Miyako soba noodle is one of the most popular foods in Miyako Island. Local people in Miyako Island eat Miyako soba at lunch almost like every day, and most restaurants in Miyako Island serve Miyako soba. Miyako soba is a kind of Okinawa soba, and the taste of Okinawa soba is bit different depending on the island. And depending on the island, it is called differently, such as “Okinawa soba,” “Miyako soba,” and “Yaeyama soba.” Miyako soba and other Okinawa soba are made from wheat flour, unlike typical Japanese soba which uses buckwheat.
You can find Miyako soba at anywhere in Miyako Island, but I would like to recommend one of the most famous restaurants for Miyako soba. The name of the restaurant is “Daiwa Shokudo.” It is located about 1.5 km (about 20 minutes walk) from the city center (Miyakojima City Hall).
Daiwa Shokudo (Outside)
Daiwa Shokudo (Inside)
The most recommended menu of Daiwa Shokudo is of course Miyako soba, but they have a variety of soba, including “Soba (normal Miyako soba),” “Soki Soba (Miyako soba with pork rib called soki),” and “Yasai Soba (Miyako soba with vegetables).”
My favorite menu here is “Soki Soba.” The difference between Miyako soba and soki soba is that soki soba uses pork rib instead of pork belly for normal Miyako soba.
Soki Soba (Miyako Soba with Pork Rib)
Daiwa Shokudo has the old atmosphere of Okinawa, where you can feel the slow passage of time (so called “Island Time”). They have table seats and zashiki (tatami seats). I recommend you to use zashiki, so that you can feel the real atmosphere of Japan. But don’t forget to take off your shoes before sitting on the tatami seat!
Zashiki (Tatami Seats)
Daiwa Shokudo is crowded at lunch time with locals and tourists enjoying Miyako soba and other Japanese dishes, so if you want to avoid the crowd, it would be better to visit the restaurant after lunch time has finished (like after 1 or 2 pm).
Daiwa Shokudo location: 819-3 Hirara Nishizato, Miyakojima-shi
