If you’re looking for affordable and delicious Okinawan cuisine in Shinjuku, this is the place!
“Okinawa Cuisine Yanbaru Shinjuku Main Branch” is a long-established Okinawan restaurant founded in 1988. In 2023, the original and second branches were merged and reopened in a newly renovated building.
Just a 3-minute walk from the East Exit of Shinjuku Station, look for the large orange sign at the More Shinjuku Sunpark Building, which spans from the 1st to 3rd floors.
• 1st Floor: About 20 counter seats, preserving the classic style of the original branch, with a ticket machine ordering system. They serve Okinawa soba and set meals.
• 2nd & 3rd Floors: Izakaya-style dining reminiscent of the old second branch, featuring around 100 table seats. Perfect for leisurely meals or daytime drinks while enjoying Okinawan cuisine.
A Diverse Menu
Yanbaru is also a favorite spot of mine (the writer) when I want a hearty, vegetable-rich Okinawan meal after work.
The set menu is especially great — it comes with half-size soba, half rice, and sanpin-cha (Okinawan jasmine tea). For example, the Papaya Set Meal costs 1,100 yen, the Goya Champuru Set Meal is 1,200 yen, and the Fu Champuru Set Meal is 1,000 yen.
My typical style is to order one or two set meals and then add a few small dishes from the a la carte menu.
One dish I never skip is the Fu Champuru (600 yen), a stir-fry featuring wheat gluten instead of meat. It’s healthy, and I love the chewy texture!
Another must-try is the Papaya Irichi (700 yen), a unique stir-fry that’s crunchy in a way that’s different from either potatoes or daikon.
The Jimami Tofu (680 yen), a dessert-like peanut-based tofu with a chewy texture, is freshly made every morning.
Other recommended dishes include the Mozuku Tempura (580 yen), which has a unique, addictive texture, and the Shisa Salad (910 yen), a refreshing salad with sea grapes and a citrusy shikwasa dressing.
For light bites, the Island Shallots (520 yen) are perfect. There’s also the melt-in-your-mouth pork belly “Rafute” (750 yen) simmered in awamori, and the Taco Rice (750 yen), another Okinawan favorite.
Recommended Okinawa Soba to Finish
No meal here is complete without a bowl of Okinawa soba. The noodles are medium-thick and flat, with a chewy texture, served in a light, flavorful broth made from bonito and pork bones.
Toppings include tender braised pork belly (*sanmai-niku*), pork spare ribs (*soki*), fish cake, and green onions.
At your table, you’ll also find Okinawan condiments like *koregusu* (spicy awamori-based chili sauce) and pickled ginger, so you can adjust the flavor to your liking.
There’s a wide variety of soba starting from 720 yen, and the *Special Yanbaru Soba* — a hearty bowl loaded with extra pork — is 1,050 yen.
The lunch set (1,200 yen) includes Okinawan-style rice (*kufajushi*), *asa* (sea lettuce) soup, and your choice of *champuru* (stir-fry) — options include goya, fu, tofu, or papaya. It’s a filling and satisfying way to enjoy a taste of Okinawan home cooking.
True to its reputation as the cuisine of longevity, Okinawan food is packed with vegetables and healthful ingredients. Come experience it for yourself at Yanbaru Shinjuku Main Branch — an affordable and delicious way to savor this island’s traditional flavors!
(YOKOSO Shinjuku Editorial Team, Matsuo)
Basic Information
| Restaurant Name | Okinawa Cuisine Yanbaru Shinjuku Main Branch |
| Address | 1F–3F More Shinjuku Sunpark Building, 3-22-4 Shinjuku, Tokyo |
| Phone | 03-3353-2028 |
| Hours | 11:00 am – 11:30 pm (last food order: 10:30 pm, last drink order: 11:00 pm) |
| Closed | Open year-round |
| Access | About a 3-minute walk from JR Shinjuku Station East Exit |
*Please note that prices, menu items, hours, and other details may change. Please check with the restaurant directly for the latest updates.*
