. The beautiful light pink cross-section is very appetizing.
Chateaubriand, a rare part of the meat, is served as part of the dinner course. The beautiful light pink cross-section is very appetizing.

The owner, who has experience as a chef at an Okinawan restaurant, is the owner of this tonkatsu restaurant. The pork cutlets are made from local brand pork and deep-fried at a low temperature to give them a soft and juicy flavor. The pork cutlets are cut thick so that you can enjoy the juicy taste of the meat. The pork cutlet is served with Yonaguni Island flower salt instead of sauce so that you can enjoy the original taste of the ingredients. The simple salt enhances the elegant flavor of the meat.
In addition to the standard filet and sirloin, you can choose from several rare cuts of meat such as chateaubriand, ribeye, and rump, depending on your preference.

Enjoy traditional Ryukyuan court cuisine while waiting for your pork cutlet to be fried

The restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere. In addition to the counter and tables, there are also private rooms where you can spend time in comfort.
The restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere. In addition to the counter and tables, there are also private rooms where you can spend time in comfort.

For lunch, you can choose from a set meal set or a course set. For dinner, reservations are required, and you can choose from several different courses. In addition to tonkatsu, the menu includes Ryukyuan court cuisine brought as an appetizer, rice cooked in an earthenware pot with rice produced in the prefecture, and local soup. The charm of this restaurant is that you can enjoy local ingredients in a style unique to Okinawa.
The sophisticated plates and utensils that make the food look even more delicious are handmade by artists in Okinawa. The restaurant is also decorated with paintings and vases by local artists, allowing you to spend a relaxing time immersed in Ryukyuan culture.

Local Guide Comment
In addition to the excellent tonkatsu, you can also taste unique Ryukyuan court cuisine such as minudaru, steamed pork loin with black sesame sauce, and duluwakasi, which means stewed taro.
Tonkatsu Restaurant YAMASHiRO
  • address (e.g. of house) 3-38-2 Shuri-Teirara-cho, Naha City, Okinawa MAP
  • Direction 2 minutes walk from Yui Rail Shuri Station
  • Business hours 11:00-16:00 (L.O. 15:00) *Close when all tonkatsu are sold out
    18:00-22:00 (L.O. 21:00) *Reservations required for dinner.
  • Closed Dinner time on Sunday and Wednesday
  • TEL 098-917-6340
  • Parking 3 cars (free of charge)

Reasonably priced home-style dishes such as Okinawa chanpon

Champon (Mikasa style) with soup
Champon (Mikasa style) with soup" 650 yen

A popular diner in business for over 55 years. It serves Okinawan home-style dishes such as chanpuru and pork tamago with rice and soup. Chanpuru" is an Okinawan dialect word meaning a dish made of tofu and vegetables.
The specialty is the original chanpon (Mikasa style), which has remained unchanged since the establishment of the restaurant. Okinawa chanpon is usually made with rice topped with stir-fried vegetables and an egg, but this restaurant's chanpon is a simple dish made with plenty of onions and ground meat stir-fried with an egg. The sweet and spicy seasoning makes the rice more appetizing.

A popular diner with an at-home atmosphere

There are both table and counter seats, so feel free to use the restaurant even if you are alone.
There are both table and counter seats, so feel free to use the restaurant even if you are alone.

Pork Yakiniku (pork)," grilled pork marinated in original garlic soy sauce and ginger, and "Stir-fried Beef and Tofu with Garlic," made with plenty of island tofu and beef are also popular set menus among local patrons.
The restaurant has a homey, old-fashioned diner atmosphere that attracts a wide range of customers, and is open from 9:00 a.m. until around 9:00 p.m., making it a great place to stop by for dinner or a late lunch.

Local Guide Comment
If you visit around summer, you should definitely try the seasonal dish "Hechima stewed in miso" which gives you a taste of Okinawan summer. The texture of the soft, eggplant-like hechima is a perfect match with the mild miso paste.
Dining Area Mikasa
  • address (e.g. of house) 1-12-20 Matsuyama, Naha City, Okinawa MAP
  • Direction 8 min. walk from Kencho-mae Station on the Yui Rail
  • Business hours Mon - Wed 9:00 - 21:30 (L.O. 21:00)
    Fri. through Sun. - 22:00 (L.O. 21:30)
  • Closed Thursday, New Year's Day, Lunar Holidays
  • TEL 098-868-7469
  • Parking 2 cars in front of the store

MAP

Hoshino Resorts facilities nearby
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The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.