As an overseas hub for U.S. military bases, Okinawa, Japan, is known among troops for its beautiful coastline, hot, humid weather, and a unique fusion cuisine, usually referred to as “TRC.”
“Tacos had already been introduced to Okinawa by the Americans, but it was more like a snack, not very filling for Americans. And it was something you couldn’t find at a restaurant,” Parlor Senri restaurant’s Sayuri Shimabukuro told “Parts Unknown.” “Matsuzo decided to substitute the taco shell with rice, which is relatively faster to cook and also filling. Parlor Senri’s customers were 100 percent Americans, and in order for the wait staff to explain the dish, he named it taco rice.”
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TRC, or “Taco, Rice, and Cheese,” is a Mexican-Japanese fusion dish that exists only because of the U.S. military presence on the island. It is, most simply put, a giant taco salad with rice instead of a taco shell. First introduced on the island in 1984, it’s now a staple among U.S. service members stationed there.
The dish is so popular among troops that most shops serving it are literally within walking distance of the base gates. There was a Facebook page dedicated to it, not too long before web video exploded across the internet. Now there are hundreds, if not thousands, of Reels, Stories, and TikToks dedicated to making what is actually a pretty simple plate.
“It’s Mexican food,” Shimabukuro told Parts Unknown, “but Americanized Mexican food that the American military brought here.”
Be that as it may, the dish has been a top seller since it was introduced more than 40 years ago, and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. There’s considerable debate among shop owners as to who came up with TRC first. According to Stripes Okinawa, multiple shops in Kin (the town outside Camp Hansen) claim it was their idea. But while we’re trying to figure out who cooked it first, you can always make it yourself at home. Or you can watch how King Tacos in Kin makes its Taco Rice plate.
