Climax Coffee: Okinawa, Japan

Climax Coffee in Okinawa Japan was an awesome meal stop in the morning before going out to do the tourist thing.  This lovely little shop is similar to American IHops, Village Inn, Perkins etc... in that they are open late and serve an awesome selection all day.   

There was quite an array of breakfast options that they offered and although the pancakes tempted my companions, I decided to go for an omelette like I have never seen before!  If you have read any of my other food posts from Okinawa, you already know that I am a big green tea fan, so I had to try the Green Tea Latte as well (delicious).

This seafood omelette smelled so delicious when it arrived at the table. This is not your American omelette option, but a bowl of delicious flavors that will seriously make you mouth water for more.  In the center of the plate is a mound of rice, ketchup fried rice to be precise. Warning, ketchup Okinawa style and ketchup American style are different in flavor.  Covering this lovely mound of rice goodness was what appears like a scrambled egg, though this is not cooked to a fully solid consistency, there is just a bit of a runny quality to it.  Then this mound is surrounded by a moat of creamy sauce filled with shrimp, squid, scallop, clam, broccoli and mushroom.  

So good!  The creamy sauce blended with the eggs for a soft and palatable blend of flavor. The seafood was tender and not overly chewy (though careful with the shrimp tails).  The rice had a surprisingly complimentary flavor that I was not expecting and enjoyed immensely.  This was a fabulous dish that hit the spot and was very filling.   

Now for you pancake lovers out there, I did snap a pic of my companions dish of Banana Pancakes.  As you can see there is a towering supply of whip cream to go with it.  However, the pancakes are a bit more dense than American pancakes and the chocolate and cream is not as sweet.  For me this seemed like more of a dessert than a breakfast meal, but to each their own!

http://www.climaxcoffee.jp/

Pizza in the Sky; Okinawa, Japan

Pizza- there are a variety of types, toppings, crusts, and locations for that delectable dish that Americans are so fond of.  So, when our hosts decided to take us to Pizza in the Sky, I hoped that it would be something different from what I can get stateside.  I was not disappointed.  

To start with the restaurant is an open air style that sits atop a mountain which allows some awe inspiring views of the surrounding cities of Okinawa below.  There are fans and hats for you to don as you wait for seating.  This is a hot spot in Okinawa and wait times are common, though there are games to entertain the kids or yourself and breathtaking views to enjoy while you wait.  After being seated the menu is presented for you to select your meal. 

(Note the price of drinks; the exchange rate was at $0.98 = 100 yen.)

I did decide to order the Acerola Juice as it came highly recommended.  It is a cherry flavored beverage that tasted similar to Hawaiian Punch, although the fruit flavor was more robust.  The cute beverage coasters were mini tropical shirts.

The salad was quite delicious and I unfortunately forgot to snap a picture because the finely shredded carrots were almost a work of art.  The salad also has corn (a very common staple in the cuisine) and a tangy vinaigrette dressing that was very good.  The deluxe pizza (supreme/ everything pizza) has pepperoni, bacon, onion, corn and peppers.  Also ordered a pepperoni only pizza (Pictured on the right)

The crust is cooked thoroughly but has a very doughy texture making it difficult to pick up with your hands and eat.  The only utensils provided at the table are chopsticks (though if you asked for a fork they would likely provide one) so the challenge was on.  I learned how to cut and eat pizza with chopsticks.  The everything pizza was great and had the right amount of melty, cheesy goodness to satisfy an American pizza lover.  The main difference was the limited amount of sauce.  There is not an overwhelming tomato flavor to the pizza, instead the flavor is really driven by the peppers and meat toppings.    

This is a highly recommended stop if you are in the area.  It is not the easiest place to find if you are unfamiliar with the area- so be sure to get good directions or go with someone who knows the area.  Depending on exchange rates, you can get salad and a pizza for two people for $15-20.  Great service, amazing views, delicious food this one hits it out of the park.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pizza-In-The-Sky/173172889361427

Ocean Blue Cafe, Okinawa, Japan

Inside the absolutely stunning aquarium in Okinawa, Japan there is a lovely little cafe you can stop and grab a bite to eat.  This cafe sits along the floor to ceiling windows of the three story tank in the center of the main aquarium building.  Inside of this tank you see a variety of aquatic life ranging from rays to whale sharks. 

 The tank is definitely a highlight of the aquarium visit and the little cafe provides a variety of light snacks to keep your energy up as you tour the vast complex.

As I perused the menu options I was torn between the Taco rice and the Taco balls.  At the time these seemed to be the most interesting options to me though neither sounded very Japanese in nature.  However, I would later come to find out that Taco Rice is a very popular dish in Okinawa and is available in many of the restaurants.  I decided however to go with the Taco Balls and some Green Tea Ice Cream.  Yes- I am aware that this is not the most recommended flavor combination, but this is what I do surprisingly frequently.  The taco balls were a finely ground beef with taco seasoning that had been balled, breaded, and fried.  They were actually quite delicious and I found myself thinking, "gee, I am surprised that this deep fried concoction is not seen in the states..."  I am sure that these have made a stateside appearance but I have not personally encountered them before.  The green tea ice cream was delicious as always (I really really like green tea ice cream).

