URUMA CITY, Okinawa — In my search for good Mexican food on Okinawa, Casa Tacos has hit closest to the mark.
It is hard to go wrong with a simple menu dominated by the taco.
The restaurant, right outside the main gate of Camp Courtney on Highway 75, doesn’t look like much from its exterior.
Inside, the walls are papered with photos of past patrons, local and American. Interspersed throughout are cowboy hats and sombreros and, of course, a set of bull’s horns. Wood tables, dim lighting and floors dark from years of use add to the ambiance.
In fact, it put me in mind of those mom-and-pop run “hole in the wall” Mexican cantinas that abound in Southern California.
Those places usually had the best food.
And so does Casa Tacos. The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and is not at all crowded during lunchtime.
When I sat down for lunch, I was a little surprised that the server brought out hot sauce that had been heated. But it was actually very good.
You can get tacos with beef, chicken or beans. Most of the combo plates featured tacos.
If tacos aren’t to your taste, the menu included burritos and tostadas and, naturally, the Oki-Mex dish taco rice. To mix it up, there was Japanese fried rice or yakisoba.
And to appeal to American palettes, there was the standby of any greasy spoon: the cheeseburger and fries.
A good Mexican meal doesn’t seem complete without a beer and you won’t be disappointed here, though the choice is limited to Orion, Budweiser or Miller.
Whether you eat at the restaurant or order your meal to go, Casa Tacos delivers a quick and tasty bite to eat.
See previous After Hours reviews here.
Casa Tacos
Uruma City, Okinawa
Prices: Meals range from about 600 to 900 yen. Soft drinks are 200 yen and beer is 300 yen.
Specialties: Mexican cuisine dominated by tacos.
English menu: Yes.
Dress: Casual.
Clientele: A mix of local and American. It is family friendly.
Location: The restaurant is on Highway 75 directly across from the main gate of Camp Courtney.
Phone number: 098-972-6022
Web site: None.
