Feel the tropical vibe anytime! Welcome to Okinawa!

  • September 15, 2026

Okinawa boasts a unique food culture and is brimming with local cuisine that evokes a tropical atmosphere. We introduce restaurants where you can enjoy Okinawan cuisine, from classic dishes to creative variations. Let's experience the relaxed island pace without leaving Tokyo!

[Shops introduced in this article]

Okinawan Cuisine Izakaya Urumajima Takenotsuka Branch

The owner, Mr. Kobayashi, was originally a regular customer of the shop. He became fascinated by Okinawan food culture and awamori (Okinawan distilled liquor) while frequenting the shop, and through a twist of fate, he ended up taking over the business. When asked about his hometown, he laughs and says, "I was born on an island, but in Fukushima," referencing the shop's name, Uruma Island, revealing his friendly personality.

With extensive experience as a chef, he's adept at everything from classic Okinawan dishes to a wide variety of creative twists. In particular, his "Chilled Okinawan Soba," inspired by the soul food of Aizu, Fukushima Prefecture, his hometown, is a popular summer-only menu item. He's so particular about it that he prepares a separate soup from the regular Okinawan soba, and many people look forward to enjoying its refreshing taste every year. As a big fan of alcohol, he offers not only awamori but also a wide selection of cocktails. The restaurant also boasts a well-balanced selection of fruit liqueurs, sake, and shochu, making it appealing to enjoy Okinawan cuisine with a wide variety of drinks.

[Extremely delicious Rafute (Okinawan braised pork) 935 yen, refreshing green papaya salad 825 yen]
Our restaurant's signature dish, the incredibly delicious rafute (braised pork belly), is simmered slowly in awamori (Okinawan rice liquor) and brown sugar. The generously portioned salad is served with a tankan orange dressing.

[Steamed Agu pork in a bamboo steamer: 1,430 yen, Awamori (glass): from 550 yen]
A characteristic of Agu pork is that the fat is clean and free of impurities. "We serve it with ponzu sauce, but we also recommend eating it with salt."
Shop owner Mr. Kobayashi enthusiastically explains the deliciousness of awamori, from classic brands to rare ones. If you consult with him, you're sure to find a brand you like.

[Exterior / Interior]

  • The shop is decorated with Okinawan motifs, but also features numerous figurines. The owner says, "I'm just an otaku (laughs)." Apparently, other customers with the same hobby also come in.
  • The shop's exterior exudes an Okinawan atmosphere even before you step inside.

【Shop information】

■ Okinawan Cuisine Izakaya Uruma Island Takenotsuka Branch
電話：03-3850-8750
Opening hours: 17:00 - 23:30 (15:00 - on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, last order 23:00)
Closed: Wednesdays
Seats: 30 seats
Address: 1F, Dai-roku Marumoto Building, 6-7-14 Takenotsuka, Adachi-ku
Reservation: Enabled
Takeout: Available (some menu items are not available for takeout)
Barrier-free support: Enabled
Wi-Fi: None
Access: 3-min. walk from Tobu Skytree Line Takenotsuka Station East Exit
HP:https://urumajima-takenozuka.jimdofree.com

Okinawa Ishigaki Island Cuisine Izakaya Komachan

The cozy restaurant has 15 seats in total, including counter and table seating. Owner Takashi Komazaki, his wife Chiho, and their child, who just turned one this summer, will welcome you. The couple moved to Ishigaki Island and built their careers at an Okinawan izakaya before opening their own restaurant in their hometown of Adachi Ward in 2018. You can enjoy dishes made with plenty of local ingredients from Okinawa and Ishigaki Island, along with awamori (Okinawan distilled liquor).

When asked for a recommendation, the owner simply said, "We pride ourselves on the generous portions." Before even explaining the menu, you can see the service spirit in each dish—the desire to fill your stomach and leave satisfied. In addition to Okinawan classics, they also offer a variety of creative à la carte dishes. The blackboard menu, which delights regular customers every day, is also not to be missed. When Chiho occasionally strums the sanshin (Okinawan stringed instrument), the children become happy, and their cheerful expressions, combined with the gentle sound of the sanshin, create a warm and homey atmosphere in the restaurant.

[(From front, clockwise) Squid ink Yaeyama fried noodles 1,000 yen, bitter melon wrapped in meat and stuffed with cream cheese and fried 770 yen, mentaiko hirayachi 800 yen]
From a blackboard menu on a particular day. The menu features a wide variety of dishes using Okinawan ingredients and Okinawan cuisine with a twist.
[Zaru Mozuku (small) 750 yen]
The unique feature of this dish is that you can enjoy the thick mozuku seaweed from Kohama Island in the same way you would soba noodles. It is available in sizes from one serving to small (approximately 2 servings), medium (approximately 3 servings), and large (approximately 4-5 servings).
Chiho and her child leave work early, but she manages to run the business while raising her child. Apparently, many families come to the shop.

[Exterior / Interior]

  • "We also have a diaper changing station, so please feel free to use it," says Chiho. Her thoughtful considerations from a mother's perspective, as well as her hospitable service, contribute to the comfortable atmosphere.
  • A little Okinawa in Nishiarai. It's a small shop, so reservations are recommended.


