![[Must-Eat in Okinawa] 4 Hidden Local Gems Recommended by mic21's Local Dive Instructors — Who Says Divers Can Only Go for Cheap and Filling?](/_images/fc2b96b980bb-1440w.webp)
After a full day of diving, you're bound to be absolutely famished. Those of us who usually dive in Taiwan tend to go for big, cheap, and filling meals — satisfying the stomach, perhaps, but somehow leaving something to be desired. This time, the Editor was invited by mic21's Naha store, and beyond sharing the must-buy dive gear in Japan (【Must-Buy in Japan】The World's Largest Dive Gear Specialty Store mic21 — Top 5 Best-Selling Products Revealed), we also joined their professional dive guides for a dive in the waters of Kerama National Park. After a full day's itinerary of 3 scuba tanks, we were genuinely starving. Since we were already in Okinawa, it only made sense to ask the local dive instructors for their insider food tips — so we could eat well and truly experience the local food culture!
Eating our way through Okinawa with the local experts
Hidden Gem #1: Ultra-Fresh Seafood Caught by the Owner Himself — Aguncha
The first spot we want to share is Aguncha, located not far from the mic21 Naha store. Just looking at the exterior, you might mistake it for a humble little eatery of the kind common in Taiwan — tucked away in an alley, it's exactly the type of place a tourist would walk right past. But word has it that this is a local Okinawan favorite for hosting banquets and treating friends, and during peak tourist season, you'll wait forever without a reservation. Its Google rating of 4.3 stars alone is plenty of encouragement to push open that door!
Step inside and you're greeted by walls covered in celebrity photos and autographs — a clear sign that this place is beloved by locals. The interior has a warm, Japanese feel, with soft amber lighting playing off the ocean-themed décor, which does wonders for your appetite. A well-worn old photo on the wall says it all to diners: "The seafood here is locally sourced!"
The warm, cozy storefront is tucked away in a side alley
The prices are quite reasonable
The walls are packed with celebrity photos and autographs
The catch is sourced by the owner and his relatives themselves
Seafood lovers will be very happy at Aguncha — most of the seafood is caught by the owner and his relatives, so the freshness is absolutely top-notch. The cooking style is also distinctive; even the Editor, who doesn't usually enjoy fish all that much, couldn't stop raving about it. Our local expert recommended the Aguu pork salad, the appetizer platter (with truly outstanding seasoning), and the tuna sōmen noodles — all were absolutely impressive.
The appetizers pair perfectly with a cold beer
The appetizer platter was the first wow moment for the Editor — sesame oil sea grapes, Okinawan tofu, and garlic shoots. Absolutely outstanding.
The must-order sashimi — mostly caught by the owner himself
Aguu pork salad — somehow the seasoning is just absolutely perfect
A unique tuna hand roll — wrapped in nori and eaten in one bite
The dish the Editor couldn't stop eating all evening was the deep-fried gurukun. Gurukun (also written as 烏尾冬, the Ryukyuan prefecture fish) is known in the Okinawan dialect as "guru kun" — a white-fleshed fish that is marinated, coated in batter, and deep-fried in a classic local preparation. The fried bones are crispy and practically melt in your mouth, making it utterly impossible to stop at just one piece — perfect as a drinking snack. Surprisingly, despite being deep-fried, it's not the least bit greasy. After finishing, we grabbed the bread provided by the restaurant and dipped it in the butter left on the plate. Pure satisfaction.
Best dish of the night: deep-fried gurukun
Aguncha Facebook Page: Aguncha
Menu: Japanese, English
Chinese reservation: Not available
Address: 〒900-0016 沖縄県那覇市前島２丁目１３−2
Hidden Gem #2: A Trio of Local Vegetables, Aguu Pork & Broth — たくよし あぐー豚と島野菜しゃぶしゃぶ
Take a deep breath and walk right in
This next spot might be a little tricky if you don't speak Japanese. Although the restaurant sits right on a main road, its sleek, modern interior and Japanese-only menu might give some visitors the impression it's a high-end establishment and make them hesitate. But trust us — follow our lead inside and you'll leave with a big smile on your face!
