SHINJUKU: Okinawa Paradise was a karaoke disaster on a Tuesday night... Master was off. (Canon S120)

It had been years since I had drinks with my former Japanese manager who helped managed the firms JREIT during my hedge fund days.... so this night had to take him and his colleague to one of my FAV restaurants in Tokyo!  Okinawa Paradise with Live Music time!

We sat just next to the main stage / tatami area.

Our Mensoleh 3,700 yen course included 150 minutes of nomihoudai (all you can drink) plus 12 different food items!  Nicely balanced.

https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1304/A130401/13108335/party/186336

They left this monster Awamori Okinawa Sake jug on our table... such a generous course dinner.

Orion Bottle Beers!  Normally you can only find draft in Tokyo... 

First dish included super fresh Umi-Budou (Ocean Grapes)... has a texture like tobiko.

Goya tuna salad

Goya champuru with spam

Unfortunately Tuesdays and Thursdays the amazing Owner (in Japan proprietors are called Master) was off and a really off key terrible musician performed but he keeps asking customers to stand up and sing... most of them were so bad.  This live music was a total disaster... OMG!

Tuesday Thursday Guy

Versus the Owners performance! (From my visit in 2015)

Somen noodle dish.

Of course stewed pork chunks... Pork Kakuni 

The live music started by 9pm and it was a full house... Unusual too see so many foreigners this night.  Must be my blog :) 

When in Shinjuku just a few steps from Golden Gai you gotta visit Okinawa Paradise! Just try to avoid Tuesdays and Thursdays.  

https://tokyobelly.blogspot.com/2012/12/shinjukukabukicho-okinawa-paradise.html

Restaurant: Okinawa Paradise

Tabelog Foodie: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1304/A130401/13108335/

Address J: 東京都新宿区歌舞伎町1-2-16 第一オスカービル 3F

Address E: Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Kabukucho 1-2-16, 3F

MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/E7KbALKnS3CfkRNTA

沖縄パラダイス, 沖縄料理, 居酒屋, ダイニングバー, Japan, Japanese, Okinawa, Tokyo, canon s120, live performance, band, Okinawan, sake, beer, pub, izakaya, foodie, tokyobelly, yelp

IKEBUKURO: Okinawa Shokudo Yanbaru Restaurant... hmm... the Oki Soba might be good but not for drinks. (Sony RX100M2)

I`m a fan at supporting new restaurants and even more so if its Okinawan.  Yanbaru Okinawa Shokudo Restaurant recently opened in Ikebukuro.  Lots of girls bars in this building. 

Lots of items on the menu.

Had to get the standard Goya Champuru 620 yen.

Lots of goya but very little SPAM.  Ho hum...

Then one of my favorites! Mozuku Tempura! 

This wasn`t quite tempura... more like fish cakes wrapped in mozuku then fried in oil. It was soooo greasy... Okinawa Paradise in Shinjuku was much better.

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.com/2012/12/shinjukukabukicho-okinawa-paradise.html

First time to see Indian chefs at an Okinawan Restaurant.  Normally they are either owned by an Okinawan company or the owner/chef is from Okinawa.  Maybe they are trying to sell the Oki concept?

I should have realized this place is a Shokudo... not really a sit in and drink izakaya kinda place.  Almost all the customers were ordering Okinawa Soba.

Didn`t have that Okinawan feeling... won`t be back for my Orion Beer needs.  Only good thing was no Otoshi fee (that automatic appetizer).

Restaurant:  Okinawa Shokudo Yanbaru Ikebukuro Branch

Restaurant J: 沖縄食堂 やんばる 池袋店 

Tabelog Foodie: https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1305/A130501/13269934/

Address J: 東京都豊島区東池袋1-7-7 鳥駒総本店ビル 1～2F

Address E:  Tokyo, Toshima-ku, Higashi Ikebukuro 1-7-7

MAP: https://goo.gl/maps/cuvHzPdwAtEBSuEa9

沖縄食堂 やんばる 池袋店, 沖縄料理、沖縄そば、居酒屋, Japan, Japanese, foodie, yelp, tokyobelly, sony rx100m2, cheap, family restaurant, bar, beers, izakaya, OKinawa, Okinawan, 

SHINJUKU/KABUKICHO: Okinawa Paradise... Great music, tasty food and live music. Can't go wrong here!

My second visit to Okinawa Paradise and once again they delivered!  Great assortment of Okinawan food, quick service with a smile and Master's live shamisen music got everyone up and dancing~. 

Most everything on the menu has a picture.

For starters the otoshi (comes automatically if you order alcohol).

The Okinawan rafute pork so very well seasoned.

Umi-Budou (ocean grapes) is a must!  Sooo fresh and the little bulbs pop in your mouth.

Mozuku

Okinawan tofu

Nankuru fried fish~.

Oh man... the tempura Mozuku was soooo good.  The texture a bit chewy and crunchy.

Fried goya and cheese thingys... great with beer

Sweet potato crepes!  

Overall this place is just good.  A+.  Just go!!

Here's a 15% off coupon http://r.gnavi.co.jp/ga1e100/map/

Shop: Okinawa Paradise

Gnavi Website: http://r.gnavi.co.jp/ga1e100/

Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1304/A130401/13108335/

Address J: 東京都新宿区歌舞伎町1-2-16 第一オスカービル 3F

Address E: Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Kabukicho 1-2-16, Daiichi Oscar Bldg 3F
MAP:

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