【Shop information】
■ Okinawa Ishigaki Island Cuisine Izakaya Komachan

電話：03-5888-7974
Opening hours: 17:00-23:00 (16:00- on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays, last order for food 21:00, last order for drinks 22:30)
Closed days: Irregular (mostly Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
Seats: 15 seats
Address: 2-26-7 Nishiarai Sakaecho, Adachi-ku, Tokyo, Aoki-so 1F
Reservation: Enabled
Take-out: Impossible
Barrier-free support: None
Wi-Fi: None
Access: Approximately 10 minutes on foot from the west exit of Nishiarai Station on the Tobu Skytree Line.
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/komachan0801/

Okinawa Izakaya Gachimaya

The restaurant is run by the husband and wife team, Yoshiaki and Miyuki Agarie. Yoshiaki is from Iheya Island in Iheya Village, the northernmost point of Okinawa, and is a cheerful person who speaks about the island's charms with a smile, like a tourism ambassador. Miyuki is in charge of cooking. The menu features standard Okinawan dishes, and they say, "It's home cooking, so we don't do anything pretentious." For example, their goya champuru is made with simple ingredients and seasonings. Some customers say that the taste is "a nostalgic taste like what they used to eat at home." On the other hand, they also offer dishes that are home-style but with a little extra effort, such as "seaweed tempura is common, but spring rolls might be unusual."

Furthermore, they are particular about the salt, which is essential to the restaurant's flavor. They use rare sun-dried salt made on Noho Island in Iheya Village. Customers unanimously praise it, saying, "It's mellow, and its richness and umami are exceptional." With its exquisite salt, beautiful sea, and abundant natural blessings, listening to the local stories makes you feel as if you're being invited to an island you've never seen before.

[Snui tempura 800 yen, Mozuku spring rolls 750 yen]
The tempura made with sunui (seaweed) has a light and chewy texture. The seaweed in the spring rolls is seasoned, so you can enjoy it as is. You'll be amazed by the different texture compared to the tempura!

[Goya Champuru 880 yen, Orion draft beer 690 yen]
The only ingredients used are bitter melon, Okinawan tofu, pork luncheon meat, and eggs. This ultimate simplicity is what makes it taste like home cooking. There are also days when you can enjoy Orion draft beer at a discounted price (until 7 PM on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays).
Shop owner Mr. Higashie says, "There are many good things about the island, but I won't tell you about them all." The reason, he says, is that he wants people to actually go and see for themselves.

[Exterior / Interior]

  • In addition to counter and table seating, there are also raised seating areas. The restaurant is decorated with Bingata fabric, a traditional Okinawan dyeing technique, creating an Okinawan atmosphere.
  • "Gachimaya" is an Okinawan dialect word meaning "glutton."

【Shop information】

■ Okinawa Izakaya Gachimaya
電話：03-6841-6012
Opening hours: 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday) / 5:00 PM - 12:00 AM (Last order 11:00 PM), Public holidays 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM (Last order 10:00 PM)
Closed: Mondays
Seats: 30 seats
Address: ATLAS 1F, 2-24-5 Ayase, Adachi-ku
Reservation: Enabled
Take-out: Impossible
Barrier-free support: None
Wi-Fi: None
Access: Approximately 2 minutes on foot from the East Exit of Ayase Station on the JR Joban Line and Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line.
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/gachimaya3/

Okinawa Shoten Shimura

Upon opening the door, you'll be surprised by the spacious interior. The window seats facing the shopping street are cheerfully decorated with Okinawan themes. On the other hand, the counter seats offer a more relaxed atmosphere. As you venture further inside, you'll find semi-private rooms with sunken tables overlooking a miniature garden, and on the second floor, there are tatami rooms that can accommodate large banquets, showcasing the restaurant's diverse character. Its versatility, allowing you to spend your time as you please depending on your mood and the number of people in your party, is also a major draw.

The menu features everything from classic dishes to unique creations, all made with ingredients directly sourced from Okinawa. Emphasizing their connection to the local community, they even offer a dish featuring the flavors of a long-established tsukudani (simmered seafood) shop located in the same shopping district. Many customers also frequent the place specifically for their selection of over 30 brands of awamori (Okinawan distilled liquor). A wide variety of mixers are available, from water and soda to jasmine tea, turmeric tea, and coffee – choose your favorite! Open until 2 AM, it's perfect for your first or second stop of the night. It's fun just thinking about which atmosphere to choose to experience Okinawa tonight.

[Okinawa Soba (regular size) 1,100 yen, Pork and Egg Seaweed Roll 800 yen]
For a perfect ending to your meal, we recommend the Okinawa soba, which features rafute (braised pork belly) simmered until tender and caramelized. For a twist on the classic pork and egg dish, try the spicy jalapeño tsukudani (simmered seafood and vegetables) from the long-established tsukudani shop "Funaaki."
[Fu Chanpuru 830 yen, Agu Pork Shabu-Shabu Salad 880 yen]
This fu chanpuru is packed with ingredients like mushrooms and vegetables, and the fu (wheat gluten) soaked in plenty of broth is coated in egg for a fluffy texture. Enjoy the Agu pork and plenty of vegetables with sesame dressing.
The spacious tatami room on the second floor is available for banquets and private events.

[Exterior / Interior]]

  • The counter seats offer a lively atmosphere where you can enjoy conversations with the kitchen staff.
  • The shop is located along the Senju Honcho shopping street (the former Nikko Kaido road). There are also small rooms where you can relax while watching people go by.

【Shop information】

■Okinawa Store Shimura
電話：03-5244-0027
Opening hours: 17:00 - 2:00 the following day (Food last order 1:00 the following day, Drinks last order 1:30 the following day), Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays 12:00 - 24:00 (Food last order 23:00, Drinks last order 23:30)
Closed: Not fixed
Seats: 60 seats
Address: 1-29-2 Senju, Adachi-ku
Reservation: Enabled
Take-out: Impossible
Barrier-free support: None
Wi-Fi: Enabled
Access: 5 min. walk from Kita-Senju Station West Exit of JR Joban Line and others
HP:https://okinawashoten-shimura.com
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/shimura__desu/

(This information is current as of September 2, 2026.)

Recommended articles

Return