About 10 minutes drive from Naha Airport. The famous Okinawa soba restaurant located in Ishikawa, Uruma City, moved to a new location in front of the prefectural office on August 8, 2023! The restaurant offers unique Okinawa soba with a reputation for “Okinawa soba that is more like ramen” and “the unique aroma of Higashimura shiitake mushrooms.
Point 1: Interior of “Okinawa Soba Papaya to Subui Kencho-mae Branch
The concept of “Okinawa Soba Papaya and Subui Kencho-mae Branch” is “free Okinawa soba in the tradition.
The interior of “Okinawa-Soba Papaya to Subui Kencho-mae” looks like a modern café, while the standard interior of an Okinawa-Soba restaurant is a shabby Japanese-style earthen floor with old tables and chairs.
The concrete walls are filled with dried flowers and plants, giving the restaurant a hard but natural atmosphere that at first glance makes it seem unlike a restaurant serving Okinawa soba.
The tables and chairs are not identical but are of different types, ranging from school desks to those used in Asian food stalls, making it unique. The ability to make even school desks seem fashionable is impressive.
The dishes used in the restaurant are also made to order and fired on purpose. The dishes served at the restaurant vary according to the menu, but you can tell that they are particular about their dishes, as some are octagonal in shape, while others are of a subdued color with interesting unglazed-like materials.
The spirit of the restaurant is that they do things the way they want to do them, without compromising on even a single piece of tableware!
From the interior, I felt I understood the meaning of “free Okinawa soba in tradition.
Point 2: Introduction of the Okinawa soba menu at “Okinawa soba Papaya to Subui Kencho-mae”.
Let us introduce you to the Okinawa soba menu at “Okinawa soba Papaya to Subui Kencho-mae”.
There are three main types of soba: Papasubu Soba (880 yen), which includes papaya and Sugui, Yushi Tofu and Shiitake Mushroom Soba (960 yen), Seekwasa and Wasabi Soba (930 yen), Ikasumi Soba (1,200 yen), and Soba (600 yen), along with Shumai, Ikasumi Juicy, Jimmamy Tofu, and Zenzai. The set includes shao mai, Ikasumi juicy, jimmy tofu & zenzai, and all of the above.
The price is quite expensive, ranging from 1,300 yen for the cheapest “Soba” set to 1,900 yen for the most expensive “Ikasumi Soba” set.
However, when looking at individual items, the price is probably about average.
There are also single items with just toppings, so if you combine them well, you can create your original menu!
Point 3: What are the taste characteristics of “Okinawa Soba Papaya to Subui Kencho-mae”?
What sets “Okinawa Soba Papaya and Subui Kencho-mae” apart from other restaurants is that they also add papaya (which gives the restaurant its name), Subui (wax gourd), baby shiitake mushrooms with a strong aroma from Higashimura, Yushi tofu, and other toppings.
It is a matter of course that thin sticky noodles and soup stock are delicious, but in this day and age, how to differentiate Okinawan soba with tasty and distinctive toppings is what differentiates it from other restaurants. In this day and age, how can Okinawan soba be differentiated with tasty and distinctive toppings?
Also unique is the use of cholera goose, habanero-based “island nero” (also sold in the store), and Chinese “five-spice powder” seasoning to suggest a bold change in flavor!
The animal-based soup has a time-delayed appearance of bonito and other various soup stock flavors, and it is clear from the reviews that it has captured the hearts of young people in particular as an Okinawan soba that is more like ramen.
The fact that this famous restaurant, which has been loved by locals in Ishikawa, Uruma City, moved to a prime location in Naha after only one and a half years in business may have been a challenge to the entire Okinawa soba world.
There are already several new Okinawa soba restaurants that are popular among young people, but this one is more like a super-evolved type of Okinawa soba.
It might be a good idea to drop by before it becomes too popular and soon becomes inedible.
