Little Okinawa

This cheerful, busy hole-in-the-wall serves the foods of Japan’s southernmost islands. The Chinese influence is strong, especially in the emphasis on noodles and pork. Among the more accessible dishes are deep-fried chips of goya (bitter gourd), jimami-dofu (a creamy peanut mousse) and rafuti (delectable, slow-simmered pork belly). Once you’ve had a few shots of awamori, the local rice-based, rocket-fuel hooch, you’ll be ready for more exotic offerings such as mimiga (gelatinous pig’s ear) or umi-budo (crunchy seaweed).