Food and Shopping in Chatan, Okinawa: What to Eat, Where, and What to Buy

Search for food in Chatan and you will find that this is not a classic Japanese restaurant district. Chatan lies on the west coast of central Okinawa, close to the American military bases, and its food culture is a blend of Okinawan cooking and American-style eating such as steak, burgers and taco rice, a dish that grew out of exactly that mix. This guide therefore focuses on dish types and areas that last, rather than restaurant names that change quickly.

Local dishes worth knowing

Okinawa soba is wheat noodles in a pork or bonito broth, not buckwheat. It is often served with soki or rafute, tender stewed pork. Goya champuru is bitter melon stir-fried with tofu, egg and either luncheon meat or pork. Taco rice is seasoned minced beef over rice with lettuce, cheese and salsa. One more item many visitors skip is umibudo, or sea grapes, tiny round seaweed beads eaten with a tangy dipping sauce.

Where to eat

The largest cluster of restaurants is at Mihama Town Resort American Village, which has everything from casual sit-downs to evening bars, plus the nearby Depot Island. These places keep going into the evening, so they suit dinner. To the south, around Chatan harbour and Araha Beach, there are cafe-style and seafood places with a calmer feel that work well for lunch. If you are staying nearby, walk the inner streets, where small local places sit away from the waterfront.

Dish and restaurant types to try

• A local Okinawa soba shop, usually small and often with a lunch set
• An Okinawa-style steak house, served with soup and salad in American fashion
• A taco rice spot, in both the original and adapted versions
• An izakaya serving Okinawan dishes with Orion beer or awamori

Orion beer is Okinawa's well-known local beer, and awamori is the distilled rice spirit unique to these islands. If you do not drink alcohol, try sanpin tea or local fruit juices instead.

Cafes and desserts

There are several desserts to try. Sata andagi is a round Okinawan fried doughnut. American-style ice cream and shaved ice are easy to find in the warm, humid climate. Beni-imo is the purple sweet potato used in many sweets. Seaside cafes at Araha and the Sunabe seawall area offer seats with sunset views, which suit the late afternoon.

Shopping and souvenirs

Okinawan souvenirs you can buy here include chinsuko, a traditional shortbread-style cookie, beni-imo tarts, kokuto black sugar and local salt. In Chatan there are shops inside American Village, and a large mall, AEON Mall Okinawa Rycom, in nearby Kitanakagusuku, reachable by car or taxi. Discount stores, drugstores and supermarkets have souvenirs at lower cost. If you want a true outlet mall, you need to head south near Naha Airport.

Hemat

Spending per meal varies widely depending on whether you eat soba at a local shop, shop at a supermarket or have steak at a place in American Village. Prices change by restaurant and season, so check the menu at the door or on Google Maps. To save money, go for lunch sets, which are often cheaper than dinner at the same place, and buy sweets at supermarkets.

Halal and vegetarian, if you need them

Chatan is not an area with obvious halal restaurants, and a great deal of Okinawan cooking uses pork or bonito stock. If you eat halal or vegetarian food, ask before ordering, use a translation app, and look for places that list vegetarian dishes on the map. Some Indian restaurants and burger shops offer a wider range, but their status changes, so check again before you go.

Finding a place, reading a translated menu and checking opening times all go more smoothly with data. An eSIM lets you use maps and menu translation straight away without hunting for wifi.

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