MIHAMA, Okinawa — I haven’t had much luck with buffet-style restaurants on Okinawa — until I went to Jan Jan, a Japanese restaurant in American Village.
It’s a great place to bring the family for lunch of dinner. It’s also a good starting point to grab a bite and get started on a night on the town.
There’s no need for a menu, since what you see is what you get. I like to know what to call what I am eating, so I was grateful that most of the dishes were labeled in English.
The buffet offers a variety of noodles and rice dishes. The gyoza was very tasty. Chop suey, curry, squid and seafood, and soups round out the menu.
I personally don’t care for sushi, but it’s also offered on the night buffet.
For all of this, 1,280 yen seemed like a pretty decent price to me for the lunch menu. The dinner buffet is a little more at 1,800 yen — still not a bad deal.
The night buffet also offers an all-you-can-eat-and-drink option: 2,880 yen for women and 2,980 for men. I would think that alone would make this the perfect place to start a night of painting the town red.
Beyond the buffet, seating is broken up by a series of half walls that create an atmosphere that’s intimate without seeming cramped. Low-key lighting and Japanese music add to the relaxing atmosphere.
There’s plenty of seating and with the fixed prices, this makes an excellent spot for an office party or friendly get-together.
So, I know where I am starting the New Year.
Jan Jan, Mihama American, Village, Okinawa
Hours: Lunch, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. ; dinner, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.Prices: Lunch buffet is 1,280 yen. Dinner buffet is 1,800 yen. All-you-can-eat-and-drink dinner buffet is 2,880 for women and 2980 for men.Clientele: Mostly JapaneseEnglish menu: No menus, though the buffet is partly labeled in English. The staff spoke little English but were very friendly.Specialties: Mostly Japanese dishes. Sushi and other seafood also featured on the buffet.Dress: CasualDirections: Jan Jan is on the second floor of the Umaimono Plaza in Mihama’s American Village. From Camp Foster’s Commissary Gate, turn right on Highway 58. At the Mihama Intersection, turn right. Then turn left at the Jusco Mall. Umaimono Plaza is two blocks past the Jusco Mall. There is a parking lot directly across from Umaimono Plaza or Jusco Mall’s parking lot is within walking distance.Telephone: 098-926-3052Web site:www.captains-g.co.jp
