[Parlor K’s Pit] offers tasty burgers popular among the Americans living in Okinawa!

In this article, we’ll be introducing Parlor K’s Pit, a popular burger joint that opened in May 2022, in Ishikawa, Uruma City, situated right at the center of Okinawa Island. The shop is housed in a building that was once used as military housing, and they offer tasty burgers that have captured the hearts and palettes of the locals and many Americans that live on Okinawa.

The owner is a big fan of America!

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With his warm smile and his trademark overalls, the owner, Kentaro Omura (47) is almost like the mascot of Parlor K’s Pit, serving up his delicious burgers to his customers.


 

Omura-san was influenced by casual American fashion, a trend that garnered much popularity in Japan when he was around 17 years old. He was attracted to American culture through fashion, various goods, and music.

Since then, he’s made countless trips to the States, satisfying his appetite for everything American. It was around this time that he began to envision his future.


 

“I want to live surrounded by American culture.”

These thoughts led him to dive into the restaurant business and open an American-style diner. His first business was established in 2000, in Aichi prefecture. Then, last May, he opened Park K’s Pit in Okinawa, home to many US military facilities and Americans, and an environment filled with American culture. For a big fan of the United States like Omura-san, Okinawa was an ideal place for his business.


Instagenic!

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For Omura-san, Parlor K’s Pit is a dream come true.
There’s a yellow pickup truck that sits outside bearing signs, so you won’t miss it. 



Once you step inside, you’ll be surrounded by lights, chairs, tables, and various classic American items from the 50s and 60s that Omura-san has collected over the years, spending a total amount of up to about five million yen.




 

The charming interior with pastel-colored walls and knickknacks that decorate the diner are all very attractive and very instagenic. Have fun taking photos as you indulge in the delicious burgers.


The secret behind the must-try burgers.

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Now, let’s get into the burgers that are so popular with the Americans on the island.

We think that what makes a burger is the patty, wouldn’t you agree? The patty served at Parlor K’s Pit is quite simple, made with American beef, using the rich red meat from the thighs and beef tallow. They are particular about using the freshest ingredients, so the beef that is ground that day is never carried over to the next day. Each patty is carefully grilled only upon order.



When complete, wrap your burger in the burger paper, open wide, and take a bite. The juicy and tasty red meat will naturally bring happy smiles.


 

Among the choices on their menu, we recommend the cheeseburger at Parlor K’s Pit. The thick slice of cheese (about 4mm) brings together an amazing ensemble and no words can describe how delicious it is. “I didn’t want to worry too much about the cost of the ingredients, but wanted to focus on offering burgers that were simply delicious, says Omura-san. His burgers are a must-try and you’ll see why they’re popular among the US military personnel and others who keep coming back for more.


The burgers are hot sellers at on-base festivals, too!

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As mentioned before, Okinawa hosts many US military facilities and is where you can meet many friendly Americans and experience the American atmosphere more than any other location in Japan.

One of the best places to go is to any of the many festivals held on US military bases. These festivals have live performances and sometimes display aircraft, and they also usually have a whole array of ‘kitchen cars’ or food trucks, offering a variety of dishes.


 

Parlor K’s Pit has also participated in festivals on base, and on one occasion, they sold approximately 1,500 burgers in the two days of the festival. The line in front of their food truck extended over 100 meters, showing how popular the burgers are at Parlor K’s Pit.


Getting the thumbs up from Americans.

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America is the home of hamburgers, there’s no question about that. That’s why, “I want to hear that my burgers are great from everyone, but particularly from the Americans,” says Omura-san. Lately, he’s now also pouring his passion into creating a fantastic fish burger made with fresh seasonal fish caught in the waters surrounding Okinawa.
When in Okinawa, be sure to visit Parlor K’s Pit to get your hands on the must-try burgers there!



When you visit the diner, you too, will be captivated by the burgers that have kept the Americans on Okinawa coming back for more, as well as the unique American feel offered there.

 

Parlor K’ Pit
Address: 1-2-17 Ishikawa Akebono, Uruma City, Okinawa
Telephone: 098-923-3891
Hours: 11:00 to 20:00
Closed: Irregularly
Parking Available
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kspit_parlor_okinawa/   

 

Okinawa CLIP photo writer, Yu Murakami Photo Office Co., Ltd.