(Mozuku soba, photo by Shoji Kudaka)
You may have heard that it’s OK to slurp noodles in Japan. That is very well said and very true, and in Okinawa there are many soba noodle restaurants across the island for you to slurp to your heart’s content.
In the northern part of the land, Motobu Town is known for around 70 soba joints dotting local streets.
The mid-part of Okinawa has some famous soba joints near the U.S. military facilities, while the southern part, on the other hand, has many places, especially in and around Naha City. You can hop around from one soba place after another if you will.
So next time you run into a soba joint on a local street, stop in and slurp way like Okinawans.
Soba Joints in Motobu town
- Yambaru Soba A popular place, often crowded with tourists. GPS coordinates: N 26.650518, E 127.949460 Hours: 11 a.m.- till food sold out. (Closed Mon. and Tues.)
- Kishimoto Shokudo – Honten (main shop) A famous soba joint near Motobu Municipal Market GPS Coordinates: N 26.660328, E 127.895893 Hours: 11 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. or till food sold out (Closed Wed.)
- Kishimoto Shokudo - Mt. Yaedake A famous located near the mountain. GPS Coordinates: N 26.657104, E 127.911035 Hours:11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
- Sawanoya – Motobu A popular soba joint near Motobu Municipal Market. GPS Coordinates: N 26.660179, E 127.896308 Hours: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Closed Thur.)
- Kairo A local restaurant near the Expo Park. GPS Coordinates: N 26.685050, E 127.877898 Hours: 11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. (Closed Tues.)
Other noodle joints up north
- Gabusoka Shokudo Honten (main shop) A famous soba joint in Nago city. GPS Coordinates: N 26.62226, E 127.99973 Hours: 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. (Closed Mon. If a holiday falls on Mon., the non-business day shifts to Tue.)
- Yakasoba A restaurant in Ginoza village known for its various menu items. GPS Coordinates: N 26.50716, E127.99295 Hours: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- Ufuya A fancy soba restaurant housed in a traditional Okinawan residential building. GPS Coordinates: N 26.62100, E 127.96363 Hours: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Lunch, L.O. at 4:30 p.m.), 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. (dinner, L.O. at 9 p.m.)
Noodles near US military facilities
- Hamaya
Located near Sunabe Seawall in Chatan, this is popular among locals and tourists, alike. GPS Coordinates: N 26.32931, E 127.74431 Hours: Open 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (L.O. at 5 p.m.)
- Gabusoka Shokudo Koza This popular soba chain has a branch just a 10-minute walk from Kadena AB Gate 2. Their Okinawa soba broth is rich and tasty; GPS Coordinates: N 26.33572, E 127.79107 Hours: 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. (L.O. at 9 p.m.)
- Gen Restaurant Near Camp Foster Gate 4, Gen offers a variety of local favorites. GPS Coordinates: N 26.30520, E 127.77349 Hours: 11:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Joints in mid - island
- Daruma soba A popular soba joint, a 5-minute drive away from AEON MALL Okinawa Rycom GPS Coordinates: N 26.32238, E 127.78940 Hours: 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. (L.O. at 8:55 p.m.)
Soba down south and Naha
- Heiwaen soba A soba joint near the Peace Memorial Park. GPS Coordinates: N 26.098268, E 127.721910 Hours: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Ishigufuu A popular soba joint near Naha Airport. GPS Coordinates: N 26.17892, E 127.65643 Hours: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Closed on Mon. If a holiday falls on Monday, the non-business day shifts to Tue.)
