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Monday, April 8, 2024

OKINAWA NAHA: Kame Okinawan Soba Wakasa Branch... I finally went! A nice piping hot bowl of Soki-Soba. (iPhone 12 mini)


In Naha I usually frequent Kame Soba in the Wakasa area but I never ventured into another branch with the exact name just a short walk away..

Full touch menu vending machine and as I stood there for a bit the attentive staff asked me if I wanted to help... then pointed to a wall with lots of menu items pictured.



My 800 yen soki soba... this was probably the hottest Okinawa soba soup I have ever had!  The soki pork was soooo incredibly tender and soooo flavorful.  Just really enjoyed it, 


I suggest adding the spicy sauce after enjoying at least half your bowl of noodles.  Think its red peppers in Awamori sake... yum but hot!


I am always curious what is on the bottom of the bowl... there was the kanji Kame! aka Turtle.

Restaurant: Kamesoba Wakasa Branch
Restaurant J: 亀そば わかさ店 - 沖縄そば専門店
Address J: 沖縄県那覇市若狭1-1-6
Address E: Okinawa, Naha-shi, Wakasa 1-1-6
沖縄そば, 旭橋駅, Japan, Japanese, foodie, yelp, tokyobelly, iphone 12 mini, Okinawan, noodles, soba, lunch, dinner, ramen, 

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

OKINAWA NAHA: Goya Tempura-Ya for some of the best Andagi Donuts! Elderly lady staff was so nice. (iPhone 12 Mini)

 

There are so many little side streets in the Naha Shopping Arcade and randomly passed by a Tempura shop staffed by elderly ladies cooking away... in the showcase was lots of tempura choices like fish and squid but I just ate some earlier and was ready for dessert!


I got the standard and the dark sugar donut.  Staff picked the biggest of the bunch for me... soooo nice!

Pacman!

It was soooo good.  Super crispy on the outside and soft interior with the flavor just right.  If you love donuts or pancakes then give Goya Tempura a try!  For even better photos please check out this blog post https://oki-raku.net/gourmet/okinawa-tempura/nanbu/goya-tenpura/

Staff recommended this little bento spot called Waku Waku just a few feet away. On my list to try!

Restaurant Bakery: 呉屋てんぷら屋
Restaurant J: Goya Tempura-Ya
Address J: 沖縄県那覇市松尾2-11-1
Address E: 2 Chome-11-1 Matsuo, Naha, Okinawa 900-0014
天ぷら, 牧志駅, サーターアンダギー, Japan, Japanese, tokyobelly, foodie, yelp, sweets, bakery, donuts, tempura, okinawan, okinawa, iphone 12 mini, cheap, budget, cake 

OKINAWA NAHA: Menya En Ramen for their generous 1,000 yen Tipsy Senbelo Plan! 4 drinks and 1 food item for only 1,000 yen... 4 drinks!! (iPhone 12 Mini)

 

When in Okinawa you gotta bar hop all the little 1,000 yen tipsy plans called Senbelo. Normally these plans are 2-3 drinks depending on the quality of the food but rarely do you see 4 drinks included.


4 drinks, Otoshi plus 3 pieces of gyoza was all me.

One pic equals one drink... 


Chill Outdoor seating... with a external speaker playing some cool Jpop but it was so choppy I had to turn it off. 

If you want to order something other than the tiny senbelo food choices.

Friend ordered some Fried Rice... then my tiny 3 piece gyoza arrived.  Very tiny but I was more here for the booze.



Normally beers are 500 yen... Friend ordered a glass of Kurokirishima Shochu on the rocks and it came out in a beer mug with only ice cubes... 20-25 proof cup of sake!  Very generous portion but very strong.  Normally you need to add water and ice.


Its located on the back end of Naha Shopping Arcade called Sunrise with lots of little bars... a must!

Restaurant: Menya En
Restaurant J: 麺屋 縁-えん
Address J: 那覇市松尾2丁目24-1-2
Address E: 2 Chome-24-1-2 Matsuo, Naha, Okinawa 900-0014
サンライズ通り, ラーメン屋🍜 麺屋 縁-えん, Japan, Japanese, foodie, yelp, tokyobelly, senbelo, せんべろ、那覇、okinawa, okinawan, bar, pub, cheap, ramen, gyoza, pot stickers

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

OKINAWA: Shimoji Soba... little old traditional Okinawa home converted into a noodle shop. Nice! (iPhone 12 mini)


On my way to UNESCO world heritage Shikinaen Royal Garden and spotted Shimoji Soba... couldnt see inside but it was a old traditional Okinawan home that was converted into a restaurant.



I always order the super tender pork ribs Soki Soba... 800 yen!  Prices were reasonable.  They also had varieties on Shave Ice for only 200 yen.

Seat near the TV. Self serve water, tea and coffee... all free.

The pork was so incredibly tender and flavorful

Noodles were a bit curly. slightly thin and on the chewy side... enjoyed it.  Soup was super hot!  Unusual for soup to be this hot but kept everything warm til the end of the bowl.

Tiny veggie and Okinawan mozuku seaweed.


Guy who came in after me ordered the traditional Okinawan Juushi seasoned rice.  Ordered a mini 100 yen bowl... nice light flavor with a hint of butter?  It was goooood.

I later talked to the staff at Shikinaen Royal Garden and mentioned I went to Shimoji Soba... she said only tourists go there! Locals go to another spot in the area... I better start asking what soba shops the locals like.  Oh well.

Restaurant: Shimoji Okinawan Soba
Restaurant J: 下地そば シモジソバ 
Address J: 沖縄県那覇市字真地41
Address E: 41 Maaji, Naha, Okinawa 902-0072
Japan, Japanese, foodie, yelp, tokyobelly, ramen, noodles, naha, soba, okinawa, okinawan, lunch, dinner, family restaurant, shave ice, kakigori, 沖縄そば, 首里駅

Thursday, March 7, 2024

TAKADANOBABA: Gindaco had an amazing 3 day special! 390 yen for 8 Takoyaki Balls! Staff was incredibly nice. (iPhone 12 mini)

I tend not too much Osaka style foods because of the carbs but luckily walked by the Gindaco Takadanobaba branch minutes before closing and scored their very last serving of 390 yen 8 Takoyaki ball set!  Normally over 600 yen. 



My iPhone 12 mini is so tiny I always get a finger in the shot.... grrr.

Found a great spot on the bridge at Kanda River!  Yup, I was streaming the entire night on Twitch! Give me a follow AlohaSteve808 https://www.twitch.tv/alohasteve808

Wow! I have impressions of Takoyaki being a bit soft and chewy but Gindaco balls were soooo crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside! It was sooooo good!  

My View! When in Tokyo and craving Osaka Takoyaki definitely give Gidaco a try!  Especially the Takadanobaba branch with such a spacious inside dining area.

Restaurant: Tsukiji Gindaco Taishū-Sakaba - Takadanobaba
Restaurant J: 築地銀だこ 高田馬場さかえ通り店
Address J: 東京都新宿区高田馬場3-2-13 ドムス・サニ・ヤナガワビル 1F
Address E: Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Takadanobaba 3-2-13
たこ焼き、焼きそば、お好み焼き, 築地銀だこ 大衆酒場 高田馬場さかえ通り店, Japan, Japanese, tokyo, foodie, yelp, cheap, lunch, dinner, osaka, pub, iphone 12 mini, okonomiyaki