Sukiya Noborikawa

Gyudon beef bowl dishes on nearly every corner

Michael Flemming Sep 11, 2013 - 2 min read

<p>Sukiya locations in Okinawa seem to have the same store layout; there's about eight tables to sit at and a dozen bar stool counter top spots to dine at</p>

<p>Chopsticks and spoons are readily available at the tables and counters in Sukiya, as are condiments, the ticket holder, and the ordering bell</p>

<p>If you're not sure how to order, just point at the item on the menu</p>

<p>This Gyudon beef bowl is available in many sizes and is shown here topped with cheese</p>

<p>Nearly all of the 23 Sukiya locations on Okinawa are open 24 hours each day</p>

If you haven't been to Okinawa for a few years then you might be surprised by Sukiya's massive expansion into the local restaurant market. I don't remember seeing any Sukiya gyudon shops back in the early 2000's, but the popular eateries seem to be everywhere now. Sukiya is a 24 hour restaurant serving primarily gyudon and traditional Japanese fish, curry and hamburger dishes. The name of the restaurant is a play on the word "suki" which means like combined with "ya" which means shop; and it might also be short for sukiyaki which the trademark Sukiya gyudon dishes have a similar taste to.The restaurant's have a drive through window but for me the food is best enjoyed in the seating area within. Gyudon is available in six different sizes and with about a dozen different toppings. The food is served very quickly after ordering, usually in no longer than four minutes. Look for Sukiya's trademark logo of a red bowl on a yellow background with "Sukiya" on it in both Japanese and English. Sukiya is priced very competitively to bento shops and offers indoor seating which most bento box stores do not.

Michael Flemming @michael.flemming

I'm a wanderer in Okinawa turning over every stone I can find. I write, photograph and blog about my favorite finds here in Japan's southernmost prefecture.