(Shoji Kudaka)
If you go to Chatan Seawall Area during lunchtime, you will see some eateries crowded with servicemembers in uniform. Among the many restaurants, Tropical Kitchen is a popular lunch spot for the base crowd on Okinawa.
Housed in a vibrant-yellow building, this to-go-only joint stands out even in an area with many colorful stores and restaurants.
I tried this place for the first time in November. I was in the mood for a quality meal for lunch during my office day on Camp Foster, so I made my way to get an ocean view from the sea wall.
My original plan was to go for a burrito or sandwich, but Tropical Kitchen’s yellow building and photos of Loco Moco and Garlic Shrimp exhibited outside were intriguing. Plus, looking at customers waiting outside to pick up their orders, I thought the food must really be worth the wait. With a snap decision, I headed to this joint.
I waited behind four customers and tried to choose from the delicious menu items. I was torn between the Loco Moco (1,000 yen for medium size or about $6.59) and Garlic Shrimp (1,350 yen for medium size) and at the last minute, chose the shrimp. I just wanted to enjoy some seafood with a beautiful ocean view while reflecting on my fun-filled summer. I coupled that with a Guava Juice (350 yen).
If you go to Tropical Kitchen for the first time, you should note that it is no fast-food chain store where your food will be served up quickly. You might need to wait 10 minutes or so, but it will be worth the wait!
With my fresh, fragrant garlic shrimp lunch box in hand, I took a few minutes’ walk to sit on the seawall. As soon as I opened the Styrofoam container, the garlicky smell of the fried shrimp tickled my appetite. With one bite, the flavor burst in my mouth. Although the shrimp were not big, their savory taste was concentrated into each addictive bite. I continued to chomp on the shrimp, forgetting the white rice and macaroni salad sides.
The last time I had garlic shrimp was at a restaurant in Motobu Peninsula on my way back from the beach. With the taste of garlic shrimp, memories of the summer came back to me. Somehow, however, Tropical Kitchen’s shrimp on the seawall seemed to grow on me and surpass the shrimp of the past.
If you, too, are looking for a taste of summer, make sure to visit Tropical Kitchen!
Tropical Kitchen
GPS Coordinates: 26.32760, 127.74682
Hours: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. (lunch), 5 – 8 p.m. (dinner)
