After finishing work in central Naha, I decided to eat something distinctly Okinawan in the area. Following a local friend’s recommendation, I visited Mikado, an Okinawan cuisine restaurant, for lunch.
Despite being located in central Naha, this is a precious spot where you can enjoy delicious, homestyle Okinawan cooking.
My hometown of Nagasaki is famous for Chanpon, but I was shocked to discover that Okinawa serves a completely different dish with the same name…!
Mikado – An Authentic Okinawan Dining Spot in Central Naha
Here’s the exterior. The character of the font is wonderful.
Quite an impactful sign. But that’s what makes it great.
Remarkably, this restaurant operates 24 hours a day.
I wish we had one near me…
Inside, Okinawan mothers prepare the food for guests.
Mysterious artwork on the wall.
The menu features both standard items and distinctly Okinawan dishes like champuru.
Distinctly Okinawan Cuisine Different from Mainland Japan
When I first came, I ordered katsudon (breaded pork cutlet over rice).
You might wonder why ordering katsudon in Okinawa, but it’s slightly different from regular (or as Okinawans call it, “mainland”) katsudon.
As you can see, it’s loaded with cabbage and carrots.
According to the restaurant’s explanation, the Okinawan mama here adds plenty of vegetables for nutritional balance. Delicious!
The side dish is mozuku (sea grape). Very Okinawan.
There was another menu item I was curious about, so I decided to return the next day.
That item was Okinawan Chanpon.
Chanpon is famous as a specialty dish from my hometown of Nagasaki.
I wondered what Okinawan chanpon would be like…
This is Okinawan chanpon!
Clearly a completely different dish. This is a rice bowl dish…
It’s a dish with vegetables and corned beef mixed with egg over rice.
Okinawan “chanpon” is an entirely different dish!
Want Authentic Okinawan Food in Central Naha? Mikado Comes Highly Recommended!
I’ve grown quite fond of Mikado and now visit whenever I have business in Naha’s central area.
Enjoying authentic Okinawan food in an unpretentious dining spot like this is truly a wonderful experience.
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