Lunch in Iriomote Island

Hello everyone!

Iriomote Island is a remote island in Okinawa Prefecture famous for its rich nature and is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan.

Iriomote Island is blessed with subtropical warm climate, blue sea, clear rivers, spectacular mountains, vast jungles, and a rich variety of nature, and agriculture, livestock breeding, and fisheries are well developed to take advantage of such nature.

There are many specialties using ingredients unique to Iriomote Island, and dining on these specialties is one of the great pleasures of the trip.

However, even if the meal itself is enjoyable, you do not want to cut into your playtime by taking the time to find a good restaurant.

In particular, many people may have decided in advance which restaurant they will eat dinner at, but lunch is eaten between sightseeing and activities.

It is a common occurrence when traveling that if you try to find something locally without prior knowledge, you may not be able to find it, which may interfere with your schedule.

So this time, we picked up recommended restaurants in Iriomote Island, focusing on lunch.

Let's take a quick look at some of the most attractive stores!

*The information contained this article is as of 12/2019.

 

Karakenki," a charming Ryukyuan old-fashioned house-style restaurant

First of all, I would like to introduce "Karakenki," which is a very standard store for sightseeing in Iriomote Island.

The restaurant has a Ryukyuan old-fashioned house style surrounded by trees, and when you enter the restaurant, you will be immediately impressed with the tropical atmosphere of the wooden interior decorated by the owner, who is also a carpenter, and the sanshin (Okinawan traditional three-stringed instrument) on display.

It is conveniently located about 10 minutes by car from the Uehara Port area, which is the gateway to Iriomote Island and home to many inns, making it easy to visit between sightseeing and activities.

 

The menu at Karakenki is full of local delicacies from Iriomote Island.

The recommended menu item is the set meal of squid smear soup.

This dish is the pride of the owner, Mr. Okuda, who has a wonderful smile, and is a gem made without meat, using only bluefin squid.

Just as ikasumi pasta is famous in Italian cuisine, ikasumi is known as an ingredient rich in amino acids, which are umami compounds.

The squid meat is very tender and delicious when it is stewed in the Japanese dashi broth made from such squid meat.

You will encounter the best eating experience, with an explosion of rich umami flavor in both the juice and the bite of the meat.

 

In addition to the squid smear soup set meal, there are many other attractive menu items.

The "Squid Soup Soba with Suki Soba Noodles" is even more satisfying by combining the Sushi Soup with Soki Soba Noodles, and the "Crab Soup Set Meal" is made with Sawtooth Crab from Iriomote Island, a luxury food item.

The "Kamai Chanpuru Set Meal" and "Kamai Juice" using fresh wild boar from Iriomote Island are very popular along with the recent wild boar boom, and the authentic curry using many spices and herbs is also a must-see.

 

What's more, there is a full lineup of sweets and drinks that should not be overlooked.

The gently sweet taro pie is a specialty that goes perfectly with coffee or tea and can be taken home.

You can also drink tropical juices made with plenty of tropical fruits, so we recommend that you visit later than lunch and use it as a café.

Please visit "Karakenki" and enjoy the gourmet food unique to Iriomote Island.

 

 

 

Enjoy Irabucha Sushi at Sushi Restaurant Hatsue

Iriomote Island is a remote island belonging to the Yaeyama Islands, so it is surrounded by the vast blue sea.

If you visit such a remote island, you may want to indulge in the island's unique seafood at least once.

The only sushi restaurant on Iriomote Island that richly meets such demand is "Hatsueda"!

 

The seafood in the case in front of the counter includes gara, akamachi, maki shrimps, swordfish, and other seafood that can only be found on the island.

One such product that we would like you to try is Irrabucher.

Illabuture? The ilabucha is a tropical species of snapper with a body length of around 70 cm, and its most distinctive feature is its shiny blue body.

Blue is also said to be an unappetizing color, so some people may find its appearance somewhat unappetizing.

However, despite its unique appearance, this ilabucher tastes like a high-end fish.

The waters of the Yaeyama Islands have gentle currents, so the meat is tender, and the light white meat is light, but as you bite into it, the refined umami taste gradually reveals itself.

The local people are familiar with and have loved this fish for many years, and eating irabucha, the soul food of the locals, will give you a little taste of the deep food culture of Iriomote Island.

 

If you are not sure what to order because of all the unfamiliar fish, don't worry.

If you order the menu called "Island Nigiri Set," you will be served a selection of delicious seasonal fish.

You can look at what is posted in the store for the contents of the set, or it would be interesting to ask the store staff directly.

In addition to fish, "Hatsueda" also offers excellent beef sushi made with Ishigaki beef and a la carte dishes using wild vegetables and local produce, making it suitable for sightseeing with a large group of people whose dietary preferences are difficult to match.

You can enjoy a varied menu that includes fried papaya kimchi and jjimami tofu, as well as assorted tempura made with island ingredients.

