Yummy Indian curry at Cafe The Palm, Nanjo, OKinawa

Cafe The Palm (Photo by Shoji Kudaka)

As I was on my way back home, I stumbled upon Café The Palm, a new establishment on a hill overlooking the southern coast.

This hidden gem in a brown cottage is nestled in the lush greenery. Inside, it felt more like a resort villa in a tropical location thanks to the view of the forest through the large windows.

Café The Palm’s menu ranges from Indian dishes to Western dishes. But, after learning that the café’s chef, Kathait Jagbir Hukamushign, worked in a five-star hotel in India, I decided to try the butter chicken curry from the eight options available on the menu.

Café the PALM (Photo by Shoji Kudaka)

The meal set (1,800 yen) included soup and salad, which I enjoyed. For a drink that came with the set, I chose lassi. The soup had a taste of chicken broth as its base, but it was also mixed with vegetable flavors and spiciness. The savory taste of the soup was intriguing. It took me just a few minutes to finish it.

When my order was brought to the table, I was instantly hooked by the aroma of the curry sauce and naan. As I chose level 1 for spiciness, the sauce didn’t burn my tongue. Still, its savory taste felt great. The naan was humongous, so I was not sure if I could finish it myself. But once I took a bite, I realized that the fresh-out-of-oven dough was hard to resist. It took me just about five minutes to eat it all. I can say for sure that the butter chicken curry was one of best I have had in my life. Enjoying the authentic and delicious curry while taking in the beautiful view of the Okinawan forest made my day.

After my hearty meal, I took a walk in the forest adjacent to the café. This area is considered a place of worship, so the trails and footpaths were well-maintained and provided a nice place to walk off my full stomach and relax a little before heading home.