Location: on the 58 bypass in Ginowan, on the east side of the road, north of the Ginowan 100Y/Uniqlo plaza; parking beside the restaurant or in a lot behind the restaurantHours: 11:30-3p, 5:30-11p unsure which day closed, if any. English menu available
This is a large izakaya, and the interior is done up sort of like a traditional okinawan house - fake red tile roof, lots of wood and sliding panels. There is a bar, large tables, and open sit-on-floor area, and multiple private booths. We were immediately impressed by the price of beer and cocktails: Orion draft 270Y (only double the price of a can at Lawsons), sake starting at 810Y, awamori cocktails at 420Y.
The menu is expansive, and covers traditional Okinawan specialties and standard izakaya fare. We had the baked spareribs (1670Y) - a rack of about 12 ribs, tender and sweet, so tasty we ordered another round. We also tried the goya Caesar salad - a pleasant way to eat thin-sliced raw goya, but the dressing did not have the parmesean-lemon-anchovy-mustard zing that a Caesar dressing should. The kimchi tofu soup (approx 500Y) was subtle comfort food, quite nice with rice. The natto and tofu (approx 600Y) was surprisingly good - for the uninitiated, natto (fermented soybean) with its bits of bean connected by stringy mucous, is difficult to stomach. This was an easy way to eat it: piled up in a parfait-like presentation with tofu, minced onion, and other items, which together all tasted fresh and light. The 5-piece sashimi set (approx 1300Y) included 4 pieces each of octopus, parrotfish, salmon, tuna, and another white fish, accompanied by slivered daikon and two types of seaweed. The octopus was too tough but the rest was nice. There are lots of opportunities here to strike out and try something new. They have various pig bits, other tofu dishes, various maki, unusual cocktails (calpis with shikwasa and awamori), etc. The large space allows you to linger. And given the alcohol prices, you can actually drink without blowing through your wallet, so long as you have arranged a ride home.
