PasaThai Nang’s Kitchen on Okinawa serves authentic Isan or Thai-Lao food, a taste native to northeastern Thailand. (Frank Andrews/Stars and Stripes)
PasaThai Nang’s Kitchen on Okinawa is an authentic Thai food experience in upscale Mihama Kitayama, nestled among the Felicidade shops just steps away from American Village.
Curry fragrances billowing out of the restaurant drew me in. I otherwise might have missed the place hidden between two buildings.
The dining area, approximately 250 square feet, has three tables, 12 seats and six barstools at the bar. Two more tables are situated outside.
PasaThai Nang’s Kitchen on Okinawa serves authentic Isan or Thai-Lao food, a taste native to northeastern Thailand. (Frank Andrews/Stars and Stripes)
I sat at the bar. The English menu with pictures shows 40 Thai dishes, including well-known favorites like pad Thai noodles, green and red curries, spring rolls and Thai. There were many authentic Thai dishes I have never heard of, such as tom yum marinated cucumber and edamame, chicken gra prao tacos, minced chicken larb salad and Thai basil chicken rice.
I ordered my go-to — pad Thai noodles with chicken and shrimp with a side of fried spring rolls — and got to talking with Paul Richmond, 19, from Spring Hill, Fla., who was seated next to me.
The pad Thai is on point at PasaThai Nang’s Kitchen on Okinawa. (Frank Andrews/Stars and Stripes)
Turns out, Richmond, an airman 1st class with the 961st Aircraft Maintenance Unit at Kadena Air Base, was born in Bangkok and is a regular at PasaThai.
“Once a week?” I asked him. “No, every other day,” he replied while eating his favorite dish, the Thai omelet.
“He’s like my own son,” chimed in Thai owner Nang Samran, who was eavesdropping nearby.
My pad Thai noodles were on point. I only wish I’d explored more of the menu, which looked great.
All khao rice dishes cost 1,000 yen. Fried or kuaylieu noodle dishes are 1,100 yen. All seafood dishes cost between 900 yen and 1,300 yen — not expensive, considering the restaurant’s upscale location.
The menu recommends six dishes for those who need help ordering: gra prao tacos, minced larb salad, Thai vermicelli salad, stir-fried seafood (or chicken) with egg and curry, Thai omelet, and tom yum marinated cucumber edamame.
A side of fried spring rolls from PasaThai Nang’s Kitchen on Okinawa. (Frank Andrews/Stars and Stripes)
PasaThai Nang’s Kitchen serves authentic Isan or Thai-Lao food, a taste native to northeastern Thailand.
The owner and her brother, cook Vitoon Samran, operated the same restaurant in Yokohama but it closed due to COVID-19 restrictions. Nang looked to make a new start, moved to Okinawa in November 2021 and resurrected PasaThai Nang’s Kitchen near American Village.
PasaThai Nang’s Kitchen Okinawa
Location: On the promenade near American Village in Chatan, Okinawa.
Hours: Open Tuesday through Sunday. 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch; 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. for dinner.
Prices: Most dishes cost between 900 yen and 1,300 yen.
Dress: Casual
Directions: Steps away from Chatan Harbor Brewery.
Information: 90-8461-0436; @pasathaiokinawa on Instagram and Facebook.
