Tacos with Okinawan Salt! Original Salt Tacos at [LUCKY TACOS] (in Naha City)

One of the pleasures of traveling is encountering specialty dishes that can only be enjoyed locally. What’s on your “must eat” list while visiting Okinawa”? Does it include Okinawan ‘soul foods’ like Okinawa soba, steak, hamburgers, tacos and taco rice... These are definitely the most popular and well-known among the local dishes. But there’s only so much that one can eat in one sitting, and you may not be able to eat it all in, say, a trip duration of 2 nights and 3 days.




In that case, what I would like to recommend are tacos that you can eat like a snack. Depending on where you go, you can order tacos by the piece, and in Okinawa, many people enjoy them for an afternoon snack, or whenever they’re feeling a little peckish.




While strolling around Kokusai Street in Naha, swing by "LUCKY TACOS" on the 2nd floor just at the entrance to the shopping arcade of Heiwa Dori. This is a taco and taco rice specialty shop where you can enjoy their original “salt tacos".




Their taco shells are made daily by their expert chef, using high-quality corn flour and left to rest overnight.




Their taco shells are quickly deep-fried to a golden brown, with a delightful texture that’s crunchy, crispy, and chewy. The meat is 100% ground beef and prepared with their original blend of spices that bring out the tasty flavor of the beef. The fresh lettuce and cabbage are finely chopped and adds a nice crunch to each bite.




Tacos are generally served with salsa sauce, but Ryuji Narita, the owner of LUCKY TACOS recommends, "Please try it with Maasu (Okinawan for salt)." This way, you can enjoy the real aroma and texture of the ingredients. Okinawan salt contains a lot of minerals, and really brings out the flavor of the tacos.




The most popular choice at the restaurant is their "Lucky Tacos Set (¥900)", a great set to enjoy their delicious Taco Rice at the same time. The Taco Rice is served with their homemade salsa sauce with zero spiciness. “Some people are hesitant about spicy foods and we also have customers who bring their children, too, so I chose a salsa sauce that is not spicy. For spicy-food lovers, we have Tabasco sauce at the tables to adjust the taste to your preference,” says Narita-san.




Toppings are available for both tacos and taco rice orders. Narita-san's recommendation is the local citrus fruit, Shikwasa (available during the summer months only). Avocado is popular with his female customers, and if you want to increase the volume, he recommends adding meat and cheese toppings.




Tacos and taco rice are available to eat-in or for take-out. There are countless taco specialty shops in Okinawa, and the ingredients and taco shells differ from shop to shop, so it may be fun and enjoyable to try and compare them during your stay.

 

LUCKY TACOS
Address: 2F Presto Bldg., 3-1-11 Makishi, Naha City, Okinawa
Telephone: 098-943-4901
Hours: Friday to Wednesday from 10:30 to 22:00, and 10:30 to 15:00 on Thursdays
Website: https://www.luckytacos.com     
*Prices in this article are current as of September 2020.

Okinawa CLIP photo writer, Sachiko Tachi.