I am KONY, an “Shima Naicha”, (i.e. the people who moved from mainland Japan and lives in Okinawa) who loves Okinawa very much. It has been 10 years since we moved to Okinawa due to my husband’s job transfer.
The soul food of Okinawans is taco rice‼︎ You can enjoy a variety of taco rice, from the long-established taco rice that Okinawans are familiar with to the more evolved menu items available at cafes with a view of the ocean!
So this time, I’d like to share with you some of my favorite taco rice dishes that I love so much that I go out of my way to try them! Even if this is your first time eating taco rice, once you try it, you will surely fall in love with it!
What is taco rice?
Taco rice is a Mexican dish consisting of “taco” ingredients on top of rice with lettuce and cheese. It is a soul food that originated in Okinawa.
The taco filling is called “taco meat” and has a spicy flavor. It is usually eaten with salsa sauce, which has its own unique flavor depending on the restaurant, and many specialty stores have appeared on the market!
Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, there were take-out restaurants that specialized in taco rice, making it a popular lunch option for enjoying island time by “buying taco rice and eating it on the beach.
Is it true that the original taco rice was created because of the US military base?
Taco rice is now sold as bento at specialty restaurants, cafes, restaurants, and convenience stores, but it was originally created to satisfy the American workers at the U.S. military bases.
I, who likes to eat a lot, can finish it by myself, but some people say they cannot eat it all by themselves! There are also many restaurants that serve a generous amount of food, with one plate being enough to fill one’s stomach to the full.
There are also specialty stores with a history of more than 50 years!
Taco rice is loved by many residents of Okinawa, and some of the restaurants specializing in taco rice have been in business for over 50 years.
Some of the restaurants are inspired by the Okinawa of the 80’s, and you can go back in time to the good old days of Okinawa and feel the Okinawan-American atmosphere.
KONY’s best recommendation is the “King Taco,” also known as the “Kintaco”.
King Taco, which I would like to introduce to you, is my favorite taco restaurant that I have visited many times since the first time I had taco rice. King Taco, known by the nickname “Kintaco,” is a chain of taco rice and taco restaurants with six branches in the prefecture.
The main store is located in Kin-cho, where the U.S. Marine Corps station “Camp Hansen” is located, and even today, many people who are thought to be working at the U.S. military base frequently visit the store.
King Taco has three types of tacos:
1. Taco Rice with only meat on top of rice
2. Taco Rice Cheese with meat and cheese on top of rice
3. Taco Rice Cheese with Meat, Cheese and Vegetables (Lettuce and Tomato)
I usually order the “Taco Rice Cheese Vegetable,” but if you don’t prefer vegetables, I recommend the “Taco Rice Cheese” with meat and cheese.
Tickets required to purchase food.
Whether eating in or purchasing takeout, ordering is by purchasing a meal ticket.
Please consider how many pieces to order, assuming that each piece is large.
If you wish to take out to-go, reservations by phone are recommended.
The volume is so large that it overflows from the food pack!
The food was served on plates only for in-store eating and drinking, but now all menu items are served in food packs.
However, no matter which menu item you order, the volume of the food is so large that it seems to overflow from the pack! It is a challenge to eat neatly so that the contents do not spill out.
Salsa sauce is spicy. If you prefer not to use it, substitute ketchup.
Taco meat also comes with a spicy flavor, but for a taco-like experience, salsa sauce is a must. King Taco’s salsa sauce is quite hot and spicy. The salsa sauce at King Taco is quite spicy and tangy, and the flavor is so good you won’t be able to stop eating it!
If you eat with children or if you don’t like spicy food, please request “ketchup”. It will be less spicy and tasty!
《King Taco Kin Hon-ten(Main Restaurant)》
Address: 4244-4, Kin, Kin-cho, Okinawa, Japan
Phone: 090-1947-1684
Business hours: Monday-Thursday-Sunday 10:30 a.m.-1 a.m., Friday-Saturday 10:30 a.m.-24 a.m.
Closed: No holidays
Parking: Please use the parking lot of Kin Active Park
Access from Naha Airport
▶︎ By public transportation
By bus, about 2 hours
From Naha Bus Terminal, via Kencho North Exit, get off at Kin-Iriguchi (about 2 hours). After that, walk for 2 minutes.
▶︎By car:
Approximately 1 hour from the airport via Okinawa Expressway.
Restaurant Close to the Airport 《King Taco Nagata-ten》.
Address: 3-1-1 Ginowan, Ginowan City, Okinawa, Japan
Phone: 098-893-0286
Business hours: 10:30 – 23:30
Closed: No regular holidays
Parking: No parking lot
Access from Naha Airport
▶︎ By public transportation
By bus, approx. 1 hr. 20 min.
From Naha Bus Terminal, get off at Nagata (about 1 hour and 15 minutes). After that, walk for 1 minute.
▶︎ By car
Approximately 40 minutes from the airport via Route 330
Others: For a taste of evolutionary taco rice, go to “Kijimuna”.
If you would like to taste an advanced version of taco rice instead of the standard taco rice, go to “Kijimuna” where you can enjoy “Omu Taco,” which is taco rice wrapped in a fluffy egg!
The Omu Taco, which was born in a small seaside restaurant in Onnason in 2003, has won prizes at gourmet festivals in the prefecture and is attracting attention as a new taste of Okinawa with a proven track record of deliciousness.
Kijimuna also has a store in Umikaji Terrace on Senagajima Island, where gourmet foods, sweets, and specialty stores are gathered, so you can stop by at the end of your trip to Okinawa.
《Taco Rice Cafe Kijimuna, Senagajima Island Umikazi Terrace-ten》
Address: 174-6, Senaga, Tomigusuku-shi, Okinawa, Japan
Phone: 098-851-3023
Business hours: 11:00 – 21:00 (last order 20:30)
Closed: Open every day
Parking: Available
Official website: https://www.omutaco.com/
Access from Naha Airport
▶︎ By public transportation
By bus, about 20 minutes
Take a bus from Naha Airport and get off at Umikazi Terrace on Senagajima Island.
▶︎ By car
Approximately 15 minutes from the airport via Route 331
I had heard of taco rice, but had never had it until I came to Okinawa.
I also wondered, “Is it an evolution of tacos? Is it a foreign dish?” . When I stopped by the King Taco Kin Honten, I was surprised to see a sign that said “Taco Rice Birthplace” and wondered, “It’s an Okinawan dish!
The volume of the taco rice I first tried at Kintaco was quite a shock. I thought I might not be able to finish it, but I finished it in one bite (lol).
However, the spiciness is too strong for children, so Kintaco’s taco rice may be a plate for adults. In that case, try Kijimuna’s Omu Taco! The taco rice with a fluffy egg on top tastes great, looks gorgeous, and is sure to satisfy your appetite.
Please try the taco rice loved by the residents of the prefecture as a memory of your trip to Okinawa.
Written by KONY
Translated by Rie
