About 56 minutes by car from Naha Airport. This taco specialty restaurant is located in Kincho, on the Sea of Japan side of the central Okinawa main island. The taste of the original Okinawa taco store is still loved by residents of the prefecture and tourists alike, even after more than 30 years.
Point 1: What is the location and history of “King Taco Kanabu Honten”?
King Taco Kanatake Honten” is located in Kanatake-cho, in the central part of the main island of Okinawa, where 60% of the land is occupied by the U.S. military.
Although Kanemu-cho is located on the Pacific Ocean side of the main island of Okinawa, it is a very convenient location because the Okinawa Expressway runs through the town and it takes less than an hour to get there from Naha Airport.
Nevertheless, since it is located on the Pacific Ocean side of the island with an image of few tourist attractions like Chatan and Onna Village on the west coast, many people have been to the Futenma branch (as well as Yokatsu, Ageina, Ginowan Nagata, Futenma, Kitanaka, and Misato branches in Uruma City), but this is their first time at the main branch.
The U.S. military base of “Camp Hansen” is located inland, and “White Beach” and “Red Beach” along the coast are also occupied by the U.S. military, so it is no wonder that an authentic taco store was established early on, as the traffic of U.S. military personnel is heavy.
King Taco Kanatake is run by the family that founded Parlor Senri (closed in 2015), the original taco store founded in 1984.
The original taco rice menu of “Parlor Senri” was created by the founder, Matsuzo Gibo, to satisfy American soldiers working at the U.S. military base, and even 30 years after its establishment, it is still popularly called “Kintaco.
Even now, 30 years after its establishment, it is still known as “Kintaco.” Since it is a well-known restaurant, lines are long, but it is said that no one can talk about Okinawan tacos without trying the tacos and taco rice here.
Point 2: What is the signature dish of “King Taco Kanabu Honten”?
King Taco Kanatake is more famous for its taco rice than for its tacos, despite the word “tacos” in the restaurant name.
This is not surprising, since the restaurant is the heir to the birthplace of taco rice.
And the low price of taco rice, 550 yen without cheese or 700 yen with cheese, is also good!
But the tacos also have a crispy skin and are filled with vegetables. They are very popular for their flavorful taco meat and thick sauce.
Taco rice is similar to tacos in its filling, but consists of a generous portion of rice topped with vegetables, taco meat, and a thick sauce.
It is served in a disposable plastic container that has been available since Corona, but the lid does not close tightly and the volume is held in place with a single rubber band!
The volume, fresh vegetables, and flavorful sauce are unmatched by any other taco store, so it is not hard to see why King Taco Kanatake is considered the “holy land” of the taco world.
Point 3: “King Taco Kanatake Honten” has delicious burgers and chicken!
In addition to taco rice and tacos, “King Taco Kanatake Honten” actually has a menu of “fried rice”, “hamburgers” and “chicken”.
The “hamburger,” which looks and is packed with fillings, is available in taco burger and taco cheeseburger, and is only 400~500 yen for a coin. You can tell that the patties made in our own factory are meaty and dense. The fact that you can eat them up despite their jumbo size is proof of their deliciousness!
Hot Chicken” (450 yen) with spicy sauce and “Chicken Barabara” (1,000 yen), a mix of various parts of fried chicken, are also inexpensive for the volume. A whole prefectural chicken is procured for the dish, and when you bite into it, the juicy, sizzling flavor spreads out.
While everyone else is ordering taco rice like this, it is a good idea to order a hamburger or chicken.
But no matter how cheap the price is, it is hard to eat a lot at once because of the volume!
Also, please note that this King Taco Kanatake Honten is cash-only and requires a meal ticket.
