ハンバーガーの時間 (Burger Time)
Back in the day (circa 2008) there was a JET by the name of Kim Loo who wrote a blog about her food experiences on Okinawa. And the one place she'd rave about to anyone within eyeshot was Captain Kangaroo. Of course when I heard the name my mind wandered back in time to a bygone era where Captain Kangaroo was a disturbing kids television show, but apparently in Okinawa it's a burger joint. Oh, Japan, always taking things I think I loved and warping them into something off-kilter. I'd always wanted to go but the only thing stopping me was its location. It's all the way up in Nago, which ain't exactly down the street (or up your butt and around the corner). However, on our last trip up north I came across this informative little gem...
Cue angelic music and all that shit. Finally! No need to drive a bazillion kilometers north, possibly endangering a Yanbaru Kuina. We'd be able to get our Kangaroo fix just 20 minutes up the road in Chatan. It was on...on like Donkey Kong. On Prozac.
This wall serves as the unofficial menu. There's a picture of each burger and a hilarious description to go along with it.
I ordered this crazy ridiculously good BBQ bacon cheeseburger (bacon was extra booooo). The bread was nice and toasted. The cheese was all oozy. And the bacon was nice and crisp like the dollar bills I used to slip into strippers g-strings. On top of that it came with a buttload of fries and ketchup on the plate in the shape of a heart. Awwwwwww. The chefs were trying to woo me. Mission accomplished!
So up until this point Gordie's had been considered the best burger joint on the entire island...and that may still be true. Gordie's has thicker, juicer burgers than Captain Kangaroo, but Captain Kangaroo has more variety. Captain Kangaroo also gives you a buttload of fries where as at Gordie's your lucky to get 3 on your plate. Captain Kangaroo is the better value, but Gordie's has the better meat.
There's actually a "cafe" in Tomigusuku that has great burgers as well that I'll write about next week (after I get my free meal...hee hee hee) so the burger showdown shall continue.
Thanks MaryAnn for the handful of photos!