While walking through the business district of Naha, you'll come across an intriguing store with an eye-catching pastel yellow exterior. This is Torneko Papa, a ramen shop where local business people line up. Since opening in June 2022, it has continued to attract locals with its unique flavor and atmosphere.

Ramen filled with Okinawan specialties

"There are many offices in the city of Naha. We want to say 'thank you for your hard work' to the people who work there and provide them with delicious ramen."

Mr. Fukushima, the store manager who has been supporting the store since it first opened, told us about his thoughts when he first opened the store. This is reflected in the lines of business people lining up in front of Torneko Papa on weekday lunchtime.

Looking at the ticket machine, you will see a lineup of ramen with unique names such as "Torneko Ramen" and "Usagi Ryu Neko Niku Chuka Soba." The most popular of these is "Torneko Ramen," named after the restaurant. This original tonkotsu ramen is a mix of Jiro-style and Iekei-style ramen, and comes with a raw egg and rice.

"We use freshly chopped garlic that is prepared in-house and chopped in-house every morning. This is the secret to the delicious flavor of Torneko Ramen. We also want our customers to eat their fill and feel energized, so our ramen and rice set is the standard. Rice goes really well with our rich ramen."

This was told to us by Mr. Sunagawa, who is in charge of product development at Torneko Papa.

The pork slices are made with pork skin, inspired by Okinawa's sanmainiku. In addition, the ramen is topped with shredded carrots, and the back fat is made from Okinawan Agu pork, giving the ramen a unique Okinawan flavor. You can experience Okinawa's food culture through the ramen. This is a restaurant that offers a fresh experience for tourists.

An evolving menu born from free thinking

Fukushima and Sunagawa both previously worked in ramen restaurants, and their experience and dedication are fully displayed in Torneko Papa.

For example, limited-time menu items. This summer, the cold ramen that was invented by Mr. Sunagawa has become a popular menu item. This product was inspired by the soba noodles of Miyakojima, an Okinawan remote island, where ingredients are hidden inside the noodles. It was originally served as a staff meal, but it was so well-received by the staff that it was commercialized.

In addition, the store sells exclusive T-shirts and caps, and has adopted the "morning ramen" culture, which is rare in Naha.

Perhaps it is the pair's vast knowledge of ramen and flexible thinking that has created a one-of-a-kind ramen shop that has captured the hearts of its fans.

Enjoy the different faces of the place in the morning and afternoon

One of the attractions of Torneko Papa is that they offer "morning ramen." This is only available on weekday mornings, and unlike the heavy ramen they serve at lunchtime, you can enjoy a light and mild-tasting ramen topped with "yushi tofu."

"Most of our customers in the afternoon are office workers, but we also have a lot of tourists in the morning. Whether you come in the morning or afternoon, I think you'll enjoy our ramen with a distinctive Okinawan flavor."

Whether you want to fill up your stomach for lunch or get some energy in the morning, you're sure to find a ramen that suits your taste in Naha.

---

トルネコパーパ
住所：〒900-0021 那覇市泉崎1-11-1
電話番号：080-8549-9746
アクセス：県庁前駅出口より徒歩約6分
Instagram：https://www.instagram.com/torunekopapa5/
＊営業時間や定休日についての詳細は上記のリンク先にてご確認ください。