Okinawa Prefecture has a unique food culture and is home to many international dishes.

One of them is "Soki soba," a type of Okinawa soba topped with a distinctive topping called "Soki."

This time, we will explain the appeal of soki soba, a noodle dish that you should try at least once when you come to Okinawa.

What is Okinawa's Soki Soba? Introducing the differences between it and Okinawa Soba

Okinawa's soki soba is a dish of Okinawa soba topped with "soki," which is slowly stewed pork ribs and cartilage.

"Soki" refers to pork ribs in Okinawa, and there are two types of soki soba: "Hon Soki Soba" and "Nankotsu Soki Soba." Hon Soki Soba is soba topped with pork ribs on the bone, and Nankotsu Soki Soba is soba topped with pork ribs on the cartilage.

Soki, made with sugar, soy sauce, sake, etc., is juicy and delicious with a sweet and spicy flavor, and is so soft that it can be easily torn apart with chopsticks. Okinawa soba, which is the origin of soki soba, is a dish topped with sanmai pork rafute, and the only topping that differs from soki soba is Okinawa soba.

In addition to soki soba, Okinawa soba restaurants also often serve "tebichi soba" topped with sweet and spicy pork trotters, and "yushi tofu soba" with a soft and fluffy texture. It's fun to compare each Okinawa soba, so please give them a try.

The origin and history of Soki soba

Soki soba is said to be a food that was created after the war. There are two original soki soba restaurants. One opened in Nago City in 1948.

The other is a restaurant that was founded in 1966. At the restaurant in Nago City, they serve thick, chewy flat soba noodles topped with chunky, imposing pork ribs. It looks filling but is actually very soft, and the mild soup with a rich bonito flavor matches the rich flavor of the meat, making it so delicious that you'll want to drink up the broth.

Founded in 1966, this restaurant has multiple locations throughout the prefecture, where you can enjoy their specialty soki soba. Originally a butcher shop, they seasoned leftover rib meat and served it on top of Okinawa soba, which was well received by customers.

Also, the rich flavor of soki soba was very popular among working people at the time, and many people visited the restaurant. Both restaurants have their own merits, so be sure to try them both.

The delicious way to eat Soki Soba and its appeal

Soki soba is delicious enough to be eaten as is, but when eating it in Okinawa, it is recommended to try adding local seasonings to enjoy different flavors.

Okinawa soba restaurants almost always have a table condiment called "Koregusu." This is a spicy condiment made by soaking Okinawan island chili peppers in awamori. It is known as a popular condiment in Okinawa, and when added to the delicate bonito stock soup, it really brings out the flavor. Once you get used to it, you'll find it more and more addictive.

It does contain alcohol, so please be careful if you are driving or eating with children.

Recommended sightseeing spots in Okinawa

From here, we will introduce some recommended spots in Okinawa.

The warm seas and clear, emerald green waters around Okinawa are a spectacular sight, and you can see colorful tropical fish and mysterious coral reefs.

In the northern part of the main island, there is a lush green area called "Yanbaru (mountain plain)," where you can see flowers such as hibiscus and deigo. Enjoy the gourmet food and sightseeing that you can only experience in Okinawa.

Senaga Island Umikaji Terrace

Senaga Island Umikaji Terrace, also known as the "Amalfi of Japan," is a beautiful resort area reminiscent of the Mediterranean Sea in Italy, with stylish white buildings lined up on sloping land surrounded by the blue sea.

It takes just 15 minutes from Naha Airport to get there, where you can enjoy shopping, souvenirs, sweets, and relaxation. There are also many photo spots that are perfect for social media, and you're sure to be excited by the sunsets you can see from the west coast and the trick art. At night, the fantastic projection mapping is also a highlight.

Mihama American Village

Mihama American Village, which combines traditional Okinawan culture with an American streetscape, is a popular spot for both domestic and international tourists. Boasting an area roughly the size of five Tokyo Domes, you can enjoy strolling and shopping while soaking up the tropical atmosphere.

The open terrace seats will soothe you with the sound of the waves and the smell of the sea, and you'll feel like you're in a resort. Photos with the photogenic walls and giant objects painted all over the city in the background are also popular. The dynamic sunset over the west coast is also beautiful.

Bios Hill

Bios no Oka is a place where you can fully enjoy nature in Okinawa's subtropical climate, which is rare in Japan.
Highlights include a leisurely stroll along the promenade and a jungle cruise on a boat that tours the lake.

The biggest attraction is being able to observe the ecosystem that is unique to Okinawa first-hand, and there are regular water buffalo carts, which are rare on the main island, a space where you can interact with goats, and you can even try the famous Okinawa soba. It's a great way to experience Okinawa's Ryukyu culture up close and is recommended for a relaxing day.

Access to Okinawa

From here, I will introduce how to access Okinawa.

If you're going to Okinawa, it's convenient to take a direct flight to Naha Airport. You can also get there from Hokkaido's New Chitose Airport in the north, Sendai, Niigata, and Ibaraki Airports (each takes about 3-4 hours). Many airports only have one flight per day, but you can get there at a lower price by using LCCs.

From Haneda Airport, you can also access the remote islands of Ishigaki Island and Miyako Island, so choose a route that suits your travel purpose.

Location of Okinawa Prefecture

summary

This time we introduced Okinawa's local gourmet dish, "Soki Soba."

Soki soba is made with care and time, making it the perfect dish to enjoy Okinawa's food culture. Be sure to try the combination of the soft soki that melts in your mouth and the chewy Okinawa soba.

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