Setagaya City, Tokyo, Japan｜ちゃんぷるー

I will definitely be going back. Most Okinawan restaurants in mainland Japan feel like they're trying to provide a taste of some imaginary Okinawa - a colorful, musical, island culture with certain exotic flavors and whatever (think maybe of half the Japanese restaurants you might have been to in the West, with their very stereotypical samurai and geisha and Hokusai and whatever) ... And that's fine. But the third floor bar here is the first time I've been anywhere outside of Okinawa and really felt like it was just like it would be in Okinawa. Not some stereotypical representation, but really just like going to some corner bar in Koza or whatever. Bartender was very friendly and kind - if you can speak Japanese (or Okinawan, I'd imagine), and the menu is great. Delicious shikuwasa beer, just like they do it in Okinawa. Naabera (young sea sponge), which I don't think I've seen on the mainland before. And just simple straightforward foods, just like you'd have at some authentic hole in the wall place in Okinawa. Not dressed up all fancy but just straightforward and good. And they've got more or less all the things you'd want, from shima rakkyo to fu chanpuru to tofu you to Blue Seal ice cream. Not just the stereotypical offerings.

Liked that Okinawan Restaurant a lot! Owners don't speak English but are happy to have foreigners at their restaurant who appreciate Okinawan food. Will go there again!

Two of us visited for dinner. We ordered a la carte and it cost about 10,000 yen for two people. I was surprised to see so many types of awamori. I'm glad that my favorite warm current is there. I had it with carbonated water, but I was glad that the alcohol content was strong. The staff told me that I could always add more carbonated water if it was too thick. That's a very nice consideration. The food was also very delicious. Bitter melon champuru contains a lot of bitter melon, which makes me happy. Jimami tofu had green onions on it. It gives the impression that the menu has been added to the menu of a typical Okinawan restaurant. I'm very satisfied with the quantity. I would like to make this one of my options when drinking in Shimokitazawa in the future. I would love to go again.