Okinawa Soba

[Courtney]

The place inbetween Foster and Kadena. I cant rember if it 330 or not...
anyway... What does everyone think of this Soba? Its the first and only I have had and honestly i was not to impressed...
I LOVE noodles and i love broth, so i thought this would cure my cravings, but I think it could have done better...
what do you think of this palce
and if you dont like it, what palce do you like for soba and where is it?!

[okisurf]

So many soba places too little time. I like Mihama Shokudo (1 block north of ETWS near Foster) for the mere mass of their soba/tonkatsu combos. If your not hungry dont go there!

[shawncot]

That places Soba is ok at best! There are plenty of way better places to go!

[okisurf]

That places Soba is ok at best! There are plenty of way better places to go!

I agree but when I was typing that message I was getting ready for dinner and starving. I dont know too many places that offer more with their soba combos then they do for the price.

Its a quality versus quantity question and I went quantity.

Where do you recommend quality wise?

[Tony Stacks]

I like Famous For Okinawa Noodles. To get there (from foster legion gate) go straight and take a right on the street that goes to the express way and just keep going down that street. You will see it on the right side of the road. you can't miss it.

[Bones]

My favorite place for Okinawa Soba, Chirugwa. Not too far down the road from Hamby Town. Pick up any issue of Okinawa Living, for instructions on how to get there. Best soba that I've had, other than the one made by the wife.

NBTP

[okisurf]

Both sound like cool places and will be on my "too hit" list, thanks!

[Bones]

As posted by okisurf:

Both sound like cool places and will be on my "too hit" list, thanks!

Hey okisurf, if you would like to learn about Okinawa, if you would like to experience things other than the "bar scene", pick up a monthly copy of Okinawa Living. It's free, and readily available at any of the exchanges here on island.

If I would be forced to compare it to another magazine, it would be National Geographic. It really is that good.

NBTP

[Takako]

The best Soba joint that I've found is near Camp Hansen right outside of Kin. Go out the main gate of Hansen and hang a left. Drive all the way out of Kin and go over the large bridge. After you pass the business on the left that makes stone statues, you'll see a white two story building on the left. Bottom floor. Best Soba on island. The Yasai Soba is great.

If your having a noodle craving, hit the Ramen joint in American Village. Its right below the bowling alley, next to the McD's and Sega Arcade.

[Sex Wax]

In Nago, just around the corner from the Big Spirit Tree (Hinpun Gazumaru), and real close to the Orion Beer Factory, is a little soba resturant. It has a real big gravel parking lot for such a small place. Once you go in you understand why. There are autographs from famous people from all over Japan. The Soba was the best I have had on this Island in almost 13 years. Big healthy portions. You just walk in, pick which Soba set you want from a machine, put in your Yen, and a ticket pops out. You take this ticket to the counter, then you get your food. The several times i have been there, the only bad thing is, if you go there for the normal lunch time, it is packed. People are even sitting outside eating. If you go around 2-4pm, it is not so busy. Then you can head over to the Orion Factory and get some free samples.

:thumbup1:

[okisurf]

As posted by okisurf:



Hey okisurf, if you would like to learn about Okinawa, if you would like to experience things other than the "bar scene", pick up a monthly copy of Okinawa Living. It's free, and readily available at any of the exchanges here on island.

If I would be forced to compare it to another magazine, it would be National Geographic. It really is that good.

NBTP

lol. I dont know how to say this but im a married family man thats been here for 2 years now. Not looking to check out the "bar scene" and know my way around a few places here and there.

When it comes to food, im game for anything so when I saw the 2 places above that you guys said were good I figured id give them a try.

Thanks for trying to help me out though. Not sure if you were stereotyping me but ill take it as a helpful hint.

Aloha!

[okisurf]

The best Soba joint that I've found is near Camp Hansen right outside of Kin. Go out the main gate of Hansen and hang a left. Drive all the way out of Kin and go over the large bridge. After you pass the business on the left that makes stone statues, you'll see a white two story building on the left. Bottom floor. Best Soba on island. The Yasai Soba is great.

If your having a noodle craving, hit the Ramen joint in American Village. Its right below the bowling alley, next to the McD's and Sega Arcade.

I think the place you are talking about is "Gimbaru Shokudo"! That place has HUGE bowls of Soba. I agree another good place for lunchtime soba.

[okisteve]

I think you really have to make an effort to find BAD soba here, or maybe they just save it for gaijins.

The big restaurant on 58 just as you're coming into Nago is also a famous soba place.

[Bones]

As posted by okisurf:

Thanks for trying to help me out though. Not sure if you were stereotyping me but ill take it as a helpful hint.

No, my intention was to let people know about Okinawa Living. It's a great publication, one that I've enjoyed for a long time. Probably the best thing that MCCS has ever published.


