The most delicious handmade burger in Okinawa, NoBi
👋 Haisai! I’m CULT.
Today’s introduction to Okinawa’s dining scene is a restaurant called NoBi located on Kouri Island in the north. At that time, I had been living in Okinawa for two months, and I often wondered, “Why isn’t there any delicious food in Okinawa?” Now, if you ask me to list places with tasty Okinawa soba, I can easily answer, but back then, I didn’t know any particularly good places and lacked information.
These days, whenever I hear about a good place, I make sure to visit. My goal is to visit every restaurant in Okinawa. Cultravel Okinawa aims to become the pinnacle of Okinawa 💪
Anyway, today I’m sharing the story of NoBi, a handmade burger joint I stumbled upon by chance without any expectations. It’s truly delicious here.
📌 Location and Opening Hours of the Food Truck
The food truck is located within Kouri Island in the northern part of Okinawa. After crossing the Kouri Bridge, take an immediate right turn and you’ll find an open space and a car park, where the truck is situated in one corner. Although there are outdoor tables, it’s recommended to dine inside your vehicle due to the heat. It’s almost like a semi-compulsory drive-through. ⏰ Opening hours are from 10 AM to 6 PM daily. [Google Maps]
This is what the food truck looks like. I visited here quite spontaneously, without even checking Google Maps. After parking, I noticed they were selling handmade burgers next to me, so I decided to give it a try. Although it wasn’t a restaurant I had verified by my standards, I have always had the ambition to visit every eatery in Okinawa since my first visit, so I embraced the challenge without fear of failure 🤗
Whenever I visit a restaurant with an extensive menu, I tend to order the first item on the top left. If it turns out to be delicious, it makes it easier to add to my blog later. During my time living in Prague, I achieved the feat of visiting every restaurant in District 1. I visited so many that after two or three years, I couldn’t remember what I had eaten. By ordering the first item initially, I can choose the second or third on my next visit, ensuring there’s no repetition when I write about it. This restaurant left a strong impression, was delicious, and since I plan to visit again, I think choosing the first menu item was a good decision. When writing the second post, I can provide a richer description, which is even better 😀
- Garlic Pepper Beef Burger with Spam Potatoes and Drink (2,500 yen)
🍔 Okinawa’s Gourmet Spot: NoBi’s Burger
It didn’t take long for the food to arrive after ordering. I initially visited thinking it would just be an ordinary homemade burger, but when I received the burger menu, it was a bit different from what I expected. First of all, the price was 2,500 yen, so I wondered if it was something special. It turned out the size was the reason for the price.
I always recommend this food truck’s burgers to my clients who have had photo shoots in Okinawa, saying they’re delicious. Everyone mentions that the burgers are tasty but the portions are so large that they couldn’t finish them. Keep that in mind when ordering so you don’t waste any food 💴
Here’s a more detailed look at the photo. It’s actually quite a generous portion. I consider myself a big eater, but since I was in the middle of an 18-hour fast when I had this, I was quite hungry and had no trouble finishing it all. If you’ve already had breakfast, it might feel a bit much.
First of all, the burger… it’s delicious. The bun is soft, and the combination of the meat and sauce is really well-balanced. It’s tastier than most Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand burgers 😋
The burgers are excellent, and next up is something a bit special… the fries. These aren’t your typical fries because they’re served with fried Spam. Since the Pacific War, Okinawa has hosted US military bases, which led to economic and food shortages in the region. As a result, Spam, released by the US military, became easily accessible to locals, and many dishes featuring Spam emerged. In this regard, Okinawa and Korea share a similar history with Spam.
It’s common to see people criticising dishes with Spam in Okinawa without understanding their significance. I always mention this on the Okinawa gourmet map, but many reviews come from people who don’t know the history and start with negative comments.
I hope you can be a cultured traveller who understands why there are so many Spam dishes in Okinawa 🤓
🏖️ Enjoying in a Slightly Different Way
No matter how much NoBi is a renowned eatery in Okinawa with excellent food, it’s hard to surpass the limitations of a food truck. This might be its only downside, but don’t worry. You’re on Kouri Island, and you can enjoy your meal with the stunning scenery as your side dish.
Instead of ordering drinks and fried spam potatoes separately, you can just order a burger on its own and then buy your preferred drink from a nearby vending machine to enjoy a picnic-like experience. Even if it’s a parking lot, there’s no one to stop you from sitting there, as long as you tidy up your rubbish.
There is a thick concrete wall on the beach where you can sit and enjoy a meal while gazing at the beach and Kouri Bridge, which is quite delightful. These days, as the weather is hot, it might be wiser to dine at the previously mentioned spot or inside your car with the air conditioning on. I recommend enjoying a meal while looking at the beach during seasons other than summer. Although Kouri Beach is quite breezy, making it feel cool, the Okinawan sun is intense enough to surpass that coolness.
That’s all for today! I introduced a restaurant that I first thought was a true Okinawan gem! I found the burgers here to be really delicious, and it’s a place I highly recommend visiting if you’re in Okinawa. As far as I know, there isn’t a better restaurant around Kouri Island. If I discover another, I’ll be sure to let you know.
I’ll wrap it up here and return with more Okinawan restaurant recommendations. Matayasai 👋
