Okinawa soba is a representative local dish of Okinawa, loved by people of all ages, from children to the elderly.
There are many types of Okinawan soba, such as Soki Soba and Yushi Tofu Soba, but did you know that there is an Okinawan soba that is affectionately known as "100 Yen Soba" by the people of Okinawa?
100-yen soba noodles are mainly sold at bento shops and are a convenient snack for various occasions, such as being served as a substitute for miso soup with a bento box, as a lunch for children, or simply when you're feeling a little hungry. They are a stylish little addition that adds a bit of richness to the meals of Okinawan people.
This time, we'll introduce the charm of 100-yen soba, a dish beloved by the people of Okinawa, and recommend some great restaurants.

<Table of Contents>
●What is 100-yen soba? ~It's generally sold like this~
●My personal ranking of recommended 100-yen soba restaurants

Show all table of contents

●What is 100-yen soba? ~It's generally sold like this~

100-yen soba, as the name suggests, is a mini Okinawan soba that can be purchased for (approximately) 100 yen. In recent years, some shops have raised prices due to rising costs, but it is still quite affordable at around 120-130 yen!

Okinawa has many cheap and delicious bento shops, and most of them sell 100-yen soba noodles. Originally, the 100-yen soba started as a service, but now it's so popular that some people come just to buy the 100-yen soba.

While it varies slightly from shop to shop, generally, soba noodles and a few toppings are served in a white styrofoam container, and you either pour the broth yourself or a staff member pours it for you.

The main ingredients are egg rolls and green onions, but some bento shops may also include sausages or meat. The soba broth can be light or rich, and the noodles can range from straight to curly, depending on the shop.

In self-service restaurants, a 100-yen soba corner is set up in a corner of the store like this. You set the noodles yourself from there and pour in the soba broth.

The soba broth is sometimes served in a jar like those found at buffets, and sometimes in a pot with a tap.

Finally, add your favorite toppings such as tempura scraps, pickled ginger, and green onions, and your 100-yen soba is complete.

While takeout is the norm for bento shops, some stores like this one have eat-in spaces. It's nice to be able to eat freshly made food right away.

Incidentally, 100-yen soba noodles aren't just sold at bento shops; they're sometimes available at supermarkets as well. If you want to enjoy some quick and easy 100-yen soba, check out the refrigerated section of your local supermarket.

●My personal ranking of recommended 100-yen soba restaurants

Even though they're all called 100-yen soba, the quality actually varies greatly depending on the bento shop. Each shop puts in its own effort, from how they prepare the broth and the type of noodles they use to the toppings they offer. If you're thinking of trying 100-yen soba, you might be wondering which shop to choose, as there are so many in the prefecture. So, for those people, I'd like to introduce three 100-yen soba shops that I personally think are definitely reliable.

Parlor Donchan

For those of you who are experienced in Okinawa, I highly recommend Donchan in Okinawa City! It's a bento shop located very close to Okinawa Misato Technical High School, and it's so famous that virtually every Okinawa resident knows about it. Every day, it's visited by a wide range of customers, from students to men in work clothes.

This amount costs only about 700 yen! It's surprisingly cheap. And it's delicious. In addition to 100-yen soba noodles and bento boxes, they also have easy-to-eat menu items such as pork and egg onigiri, one of Okinawa's representative gourmet dishes, and spicy chicken that's addictive.

The 100-yen soba noodles are ordered at the counter and received immediately. The toppings are generous, including egg omelet, sausage, and green onions! The broth is light, making it delicious even on a hot summer day.

The shop has a parking lot and an eat-in area next to it, which is a nice feature as you can enjoy freshly made soba noodles right there.

Parlor Donchan

Address

5-41-5 Awase, Okinawa City, Okinawa Prefecture

Opening hours

8:30 AM - 19:30 PM, Closed on Sundays

Uema Okinawa Tempura Restaurant

For those looking for a restaurant that's easily accessible for tourists, we recommend Uema Okinawa Tempura Shop! While specializing in Okinawan tempura, a local delicacy essential to Okinawan events, they also sell Okinawan soba and bento boxes. They have eight locations throughout Okinawa Prefecture, and the Misato branch we visited has both table seating and tatami mat seating, making it a great place to enjoy a meal even with children.

The soba comes in three sizes: small, medium, and large. You can also choose Okinawan soba topped with pork ribs. This time, I bought the smallest size soba for 100 yen and two tempura items (seaweed and fish). The soba is prepared in the kitchen when you order it from the staff.

The soba broth is light and refreshing, with only green onions as a topping. This simple, unpretentious flavor really brings out the deliciousness of the tempura. There are also a wide variety of tempura, 30 to 40 different kinds! It's fun to choose your favorites and top your soba with them.

Uema Okinawa Tempura Restaurant, Misato Branch

Address

3-19-8 Mihara, Okinawa City, Okinawa Prefecture

Opening hours

6:00 ~ 18:00

Remarks

Opening hours and closing days vary by store.

Miyagi Supermarket

When it comes to bento shops in Naha, Miyagi Super is the place to go! Despite the name "super," it's a long-established bento shop with a wide variety of side dishes, including bento boxes, rice balls, tempura, and Okinawan soba.

This popular restaurant, known for its generous portions and affordable prices, underwent a renovation on July 10, 2023, making it even better! Customers visit continuously from opening to closing time.

Miyagi Super's soba noodles cost 120 yen, but they offer a high degree of customization, and you can even choose from two types of broth! In addition to the bonito and pork bone broth base that was available before the renewal, a new bonito and soy sauce base has been added. You can also choose between curly noodles and straight noodles, and there are plenty of toppings, so you can create soba noodles that are exactly to your liking.

This time I chose the "bonito soy sauce base + curly noodles." The strong bonito flavor and robust broth, combined with the pickled ginger, is simply irresistible! There's also a small eat-in space next to the shop.

Miyagi Supermarket

Address

192-1 Uema, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture

Opening hours

6:00 AM - 18:00 PM, Closed on Sundays

Final thoughts

100-yen soba noodles are a deeply ingrained part of Okinawan food culture.
While the classic tourist spots are great, if you want to experience a deeper side of Okinawa, why not try the 100-yen soba noodles at the bento shop we introduced? You're sure to discover a different side of Okinawa.