BTW, I first set foot on this island in '75. Don't have as much total time on island as some other posters, but my time here exceeds yours by a fair margin.

Just might be the thing to pick up, and read, if you're new to the island.

NBTP

[okisurf]

As posted by okisurf:



No, my intention was to let people know about Okinawa Living. It's a great publication, one that I've enjoyed for a long time. Probably the best thing that MCCS has ever published.


BTW, I first set foot on this island in '75. Don't have as much total time on island as some other posters, but my time here exceeds yours by a fair margin.

Just might be the thing to pick up, and read, if you're new to the island.

NBTP

Ok I agree that since youve been here over 20 years now your time here does exceed mine. You win!

Now how you got me thanking you guys for telling me about 2 soba places I have yet to try to only knowing about Okinawas "bar scene" is beyond me.

Now is Okinawa Living a great read? Yes im stoked everytime I see a new issue,I also send it off to all of our new hires and my family back home to boot. I learn something new everytime I open an issue.

Once again thanks for the heads up for another great Soba place to try.

Aloha!

[OCanadaOurHomeAndNativeLand]

Inaka soba, by the base of the Tomari bridge, opposite the park by Aja Port.

[Takako]

Ok eelecurb, what the hell is up with your avatar???

[Ammoyankee]

How about the old Hamaya Soba down be Sunabe?

[I Am Luna]

I think you really have to make an effort to find BAD soba here, or maybe they just save it for gaijins.
I agree.

The best soba shops I have been to are far from the lights and glamour of the city. Then again, I'm an old fashion kind of guy.

Side note:
We should collaborate on good places to eat on GoogleMaps or something...just a thought.

[Nomad]

Has anyone mentioned the soba place between Foster and Kadena (I'm horrible with street names and do things by landmark) that is near the expressway and has the big painting of the scary/angry man head on the front of the shop? You buy your ticket at the vending machine, etc. I love that place, but it might be because I don't know any better...

I have a feeling someone here has already mentioned this shop and I just didn't know the name...we call it Scary Man Soba...

[Jazz]

My favorite Soba in my 5 and a half years of hunting, is Gabusoka (がぶそか）, not sure if the sign is in Kanji or Hiragana. The original is in Nago somewhere.

The branch in Ginowan behind Geo and up the street from the convention center and across the street from the new Union market is the best. Especially the Soki (ソーキ） ribs. They fall off the bone, since I've eaten there it's very hard for me to eat other soba, except the Mother-n-laws' but that has love involved, hard to compete when love is mixed in the food.

If you like bitter flavors such as Goya but different try Yomogi Soba. If you like that, go to Gabusoka and order the Yomogi Soki Soba. Dai is the word for the biggest size and it's plenty.

If you leave the Union and head straight across the big street in the direction of Naha, you'll come to a large building. The first floor is a restaurant and Gabusoka soba is on the second floor. Parking is usually full.

I've heard there's also a branch in Okinawa City on Kokutai street across from Kadena gate 5.

I've never been very impressed with Churugwa(sp?).

For those of you having trouble finding bad soba go to the first floor under HIS travel in Hamby around the corner from San Ei(can't remember the name), but I wouldn't recommend it.

Enjoy.....................

[OCanadaOurHomeAndNativeLand]

If you like bitter flavors such as Goya but different try Yomogi Soba. If you like that, go to Gabusoka and order the Yomogi Soki Soba. Dai is the word for the biggest size and it's plenty.

Yomogi is standard Japanese, and fuuchiba is the Okinawan way to say mugwort. Bitter, yes, but healthy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yomogi

[Asshat]

I would just like to point out here that soba is really easy to make at home.

[thistle]

It is - but have you ever used those instant soup they sell - they are just disgusting. My younger son happily eats it though.

To make real soup takes with the cooked pork ribs in it takes up to 90 mins.

[thistle]

Yes, ryukyuchina , 'Gabusoka' is one of my favourite places too.

Another good place is 'Chatan shokudo', a couple of blocks down from 'Four seasons' on the other side of the road, just across from that place they call
'Camp Hamby', nr Araha Beach.

[Asshat]

It is - but have you ever used those instant soup they sell - they are just disgusting. My younger son happily eats it though.

To make real soup takes with the cooked pork ribs in it takes up to 90 mins.

It takes abt 30 mins in the pressure cooker though. That's what we use. Never used the instant soup.

The soba itself and the dashi are easy to find. Once we do the ribs with the dashi/water, we use a "bowl full" at a time, laddle to a hot wok and sere the soba. Then toss to the bowl and add meat parts, kamaboku and anything else we have laying around. :) Oh yeah and about five big spoonfulls of garlic! :)