8 Essential Japanese Restaurants to Visit in Sao Paulo

With a very strong Japanese food scene, the city has some addresses worth visiting.

Japan is right there. After all, the city of Sao Paulo has an impressive variety of good addresses Japanese foodranging from the traditional to the most refined. Proof of this is the Michelin Guide Rio-Sao Paulo 2024which ranked 10 Japanese restaurants among the 21 stars.

Next, check out the selection of Palate with essential Japanese restaurants in Sao Paulo. It’s also worth checking out the chefs’ choices.

I’m cold

It is in a small and charming room in the Cerqueira César region that Kuro works its magic. A synthesis of how omakase can be more than just a tasting menu, the restaurant offers experiences that touch the senses. In two daily shifts (19/21) with a maximum of eight people in the room, the restaurant offers the fish most awaited by lovers of good Japanese cuisine (red tuna, sea bass, snapper, sole), but also offers some gastronomic games and interesting creative explosions. This is the case of the “frozen kiss”, where a shrimp tartare is served on a mouth-shaped ice base, and a broth of katsuobushi seaweed and kombu boiled with the infusion and thermal induction method. It is very good. The house omakase, which has a Michelin star, costs R$390 per person.

Where: R. Padre João Manuel, 712, Cerqueira César. 3062-5241. Monday to Saturday, 7:00 p.m./9:00 p.m. Reservations required.

Mugui

It is by climbing a flight of stairs, in a small building hidden in Liberdade, that you arrive at this paradise of Japanese gastronomy: Mugui. The restaurant is simple, with a family atmosphere, but with mouth-watering dishes. It is quite common to hear the tables next to you ordering the traditional gyoza (R$ 35, pork or beef), but I do not leave without ordering the tempura (R$ 140, large). The pastas – ramen, udon, sobá – are the most expensive (between R$ 49 and R$ 60), but it is also worth going against the grain and ordering teishoku-style meals, with rice, a preserve and a misoshiro cumbuca (R$ 75, on average). They are well served and tasty. And after focusing for a while on hot dishes, the restaurant now serves sushi combinations (between R$ 85 and R$ 350) with a variety of fish.

Where: R. da Glória, 111, room 11 (1st floor). 3106-8260. 11:30/14:30 and 19:00/22:00 (closed Sunday).

Kazuo

Opened in July 2021 and already with a Michelin star, Kazuo could be one of the biggest surprises in São Paulo. Even with so little time on his hands, chef Kazuo Harada shows off his experience after an award-winning season at Mee, at the Copacabana Palace, in Rio de Janeiro, to put together a menu that pleases the eyes and the palate. In addition to having the freshest fish, as is a must in good omakase, Kazuo offers visually complex dishes that make an impression as soon as they arrive on the table. But the impact also reaches the palate: the Gung Chae, a tartare of fresh shrimp, sesame mayonnaise, salmon roe and crispy shrimp with Kazuo shoyu, is a feast in the mouth. It leaves everyone satisfied. Also delicious is the fermented squid sushi made with the intestines of the squid itself. Eat while praying. Omakase, served only at the counter, costs R$550.

Where: Rua Prudente Correia, 432, Jardim Europa. 97620-8488. Monday, 12:00-15:00. Tuesday to Thursday, 12:00-15:00 and 19:00-23:00. Friday and Saturday, 12:00-15:00 and 19:00-24:00. Sun., 12:00-16:00. Reservations recommended.

Jun Sakamoto

The most classic of all omakas, Jun Sakamoto offers the most interesting experience in exchange for the chef who gives the restaurant its name. Although the atmosphere is discreet, in a house in Pinheiros the service is exciting. After all, the exchanges with Jun make the experience even more interesting, with him telling stories and bringing his point of view on oriental cuisine while preparing some delicacies. If you are lucky, you might find the sardine sushi or the delicious eel tempura, which removes any preconceptions about fish at the first bite. He also has the most surprising shari, which makes his sushi even more complex. The price of the omakase in June is R$500.

Where: R. Lisbon, 55, Pinheiros. 3088-6019. Monday to Friday, 19:00/23:00. Sat. 19:00/22:00. Reservations required.

Kidoairaku

If there’s one restaurant that has changed over time, it’s Kidoairaku. Previously, the place was cramped and the day’s choices were left on sheets of paper taped to the wall. Today, Kidoairaku is more modern, with an airy space, but it maintains the quality of Japanese food throughout its 35-year history – and, of course, much higher prices due to the restaurant’s change of atmosphere. The grilled eggplant in miso (R$99) is delicious, as is the curry katsu (R$110), which combines breaded pork loin, gohan and curry sauce. The yakizakana (grilled anchovies; R$99) is worth eating and praying for. The place also offers good options of sake and beer to accompany it.

Where: R. São Joaquim, 381, room 10. 3132-6083. 11/14 and 18/20 (Fri and Sat 11/14:30 and 18/20; closed Sunday).

Murakami

It is difficult to describe here the omakase of Murakami, which contains all the creativity of the chef Tsuyoshi Murakami. Always remembered for his experience at Kinoshita, which we will talk about later, the chef has his own restaurant, with an omakase that is never static and that truly follows the freshness of the fish of the day. With delicious freshly made shari, the restaurant offers two menus. The first is the Murakami Experience (8 times, for R$530), which includes cold and hot dishes prepared with the best products of the day, served with Giaveri caviar from Treviso, Italy. The Sushi Experience (R$ 930) Omakase brings 3 zensai, 12 portions of sushi (niguiri), 2 rolls, tempura and a hot dish. Served with Giaveri caviar from Treviso, Italy.

Where: Al. Lorena, 1186, Jardins. 3064-8868. Tuesday through Saturday, 12:00-15:00 and 19:00-23:00. Reservations required.

Kenzo Sushi

If there is one restaurant that is a must-visit for sushi lovers, it is Kenzo, in the busy Thomaz Gonzaga. The combinations with a variety of fish are worth ordering and start at R$200. They all come with a huge variety and freshness, with the fish purchased daily by the owner, as it should be. When you have more time and money in your pocket, go for omakase: today it costs R$490.

Where: R. Thomaz Gonzaga, 45, F, Liberty. 3132-3666. 11.30am-2.30pm and 6.30pm-9.30pm (Saturday and Sunday 12.00pm-3.00pm and 6.30pm-9.30pm).

Okay

It is behind a discreet little door, without any warning of what you will find there, that Takô is located. This restaurant, located on Rua da Glória, offers two options for lovers of Japanese cuisine: à la carte and festival. In the latter case, the system works like a rotation: you pay R$ 104 for the option without sashimi, or R$ 158 with all-you-can-eat sashimi, and you eat what you want. The menu of options includes salmon, tuna and white fish sashimi of the day, temaki, yakisoba and the like. All very fresh. On the à la carte menu, in addition to the obvious orders, it is worth taking a look at the house bento boxes: they are well served and tasty. The grilled anchovy (R$ 60) and the grilled salmon in miso (R$ 73) are worth it. Go hungry.

Where: R. of Glory, 746, Liberty. 3209-0134. 11.30am/00 (Monday 5pm/00).

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.