Photos by Shoji Kudaka ()
Located near Sunabe Seawall in Chatan Town, Tacos-ya is a small shop located on a backstreet. But what the taco joint lacks in size, it’s makes up in a generously-sized reputation that has made its way around the island.
With fans that include celebrities in Okinawa, Tacos-ya is decorated with autographs of musicians and athletes who have visited, and newspaper clippings that include those from Stars and Stripes.
One bite of a taco can explain the reason why many people come to this small joint.
They are a textbook example of crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The unique shells gently hold a good amount of lettuce, tomatoes and mixture of ground beef and pork. Each ingredient has a distinct texture and the mix tastes great. The spicy salsa that comes with the tacos only add to them and make it hard to resist taking bite after bite.
Eating at the Mexican-style house would make a perfect sense, but grabbing takeout for a five-minute walk to the Sunabe Seawall can make for a perfect lunch with the perfect view.
The next time you’re hungry and the weather is beautiful, grab some tacos and head to the seawall!
Tacos-ya Chatan
Address: 1-5 Miyagi, Chatan, Nakagami, Okinawa 904-0113 (5-min. walk from Sunabe Seawall. Across from San A Chatan Hamagawa store) Tel: 098-936-6866 Hours: 11:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. (Last Order at 8:30 p.m.) Price: Taco (200 yen); Taco-rice (620 yen) Note: Parking not available *take out only
