Local Guide
 6 recommended eating spots in Naha, Okinawa

In the Naha area of Okinawa, there are many restaurants where you can enjoy Okinawan gourmet food on a casual stroll. Among them, local restaurants rooted in the local area are the best places to find delicious gourmet food loved not only by tourists but also by locals. Here we introduce a selection of spots where you can taste popular local eateries. Why not visit them while strolling the streets of Naha?

Strolling around the shopping street with a snack of "Brown Sugar Po-Po".

 Brown Sugar Po-Po
Brown Sugar Po-Po" 100 yen

An old-fashioned confectionery store located in a corner of a shopping street. The storefront is lined with a variety of traditional Okinawan sweets.
One of the most familiar snacks in Okinawa is the Okinawan crepe made of flour dough, rolled with oil miso (soybean paste) and called "Po-Po", and the sweet one with brown sugar is called "Chinbin". The sweet one is called "Po-Po" and is popular along with "Miso-Po-Po". The secret of its deliciousness lies in the fact that it is baked with a homemade mixture of flour and brown sugar according to the day's climate.

A variety of traditional Okinawan sweets perfect for eating and taking home as souvenirs!

 Premium Brown Sugar Po-Po
Premium Brown Sugar Po-Po" filled with red bean paste and cream cheese is also available.

Other products sold at the store include "Moochie," a steamed rice cake wrapped in shell gingko leaves, and "Doroo-mochi," a rice cake dough kneaded with miso paste, ginger, and sugar. Both sweets are often eaten in Okinawa during lunar calendar events, and are often used by locals. The butter cream cake is a long-selling product that has been sold since before Okinawa's return to Japan. It has a nostalgic flavor and is a favorite among repeat customers.
Another great point is the wide variety of "Sata-Andagi" available. In addition to the regular ones such as plain, brown sugar, and red sweet potato, sesame and banana are also available depending on the day.

Local Guide Comment
In addition to snacks that can be eaten while walking around, there are also a variety of products that make great souvenirs, such as the original round, flower-shaped chinsuko. Some popular items sell out before evening depending on the day.
Matsubaraya Confectionery
  • address (e.g. of house) 2-9-9 Matsuo, Naha City, Okinawa MAP
  •  Direction 10 min. walk from Yui Rail Makishi Station
  •  Business hours 9:00-18:30
  •  Closed Closed on Wednesdays *Subject to change during lunar calendar events
  •  TEL 098-863-2744
  •  Parking None

Enjoy Okinawan tempura with its fluffy, thick batter

 A total of seven types of tempura are available (80 yen per piece). Yasai
A total of seven types of tempura are available (80 yen per piece). Yasai" and "Sakana" are traditional favorites.

This tempura shop is located in an arcade not far from Kokusai-dori Street. Tempura made with local ingredients such as mozuku tempura, squid, and vegetables are all priced at 80 yen each. The attraction is that you can taste tempura unique to Okinawa, such as "Sakana Tempura" using tuna caught in nearby waters and "Goya" (bitter gourd).
The thick, fluffy batter of the tempura is very satisfying and has a slightly salty flavor. It can be eaten as is without any dipping sauce, making it perfect for take-out or for eating while walking around.

Don't miss the satisfying "sataa andagi" (Okinawan dough cake)!

 Clockwise from left:
Clockwise from left: "Sata andagi (plain, brown sugar, sesame)" 90 yen each, "Squid tempura", "Mozuku tempura

The restaurant also offers tempura and sweets for celebratory occasions such as New Year's in Okinawa and ceremonial occasions such as "Kataha Rambu," a batter-only tempura, and "Machikaji," a bright pink baked cake. The store is popular and well-loved by the locals, with customers coming in endlessly from the moment the store opens until it closes.
The fist-sized, mouth-watering sata andagi (Okinawan dough cake) is also popular for its delicious taste. Even when cold, the outside is crispy and the inside is fluffy, making it a great souvenir.

