(Photo by Shoji Kudaka)
Before 2020, Captain Kangaroo near Tapic Stadium Nago was known for its hearty burgers. Now, this burger joint has become a spot to grab Okinawa’s signature dish, taco rice.
If you love Captain Kangaroo’s burgers, don’t worry! You can still try their Sparky burger, Mexican taco burger and more at their new location in Motobu-cho. These two restaurants belong to the same chain and also have branches in Osaka and Ishinomaki.
I stopped by the colorful beach house-looking restaurant in Nago for a taco rice lunch. Their vast menu included some familiar names. But instead of burgers, they were for taco rice plates. It was a difficult choice to choose between the Special Cheese Taco Rice, the Teriyaki Chicken Rice, and others, but in the end, I went with the Spicy Chicken Rice for 900 yen (about $6) and a Cola Zero for 300 yen.
While I waited, I enjoyed the colorful interior, which reminded me of the burgers I had had at their branch in Motobu-cho.
When the food arrived, I was amazed at the generous presentation. Chunks of fried chicken were piled high on white rice and topped with a red sauce, so it looked more like a volcano than taco rice. As soon as I dug in, the flavors caught me off guard. First, I got the spicy kick I was expecting, but then a sweetness set in to ease the heat. The chicken itself was fried to perfection and still tender. I was hooked and finished every morsel of this delicious meal.
According to the manager, Toru “Max William” Shoji, the Spicy Chicken Rice flavor is achieved with sweet chili sauce. Shoji also said that the Special Cheese Taco Rice is the most popular menu item, and the Teriyaki Chicken Rice is the popular choice among American customers.
The beef-based taco rice at Captain Kangaroo is different than anywhere else thanks to its use of coarser ground beef, the manager added.
I was too full from my filling Spicy Chicken Rice lunch for any other taste tests, but I will definitely be returning to try other taco rice dishes at Captain Kangaroo.
Things to know
GPS Coordinates: 26.59528, 127.95816
Hours: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. (last order)
*Closed on Wed.
*Parking space available by the joint.
