Las Dos Manos means “the two hands” in Spanish, and in this case, it’s not quite what you’d expect. The two hands in question belong to Brazilian-Portuguese chef Kiko Martins, and in this case, he has one in Mexico and the other in Japan.
The well-traveled Martins is no stranger to globetrotting gastronomy, and he has already achieved considerable success for the (mostly) Peruvian A Cevicheria and the Hawaiian-Japanese O Poke. For this one, he made half a dozen trips to different regions of Mexico, studying culinary traditions and learning how to make everything from tortillas to agauchile (Mexico’s version of spicy marinated raw fish).
But now he’s taken those techniques and had some fun with them. The taco section of the menu includes one with black tiger prawn tempura, panko, creole salsa and passion fruit, and there’s a tostada topped with amberjack. avocado, ponzu and wasabi peas. Portugal also plays a starring role, appearing in dishes like an aguachile with scarlet carabineiro prawns and celery, and a quesadilla with chorizo made from acorn-fed black pork.
The dining room is striking, with turquoise tile and potted cactuses, and plenty of seating at counters where diners can watch the chefs at work (or just not feel awkward if dining alone). There’s the apparently obligatory mural of Frida Kalho (every Mexican joint in Europe seems to have one) but it makes design sense here, since she’s facing a geisha, representing the dialogue between Mexico and Japan.
For more information, visit the Las Dos Manos website.
Las Dos Manos
Rua de São Pedro de Alcântara 59
Lisbon
Phone: +351 215 897 269
Email: lasdosmanos@comeromundo.pt
Hours: Daily – 12:00 to 23:30
Photos: Francisco Rivotti
