Okinawa｜Haragasa Shokudo is like eating at grandma's house. A plate of fried bitter melon that condenses modern history

Hidden in the alley of Heiwa-dori, Hanagasa Shokudo is a restaurant that I plan to visit again when I return to Okinawa.

It is called a restaurant, but it is actually a small cafeteria. The kitchen staff and the people who take orders and serve dishes in the front hall are all Okinawan grandmas. This cafeteria has been here for nearly 70 years. I didn't meet the founder grandma this time, but I ate the bitter melon stir-fried assorted set meal (ゴーヤチャンプルー) that I had been thinking about.

This dish is actually very simple, with cotton tofu, eggs, bitter melon, and onions, but it is a flavor that witnesses the history of Okinawa. In the past, Ryukyu experienced China, Satsuma, and the US military to self-government. It used a Chinese wok and stir-fry method, added Okinawan tofu, US military SPAM luncheon meat, and Japanese bonito flakes to enhance the flavor, which is equivalent to condensing history and food culture in this plate.
In the set meal, you can choose festive red bean rice, white rice, and soft brown rice. Finally, there is a small bowl of delicious red bean soup to end the meal.
In addition to fried bitter melon, there are more than ten kinds of dishes to choose from, such as pork feet, Okinawa noodles, and fried pork cutlets.
It is worth mentioning that the lightly sugared black tea provided by Hanagasa Shokudo has been with Okinawans for nearly 70 years. The tea in the store also cooperates with beverage manufacturers to make large bottles of beverages and sell them in supermarkets and convenience stores. You can see how much Okinawans love Hanagasa Shokudo.

📍Address: 〒900-0013 Okinawa Prefecture Naha City Makishi 3-chome 2-48
🚗 Six minutes walk from Makishi Station

#5月好去地方2025

Post by 旅行中的野馬 | Jun 29, 2025