Originally, Miyako soba is characterized by having the toppings underneath the noodles!?
If you go to Miyako Island, you absolutely must try Miyako soba!

Here are some carefully selected restaurants serving delicious Miyako soba on Miyako Island and Okinawa Main Island.

Also, we'll answer those basic questions like, "What is Miyako soba?" and "How is it different from Okinawa soba?"
We've compiled helpful information for everyone who's interested in Miyako soba.

<Contents>
1. Four carefully selected Miyako soba restaurants in Miyako Island
1-1. The oldest Miyako soba noodle factory: Koja Soba Shop
1-2. This is it! Standard Miyako soba [Maruyoshi Shokudo]
1-3. Jinkuya: A shop operated by a noodle factory.
1-4. Yamato Shokudo: A popular restaurant that's hard to get into.

2. Other places where you can eat Miyako soba in Miyako Island
2-1. Miyako Airport
2-2. Izakaya (Japanese pub)

3. What is Miyakojima soba?
3-1. Differences between Miyako Soba, Okinawa Soba, Soki Soba, and Yaeyama Soba
3-2. How to enjoy Miyako soba

4. Selected Miyako Soba Restaurants on the Main Island

1. Four carefully selected Miyako soba restaurants in Miyako Island

1-1. The oldest Miyako soba noodle factory: Koja Soba Shop

Source: Koja Soba Restaurant

Koja Seimen was founded in 1932 (Showa 7). It is a noodle factory that boasts a history and tradition of over 80 years.
Koja Seimen opened Koja Soba-ya. It's pork bone-based, but has a clear, light flavor that appeals to everyone.

I recommend the soba set. It's a great deal at 800 yen, and it includes Miyako soba, Jushi rice, a small side dish, mozuku seaweed, pickles, and a drink!

[menu]
Miyako soba 580 yen
Soki Soba (pork rib noodle soup) 730 yen
・Juicy rice 130 yen

[Koja Soba Restaurant]
Address: 1517-1 Shimozato, Hirara, Miyakojima City, Okinawa Prefecture (10 minutes by car from Miyako Airport)
TEL：0980-72-8304
Hours: 11: 00 ~ 16: 00
Closed: Wednesday

1-2. This is it! Standard Miyako soba [Maruyoshi Shokudo]

Maruyoshi Shokudo adheres to the traditional Miyako soba style, where the toppings are hidden beneath the noodles.
The noodles are topped only with green onions, so you might be surprised at first glance!

The soup has a strong pork bone broth flavor and is garlicky.
The "brown sugar ice pops" served as dessert after the meal are also very popular.

[menu]
Miyako soba (large) 500 yen
Soki Soba (pork rib noodle soup) 900 yen

[Maruyoshi Restaurant]
Address: 975 Sunagawa, Gusukube, Miyakojima City, Okinawa Prefecture
TEL：0980-77-4211
Opening hours: 10:30 AM - 18:00 PM (until 20:00 PM during summer)
Closed holiday: irregular holiday

1-3. Jinkuya: A shop operated by a noodle factory.

Source: Jinkuya

This soba restaurant is run by a noodle factory called Hisamatsu Seimenjo. It's located next to the Shimosato Public Market and is frequented by many locals.
Miyako soba is delicious, of course, but yakisoba (fried noodles) made with Miyako soba is also popular.

Also, the fried rice set includes Miyako soba and fried rice for just 550 yen! It's highly recommended for those who prioritize volume.

[menu]
Miyako soba (small) 400 yen
Soki Soba (pork rib noodle soup) 750 yen

[Jinkuya]
Address: 84 Shimozato, Hirara, Miyakojima City, Okinawa Prefecture
TEL：0980-73-4017
Hours: 11: 00 ~ 15: 00
Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays

1-4. Yamato Shokudo: A popular restaurant that's hard to get into.

This is a long-established restaurant that has been in business for 34 years. Here too, the ingredients are hidden beneath the noodles, making it a traditional Miyako soba.
This restaurant is very popular for its mild, flavorful bonito broth. They also have curry powder available.

Another popular menu item, alongside Miyako soba, is vegetable soba (600 yen).
This dish is packed with meat and stir-fried vegetables, making it nutritious, delicious, and a great value.

