Location: Urasoe, just off the 58. If heading south on the 58, turn left at the street between the Nissan/MiniCooper dealership and the Jumbo and Sunshine pachinko parlors. Pass the parking area for the Jumbo pachinko, and another weird pachinko building, and take the first real right up the hill on a narrow street. This T-intersects with another road and just at the T is Cafe Soluna. There are signs out front. Drive into the compound and park - there is space for four or five cars.
Hours: 12-3p lunch, open for coffee/tea until 11p. English menu. Closed Thursday. http://www.cafe-y-te-soluna.com/; 098.879.6495
This is a little converted cottage, whitewashed and adorned with cacti and succulents in brown pots and Central American decorations. The owner speaks English very well, and probably Spanish too though we didn't test that theory. There is a selection of books to browse, some with Central American themes.
The lunch menu has three options: chicken, fish, and curry. Lunch comes with soup of the day, a little salad, and drink of your choice (880Y). For 1220Y total, you can add homemade dessert to the set. Per the menu, the meals change each week. During our visit the soup was a yummy smokey split pea. The mains came with a very tasty rice-millet-barley pilaf topped with toasted sesame seeds. The fish dish was poached mackerel with an herb and wine broth and veggies. The curry was a chickpea, meat, and tomato with plenty of fennel and coriander. The choice of drinks is hot/cold coffee/tea, or fresh orange juice, or milky chai. We had the chai, which the owner wisely leaves unsweetened and allows you to add sugar to taste. The chai is served in pretty blue and white ceramic mugs, placed on wooden tiles.
The owner does not attempt Central American cuisine (which would be nearly impossible to produce given the lack of access to basics like masa, chiles, tomatillo, queso fresco, etc) and instead does simple, affordable, fresh, and delightful cafe meals.
