Savor the best of Kumejima's local specialties! A carefully selected guide to gourmet restaurants featuring local ingredients such as kuruma prawns and Kumejima red chicken

Kumejima, an outlying island of Okinawa, boasts Hatenohama Beach, said to be the most beautiful beach in the Orient. This island is a must-visit, and what makes sightseeing even more enjoyable is the exquisite local cuisine that utilizes the bounty of the region. Why not savor the relaxed pace of island life while enjoying a special dish that can only be tasted here, featuring Kumejima-produced kuruma prawns, the brand-name Kumejima Akadori chicken, and even deep-sea water ?

<Table of Contents>
・Seafood Restaurant Kamekichi
・wave path
・Kumejima Cafe
・Yukui-dokoro Waraijima
・Yang gwa~

Show all table of contents

Seafood Restaurant Kamekichi

An overwhelming variety. An Okinawan restaurant where you can enjoy Kumejima's unique cuisine.
"Kamekichi Seafood Restaurant" is an Okinawan restaurant located near Eef Beach in Kumejima, boasting a convenient location for tourists and a casual atmosphere perfect for lunch or dinner. Their signature dish, "Zaru Mozuku," features the firm texture and refreshing taste of natural mozuku seaweed, further enhanced by their special sauce.
The fried chicken, made with the premium "Kumejima Akadori" chicken, boasts a unique texture and juicy flavor thanks to being raised for over 100 days. For the perfect ending to your meal, we recommend the sushi, featuring fresh, generously sized toppings, or the sweet potato taiyaki, with its simple yet delicious taste. With its wide variety of dishes, this renowned restaurant allows you to fully enjoy the gourmet delights unique to Kumejima.

Seafood Restaurant Kamekichi

Address: 160-39 Higa, Kumejima-cho, Shimajiri-gun, Okinawa Prefecture

TEL: 098-985-8703

HP: https://www.instagram.com/kumejima_kameyoshi/

Business hours: 11:30 AM - 14:00 PM / 17:00 PM - 22:00 PM (Last order 30 minutes before closing) Closed on Tuesdays

wave path

The platter is incredible! A popular restaurant where you can enjoy fresh prawns and Okinawan cuisine.
Namiji is a popular restaurant where you can enjoy dishes that make full use of local ingredients. A particularly recommended dish is the "kuruma shrimp sashimi," a specialty of Kumejima. Okinawa Prefecture boasts the largest kuruma shrimp farming in Japan, and Kumejima is one of the top producing areas. During the shipping season from December to March, you can enjoy the freshness, plump texture and rich sweetness of the shrimp, so be sure to try it. Also, their Okinawan staple, "goya champuru," boasts an exquisite flavor with island tofu and pork luncheon meat blended together perfectly.
Furthermore, don't miss the excellent value platter menus. The "Sashimi Platter" and "Okinawan Tempura Platter" use plenty of ingredients typical of Kumejima and are very generous in portion size. For the finale, we highly recommend the "Mozuku Rice Porridge." The gentle broth is infused with the aroma of the sea, making it a comforting dish for both your stomach and your soul. Even with drinks and alcohol, it's reasonably priced at around 3,000 yen per person, making it a must-visit restaurant during your stay in Kumejima.

wave path

Address: 548-32 Jana-do, Kumejima-cho, Shimajiri-gun, Okinawa Prefecture

TEL: 098-985-7046

HP: https://www.instagram.com/kumejima.namiji/

Business hours: 11:00 AM - 14:00 PM, 17:00 PM - 22:00 PM (Last order 30 minutes before closing) Closed Wednesdays and Sundays

Kumejima Cafe

A cafe themed around deep-sea water, featuring kuruma prawns and local ingredients.
Kumejimaru Café, which reopened in 2021, is themed around deep-sea water, a specialty product of Kumejima Island. The café features a deep-sea water tap and display panels, allowing customers to enjoy the properties of the mineral-rich water with all their senses. Notable menu items include dishes that make use of local ingredients, such as the "Prawn Cutlet Curry" and "Prawn Cutlet Burger" made with prawns from Kumejima Island.
Furthermore, the area offers a wide variety of Kumejima-specific sweets and souvenirs, such as the "Hateno Blue Soda Float," inspired by Hatenohama Beach, and the original "Popcorn 612," made with Kumejima salt and purple sweet potato. It's a recommended tourist spot where you can enjoy the unique charm of Kumejima along with its food.