 

 

 

The taste of the island is definitely here at "Shokudo Manpachi" (Restaurant Manpachi)

The two stores mentioned above are introduced here because of their location near Uehara Port, the northern gateway to the island.

However, Iriomote Island has two ports where high-speed boats from Ishigaki Island arrive, and the other, Ohara Port, is located in the southern part of the island.

The next restaurant we would like to introduce to you is "Shokudo Manpachi," which is located near Ohara Port.

 

Shokudo Manpachi" is a long-established restaurant famous for its Yaeyama soba, a representative of Iriomote Island cuisine, and popular not only among tourists but also among locals.

The most popular dish, Manpachi Soba, is a basic dish of Okinawa soba noodles in a broth of seafood stock, topped with tripe meat, green onions, kamaboko, red ginger, and other toppings.

The pork tripe adds a rich and fatty flavor to the whole dish, while the soup is so light in flavor that it strikes a perfect balance that you may find yourself eating as many cups as you want.

The price is very reasonable, 650 yen, despite the fact that you can enjoy standard Yaeyama soba (buckwheat noodles), which is a nice feature during a trip that tends to cost a lot of money.

 

The restaurant also offers a variety of other dishes, such as Soki Soba with ribs and cartilage, a style of noodle soup that is often eaten on the main island of Okinawa, vegetable chanpuru, taco rice, and more.

A seemingly simple but interesting item is the Miso Soup Set Lunch.

A set meal with only miso soup? You may wonder why, but in Okinawa, miso soup served as the main dish of a set meal is very filling and can be a main side dish.

The miso soup at Shokudo Manpachi is no exception to this rule, and is filled to the brim with a variety of ingredients, including meat.

If you want to experience Okinawan culture, it might be interesting to ask for this.

This is a busy restaurant that fills up with locals at lunchtime, so we recommend going a little early if you plan to go for lunch!

 

 

 

Recharge your body after a day of activities at Restaurant House Hoshinosuna near the beach!

Lastly, we will return to Uehara Port, where a 5-minute drive will take you to Hoshi-suna Beach and Restaurant House Hoshi no Suna, located right in front of it.

 

This star sand beach is one of the most popular tourist spots on the island and is visited by many people regardless of the season.

The beach is white and beautiful with star sand mixed in, which has become a staple of Okinawan souvenirs, and the gentle waves attract a wide range of visitors, from adults who come for activities to parents and children who come for swimming.

In addition, many people enjoy snorkeling and diving, as the island is home to the largest variety of tropical fish on the island, with over 100 species.

Marine sports are strenuous and require a break in between, and Restaurant House Hoshinosuna is managed in line with local demand.

 

Now, the meals available at Restaurant House Hoshinosuna are organic and healthy.

The restaurant's policy is to use natural seasonings, local organic, pesticide-free, and pesticide-reduced vegetables grown naturally, and EM pesticide-free rice and locally grown black purple rice.

Of course, the restaurant offers a variety of familiar dishes such as loco moco, homemade pizza, Yaeyama soba (buckwheat noodles), and fried shrimp curry, but the essence of this restaurant lies in its menu, which is only available by reservation.

You can eat vegetarian and organic menus for the health-conscious based on the latest macrobiotic theory!

The beautifully presented island macrobiotic plates are of course recommended for the health-conscious and beauty-conscious, and are also ideal for those who are tired after a long day of eating out.

 

On days when fresh fish are caught, you can also taste fish dishes such as sashimi and set menus of fried island fish, if you are lucky enough to come across them.

After soaking up the sun of Iriomote Island at Hoshinosuna Beach, why not heal your body and soul at "Rest House Hoshinosuna"?

 

 

 

in the end

We hope you enjoyed our introduction of restaurants suitable for lunch, focusing on the theme of lunch.

 

Yaeyama soba, irabucha, tropical fruits, and other local delicacies abound on Iriomote Island.

It may be said that it is because Iriomote Island has a rich natural environment with the sea, mountains, and rivers that a rich variety of meals can be enjoyed.

 

A gourmet journey to taste the best ingredients in the best environmentIt is also nice to enjoy the

When you visit Iriomote Island, please pay attention not only to visiting sightseeing spots and activities but also to gourmet food.

 

Thank you for reading to the end.

This article was written by.

Hello! I am Niwa-chan, your source for all things Iriomote Island. I have loved to be in touch with nature since I was a child, and I am especially fascinated by the rich natural environment of Okinawa. Currently, based in Iriomote Island, I provide information on how to enjoy activities such as snorkeling, SUP, and kayaking, as well as the hidden charms of the island.

I want to experience the best activities in Iriomote Island! and "I want to get local information about Iriomote Island! As a guide who actually works in the local area, we provide detailed information on recommended spots and activities on the island to those who "want to experience the best activities in Iriomote Island! Our goal is to deliver an unforgettable experience for our customers by interacting with the local nature every day.

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