T FIRST GLANCE, Okinawa, a subtropical island prefecture in the south of Japan, might seem like a surprising place to find restaurants specializing in Tex-Mex–Asian fusion. But taco rice (or takoraisu in Japan) is an immensely popular fast food in the region and has become recognized as one of Okinawan cuisine’s essential dishes since its creation in the mid-1980s. As the name implies, taco rice is a warm bed of steamed rice blanketed in rich ground beef spiced not just with taco seasoning but also soy sauce, instant dashi, and mirin. The beef is topped with shredded cheese, lettuce, and sundry other taco fixings, and its