Kumejima Cafe

Address: 500-7 Maja, Kumejima-cho, Shimajiri-gun, Okinawa Prefecture

TEL: 098-987-1108

HP: https://www.kumejimarl.com/cafe

Business hours: 10:30 AM - 16:00 PM, Closed on Wednesdays

Yukui-dokoro Waraijima

A famous restaurant where you can enjoy rich Okinawan soba noodles made with kuruma prawns.

"Yukui-dokoro Washima" is a renowned Okinawan soba restaurant where you can enjoy a luxurious bowl of soba made with locally sourced kuruma shrimp. The particularly popular "Yawaraka Kuruma Shrimp Soba" is a dish where you can enjoy kuruma shrimp, shell and all, that have just molted. The concentrated umami of the shrimp is perfectly matched with the flavor of local seasoning, Kumejima miso.
Furthermore, the addition of crisp Soukei bean sprouts and noodles made with deep-sea water allows you to savor the unique flavors of Kumejima in one bowl. The restaurant has a relaxed atmosphere, and the peaceful island scenery visible from the windows is another attractive feature. It's also easily accessible, about a 10-minute drive from Kumejima Airport, so why not stop by during your sightseeing?

Yukui-dokoro Waraijima

Address: 1372-1 Nishime, Kumejima-cho, Shimajiri-gun, Okinawa Prefecture

TEL: 090-3790-4518

HP: https://www.instagram.com/washima.kumejima/

Business hours: 11:00 AM - 16:00 PM *Reservations required from 18:00 PM to 23:00 PM. Closed on Thursdays.

Remarks: Please check our Instagram beforehand, as we may be closed on some days.

Yang gwa~

Enjoy Okinawan soba in a traditional tiled-roof house, where Kumejima's traditions and flavors blend seamlessly.
"Yan-ko," which boasts a reputation as the best Okinawan soba on Kumejima Island, is a charming restaurant housed in a traditional house with a tiled roof and a garden that blooms beautifully in every season. Its specialty is "Island Miso Bean Sprout Soba." The soup is made with broth from Kumejima red chicken and Okinawan pork bones, combined with Kumejima miso and Tamanaha miso, and is perfectly complemented by noodles made with Kumejima's deep-sea water and locally grown Sokei bean sprouts.
In particular, the "Spicy Miso Bean Sprout Noodles" are an exceptional dish, with the fragrant aroma and spiciness of the special chili oil perfectly matching the rich miso. The soup, which is made milder by adjusting the salty miso with soy milk, has an addictive flavor. The warm hospitality of the owner and staff is also a major draw, making this a renowned restaurant where you can fully enjoy the tranquil atmosphere unique to the island.

*Please note that the store will be temporarily closed for an extended period starting March 18, 2025. From April 2025 onwards, the store will be operating on a limited-time basis as follows.
① Summer vacation period, ② Winter vacation period, ③ Spring vacation period, ④ Golden Week
Please check our official Instagram for more details.

Yan-chan

Address: 509 Nakadomari, Kumejima-cho, Shimajiri-gun, Okinawa Prefecture

TEL: 080-3226-3130

HP: https://www.instagram.com/soba.dokoro.yngwa/

Business hours: 11:30 AM - 13:30 PM, Closed on Sundays

Remarks: Please call in advance to confirm, as there may be temporary closures.

Final thoughts

So, what did you think? Kumejima is full of fascinating restaurants and delicious food that you can't possibly see in just one day. We highly recommend staying for several days to fully enjoy the island's flavors and charm.

Yuhei Tonosho, a cyclist and photographer who delves deep into Japan

Born in 1993 in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. Graduated from Doshisha University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Cultural History and Department of English Literature. While working as a salaryman, he is a travel writer who travels all over Japan by bicycle and mountain climbing. He captures and shares the changing seasons of Japan with all his senses.