Have you tried the Ishigaki beef burger? Explore the top 5 B-grade foods on Ishigaki Island

▲ A must-try “ultimate hamburger steak”: the Ishigaki beef burger.

Reporter Ma Junjie / Reported and photographed in Japan

Taiwanese travelers love taking cruises to Ishigaki Island for a short trip—just a three-day, two-night journey departing Friday evening and returning Sunday, with no need to take time off work. The cruise stops at Ishigaki Island for about eight hours, giving you plenty of time to sample the island“B-grade cuisine”!

▲ It’s very convenient for Taiwanese travelers to visit Ishigaki Island by cruise.

Onisasa
First up is a local B-grade favorite that people have enjoyed since childhood: “Onisasa” (phonetic transliteration), a chicken breast rice ball from Chinen Shokai. This DIY-style dish lets you pick your favorite fried item from the food counter to go with your rice ball. It's a beloved B-grade food that locals have grown up with, selling up to 1,500 portions on holidays and around 1,000 on regular days—all at very affordable prices.

▲ A childhood favorite among locals: Onisasa.

A generous piece of fried chicken breast paired with a customizable rice ball. Rice ball flavors include shiso, dried bonito, egg, mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and kamameshi. Originally, there was no chicken breast rice ball combo—it started when local students, feeling peckish after school, would buy fried chicken breast and pair it with a rice ball, eventually creating the combo themselves.

The best way to enjoy it is with a drizzle of tonkatsu sauce and mayonnaise. The chicken breast is tender and springy, and the rice grains are fine and fluffy—you could eat this every day and never get tired of it. Just be warned: these chicken breast rice balls sell out quickly, so it’s best to grab one early in the morning as a tasty breakfast starter.

▲ Ms. Hideko Chinen, owner of Chinen Shokai.

▲ Chinen Shokai is a long-standing local convenience store offering not just rice balls but also many bentos, drinks, daily necessities, and more.

Island tofu dishes
Don’t miss out on island tofu dishes when you’re on Ishigaki. Made from tofu produced with the island’s high-quality water, it has a delightfully chewy and silky texture. A common local way to enjoy it is with ingredients like dried small fish.

▲ Island tofu dishes

Mr. Chouichi Nakazato, owner of a long-established local tofu shop, says island tofu instantly brings his shop to mind. The slightly smoky flavor is what makes their tofu unique.

▲ Tofu from Mr. Chouichi Nakazato’s shop.

Yaeyama soba (buckwheat noodles)
For lunch, why not try a bowl of Yaeyama soba? The broth is primarily made with dried bonito, and it’s typically topped with pork, along with chewy, handcrafted soba noodles from the area—perfect for whetting your appetite.

Of course, eating soba isn’t just about the noodles—you should definitely add some locally brewed “awamori” spicy oil to the dish. The slight spiciness combined with the aroma of awamori adds a rich depth of flavor.

Ishigaki beef burger
When you think of Ishigaki Island, Ishigaki beef is sure to come to mind. When visiting Ishigaki, you simply must try ‘Ishigaki beef.’ The verdant green hills of Yaeyama on Ishigaki Island provide an ideal environment for raising premium-quality cattle. Calves born on Ishigaki and sent to Kobe or mainland Japan are often selected as top-grade Japanese black-haired wagyu. But for B-grade food, we highly recommend trying the Ishigaki beef burger.

This is a small shop located on the seaside road opposite Ishigaki Port. They offer a wide selection—Ishigaki beef burgers come in either hamburger steak or charcoal-grilled steak styles.

▲ Ultimate Hamburger Steak Ishigaki Beef Burger (L).

And of course, you should also try the Ishigaki beef steak. The steak is best enjoyed medium-rare—the meat is tender and delicious, and it tastes great even when it cools down.

▲ Ishigaki beef steak

Awamori
After enjoying a hearty meal, it’s time to unwind with a drink. Ishigaki Island’s local specialty, “Awamori,” is a distilled liquor made from rice—quite different from sake. Awamori can be enjoyed straight or diluted with water. It has a strong distilled aroma with a wild, untamed vibe reminiscent of the free-spirited islanders, yet it goes down smoothly without being overly harsh, making it surprisingly delicious.
ETtoday ETToday News Cloud reminds you: Don’t drink and drive, and don’t drive after drinking.

The recommended local way to enjoy it is in a 4:3 ratio—4 parts water to 3 parts Awamori. Adding ice also makes it incredibly tasty. Of course, aside from diluting with water, locals also suggest mixing it in a 4:3 ratio with fresh kumquats for a sweet, fruity flavor that’s absolutely delightful. There’s also flavored yuzu (citrus) Awamori available, which sells very well in Taiwan.

Besides Awamori, the island also turns it into jelly—which still contains alcohol (so don’t eat it if you’re driving!). Don’t drink and drive, and don’t drive after drinking. Ishigaki Island actually has many more delicious foods waiting to be discovered. Why not plan a fun three-day, two-night trip during your next long weekend?

Chinin Shokai
Address: 1249-18, Tonosho, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture
Phone: 0980-82-9664 (+81-980-82-9664)
Business hours: 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM (Japan Standard Time)