Fish burger (Yurika Usui/Stripes Okinawa)
One of the joys of spending time in Okinawa is enjoying a gourmet hamburger. Since it opened in 2022, Hey in Nago has been gaining popularity for its tasty burgers.
It was raining heavily the day, so we sought burgers and shelter inside Hey. From behind the wooden kitchen counter, the owner and staff greeted us.
We made our order, wiped the rain off our faces, and finally took a breather to look around the restaurant. The spacious space was furnished with wooden chairs and tables bathed in warm light. I felt like I’d discovered a wonderful hideaway in an unexpected place.
I was feeling down about not being able to enjoy outdoor activities during my Okinawa trip, but that shop offered not only burgers but also nice atmosphere, which lifted my spirits.
Within 10 minutes, our food was served before us. The fish burger I ordered arrived piping hot with a slightly toasted bun. The combination of fried fish crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, crunchy lettuce, simple-yet-rich tartar sauce, cheese, mayonnaise and hint of soy sauce stimulated my appetite. My friend went with the standard pork burger which included cheese, a sunny side up egg, lettuce and a portion of bacon that spilled out of the bun. The texture, flavor and aroma of this burger were carefully considered.
The only downside of HEY’s burger was that I finished mine in no time and immediately regretted not ordering another to sample more of the menu.
This burger shop is located in Nago City’s shopping arcade. Once you find the white sign in the arcade, head up the stairs to the shop on the second floor. Trendy magazines and books are placed on the central table inside the shop, so you can read a book while you enjoy your meal.
In addition, the shop also sells original merchandise with its logo and baked goods from partner shop Haretakara. All hamburgers are available for takeout, so on a sunny day it would be nice to eat them on the beach nearby.
Next time I visit Nago, I will definitely make time for a Hey burger.
Things to know
Location: 1-2-3 Gusuku, Nago-shi, Okinawa
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. – 10 p.m., closed on Sunday.
Cost: HEY burger is 1,540 yen, fish burger is 1,320 yen.
Instagram: @hey_hamburger
(Yurika Usui/Stripes Okinawa)
(Yurika Usui/Stripes Okinawa)
(Yurika Usui/Stripes Okinawa)
AloJapan.com