Uchinku — Restaurant in Shodoshima

We were directed to Uchinku after visiting Cultiva and learning it was closed that day for an event. We made the trek up the slopes through the heat and finally found Uchinku, tucked away from the road. Service had just ended much to our disappointment; we were overheated and terribly hungry. Rika san promptly welcomed us in and offered us cold water. When we found no taxis available at the moment, she offered to make us one of her dishes, even though the restaurant was closed until dinner. Even with only one menu option available, the food was exceptional. The ingredients were fresh, bright and flavorful. The dish as a whole was balanced and healthy, yet totally satisfying. The potato salad had the most unique, hard-to-pin flavor that I couldn’t get enough of! The lunch was a dream and we were sure to buy souvenirs of local products sold at the restaurant as more thanks to their incredible hospitality. This place felt like home and we can’t wait to go back for...

Cannot speak highly enough about our experience here. We showed up yesterday hungry and tired from travel. They told us they were closed for the day and we were incredibly disappointed. They called us a taxi and made us a reservation to their sister restaurant, cultiva, to rectify the situation. We had a delicious lunch at cultiva and then went back to uchinku today. They remembered us, thanked us for coming back and even sent over an extra treat on the house for us to make up for yesterday. The service was amazing. The food was, somehow, even better. My wife and I had the burger on a salad and we were both blown away. I wanted to try more but they were sold out of a lot. I recommend getting there early and eating all you can. This is a gem of a spot. (and so...

Uchinku in Shodoshima is a must-visit! Our family enjoyed the pasta, hamburger set, and the daily special. The highlight was the hamburger—topped with an egg that had a perfectly molten core, adding incredible richness to the dish. The service was warm and friendly, making us feel right at home. While the menu is in Japanese, using Google Translate worked perfectly. A 5-star experience for anyone...