Tabelog ratingNakijin Soba occupies a 70-year-old Okinawan farmhouse with tatami rooms and a shaded terrace. The kitchen simmers Agu pork bones, bonito and kelp for 24 hours into a clear broth with no additives, and makes its own noodles. The table condiments are a talking point in themselves: koregusu, chillies steeped in awamori, and a fresh shichimi blend made with shikuwasa citrus peel.
Nearly every reviewer praises the old house and the brown-sugar pudding, which several rank above the soba itself. The favourite bowl is the mix soba, topped with soki (stewed pork ribs) and sanmainiku (pork belly). Reviewers call the cartilage soki melt-in-the-mouth. They also recommend the juushii (Okinawan seasoned rice) and the yushi-tofu soba for anyone who avoids pork. The staff are described as warm.
The criticism is limited. About five of 60 reviewers found the broth bland, and one regular thinks it used to have more edge. Others mention a hot terrace with weak air conditioning, mosquitoes and a small pudding. One reviewer reports brusque staff clearing plates quickly.
It is open for lunch only, so there is no evening meal. Expect to spend roughly ¥1,000–1,600. Reviewers in 2025–2026 paid around ¥1,000 for Nakijin soba, ¥1,050 for seared salt pork-belly soba and ¥1,100 for mix soba. A set with juushii and pudding came to ¥1,500–1,600, and pudding alone cost ¥350. Most reviewers find this fair for filling portions and a complete Okinawan lunch. A couple felt it was slightly high after a long wait.
- Getting there: best reached by car, about 10 minutes' drive from Churaumi Aquarium and 20 minutes from Jungleia, and close to Nakijin Castle.
- Parking: 8 spaces in front and 20 in the second lot. The front lot's entrance is narrow, so use the second lot for larger cars. Do not park on the street.
- Booking: reservations are not taken. Just turn up and write your name on the sheet at the door. Peak waits run about 10–60 minutes, and arriving at opening usually means no queue. Large groups should contact the restaurant.
- Payment: cards (VISA, Master, JCB, AMEX, Diners, UnionPay), electronic money (Suica and other transport IC cards, Rakuten Edy, nanaco, WAON, iD, QUICPay) and QR payments (PayPay, d Barai, Rakuten Pay, au PAY, Alipay, WeChat Pay). A service charge may be added.
- Seating: 42 seats, with 18 indoors on tatami (shoes off) and 24 on the terrace. There are no private rooms, but the restaurant can be hired privately for up to 20 people.
- Ordering: by QR code at the table. Menus come in English, Simplified Chinese and Korean, and English-speaking staff are available. Free Wi-Fi.
- Families: children are welcome and there is a kids' menu.
- Smoking: non-smoking inside, with a smoking area on the premises.
- Noodles are sold to take home.
