Bollywood Dreams

American Village is a popular tourist destination. Easy to find just off Route 58, it’s paths are well worn. However, beyond the glitz and glam, are nestled some of the best eateries Okinawa has to offer. It has a diverse range too, so whatever you fancy, you may well find it here. Introducing a new series, Tastes of Mihama, to tantalise your tastebuds. Let’s start off with Bollywood Dreams, a fine Indian dining experience.

For anyone unfamiliar with the term “Bollywood”, it refers to an Indian movie, music and dance style. A modern twist on the traditional, it’s recognisable instantly by it’s drama, colour and infectious beats. Bollywood Dreams have built their modest restaurant around this theme, with ultra modern decor, a large flat screen playing the latest in Indian music, and walls adorned with the genre’s biggest stars.

The restaurant itself is very clean; welcoming, seating around 52 guests. There’s also a VIP room for private parties. I recommend booking in advance (on the day should be fine), it fills up fast, especially on weekends and holidays.

Now onto the good stuff. The food. If, like me, you love Indian cuisine, you will not be disappointed. The menu is impressively diverse, with a good selection of starters, tandoori (grilled), Biriyani (lighter curry with rice included) and of course, curries. They have an excellent seafood and vegetarian section, as well as breads and rices. Rich flavours and variable spice levels to suit any palette: choosing a dish is really hard! In the end, I went with eggplant pakora to start, then mutton and pumpkin curry, palak paneer (cheese and spinach) curry, with boiled rice and a butter naan. I went with a level one; I like spice but not so that it’s overpowering (I probably could’ve had a level 2 or 3, next time). It was delicious.

Drinks menu is extensive, offering a good range of local and imported beers (Indian and European), as well as soft drinks and Indian drinks. I went with mango lassi (a traditional yogurt drink infused with fruit), it’s creamy and sweet, but not too thick, a perfect accompaniment to my meal.

They have a great dessert range, incorporating traditional dishes with modern twists. The naan desserts looked great, sadly, I was too full from my main meal to partake!

Price wise, not the cheapest, but you get what you pay for. My meal came to just over 3,000 yen, worth every penny.

It’s located on the second floor, with only stair access, unfortunately, it may prove a logistical issue for some. Other than this, I can find no other faults, and will certainly visit again.

Open 11:00 am – 10:00 pm Sunday to Thursday (last order 9:30), 11:00 am – 10:30 pm Friday and Saturday (last order 10:00)