Drive-in Restaurant Hawaii — Restaurant in Motobu

As most first-time tourists do, my husband and I decided to rent a car to drive around Okinawa outside of Naha. The mammoth Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium was our main destination, and on the way back to Naha was this casual spot which we read serves Taco Rice, a popular local specialty that we most definitely wanted to try. We pulled in, and despite the name, there was no drive-in. It looked like a Jollibee.

All our ordering was done on a tablet with pictures and English translations. We decided to split a couple of orders. First up was ¥1,050 Pork Cutlet Curry, a hearty portion of breaded meat and rice with a large pool of thick, medium-spicy Japanese curry. It was homestyle deliciousness. The second dish was the ¥880 Taco Rice, a big platter of ground beef with taco seasoning, rice, shredded cheese, lettuce, and fresh tomatoes.

Did it live up to our expectations? Pretty much because it was the type of dish we could've easily made at home if we were trying to switch out tortillas for leftover rice. It was pretty satisfying but frankly not memorable enough to repeat any time soon. It came with a bowl of soup that was like a light clam chowder with diced potatoes, We got enough sustenance until our next Blue Seal fix, though we kinda wished it was a real drive-in with roller skates.

FOOD - 4 stars...basically solid comfort food with a Hawaiian twang AMBIANCE - 4 stars...casual, no-frills spot...you can eat on tatami mats if you want SERVICE - 4 stars...friendly, no English spoken TOTAL - 4 stars...comfortable roadside stop where you...

🥗 Salmon Avocado Salad with Miso Mayo This was a refreshing surprise. The salad featured fresh lettuce, juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado slices, and vibrant chunks of salmon sashimi, all drizzled with a rich miso mayo dressing and topped with tobiko (fish roe) for a pop of umami. Corn and nori strips added extra texture and flavor. It came with a warm cup of creamy corn soup—simple but satisfying.

🍱 Hawaii Plate (Mixed Japanese-Western Combo) This is the kind of chaotic, everything-goes plate that brings joy. Fried white fish, shrimp tempura, juicy hamburger steak, tamagoyaki with sauce, pork slices, karaage, shredded cabbage, salad greens, and even spaghetti—all on one dish. It’s not trying to be gourmet, but it’s honest, hearty, and full of variety. Every bite feels like a comforting memory from a Japanese school lunch…...

It’s beautiful small place with very friendly staff who are always watching out for your well being. I had their Curry+Cutlet, Sake and Soba. Curry was even better than when I went to Coco’s. Soba was second best to Hombu Soba. But the Sake was an affordable price for a great amount which was 30% alcohol. I was riding a bike and they made sure I didn’t break Okinawa’s law by drinking and riding. I wasn’t aware of the law (even tho I should’ve known better) but I live close by so it wasn’t a problem for me to walk. Besides they warned me before they served me to make sure I understood. So their patience and willingness to help deserves 5/5 stars. I brought my husband and will be recommending to...