Subscribe
The Okie-Dokie Steak House on Kokusai Street in Naha, Okinawa, is staffed by waitresses in cowgirl uniforms.

The Okie-Dokie Steak House on Kokusai Street in Naha, Okinawa, is staffed by waitresses in cowgirl uniforms. (Cindy Fisher / Stars and Stripes)

NAHA, Okinawa — The Okie-Dokie Steak House on Kokusai Street in Naha has a name that says it all: This is a steak house, so don’t come in unless you have a hankerin’ for some steer.

Chicken garlic steak, hamburger steak, top sirloin steak, filet steak — they even have a steak for kids. Overhead, ceiling fans gently stir the air — the better to waft the smell of beef throughout the room — as cowboy hat-clad waitresses roam among the wood-top tables. The décor takes a stab at American western saloon, but misses the mark due to its strong Japanese overtones.

Staff uniforms do play up the theme and patrons are encouraged to “take a picture with our cute cowgirls.”

Our “cute cowgirl” server spoke enough English to make communication easy, and menus with a mixture of Japanese and English along with plenty of pictures were helpful, too.

The steak wasn’t so great that I would suggest making a trip to Naha for the restaurant alone. However, if you are already on Kokusai Street for the shopping, Okie-Dokie is good for a quick bite to eat, though it’s a little pricey.

The most expensive meal was a 300 gram (about 10.5 ounces) steak for 7,000 yen. But I’m cheap, so I stuck with a smaller meal for about 3,000 yen (about $25) — the average meal price there.

The steak was just OK, but my dining companions raved about the sake. However, unless you want to wind up under the table, they suggested cutting it with some water before drinking.

The Okie-Dokie’s hours are 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and it remains open throughout the afternoon from 3 to 5 p.m., a time when most other restaurants on Kokusai Street are closed.

So, if you’re on Kokusai Street when hunger hits, the Okie-Dokie is OK. Just follow your senses. The bright yellow Okie-Dokie sign, speakers blaring the name on the sidewalk and the smell of steak wafting on the breeze make it hard to miss.

To see previous After Hours reviews, go to: stripes.com/afterhours

Sign Up for Daily Headlines

Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets from around the world.

Sign Up Now