Sui Dunchi — Restaurant in Naha

Amazing experience and food!

I had the Shuri-jo kaiseki (multi-course meal) at Sui Dunchi. It's not a very traditional kaiseki, because the dishes were served one by one instead of altogether like a traditional kaiseki. The ingredients and cooking techniques were very Okinawan, using local ingredients. This is the best way to try everything Okinawa has to offer in one meal!

There was no English menu or any explanation from staff so I guessed everything by taste and sight.

If it's your first time in Okinawa, I would highly recommend this place. They have regular set meals too, which starts at just 680 yen (about $6). The place is also super picturesque, a traditional wooden Okinawan building near Shuri-jo castle. In fact, the historical stone road just outside leads directly to the castle!

There's also a small museum on the restaurant grounds!

The food: Appetizer plate from top, clockwise: Mimigar (pig's ear, pickled) Smoked cheese Shima rakkyo (island scallion, pickled) Pork shoulder, stewed Minudaru (pork loin, in black sesame powder, steamed) Turban shell, cooked and sauced in its own guts Center: I have no idea but it tasted like minced pork rinds, with a slightly sweet and tangy sauce Cup: jimami (peanut) tofu

Three types of sashimi (squid, mystery fishes... Probably marlin? And one white fish that was super chewy. I can hardly identify fish when it's swimming in its full form at sea, so I can't brain fish in sashimi form)

Mashed and lightly fried taro ball in aosa seaweed/sea lettuce sauce

Agu pork steak (grated radish, ponzu)

Fried whole fish, soy sauce, grated radish & ginger, scallions Purple potato mochi, deep fried

Goya champuru (stir-fried bittergourd, pork, beansprouts, egg, tofu)

Cold vinegared octopus, prawn. Umibudou (sea grapes) and other seaweed garnishes (wakame, dulse/red seaweed)

Hijiki seaweed meshi (rice, carrots, pork)

Pork tripe soup with...

An amazing way to end my Okinawa trip with one final meal that encapsulated many of the unique flavours of Okinawan cuisine.

I had the Ishidatami Kaiseki course, and for only around 4000 yen, it's one of the best ways to explore the different flavours Okinawa has to offer. Kaiseki is usually at least double the cost from what I've seen, so it is nice to be able to have a regional specific and cheaper kaiseki available.

Just note that all dishes are not brought at the same time like in a normal kaiseki; each dish is to be enjoyed slowly one by one. The restaurant gives you plenty of time to enjoy each one before presenting the next.

You can order single and set menu items from a tablet, which is very convenient in such a lovely traditional looking setting. Do keep in mind that in the English setting, the item names are unfortunately not visible for some reason; so you will definitely need to be able to read at least hiragana and katagana.

The best dishes in the kaiseki were definitely the Umibudou (Sea grapes), Gurukun and Beniimo Tenpura.

I also ordered a Beniimo cake after my course finished, which did come quite late; however, the staff was kind to serve me a coffee on the house as an apology for the wait. The cake itself had a nice, subtle beniimo flavour which does clash a little with the cheesecake portion at first, but it grows on you the more you eat it.

All of the staff were very kind and friendly, and made me feel very welcome. They were very attentive to any requests from customers.

Overall, if you somehow only have a single meal time to spare in Okinawa, this restaurant is a must to experience...

2/2024 When we came last July, it was so loud that we could hardly hold a conversation and it was a bit exhausting… 😵‍💫 but this time we reserved for 17:15 and it was peace and quiet until we left around 18:45!🕊️ Personally, the tempura (mozuku, aosa) is better without salt 🧂

5/2023 Third visit. Got a room in the back next to the koi pond. How beautiful 😆 Only that after the group next door came in, we could hear everything they were saying pretty clearly 😅 We could bear it though. Food was delicious. Service charge 330.

4/2023 Second visit. Goat sashimi!! Yes, everything is delicious 🤤

Thursday evening 9/2022. Myself with a visiting couple. Nice place, with private rooms! Shoes off at the entrance but hori gotatsu style at the table. Rather dim lights. There is a table charge for dinner time, but the dishes aren’t badly priced. For example taco rice about 900 yen-ish, peanut pizza around 1000 yen … Service could be a bit better, as they (young ones) seemed somewhat untrained and a bit scared (did we scare them?), but it is ok. It was nice that the museum building (with old Okinawa items and the collection of awamori) was closed because of the typhoon (?) but the guy opened it just for us. Thanks! :) Will definitely be back… (If at night,...