UMIKAJI

About 6 minutes walk from Mizonokuchi Station. Exit Mizonokuchi Station, proceed along Pole Pole Dori, and continue straight to find the Okinawan izakaya 'Umikaze' on your left.
Its exterior, evoking the vibrant atmosphere of Okinawa, is charming, with a red-tiled roof-like awning and a terrace adorned with tropical plants, creating an ambiance as if you've visited an old Okinawan house.

Dogs welcome on the terrace! Even in the city, the terrace seating surrounded by tropical plants is a hidden gem that lets you forget the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
The tables and rattan-style chairs on the spacious wooden deck create a resort-like atmosphere.
You can enjoy a leisurely meal with your dog, relaxing without worrying about your surroundings.
At night, the lights illuminate, transforming the space into a romantic atmosphere different from the daytime, which is also a charm.

If you visit Umikaze, the first thing we recommend trying is 'Umi-budo' (sea grapes).
With one bite, the popping texture spreads throughout your mouth, giving you a surprising and delightful sensation as if you're eating jewels from the sea.
Only fresh and high-quality ingredients are carefully selected, so the flavor is exceptional.
The aroma of the ocean that spreads with each chew will transport you to the seas of Okinawa.

The very popular 'Goya Champuru' is a simple yet profound dish, stir-fried with goya (bitter melon) bathed in Okinawa's sun, umami-rich spam, fluffy tofu, and egg.
The moderate bitterness of the goya acts as an accent, creating a exquisite harmony with the savory spam and the gentle sweetness of the egg.
With one bite, a nostalgic yet warm flavor spreads throughout your mouth, as if you can feel the Okinawan breeze.

Another very popular menu item is 'Rafute,' Okinawa's traditional braised pork belly.
The pork belly, slowly simmered for a long time, is so tender that it crumbles with a light touch of chopsticks, and melts in your mouth the moment you taste it, filling it with rich umami.

The owner's recommended dish is 'Buta Nankotsu no Nizuke' (simmered pork cartilage), a staple of Okinawan home cooking.
The cartilage is slowly and carefully simmered until it becomes melt-in-your-mouth tender.
When you eat it, you can enjoy both the gelatinous texture and the unique crunchy texture of cartilage at the same time.
The umami released from the pork and cartilage blends exquisitely with the sweet and savory special sauce, making it a dish that pairs perfectly with drinks.

A very popular dish among women, 'Tebichi' is rich in collagen.
The pork trotters, carefully prepped for a long time, have excess fat removed, leaving plenty of plump collagen.
By simmering for a long time, the meat becomes so tender that it easily separates from the bone, offering a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
The concentrated broth from the pork trotters is rich yet light, enhancing the original deliciousness of the trotters.

Popular fried dishes are 'Taamu Croquette' and 'Tacos Ball'.
The 'Taamu' in 'Taamu Croquette' refers to taro (taamu), a traditional Okinawan vegetable.
This taro is carefully sieved to create a croquette with a chewy texture and gentle sweetness.
With one bite, the simple yet profound flavor of taro spreads throughout your mouth, making it a dish that will surely bring a smile to your face.
'Tacos Ball' is a cute-looking croquette where tacos are formed into bite-sized balls.
Inside, it's filled with flavorful, spicy taco meat.
The crispy texture of the coating and the savory flavor of the tacos blend exquisitely, making it a perfect snack for beer or awamori.

Popular rice dishes are 'Garlic Rice' and 'Okinawa Champon Rice'.
'Garlic Rice' is a dish whose fragrant garlic aroma whets the appetite.
The robust garlic flavor pairs perfectly with Okinawan cuisine and is also ideal after drinks.
'Okinawa Champon Rice' features stir-fried spam and vegetables, bound with dashi and egg, generously served over rice.
By binding with egg, the umami of the ingredients is concentrated, and a gentle flavor spreads in your mouth.
It's a simple yet heartwarming menu item that evokes the warmth of Okinawan home cooking.

For the end of your meal, we recommend 'Okinawa Soba'.
It features a light and gentle Okinawan-style soup and chewy noodles.
Topped with pork belly, the meat's umami melts into the soup, creating a rich flavor.
It's a simple yet deeply Okinawan bowl.

We also offer desserts made with Okinawan ingredients.
On this day, Yume Mama enjoyed Beniimo Ice Cream, generously made with purple sweet potatoes grown under the abundant Okinawan sun.
The moment it enters your mouth, the gentle sweetness and rich aroma of the purple sweet potato softly spread, and its smooth, melting texture brings a moment of bliss with every bite.

At 'Umikaze,' a wide variety of appealing drinks are available to further enhance the deliciousness of Okinawan cuisine.
First and foremost is Orion Beer, which pairs perfectly with Okinawan dishes.
Additionally, you can enjoy authentic Ryukyu Awamori, choosing your favorite from various brands.
Fruit-based drinks, evoking Okinawa's warm climate, are also popular.