sushi Archives - Portugal Confidential

JNcQUOI Asia – Fashionable Spot for Asian Cuisine in Lisbon

Ann Abel — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 16:06:00 +0000

Easily one of the most buzzed-about restaurants in Lisbon, JNcQUOI Asia mostly follows the playbook written by the original JNcQUOI restaurant, just a few doors up the street on Avenida da Liberdade. That’s not a bad thing, as the original has held on to its popularity for a good reason. Both are defined by grand scale, stunning design—complete with a giant (fake) animal skeleton—multiple spaces including large bars, and, especially, a vibrant social energy. This is a place where you […]

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Not Your Usual Sushi Counter: The Rowdy Joy of Kureiji Izakaya

Ann Abel — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:24:20 +0000

In a city where high-end sushi spots seem to be proliferating, it’s refreshing to find one that’s as much over a casual, even messy good time as Kureiji Izakaya. The bustling counter-service restaurant on one of the trendiest streets in Cais de Sodré quickly became a go-to for people who want a top-quality Japanese experience without all the seriousness and sanctimony. At the helm is chef João Francisco Duarte, who had already made a name for himself in sushi circles […]

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Mimi, Curated by Yakuza – Chef Olivier Presents Omakaze

Ann Abel — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 12:33:02 +0000

It’s big news whenever serial chef-preneur Olivier da Costa opens a new restaurant, and his latest in Lisbon is no exception. While he was not the first to jump on the city’s—or global—omakase trend, he’s executing it with a great deal of his trademark glamor. Mimi, whose full name is Mimi, Curated by Yakuza, is unafraid of grandeur. Guests enter through a low-lit bar with two small tables, where they can wait for their date while sipping a crafted cocktail. […]

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KAN.JO Asian Fine Dining & Sushi Bar at Algarve Marriott Salgados

Greg Boegner — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 11:10:52 +0000

KAN.JO at the Algarve Marriott Salgados Resort & Spa is where Asia’s culinary artistry meets Portugal’s soul. The name itself—kanjo, meaning feeling, emotion, or sentiment in Japanese—sets the tone for an experience designed to stir the senses. From the very first bite to the last lingering sip, KAN.JO invites guests on a gastronomic journey that balances tradition with daring innovation. The setting is every bit as captivating as the cuisine. Perched on the resort’s top floor, the restaurant unfolds in […]

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Omakase Wa – Japanese Cuisine in Harmony, in Lisbon

Ann Abel — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 10:07:43 +0000

To be sure, there are more (and ever more) sophisticated omakase restaurants around Lisbon. But this chef’s-choice sushi restaurant between Principe Real and Avenida Liberdade charms diners with the earnestness, joy, and obvious pleasure in serving of the team behind it. Sushi chef Ashik Yonjan and his two partners in service and beverages spent three years traveling from Japan to England to Canada before opening their 10-seat counter in Lisbon. They chose the name “Wa” because it’s a Japanese word […]

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Kanazawa – Michelin Star Japanese Fine Dining in Lisbon

Ann Abel — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 10:48:51 +0000

Some 30 years ago, Japanese sushi chef Tomoaki Kanazawa was invited to be the chef of the Japanese embassy in Lisbon. From that post, he went on to open a restaurant that turned out sophisticated sushi for just eight guests at a time. Eventually the reins were passed to Paulo Morais, who for the past 30 years, has been one of the first and most committed Portuguese chefs to dedicate themselves to sushi. After several internships in Japan, as well […]

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Best Sushi Restaurants in Lisbon

Ann Abel — Sat, 24 Sep 2022 16:26:33 +0000

As befits a country with some of the best fresh fish in the world, Portugal also has an excellent sushi scene. But you have to know where too look—too many restaurants rely on odd ingredients like mango and “Philadelphia,” and serve up entire sushi meals based on farmed salmon. Still, sushi lovers in Lisbon shouldn’t give up. There’s great sushi to be found if you’re willing to spend—but especially if you know where to look. Photo at top: Soão Best […]

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Omakase Ri, Chef’s-Choice Premium Sushi in Lisbon

Ann Abel — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 13:31:19 +0000

While Lisbon has plenty of top-notch sushi restaurants, it had been lacking a proper omakase (chef’s choice, sushi-only) joint. Entrepreneur Rishav Verma (Mamasan and Aura Dim Sum Lab) changed that with the arrival of his new Omakase Ri, a seven-seat dining counter in what feels like a Japanese speakeasy in the old Izcalli space in Alcântara. The chef who gets to choose is Will Vargas, who hails from Brazil, a country that probably has the second-best sushi after Japan. Vargas, […]

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