Local Guide Comment
Tempura and sata andagi are sometimes served fresh and hot, depending on timing. Since the shop closes as soon as they are sold out, we recommend that you visit before dusk.
Goya Tempura Restaurant
  • address (e.g. of house) 2-11-1 Matsuo, Naha City, Okinawa MAP
  •  Direction 11 min. walk from Yui Rail Makishi Sta.
  •  Business hours 9:00-18:00
  •  Closed Wednesdays *Closed on Thursdays depending on the week
  •  TEL 098-868-8782
  •  Parking None

A long-established shop that serves Okinawa zenzai, a local delicacy.

 Iced Zenzai
Iced Zenzai" (400 yen), "Taiyaki" (140 yen)

Okinawa Zenzai is a long-established shop established in 1952 and famous for its "Okinawa Zenzai" (Okinawa Zenzai with red bean paste). The word "zenzai" may conjure up images of a warm sweet made with red bean paste, but "Okinawa zenzai" refers to a cold dessert made with sweetened kintoki beans topped with shaved ice.
There are a total of six types of shaved ice available at the restaurant. Among them, there are four types of shaved ice with zenzai (kintoki-mame), including the most popular "iced zenzai," "strawberry kintoki," and "milk kintoki. All of them are full of fluffy shaved ice and have a great impact. The fluffy melt-in-your-mouth texture and the sweetness of the kintoki beans, which are slowly cooked for over five hours, are irresistible.

If you want to eat and walk around, traditional taiyaki (fish-shaped pancakes) are also recommended!

 The store has a local atmosphere. Many people of all generations visit with their parents, children, and grandchildren.
The store has a local atmosphere. Many people of all generations visit with their parents, children, and grandchildren.

Zenzai can also be taken out for an additional 30 yen for the container. There is an eat-in space inside the store, which is crowded with both locals and tourists during the summer months.
If you enjoy eating and walking around, we also recommend the hot taiyaki, which is made of a rustic-flavored dough with grainy red bean paste. In fact, this is the first store in Okinawa to sell taiyaki. In the beginning, it was the first shop to sell taiyaki in Okinawa, and the "Oyoge! Taiyaki-kun" boom, there were long lines of customers. The taiyaki has long been a favorite menu item, along with the "Okinawa Zenzai" (Okinawa Zen Zai).

Local Guide Comment
The store has both table and counter seating, making it an easy place to stop by by yourself or with children. From inside and outside, you can watch Taiyakis and Imagawa-yaki being baked in traditional molds.
Sennichi
  • address (e.g. of house) 1-7-14 Kume, Naha City, Okinawa MAP
  •  Direction 11 min. walk from Yui Rail Asahibashi Sta.
  •  Business hours 11:30-19:00
  •  Closed Monday (open if Monday is a national holiday, closed the following Tuesday)
  •  TEL 098-868-5387
  •  Parking None

Taste the fresh fruits of Okinawa in "fresh gelato

 Cup Three
Cup Three" with three kinds of gelato and fruit, 800 yen; "Fresh Fruit Gelato (4-tier cone)", 700 yen

The store specializes in "Nama Gelato," a gelato made with fresh, raw fruits kneaded into the gelato. The store is located on the second floor of the Daiichi Makishi Public Market.
The main ingredients are not frozen, but rather fresh fruits such as Okinawan mangoes and shikwasa (Okinawan shikwasa). Because they are mixed on the spot after receiving orders, customers can enjoy the unique texture and juicy flavor of the ingredients. You can enjoy a variety of flavors, including refreshing fruit flavors, brown sugar zenzai with a mild sweetness, and bitter gourd with a strong bitter taste that comes later.

Enjoy a tropical atmosphere with a wide variety of gelato and seasonal fruits

 Many repeat customers come to the store to enjoy talking with the owner and his wife. There is also an eat-in space.
Many repeat customers come to the store to enjoy talking with the owner and his wife. There is also an eat-in space.

More than 15 flavors of gelato are always available. Flavors typical of Okinawa such as mango, pineapple, dragon fruit, and beniimo are popular. The "Cup Three," which consists of three pieces of gelato in a cup with fruit on top, and the "Fruit Parfait," which uses an abundance of seasonal fruit, are also popular items. The fruits used change, from mangoes in summer to strawberries in winter, so you can enjoy them no matter how many times you visit.
In addition, fresh juices made from the prefecture's fresh seasonal fruits are also offered. You can fully enjoy the Okinawan atmosphere with a tropical drink.

