Located in Tokyo’s self-proclaimed ‘Okinawa Town’, a row of shops and restaurants celebrating island life in Suginami west of Shinjuku, this eatery is so authentic you can almost feel the sand under your feet. Clay pots full of awamori are proudly displayed at the front of the restaurant, and it’s even got a tank of umi budo (sea grapes) growing in the shop. Open for both lunch and dinner, the restaurant has a more laid- back vibe during the day, when the lunch sets include Okinawan classics like soki soba, goya champuru (tofu and bitter melon stir-fry with egg and pork) and sashimi bowls topped with umi budo and grated mountain yam.
In the evening, you can dig into a wider selection of Okinawan staples and wash them down with awamori and, of course, Orion beer from the islands. The restaurant also hosts Okinawan musical performances on Monday and Wednesday at 7pm and 9pm.