Delicious Izakaya Akachouchin in the North
👋 Haisai! I’m CULT.
Today’s Okinawa dining spot is an izakaya located in the northern city of Nago. When travelling in northern Okinawa, the biggest dilemma often is finding a decent place to eat in the evening. Although Okinawa has a small population and many tourists, the demand is quite unpredictable, so most restaurants open late are usually aimed at locals. As a result, they tend to follow local pricing rather than tourist prices, which from my perspective as a visitor, makes them excellent value and delicious.
Today, I’d like to introduce you to an Okinawa eatery called Akachouchin (あかちょうちん), where I found myself wondering, “Can I really enjoy a meal this good at this price?” The atmosphere was lovely, and I had a fantastic time eating and drinking there.
📌 Location and Appearance of the Restaurant
The restaurant is located in Nago City, in the northern part of Okinawa. There is a parking lot at the restaurant, and if it’s full, there are plenty of coin-operated parking spaces nearby, so parking is not an issue. When I visited, it was during a holiday period, but there was ample parking space.
The restaurant is closed every Tuesday, and ⏰ opening hours are from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM (lunch menu), and after a break, it reopens from 5:30 PM to 10:00 PM. All the dishes introduced today can only be enjoyed during dinner time. [Google Map]
This is what the exterior of the restaurant looks like. It’s typical and resembles the izakaya we imagine, with the shop name being Akachouchin (あかちょうちん), meaning red lantern, though it’s a shame there isn’t a red lantern in sight. The photo was taken from the car park, and the visit was around 6:30 PM. It was February, so the days were short.
When you enter the restaurant, the staff will ask how many people are in your party. Since I was alone, they guided me to the bar table. I quite like bar tables. It might have been because I visited during Japan’s holiday season in February, but the restaurant was very crowded. I wanted to have a chat, but both the kitchen and the staff were so busy that I couldn’t start a conversation. I’ll plan to visit again during a quieter time.
It’s been four months, and the reason I haven’t returned is that I’m currently on a mission to visit every restaurant in Okinawa. Even if it’s a bit disappointing, I have to keep exploring new places. Once I’ve achieved the goal of visiting and introducing all the restaurants, I’ll revisit and let you know.
- Orion Draft Beer
- Spicy Miso Grilled Beef Intestines
- Gyoza 5 Pieces
- Special Assorted Sushi 14 Pieces
🍣 Okinawa’s Culinary Delights at Akachouchin
Once you’re seated, you’ll receive an otoshi (お通し) per person. This is a concept similar to a cover charge, commonly seen in Japanese izakayas, but it’s not something that exists in Korea. In Korea, people tend to eat quickly and then head to a café or, if they want to drink more, they usually go to a second location. However, in Japan and among some Westerners, people might order a beer and sit for 3 to 4 hours, which reduces table turnover for the restaurant. In Korea, the issue is more about people studying in cafés for long periods. Anyway, the cover charge here is a delicious meatball and costs 220 yen, including tax.
If you’re travelling abroad, renting a car, and coming all the way to the north for a meal, would anyone really be upset about 220 yen?
I enjoyed it… it was delicious 😋
Although I brought my car, I’ve parked it and completed the hotel check-in, so it’s perfectly fine for me to enjoy a beer. I decided to treat myself to a glass of Orion draft beer. I can’t say it’s the best taste… Having lived in Prague, Czech Republic for 11 years and having tasted some of the world’s finest beers, this one just felt quite ordinary to me. Still, it’s much better than Korean beer.
On a side note, if I had to pick just one aspect of Korean culture that I’m embarrassed to share with the world, it would be Korean beer. It’s astonishingly tasteless 🙅
The first dish that arrived was spicy miso-grilled beef tripe (牛ホルモン辛味噌焼).
They say it’s spicy, but from a Korean perspective, calling this spicy would get you a reputation for not being able to handle heat. In Europe, this level might qualify for the word “spicy.” The standard for spiciness among Koreans is so high that when Koreans say something isn’t spicy, others shouldn’t take it lightly. If a Korean says something is spicy, it’s probably not something you can handle.
Anyway, as a Korean, I didn’t find it spicy at all. I was just surprised at the price of beef tripe. In the Western world, tripe is often considered just livestock waste, isn’t it? I’m not sure about Japan, but in Korea, it’s considered a delicacy.
The price was an astonishing 638 yen, and I think it’s the perfect accompaniment for drinks. In hindsight, I might have been better off ordering Awamori instead of beer.
The following is garlic-filled gyoza (にんにく焼き餃子).
Since garlic is inside the gyoza, you should be able to taste it. Well, except for Koreans. I even split it in half to check if there was really garlic inside and sniffed it. There was indeed a faint garlic aroma. With this amount, some impatient Koreans might think they’ve been “tricked.”
Does it matter if there’s no garlic aroma? I enjoyed it thoroughly. 528 yen
This is soy sauce and chilli oil provided separately for dipping the garlic.
For Westerners, a ratio of 9 parts soy sauce to 1 part chilli oil seems suitable, for Japanese, 8 parts soy sauce to 2 parts chilli oil, and for Koreans, a 5 to 5 ratio works well. It seems I’m introducing something unusual in a post about Okinawa’s best eateries 🤣
The last dish is the special assorted sushi (特上寿司盛り合わせ) with 14 pieces. But this… it’s priced at 1,848 yen, and it seems cheaper than a conveyor belt sushi place. If you eat this much at a famous conveyor belt sushi place like Gurume Sushi, it would easily exceed 3,000 yen. The fish was quite thick, fresh, and good.
At this price, it seems more like a meal rather than just a snack to accompany drinks. Since it’s still a bit pricey for a meal, it might be a good idea to start with something light. It would be even better with Awamori, wouldn’t it? Fortunately, there are many hotels around here. I think it’s a good idea to stay in the northern area and enjoy until the shop closes at 10 PM.
After settling the bill, I noticed the receipt was around 3,600 yen.
I had a satisfying meal, and the cost was reasonable, the atmosphere was pleasant, and I left the place in good spirits. Above all, discovering a great Okinawa restaurant to visit with friends or acquaintances was perhaps the most delightful part.
If you’re travelling to the northern part of Okinawa, why not book a hotel nearby and enjoy an izakaya until late in the evening? I think it’s a great idea. That’s all for today, I’ll be back with more Okinawa restaurant news. Matayasai 👋