[menu]
Miyako Soba: Small 450 yen, Large 550 yen
Soki Soba (pork rib noodle soup) 750 yen

[Yamato Shokudo]
Address: 819-3 Nishizato, Hirara, Miyakojima City, Okinawa Prefecture
TEL：0980-72-0718
Hours: 9: 30 ~ 19: 00
Closed: Tuesday

2. Other places where you can eat Miyako soba in Miyako Island

2-1. Miyako Airport

Source: Paipai no Mura

You can eat Miyako soba at a restaurant called "Paipai no Mura" located on the second floor of Miyako Airport.
What's more, the famous Okinawan hamburger chain "A&W" at Miyako Airport also has Miyako soba on its menu!

It's a convenient spot with Wi-Fi, so please check it out if you're interested!

2-2. Izakaya (Japanese pub)

For those who want to enjoy Miyako soba but also want to drink alcohol, don't worry!
Many izakayas (Japanese pubs) also have Miyako soba on their menus.

The light and refreshing Miyako soba is perfect as a finishing dish.
Miyako soba noodles are perfect for yakisoba (fried noodles), so some restaurants offer yakisoba dishes made with Miyako soba noodles.

3. What is Miyakojima soba?

3-1. Differences between Miyako Soba, Okinawa Soba, Soki Soba, and Yaeyama Soba

Many people may wonder, "There are so many different types of soba noodles, like Miyako soba, Okinawa soba, and Soki soba, but what exactly are the differences?"

Miyako soba

Source: Koja Soba Restaurant

While Okinawan soba is typically associated with curly noodles, Miyako soba is characterized by its thin, flat, non-curly noodles and light broth.
The toppings are the same as those for soba noodles on Okinawa Island: pork belly and fish cake.

However, in the past, a distinctive feature was that the toppings were hidden beneath the noodles, resulting in a bowl containing only broth and noodles, topped with chopped green onions.

The reasons given for this include preventing the toppings from drying out, and in the past, it was said that people tried to appear so poor that they couldn't even afford to put toppings on their food, in an attempt to deter their neighbors and tax collectors.
However, recently, it's often served on top of the noodles, just like in Okinawan soba, but some restaurants still serve it in the traditional style.

Okinawa soba

Okinawa soba is a representative dish of Okinawa.
In a broad sense, "Okinawa soba" might include Miyako soba and Soki soba, but here I will use it to mean soba that can be eaten on Okinawa Island.
Its distinguishing features are the thick, curly noodles and the soup, which is made with pork bone and bonito broth.

Soki Soba

Soki is an Okinawan dialect word meaning "pig's ribs."
Soki soba is characterized by having bone-in pork instead of pork belly. It is usually a little more expensive than Okinawa soba.

Yaeyama Ishigaki Soba

Soba noodles that can be eaten in Ishigaki Island.
It features thin, round, straight noodles, a slightly sweet broth, and is topped with thinly sliced ​​pork and fish cake.

3-2. How to enjoy Miyako soba

The three main seasonings for Miyako soba are as follows!
・ Curry powder
Snow salt
・Koregusu (Okinawan chili peppers pickled in awamori)

The most distinctive seasoning of Miyako soba, which is not found in other Okinawan soba dishes, is "curry powder."
You can often find them in old-fashioned shops.

Adding a little bit of this will give it a taste similar to curry udon!
Many people enjoy eating half of it plain and then adding curry powder to the other half to change the flavor.

Additionally, you might find "Yukishio" (snow salt), a popular souvenir that is uniquely associated with Miyako Island.
If you see it in a store, be sure to give it a try and find your favorite flavor!

4. Selected Miyako Soba Restaurants on the Main Island

どらえもん

The restaurant's name comes from the idea that Miyako soba, where the toppings pop out from the noodles, is like Doraemon's pocket!
"Doraemon," which serves traditional Miyako soba, is a long-established Miyako soba restaurant located on Kokusai Street.

[menu]
Miyako soba 550 yen
Soki Soba (pork rib noodle soup) 750 yen
Doraemon Soba: 850 yen

[Doraemon]
Address: 3-2-17 Kumoji, Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture
TEL：098-862-3525
Hours: 11: 00 ~ 23: 00
Closed: January 1st

Please make your hotel reservation here.

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