We returned to American Village in central Okinawa, a place I never tire of visiting.
Inspired by Seaport Village in San Diego, it is full of shops and buildings unlike those elsewhere in Japan.
An American-themed visit calls for steak.
The interior had a vintage American-restaurant atmosphere.
Red upholstered leather booths recalled American films and television.
Broadway-style lighting added to the mood.
A drinks and salad bar stood in the center.
The salads were simple, with plenty of fresh vegetables.
There was creamy mushroom soup, which I always associate with steak,
and a familiar egg-and-seaweed soup.
That second soup seemed Chinese-inspired.
Cowboy guns on display added to the vintage Western theme.
At the time, Steak 88 Chatan offered unlimited Blue Seal ice cream, an Okinawan specialty, for JPY 380.
The choice of flavors felt larger than at a typical ice-cream shop.
I particularly enjoyed the purple-sweet-potato and pistachio flavors.
Adding unlimited drinks cost another JPY 380.
Interestingly, the drinks bar and unlimited Blue Seal were available even without ordering steak.
Each cost JPY 680 on that basis.
With one Blue Seal ice cream costing around JPY 300 then, it felt like a tempting alternative to a café.
As expected from a steak specialist, there were many reasonably priced cuts.
The rib New York steak that caught my eye cost JPY 2,618.
Adding toast or garlic rice incurred a JPY 220 charge in the source menu.
Steak 88 Chatan offered five cooking levels: rare, medium rare, medium, medium well, and well done.
We were told a rare steak could be cooked further if desired.
Drinks are another part of a steak meal.
There were beers, highballs, and wines.
Alcohol-free beer seemed an option for anyone driving.
The rib New York steak I had wanted from the start.
The thick beef and grill marks gave it a classic American-steak appearance.
Tenderloin is another steak I associate with dining in Japan.
The original account describes its lean, mild character as popular with Americans.
Asked about my favorite Okinawan foods, steak would certainly be a contender.
A cold beer and a bite of steak—wonderful.
Steak 88 Chatan also had several original sauces, adding variety to the meal.
The steak looked delicious from every side.
Juices dripped from it.
After eating, we tried the Blue Seal ice cream.
For an ice-cream lover, I thought the unlimited option was a worthwhile addition at the time.
Steak House 88 Chatan made our American Village visit feel even more American.
The source counted 21 Okinawan branches then; despite being a chain, its place in Okinawa’s steak history appealed to me.
Different services at each branch also made visits interesting.
If you crave steak in American Village, I recommend considering Steak House 88.