This restaurant is known for its use of local Okinawan ingredients. The hot pot broth currently comes in two options — spicy and non-spicy — though you'll need someone who speaks Japanese to help with the details. There's also one special broth available in a limited quantity of 10 portions per day, which gives the Editor yet another reason to come back. Because the broth itself is so deeply flavorful, you really don't need any dipping sauce at all — it lets the natural sweetness of the ingredients shine through.
The interior is neat and spotlessly clean
The broth and menu — unfortunately no Chinese or English version available
A whole display case of fresh local Okinawan ingredients to enjoy to your heart's content
The mini corn has a surprisingly wonderful texture
To begin, there's an entire display case of fresh local Okinawan vegetables for you to enjoy — including a few varieties you won't find in Taiwan, well worth trying. The restaurant also treats each guest to a small corn on the cob, and then we watched the owner show us that you cook the whole thing — husks, silks and all. Yes, really — and the texture of those silky threads is something else entirely!
Meat lovers might wonder why there's no meat plate to start. It turns out the owner insists that guests first appreciate the natural sweetness of the vegetables before moving on to the proteins. The meat, not surprisingly, is the local specialty Aguu pork — premium quality, paired with the rich broth. Mmm… perfection.
Meat lovers, you absolutely have to try the Aguu pork
The charming owner personally comes to your table to prepare the congee in the leftover broth
Finally, once everyone has eaten their fill, the owner comes to your table in person to prepare a congee using the remaining broth, topped with a locally produced egg from northern Okinawa. The rich, savory broth — infused with vegetables and Aguu pork — soaks into every grain of rice and fills you up completely. Best of all, you finish the entire meal without any of that heavy, greasy feeling you often get from hot pot in Taiwan. Instead, you're left feeling genuinely satisfied by the pure, natural flavors of the ingredients.
たくよし あぐー豚と島野菜しゃぶしゃぶ Google Maps: たくよし あぐー豚と島野菜しゃぶしゃぶ
Menu: Japanese
Chinese reservation: Not available
Address: 〒900-0016 沖縄県那覇市前島３丁目２−22
Hidden Gem #3: Late-Night Eats, Great Skewers at a Great Price — 二万八千石 炭火燒鳥
If the main meals above didn't quite fill you up, head over to 二万八千石 炭火燒鳥, a charcoal-grilled yakitori spot on the fringes of Kokusai-dori. Our local experts recommended it for its delicious, wallet-friendly skewers, made even better paired with Seifuku plum wine. The skewer variety is extensive — even without a Chinese or English menu, just go ahead and order one of everything! Seating is limited, so if you're going with a group, be sure to make a reservation in advance.
Just as we were wrapping up, we discovered that the owner actually speaks a little Mandarin — turns out he's a dive instructor himself who used to work on Hainan Island in China. Looks like we've found yet another spot to add to the list of go-to hangouts for divers!
The restaurant is small — don't forget to reserve ahead
Japanese-only menu — just order one of everything and try it all
These skewers are enough to make your mouth water just looking at them
There's a wide variety of skewer options — definitely worth trying them all
We stayed until closing time — only managed to snap this exterior shot after the sign had already gone dark
二万八千石 炭火燒鳥 Facebook Page: 二万八千石 炭火燒鳥
Menu: Japanese
Chinese reservation: Not available
Address: 〒902-0067 沖縄県那覇市字安里388-10
Hidden Gem #4: Bonus Pick — Ricky's Fried Chicken Balls, Crispy and Never Greasy
A typical day of diving in Okinawa usually includes three dives, and you're back at mic21 by around 1500. That still leaves a gap before dinner, so our local experts have a bonus hidden gem to recommend — a little spot famous for its fried chicken balls! Interestingly, while it's all fried chicken, the Japanese-style batter and oil are just noticeably different from Taiwan's version — you come away without that heavy, greasy feeling. Word has it this is the go-to hunger-buster for mic21's staff and instructors alike!
This place is super close to mic21 — just a short walk away
Clean and tidy inside
In addition to fried chicken, they also have chicken wings!
Chilling in the raised seating area with some fried chicken — absolute bliss~
These (Okinawan donuts) are also highly recommended — the texture is reminiscent of the deep-fried twin buns from Bali, New Taipei
Ricky Google Maps: Ricky
Menu: Japanese
Address: 〒900-0012 沖縄県那覇市泊３丁目５−1
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