Japan Guide
Okinawa
Eating
1 Asian Dining Banyan Town, Ōnoyama Part of the colourful complex of fast-food restaurants beside the Kokuba-gawa, and housed inside a towering fake banyan tree twinkling with fairy lights at night. Serves decent Southeast Asian cuisine and is best visited for lunch. Price: Lunch set menu ¥800
2 Cinnamon Café 1-4-59 Makishi Great spot to while away a quiet afternoon over a good coffee and the best chocolate cake in Naha. They do a mean curry, too, and prices are reasonable (coffee is ¥350 and curry rice ¥720).
3 Como Concept Kokusai-dōri 
098/861-8071 Stylish café-bar attached to a funky furniture store with (as you'd expect) very comfy chairs. The food is Japanese-style Italian or local Okinawan. Alternatively, just pop in for one of their delicious-looking cakes for afternoon tea – the prices are reasonable and there's sometimes live music in the evenings.
4 Dai-ichi Kōsetsu Makishi Ichiba Off Ichiba-dōri Selection of small, atmospheric restaurants tucked away above the food market off Ichiba-dōri. Choose from the menu or hunt around in the market downstairs for the fish of your choice, which is then prepared and sent upstairs for you to eat. If you're a sashimi fan, the prices are reasonable and the fish doesn't come much fresher. Opening time: Daily 10am–8pm
5 
Dao 2F, Matsuo 2-8-28 A short way down Ichiba-dōri you'll spot a coloured flag pointing up to this popular Vietnamese restaurant on the second floor, where you'll find a good selection of authentic Vietnamese dishes. Tasty garlic chicken with rice is a steal at ¥720. Opening time: Daily 11am–11pm
6 Spicy Kitchen Sakurazaka-dōri, Makishi 3-chōme Look out for the chilli-pepper mural on this cheery Indian restaurant up a hilly lane near the east end of Heiwa-dōri. The simple menu includes chicken, lamb and seafood curries from ¥500, plus a range of vegetarian dishes and a good lunch deal for ¥800. The lassis are particularly tasty.
7 Suimui Suimuikan, Shuri-jō Surprisingly good restaurant in the Shuri-jō information centre, serving Okinawa dishes as well as mainstream Japanese and Western meals, with set lunches between ¥900 and ¥1000. Not to be confused with the castle's noisy snack bar. Opening time: Daily 9am–4.30pm
8 Yūnangii 3-3-3 Kumoji Country-style restaurant, offering a warm welcome and serving Okinawa cuisine, including Okinawa soba, champurû and various pork dishes. Set meals go from around ¥1300, with free rice refills. Opening time: Closed Sun