So if the Okinawa Aquarium is on your tourist agenda, remember to leave a little room for a light snack in the cafe.  There is something very surreal about sitting in front of a tank of aquatic life, most of which is bigger than you are, and snacking on some delectable treats gazing at the swimming forms.  A trip highlight recommended to anyone heading to the area. Depending on exchange rates $5-10 per menu item.

http://oki-churaumi.jp/en/area/ocean-blue.html

Mike's Tex-Mex, Chatan, Okinawa; Japan

Tex-Mex was the last thing I thought I would be eating when I boarded a flight to Okinawa, Japan.  However, the world is getting more and more culturally, socially, economically integrated so I suppose I should not have been surprised to find Mexican inspired restaurants in Okinawa.  However, there were some different menu offerings that I decided to taste test. Chips, salsa and guacamole are a staple of the Tex-Mex dinning experience, and in that regard there was not a lot of difference here.  The guacamole had fewer added spices leaving it almost straight avocado; while the salsa was very runny and almost sweet rather than spicy.

The most unique menu item was a Stir fry Mexican Rice dish. It was pretty fabulous even if I did eat it with a fork rather than chopsticks.  The blend of corn, peppers and seasoning gave the dish a Tex-Mex flavor even if it appeared to be more of an Asian fried rice dish.  

Again, not the expected cuisine but a nice surprise.  Flavorful and unique it was a good stop.  Service, as always was the case in Okinawa; was prompt, courteous and friendly.  Depending on the exchange rate the cost was $12-15 per meal without drinks.  Although this was a decent restaurant, I would not rate it as a must dine while traveling but more of a "if there is time" and you want to try something a bit familiar but unique.

http://www.mikespattaya.com/about.html

Jetta Burger Market Okinawa, Japan

Who loves burgers?  Evidently a lot of people all over the world.  While working our way through an area in Chatan Okinawa, Japan called "American Village" stomachs began grumbling for lunch.  After looking at several options we stumbled upon a gourmet burger joint called Jetta Burger Market.  The menu offerings were vast, varied, and very impressive.  There were so many delicious looking burgers it was hard to select only one.  Now granted, this is not the Japanese food experience that was somewhat expected, it was a welcomed surprise.   So what did I finally select? 

A massive burger- The Big Joe burger.  This was a mouth watering burger that was insanely difficult to get my mouth around.  There was no middle bun like on a big mac- it was another top bun shoved in the middle.  Lettuce, cheese, bacon, a barbecue type of sauce. The side options were fries or garlic fries, both of which our table ordered. If you like garlic flavor, then the garlic fries will be a big hit, they were very delicious.  They were not just fries that were coated in garlic salt; No, they were fries that were cooked with minced garlic in the frying oil. 

There are also some interesting malt/shake options with your meal.  A shocking discovery throughout my dining experiences was the cost of ordering a beverage with your meal. Sometimes the beverage will be as much as half the coast of the meal you order.   Again- excellent service and great food.  This was a surprising stop that I feared would be more "American" but had a real local variety and zest to the menu options.  Cost depending on the exchange rate is about $8-12 per meal with just water.

http://www.depot-island.com/en/shop/jetta-burger-market/

CoCo Ichibanya Okinawa, Japan

CoCo Ichibanya, also known as The Curry House, is a wonderful treat that you can enjoy in a variety of locations.  This was the first restaurant I dined in after arriving in Okinawa, and had the pleasure of having a second time before I departed (though I forgot to snap a picture the second time).  The restaurant offers a variety of curry dishes that can be made to fit your specific flavor desires.  Warned by our host that you should not order anything above a spice level of five (scale of 0-10) unless you have eaten here before, I was fairly cautious with my first dish.  I selected the special (at least that was my understanding as it was on a separate insert) of Mincemeat and cabbage with root vegetables, spice level four.  This was delectable and the perfect fit for my spice taste.  The root vegetables were tender, flavorful, and complemented the pan fired mincemeat/cabbage patty.  The rice and sauce was very filling and made the dish hard to actually finish.  This dish was a hit for me.

The second time I ordered a chicken curry with a spice level of five because I had caught a cold on my travels.  I am sure that my taste buds were not exactly as sharp as they normally are, but the spice level was perfect to help open up those sinus passage ways.  I would agree with our host that anything above a five on the spice level is for people who specialize in highly spicy food.   

Overall, very filling and tasty.  It was an interesting introduction to the restaurant scene in Okinawa.  Service is friendly, patient, and really quick.  I would recommend this stop to travelers in Okinawa.  Depending on exchange rates, most dishes are in the $10-13 American dollar per person.

This company does have some Stateside locations in California, but based on the website, it appears there are some differences in menu options.   

  

http://www.ichibanya.co.jp/english/

Denver Airport

DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Every once and a while you end up in one of those restaurants were you are expecting in find the typical and mundane food you always find, but are surprised.  That is exactly what happened on a recent layover in the Denver International Airport.  Looking for a spot to grab some food and kill some time, popped into Colorado Sports Bar and Deli simply because it was close to the gate.  After looking over the menu I selected the seasonal burger which changes toppings.  The current toppings were: Coleslaw, fried pickles, and chipolte mayo.  This came with several side options but I selected the sweet potato fries. The server recommended that I get the Rosemary dipping sauce (which is vinegar, sugar, and rosemary) to go along with it.  Spot on! This was a taste adventure.  The combinations of flavors played well together and the acid in the sauce and coleslaw hit the perfect spot without being to overpowering.   The service was good though they were a bit understaffed for the amount of customers so occasionally had to wait a bit longer than one might expect to.  Price was reasonable given that it was inside the airport $10 per (food only).

Highly recommend this spot.  http://flydenver.com/fooddetails?URI=tcm:8-597