Tabelog ratingThe draw is irabu-jiru, a soup of smoked sea snake that was once Ryukyu royal-court food. The family cleans and debones the snake by hand, then simmers it for days with pork trotter, kombu and bonito, so the broth tastes clean and dashi-like rather than fishy. It arrives inside a course of around 13 home-style Okinawan dishes, served in a converted family house.
Nearly every review praises the soup: no off-flavour, a bonito-like broth, and flesh that reviewers compare to herring or salmon jerky. Many describe growing warm and sweaty as they eat. The supporting dishes are praised just as warmly: jiimaami-dofu (peanut tofu, stretchy as mochi), tofuyo (awamori-fermented tofu likened to cheese), fuuchibaa juushii (mugwort rice), dooru-ten (taro fritter) and inamuduchi (sweet white-miso pork soup). Guests repeatedly mention the family's warmth and dish-by-dish explanations, which visitors say continue in mixed Japanese and English.
The criticisms are practical. Portions are very large, and several guests could not finish. A few found the cooking simply good once the novelty faded, called the rafute (braised pork belly) ordinary, or felt prices were high.
There is no lunch service; dinner is a set course, chosen when you book. Reviewers in 2024 paid around ¥6,000 for the Kana set without snake, ¥7,500 with a half irabu soup and ¥9,500 with the full bowl; an irabu-only set was ¥5,500. Extras included smoked sea-snake roe at ¥1,000–1,500 and awamori at about ¥800 per carafe. Expect roughly ¥6,000–¥9,500 per person for dinner.
Reviewers consider it good value, pointing to the days of preparation, the volume of food and the rarity; one called a ¥9,100 bill astonishing for what arrived.
- Booking: reservation only, by phone (098-930-3792), at least one week ahead and often a month ahead; walk-ins are not possible. The restaurant suggests calling around 21:00 on business days. Choose your menu when booking.
- Hours: Friday and Saturday evenings only, last entry 18:30. Hours may change and the restaurant may cancel at short notice, so reconfirm the week before.
- Payment: cash only. Credit cards, electronic money and QR payments are not accepted.
- Getting there: no nearby station; take the bus to Yagibaru stop. The house is hard to find down a narrow lane, and evening traffic from Naha is heavy.
- Parking: not available.
- Seating: table and tatami seating; private rooms available; shoes off.
- Smoking: non-smoking.
- Children: welcome.
- Portions: smaller eaters can ask for a half soup or less rice.
