Hi there! I'm Sato, a middle-aged photographer living in Naha City.
Time flies, and this is the third installment of the series. I wonder if you've started to remember it by now?

The island I explored this time was Urasoe City, located a little north of Naha.
The setting is the "Minatogawa Foreigners' Housing District," a row of white, single-story houses that suddenly appear as you walk through a quiet residential area.

It's renowned as one of the most fashionable spots, and many of you may already know about it, but it's also one of my favorite towns.
The area is packed with unique雑貨 shops and cafes, making it an exciting place to visit anytime!

I had some free time on a day off, so I went here for lunch for the first time in a while. Here's a report on my experience.
After enjoying Okinawan soba with its clear, amber-colored broth, I indulged in a full course meal at a newly opened canelé shop.

<Contents>
1. Enjoy traditional Okinawan soba in a trendy spot.
2. Dessert - Canelés from the enchanting new star "Houkiboshi"
3. Conclusion

1. Enjoy traditional Okinawan soba in a trendy spot.

Shinzan Shokudo, founded in 12 in Nago, northern Okinawa, is one of the oldest and most established Okinawan soba restaurants.
This is their second store, which opened in December 2014.

Okinawa soba is a soul food where the broth, noodles, and pork ribs really reflect the unique character of each restaurant.
I am a self-proclaimed Okinawa soba fanatic who spends my free time visiting Okinawa soba restaurants all over the prefecture.

I'm really looking forward to trying the traditional flavors of Shinzan Shokudo, a restaurant that has been passed down for 95 years. Let's go inside.

Upon entering, I immediately spotted a ticket vending machine on my left.

The menu includes a variety of dishes, from soki soba and sanmai niku soba to tofu champuru, but this time I ordered the soba set meal (900 yen).
Let's look around the restaurant while we wait for our meal.

The restaurant has both table seating and counter seating, so even women dining alone can feel comfortable going in.

Further inside, there is a Japanese-style room where you can stretch your tired legs.

From quiet rooms that feel like private spaces to more private ones.

The interior is so charming that you forget you're in an Okinawan soba restaurant.
While we were waiting, it seemed the Okinawan soba was ready.

You can choose between two types of noodles: flat noodles and thick noodles. This time, I went with the flat noodles as recommended by the staff.

This soba set meal comes with the juicy rice shown in the picture and sashimi.

First, take a sip of the soup.
The flat noodles, topped with knotted kelp and fried tofu, are served in a soup made from a blend of pork and chicken from Yanbaru, with bonito flakes, resulting in a truly amber color.

It's clear and light, yet full of flavor. The meat, which has been carefully simmered, is so tender that even the bones are soft.

Next up, Juicy.
The firm, rich, and juicy broth, which allows you to really appreciate the grainy texture of the rice, pairs perfectly with the soba noodles!

Finally, sashimi.
Actually, the waters off Okinawa are one of the leading fishing grounds for tuna, and the amount of tuna landed there is among the highest in the country.

...which means you can enjoy the freshest tuna in Japan in Okinawa.
This was also very fresh and delicious.

All in all, it was a very satisfying soba set meal.

【store information】 Niiyama Shokudo Minatogawa branch Address: 2-12-5 Minatogawa, Urasoe City, Okinawa Prefecture 901-2134 Hours: 11: 00 ~ 18: 00 Regular closing day: Every Wednesday Parking: 9 car home page:http://shinzanshokudo.com/

2. Dessert - Canelés from the enchanting new star "Houkiboshi"

After filling our stomachs, the perfect way to finish off the meal is with dessert!
So, I headed straight to "Houkiboshi," a brown sugar canelé specialty shop in the foreign residential area.

Canelés are a traditional French pastry. They are characterized by their crispy, golden-brown exterior and soft, moist interior.
"Houkiboshi" opened in April 2018 as the first brown sugar canelé specialty shop in Okinawa.

This is what it's like inside the store.

There are a total of eight types of canelés.
Plain, Star x Banana, Pineapple, Okinawa Coffee, Okinawa Milk, Dragon Fruit & Shikuwasa, Ogimi Village Green Tea, Awamori (Aged)A distinctive feature of "Houkiboshi" canelés is that all varieties use ingredients unique to Okinawa.

I actually tried all eight varieties and chose my top three recommendations!

Third place: Okinawa MilkThis canelé is even plainer than the plain one.
If you're unsure which one to buy, start with this one.
This is a standard canelé that pairs well with any drink.

2nd Place: Okinawa CoffeeCanelés made with coffee beans from "Okinawa Cerrado Coffee," a popular cafe in a residential area for foreigners.
It's like a mix of the fragrant aroma of coffee beans and the flavor of a cafe latte.

1st Place: Awamori (Aged Awamori)The undisputed number one is this one. As a member of the middle-aged group, I simply couldn't leave this out.

It has a faint aroma of alcohol, and pairs perfectly with coffee!
The alcohol has been evaporated, so you won't get drunk even if you eat 10 at once (lol).

The prices are 580 yen (excluding tax) for a pack of 4, 870 yen (excluding tax) for a pack of 6, and 1,160 yen (excluding tax) for a pack of 8.It was written in small letters on the lid of the box.
"May happiness come to you."

There was also free lemonade available inside the store.There is no eat-in space inside the shop, but you can enjoy your meal on the benches outside.

If you have a rental car, it would be lovely to drive to the nearby Tropical Beach and enjoy your meal while overlooking the ocean. (Tropical Beach is about a 15-minute drive away.)

【store information】 Comet Address: 2-12-5 Minatogawa, Urasoe City, Okinawa Prefecture 901-2134 Business hours: 11:30-18:30 (ends when sold out) Regular closing days: None Parking: 1 car home page:http://houkiboshi.jp/

3. Conclusion

What I noticed after visiting both shops is that both places are thoroughly pursuing the essence of Okinawa.

"Shinyama Shokudo" has steadfastly maintained its traditions since its founding in 12.
"Houkiboshi" uses Okinawan ingredients in innovative ways.

Despite the differences, both convey a deep love for Okinawa.
I felt that each and every one of these thoughts and acts of love are what are creating the vitality that Okinawa has today.

So, where should we go next?

Author: EIICHI

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