Yusukes
Many say “sea and beaches” or “nature,” but don’t forget FOODS since there are a variety of indigenous foods in Okinawa. The Okinawa food is a little distinctive style and not the same as Washoku (basic Japanese food.) However, they are very close, so it can be looked on as ANOTHER WASHOKU. Of course, Tokyo has a lot of Okinawa food’s restaurants, but you can’t experience the local foods made with quite fresh materials except in the local places. Let me introduce the main Okinawa’s foods, based on my travel around Okinawa.
Ishigaki Beef (Ishigaki gyu)
One of the best-known brands of beef in Japan by side with the Kobe Beef, Matsusaka Beef, etc. Its meat juice will fill inside your mouth at the moment you take a bite. It couldn’t be more tender. The taste depends on how to cook and which part of the beef you eat.
2. Glazed pork (Rafute)
You can find it at almost every restautant in Okinawa. It is meltingly delicious, and mustard makes it tastier. So does wasabi(green horseradish paste)!
3. Sea grape (Umi Budo)
It is unique in texture which is popping texture and addictive. You can’t understand that until you actually try it.
4. Fried Gurukun fish (Gurukun no Karaage)
Gurukun’s season is Summer, and the recommendable way to eat is fried one.
5. Bitter melon and tofu stir-fried (Goya champuru)
Goya champuru is also typical Okinawa’s food. CHAMPURU means something stirred, and goya is a little chewy and bitter.
6. Thin wheat noodles and tuna flakes stir-fried (Somen champure)
Champuru has several types and it is one of them. It tastes Washoku-like and you can cook it easily since it consists of a few ingredients: thin wheat noodles, tuna flakes, salt and pepper.
7. Okinawa soba noodles (Okinawa soba)
Okinawa Soba is not the same as Ramen or Udon. You feel plain, but it is getting a little strong, mixed with chili pepper. Pork spareribs are usually put on the top.
8. Taco rice
Its ingredients are very similar to those of taco. So it’s like Japanese Taco, replacing taco shell with rice.
9. Picked Okinawa Shallot (Shima rakkyo)
It is the best Otsumami, which is Japanese style tapas, to go with beer in Okinawa.
10. Fried Peanut tofu (Jimami dofu no agedashi)
Jimami dofu is a little extraordinary compared with simple tofu since it’s more melting taste. As for fried one, you feel crispy outside at first, and then, it’s seeping out of its inside meltingly.
11. Okinawa Banana (Shima banana)
Shima Banana only grows in the most southern areas, and you can eat it freshly at the local place.
12. Shaved ice and ice cream with Okinawa fruits
Okinawa has a lot of tropical fruits such as guava, passion fruits, mango, pineapples and so on. And you can taste them as the shaved ice, which is amazingly fluffy in Okinawa.
They are just a part of Okinawa’s cuisines, but all of them above is astonishingly delicious as far as I’m concerned. How about finding your favorite Okinawa food traveling around Okinawa?
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