Local Guide Comment
In addition to being an easy way to enjoy fresh fruit, it is also a great place to visit because it does not use any coloring or flavoring, making it healthier for the body. They mix fresh fruits and other ingredients right in front of your eyes. We recommend the passion fruit and seekwasser.
H&B (Heart & Berry) Gelato Okinawa
  • address (e.g. of house) 2-10-1 Matsuo, Naha City, Okinawa MAP
  •  Direction 9 min. walk from Yui Rail Makishi Sta.
  •  Business hours 10:00-18:00
  •  Closed Wednesdays and the 4th Sunday of the month (except Mon.)
  •  TEL 090-8708-9047
  •  Parking None

Enjoy "jjimami tofu" while reminiscing about history and culture

 Trial Arising Mami Tofu
Trial Arising Mami Tofu" for 170 yen, which can be tasted on the spot.

Hama Shokuhin" opened at the public market in 2022 as a directly managed store of "Hama Shokuhin", a long-established jjimami tofu specialty store. It sells jjimami tofu, which was previously only wholesaled to ryotei (Japanese-style restaurants) and stores.
The store's "Arising Māmi Tofu" is handmade daily using traditional methods and sold in limited quantities. The smooth texture and rich flavor of peanuts blend well with the sugar and soy sauce, which is also handmade.
The "Trial Creation Mami Tofu" available at the store is served in a traditional yachimun bowl. The third-generation owner of the restaurant will carefully explain the history and production process of the "jimāmi-dofu" so that you can enjoy its taste with a sense of tradition and culture.

The different textures of the tofu vary depending on when you eat it.

 Arising Mami Tofu
Arising Mami Tofu" 170 yen per piece, 500 yen for a set of three

The "Je-mami-dofu" prepared every morning is smoother and thicker in the morning when it is freshly made, and gradually becomes stickier and firmer as time goes by. The ability to taste different textures depending on when you eat it is the charm of handmade tofu. To enjoy the freshly made taste, it is recommended to visit the store right after it opens.
Packages of three to-go are sold in a special refrigerated bag, making it safe to take them with you during the summer. You can take them back to your hotel or buy them as souvenirs before boarding your flight.

Local Guide Comment
You can order the "Arising Mami Tofu" on the store's website or via SNS. It is recommended to make a reservation in advance to ensure a specific date and time for your visit.
Hama Foods
  • 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 - close when sold out (average hours: 14:00-15:00)
    Sold-out status will be announced on Instagram ( https://www.instagram.com/hama_jimamitofu )
  •  Closed Every Wednesday, 4th Sunday
  •  TEL 098-884-0697
  •  Parking None

The crispy "andagi" that you can't stop eating!

 Andagee (10 pieces): 600 yen
Andagee (10 pieces): 600 yen

This sata andagi store is located about a 5-minute walk from the Tomari Pier Passenger Terminal, known as the gateway to the remote islands accessible from Naha.
The andagii can be kept for up to two weeks, so they make a great souvenir or snack during your stay in Okinawa.
The at-home atmosphere of the store includes an eat-in space with two seats. You can also order a cup of coffee with your "andagi.

The bite-size pieces are perfect for eating while walking around or as a snack.

 There are two types of
There are two types of "Andagi": 10 pieces (600 yen) and 2 pieces (140 yen).

The store opened in 2016. The "andagii" are bite-sized and easy to eat, and are often purchased by coordinators for TV and magazine photo shoots. The recipe is based on the one that the owner's mother, who is from Okinawa, used to make, and it is a unique dish that cannot be found in other stores.
The store is located in a residential area far from the tourist spots, but recently the number of customers has been increasing, not only locals but also tourists.

Local Guide Comment
Andagi" is sold out as soon as it is sold out, which can be as early as before dusk. If you want to be sure of purchasing one, we recommend that you visit the store early.
Andagi-Goya
  • address (e.g. of house) 3-15-6 Maejima, Naha City, Okinawa MAP
  •  Direction 10 min. walk from Yui Rail Miebashi Sta.
  •  Business hours 12:00-19:00 *Close when sold out
  •  Closed Sunday, Holidays
  •  TEL 080-7982-3438
  •  Parking None
The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.