(Photo by Ichiro Katayanagi/Stripes Okinawa)
If you are in the mood to take out something garlicky, I highly recommend a rotisserie chicken at Bueno Chicken Futenma, a 10-minute walk from Hospital Gate on Camp Foster. Its chicken is one of the most popular Okinawa soul foods, and the shop is a household name in Okinawa.
In 1975, an Okinawan couple opened the restaurant. They learned how to make a rotisserie chicken from a shop while living in Argentina. The name of the restaurant, Bueno Chicken, was named for Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. Also, “bueno” in Spanish means “good.”
The long-established restaurant is loved by not only local people for special occasions but also tourists.
Nearby in Urasoe City, is another Bueno Chicken, but it was opened by an ex-employee of the Futenma shop. The restaurants are independent and the brand is not a chain. However, that hasn’t’ stopped tourists from trying both to compare the differences!
The reason for its popularity is simple: The chicken is delicious! According to Bueno Chicken Futenma’s website, they have three secrets for why their chicken is incredible. First, they marinate their chicken overnight in a special marinade made with garlic and other herbs. Second, they only use young raw chicken from Okinawa, so it’s tender and delectable. Third, the slow rotisserie cooking process ensures the excess fat dissolves and leaves a soft, moist chicken.
(Photo by Ichiro Katayanagi/Stripes Okinawa)
Like other tourists, Bueno Chicken was on my list to visit during my recent trip to Okinawa. I was shocked to find the shop had sold out of rotisserie chickens on my first attempt one evening. Their regular business hours are until 6 p.m. or earlier if they sell out before then. Dang it! I made up my mind to visit there again the next morning.
I returned at 11 a.m. and was fortunate to get my hands on half a chicken. The shop staff said they usually sell out by 5 p.m., so the earlier visit, the better. The menu is very simple, they offer a whole rotisserie chicken, half chicken and an empanada (chicken pie).
Also, the restaurant does not have parking, so customers mostly do take out. Dining in is possible, but the store only has two tables that seat up to four people each.
Two chicken rotating machines. (Photo by Ichiro Katayanagi/Stripes Okinawa)
Opening the takeout box at the hotel, I smelled good garlic and herbs. My order came with six pieces of rotisserie chicken. I warmed it up in the microwave then dug in. Each bite was tender, juicy and the smell of garlic and spices stimulated my appetite. The chicken was not oily, so it was easy to indulge. I wanted to eat it with bread or rice on the side, but I was satisfied with the chicken alone. No carbs needed!
(Photo by Ichiro Katayanagi/Stripes Okinawa)
One important thing is that they do not offer either a fork or chopsticks, so you need to prepare either one in advance if you do not have them with you. Otherwise, you may result in eating it with amenity toothbrushes like I did.
Besides that minor detail, it was a delightful meal and afterward I understood why something so delicious would sell out daily. Don’t miss out on the flavorful rotisserie chicken in Okinawa!
Bueno Chicken Futenma
