SAM’S Anchor Inn Ginowan

I wanted to share a recommendation for SAM'S Anchor Inn, a restaurant I frequented during my 18-month station at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.

The experience starts with the wonderful aroma of their signature bean soup, which is truly the best I have ever had. If you visit, I highly suggest ordering the shrimp cocktail; it features a unique presentation where the shrimp sits above blue-colored water and dry ice, creating a striking fog effect.

Their menu offers a wide range of selections, though I always opted for the Kobe steak. It is exceptionally tender, flavorful, and professionally prepared right at your table.

I highly recommend dining at SAM'S Anchor Inn. Enjoy!

One of my favorite places to eat on the island. One of a kind place for a special night out. Can make reservations to allow for faster seating.

Our family has been dining here for decades, it has always been satisfactory for fancy dining, our presentable diner for guests - until recently. It was completely disappointing. The appetizers were ok, but after that, everything went downhill. The wedge potatoes were served pre-cooked and tasted like cardboard, the soup was ok, but the rest of the meal were cooked with the same flavor : soy sauce, garlic and butter - the entire surf and turf course tasted the same. Our cook was obviously sick , phlegmatic coughing while trying to pull off a lame show with an energy of a koala. The fish came pre-cooked and served at room temp. The last straw was the garlic rice, it was over-buttered and unpalatably salty - we had to request a replacement of plain rice. The cook doesn't seem to know the right amount of ingredients to use, considering there were only 3; butter, garlic, and soy sauce. It all came too rehearsed, scripted without sense of outcome. The passion to serve great tasting food is no longer at the Sam's Anchor Inn. Been there too many times to notice it was getting worse on each visit. It has deteriorated, a shell of what it used to be. Under-performing cooks are unacceptable in Tepanyaki, or any restaurants for that matter. Not to mention the exhaust system is not able to manage the amount of smoke inside the restaurant, you are not just leaving disappointed, you are bringing that scent with you.

This visit was my first return visit since I was in Okinawa several years ago. Our family came here often when we were stationed here.
I brought my oldest grandson here for our Valentines Day meal. To say I was sorely disappointed would be an understatement. This definitely was not the Sam's Anchor Inn that I remembered. I had the steak and garlic shrimp set meal. The portion size was great, but the meal itself was unsatisfactory. The vegetables, mainly onions with green peppers and a tiny bit of bok choy, were dry and unseasoned. The steak (NY strip) and shrimp had plenty of garlic, but no other seasoning seemed to be on the meat. The Navy bean soup recipe seems to have changed as well. The escargot, bread, and shrimp cocktail were good.
I have no plans of returning to Sam's Anchor Inn for another meal.

Went to dinner with my bf Jan 22, 2018. It was his first time here. Lots of great history with excellent staff and great food! The bean soup was amazing! I had the top sirloin steak while he had the steak combo with shrimp. The non-alcoholic fruit punch is very good, price is reasonable especially with all the extras you get with your meal. We were the last ones to leave because we went there late but where else can you go to get tasty steak and seafood late at night? Here of course! Located in Ginowan area right on the 58. The locals love this place as much as the foreigners do. If you ever want a meal with great service come here! Coupons included.