肉屋 ししや
The butcher shop "Shishiya" near Makishi Market in Okinawa, Japan, is really amazing. The owner doesn't seem very friendly, but he's actually focused on cooking. After a short chat, you get a sense of his craftsmanship. The owner speaks a little bit of Chinese and English. On the day we visited, there was no line, and the customers were all Taiwanese 😆. First, you go to the freezer next to the counter to choose your meat. We bravely chose a large piece of A5 Wagyu sirloin for 10,900 yen, and we also got a piece of Ishigaki beef, a must-try in Okinawa, for 6,600 yen; the cut was "ichibo," which seems to be the round tail. We also ordered fried udon and fried rice.
Then the owner prepares the beef you just bought right in front of you, which is a wonderfully aromatic and visually appealing performance. Since this was really expensive but also delicious, let me describe the food in more detail than usual!
🥩 Wagyu Sirloin: The fat is something else; as soon as you take a bite, the aroma bursts open, and there's so much juice, with a natural sweetness that is amazing, whether eaten alone or dipped in their sauce. The texture isn't soft and mushy; it has a bit of a bite to it, is very firm, and incredibly satisfying to eat.
🐂 Ichibo: This was even more impressive to me. In comparison, it has slightly less fat than the sirloin but has more of that bouncy chewiness. When you bite into it, it releases juice continuously, with layers of flavor building up. It’s not the type that melts in your mouth immediately; it gets increasingly flavorful with each bite, truly delicious.
🍝 Fried Udon: Simple fried udon noodles with beef cubes, super tasty without complicated sauces and seasonings—just pure beef fat and noodles. It’s simple but has great depth, showcasing the original flavors of the ingredients, which is surprising. The crispy bits from the teppan udon are served to you as well, full of delicious wok aroma!
Fried Rice: This is simple beef fried rice, also super good. It’s seasoned with a bit more soy sauce, so it leans towards salty, but it's still very tasty and fragrant; however, I personally recommend the udon more.
Overall, "Shishiya" is truly amazing. Not only is the food delicious, but the entire experience is very complete. From choosing the meat to the on-site cooking and taking your first bite, you are completely immersed in a "visual + olfactory + gustatory" trio. If you come to Okinawa and have a bit of an obsession with beef, and if you can't get reservations for Ryukyu Beef or Yakiniku Honbu, you should definitely include this place in your itinerary.