When in Okinawa, tuck into piping hot Okinawan soba for a different culinary experience. The thick yellow noodles used in Okinawan is made from 💯 white flour, unlike mainland soba which is made from buckwheat noodles. Typically served with thick slices of soki (spare ribs) or sanmai-niku (三枚肉, three-layered pork belly), a fish paste called kamaboko and various spices. Could be paired with Orion Beer to satiate your taste buds.

During my first visit, I patronised こぺんぎん食堂, which has unfortunately closed down since. (But I couldn’t resist uploading a photo of my exuberant self nine years ago.)

This time round, we went to 亀かめそば　(Kame Kame Soba) 🐢 It’s a great place if you want to have an idea of where local people hang out and soak up the island’s slow living vibes. Business there must be good. We were the last customers around 4pm and the staff were waiting patiently for us to finish our meal so that they could close shop!