King Tacos 金武本店

This time I came to Kin, Okinawa, mainly to try the local famous taco rice and taco tacos, so I found a well-known place on Google Reviews—King Tacos. With high expectations, I rushed over, and upon arrival, I discovered that the atmosphere in the area is indeed very unique, with the streets filled with American-style decor, giving me a momentary illusion of being in San Francisco. While walking around, I noticed there were surprisingly few Japanese people and a lot of foreigners. Later, I learned that there is a U.S. military base nearby, so the whole town is almost surrounded by a strong American vibe.

King Tacos itself also has the flavor of an old-school American fast food joint. The portion of taco rice here is astonishing and is one of the best value meals I’ve had in Okinawa. For just 1000 yen, you can enjoy a huge plate piled high with taco rice. If you opt for the taco tacos, you get four large rolls, and the portion is similarly generous. The ground meat is incredibly flavorful, and there’s a generous amount of cheese, paired with plenty of fresh lettuce. When you take a bite, the flavors of meat, cheese, and the crunch of the lettuce explode at once. Especially their taco sauce is the soul of the dish! It’s slightly spicy with a hint of sweetness, and it pairs so well with all the ingredients, making you want to keep taking bite after bite.

There was a small incident where, since there were fewer Japanese people and more foreigners around, when they heard me speak Chinese, about seven to eight Americans spoke to me in a teasing tone, which had a tinge of discrimination, making the atmosphere a bit uncomfortable. However, being unfamiliar with the place, I didn’t intend to provoke any conflict (and I wouldn’t have won anyway 😆), but I felt that it’s still necessary to be a bit cautious about my safety and the surroundings here.

Overall, King Tacos is definitely a place worth a special visit, as it’s cheap and delicious, and taco rice is a major feature of Okinawa. However, Kin itself has a different vibe from an ordinary Japanese town, so if you’re here for fun, while enjoying the food, you also need to be a little more aware of your surroundings.