CONTRIBUTED BY LAURA WALKER
Just when I thought I knew my neighborhood, this cute new restaurant pops up. Shirokuma Thai is a few blocks north of Torii Station and has some of the most delectable treats I’ve had since being on the island.
When I entered this little Thai bistro, the décor struck me as a touch of fun, a lot of creativity, and in essence…fantastic! Soft mood lighting accompanied by dangling baskets of silverware adorn the rustic wood tables. The open air kitchen gives you a glimpse into the geniuses of the chef and if you’re lucky, you can sit at the stainless steel bar and enjoy a heaping bowl of Pad Thai.
We started our meal with a hot plate of sizzling fried spring rolls. The consensus is…they are awesome. The crunchiness of the wonton complimented the filling perfectly. We loved the Thai sweet sauce that was served on the side. I choose one of my tried and true favorites, Thai style fried noodles or Pad Thai.
I’ve had some excellent Thai food in Okinawa and these noodles stood up to the test. The tofu and ample shrimp were flawlessly seasoned in the bed of peanut covered noodles. I was completely stuffed by the bottom of the plate.
My husband had a smaller bowl of pork vermicelli intermingled with fried egg which was full of comforting deliciousness. The ending treat of the evening was coconut milk ice cream that was out of this world. I expected a scoop of store bough coconut flavor but this tasted purely homemade. The night was a wonderful homey experience. The restaurant was larger than most Okinawan restaurants with at least 6 tables, a bar, and outdoor seating for sunny days!
The meal was incredibly economical totaling 2200 Yen for the two of us. The entrée items typically were 700-750 Yen. I also noticed the lunch menu which was a set meal including a salad for 700-840 Yen depending on your entrée choice.
Website: https://shirokuma949.ocnk.net/page/1#map
Address: Japan, Okinawa Prefecture, Nakagami District, Yomitan, Toya, ３０４
GPS Coordinates: 26.3924499, 127.726595
Directions: From Kadena: 58 North, Left on 6 (traffic light), Pass Torii station, the Max Value, a Family Mart. Turn left at blue sign in English overhead that says “Yomitan Fishery Cooperative Society, Toya Fishing Port.” There will also be a statue of a kijimuna with a fishing pole. The restaurant will be 100 yards down the street/alley on the left. Parking is the left turn after you pass the restaurant.
Payment: Accepts both US $ and Yen
