Summer Cuisines Unique to the Islands of Oki!

One of the signature dishes available on Nishinoshima Island, Okinoshima Town, and Chibu Island is the “sazae gohan” (サザエご飯) or turban shell rice. The rice is usually cooked with thinly sliced turban shells and vegetables, like carrots, but because every restaurant uses different ingredients, the sazae rice never tastes completely the same. Sazae adds texture to the rice, making it very pleasant to have with other side dishes, such as fried chicken or pork cutlet.

Available on all four islands, this is a staple dish well-known by the local people. In the past, when meat was not readily available on the islands, local people would use the turban shells in many dishes as a source of protein. The liver of the turban shell and butter are mixed and  used to make the curry paste, which gives it a little bit of a spicy scent. It’s a simple dish that can be enjoyed by anyone and is also available for sale as a “box curry” making it the perfect souvenir to take home and enjoy with your loved ones!

Here are some restaurants where you can try sazae curry. Sazae Mura (Okinoshima Town), Conseil (Nishinoshima Town), Pōrest (Okinoshima Town), Sentoraru-tei (Ama Town), Kokage Cafe (Okinoshima Town), Masuya (Okinoshima Town)

At Okinoshima Town there is a restaurant called Sazae Mura which specialises in turban shell dishes, like this one! The half cooked egg goes well with the savoury turban shell flavour mixed with rice!

If you order a very interesting menu item called, “Sazae don don ga don,” grilled turban shells (inside their shells) will be served!

Speaking of turban shells, to be able to have them for BBQ in summer is probably something you can only do on an island! For this dish, grilled turban shells are cut into small pieces, mixed with rice, and a little of rice miso; that is a dish unique to the Oki Islands!

Available in Okinoshima Town, Hotel Uneri restaurant (open to tourists for lunch hours).