What Is SPAM?
SPAM is a luncheon meat brand sold by Hormel Foods, an American company.
Its main ingredients are pork and ham, salt, water, potato starch, sugar, and sodium nitrite.
Since its launch in 1937, it has become a classic processed pork product loved around the world, recognizable by its blue and yellow packaging.
If you spot the word "SPAM" while traveling, it may refer to the brand itself, or it may be used more broadly to describe pork luncheon meat in general.
In Okinawa, it is often labeled as "pork" on menus, and you will naturally encounter it at local diners and rice ball shops.
Knowing that "SPAM" is a brand name while "pork" can refer to pork luncheon meat in general will make ordering food in Okinawa much easier.
Why SPAM (Pork Luncheon Meat) Is Loved in Okinawa
In Okinawa, pork luncheon meat became widely used in everyday Okinawan home cooking after World War II.
Today, it is often described as an essential ingredient in Okinawan food culture.
Okinawa has long had a food culture that values pork, captured in the saying that "everything but the squeal and hooves" is eaten.
Within this tradition, easy-to-store and easy-to-handle pork luncheon meat became firmly established as a staple ingredient in home cooking and quick meals.
In supermarkets and local markets, canned pork luncheon meat is a regular sight, and it is also a common pantry item in Okinawan households.
For travelers as well, it is one ingredient worth remembering as a clue to understanding Okinawa's food culture.
Popular SPAM Dishes You'll Find in Okinawa
Pork Tamago Onigiri (Pork and Egg Rice Ball)
The first SPAM dish to know about in Okinawa is pork tamago onigiri.
Pork tamago onigiri is a rice ball wrapped in seaweed (nori) that contains a layer of pork luncheon meat and a Japanese-style omelet, and it is sold widely at supermarkets and convenience stores throughout Okinawa.
Easy to eat with one hand, it is a popular choice for breakfast or a light meal.
Prices vary by store and ingredients but generally range from 300 to 500 yen each, and specialty shops offer a wide variety of fillings (tuna mayo, mentaiko, shiso, and more).
If you are trying it for the first time, starting with this dish makes it easy to appreciate how SPAM's saltiness pairs with rice and egg.
You will also find specialty shops near Naha Airport and the Kokusai-dōri (International Street) area, making it easy to stop in between sightseeing.
Gōyā Champurū (Goya Champuru) and Other Champurū Stir-Fries
One of Okinawa's most iconic dishes, champurū (often searched as champuru), also often features pork luncheon meat.
Gōyā champurū (bitter melon stir-fry) and tofu champurū are well-known Okinawan staples, and at home or in local diners, pork luncheon meat is sometimes used in place of regular pork.
When combined with vegetables, island tofu (shima-dōfu), and egg, the savory flavor and saltiness of SPAM blends well throughout the dish.
The salty SPAM and egg help mellow out the bitterness of gōyā, making it relatively easy to eat even for those who usually find bitter melon difficult.
If you want to try a "real Okinawan home-style dish," champurū with pork luncheon meat is a great starting point.
It is often served at local diners as a set meal (with rice and miso soup), and prices vary by restaurant but typically range from 800 to 1,200 yen.
Sōmen Champurū and Other Light Stir-Fries
Sōmen champurū, a stir-fried thin wheat noodle dish, is another well-known Okinawan home-style dish, and it is widely known to feature pork luncheon meat or tuna as ingredients.
Since it has the feel of a noodle dish, it is a great option for those who want to try SPAM in something other than rice-based dishes.
It is typically lightly stir-fried with vegetables like Chinese chives (nira), green onions, and carrots, making it a versatile dish that works as both a side and a light meal.
Prices vary by restaurant but generally range from 500 to 800 yen as a single dish, making it an easy add-on to any meal.
How to Find SPAM Dishes in Okinawa
When looking for SPAM dishes during your trip to Okinawa, the easiest way to find them is to look for the word "pork" on menus and labels.
If you see "pork tamago," "pork onigiri," or "pork tamago onigiri" on a menu, the dish likely uses pork luncheon meat, and it is also commonly used in champurū-style dishes.
Here are some easy places to find them:
- Supermarkets (local Okinawan chains such as AEON, San-A, and Kanehide)
- Convenience stores (FamilyMart, Lawson Okinawa-exclusive products, and others)
- Specialty shops for pork tamago onigiri
- Local diners and izakaya serving Okinawan cuisine
- Roadside stations (michi-no-eki) and airport gift shops
If you want something quick to eat on the go, pork tamago onigiri is ideal; if you want to sit down and enjoy a more authentic Okinawan home-style experience, champurū-style dishes are the way to go.
Choose based on your itinerary to make the most of each meal.
Things to Know Before Trying SPAM for the First Time
When ordering SPAM dishes, it helps to think of SPAM as a salty ingredient.
Looking at how SPAM is typically used in Okinawa, you will notice it is often paired with ingredients that absorb its flavor well, such as eggs, rice, island tofu, vegetables, and noodles.
Also, you do not always need to search using the word "SPAM."
In Okinawa, the term "pork" is often more commonly used in shops and on product labels, so being aware of this difference will help you find what you are looking for.
If you are watching your salt intake, lower-sodium options (such as SPAM® 25% Less Sodium) are also available, so it is worth checking the canned food section at the supermarket.
It also keeps well, making it a popular choice as a souvenir to bring home after an Okinawa trip.
If it is your first time, here is an easy order to try:
- Start with pork tamago onigiri.
- Try gōyā champurū at a local diner.
- Pick up canned pork luncheon meat at a supermarket as a souvenir.
This way, you will not only get to know SPAM itself but also see how it has been embraced in Okinawa.
How to Enjoy Okinawa-Style SPAM at Home
Even after returning from Okinawa, recreating Okinawa-style SPAM dishes at home is not difficult.
Canned pork luncheon meat is easy to find at supermarkets and online stores, and slicing it to a comfortable thickness and lightly pan-frying it is all you need to use it as a topping for rice or as a sandwich filling.
Here are some dishes that are easy to make at home:
- SPAM rice balls
- Pork tamago onigiri
- Gōyā champurū-style stir-fry
- SPAM and egg sandwich
Since SPAM is quite salty, the trick is to keep the seasoning on the lighter side.
You can easily continue enjoying the lingering flavors of your Okinawa trip at your own dining table.
Summary
SPAM is a precooked luncheon meat sold by Hormel Foods.
In Okinawa, it has become integrated into the local food culture as pork luncheon meat, beloved in everyday dishes such as pork tamago onigiri, gōyā champurū, and sōmen champurū.
For travelers, remembering it as "an ingredient you'll often see in Okinawa" makes choosing meals a little easier.
Start with pork tamago onigiri, then expand to champurū dishes, and you will have a smooth and enjoyable introduction to Okinawan-style cuisine.
