Everybody knows that Sao Paulo is the best city to eat great Japanese food outside Japan. I always…read morehad great experiences eating at Izakaya Issa, one of the best Japanese food I have already had (different from te sushi-sashimi we are use to). I have never been in Japan, but I heard that Izakaya Issa is very authentic and traditional. The ladies working there are always very friendly, and Dona Margarida Haraguchi, the owner, is so sweet and conversationist! The star dishes from the place is the octopus balls (really creamy and well-flavored) and the ramen!

An Izakaya is first and foremost a neighborhood bar that serves drinks and bar food. This place did…read morea great job making me feel welcome, offering me a menu in English as we greeted. There were certainly plenty of Japanese speaking customers mixed in with Portuguese. And I, the odd tourist, felt right at home. The bamboo shoot and shitake mushroom appetizers were delectable. The chicken broth ramen was insipid. The Gyukatsu Kare (breaded fried beef with curry sauce over rice) was better, but not the ultra crispy panko planks I've had in some places. Maybe it was because I ordered it at the end of the night. The Brazilian brewed cold sake was really good. Could hardly tell the difference from Japanese sake. But, the highlight of the dinner of Sanma Shio--grilled pike mackerel with sea salt. Inexpensive for Sanma, uber fresh, grilled crispy so that you could crunch up the head and tail! The service was prompt, efficient and very warm. Even the owner came by to chat several times. Arigato gozaimasu! Obrigado! Thank you.

Good quality food, delivery is perfect, it comes warm, I love to order yakisoba in this restaurant…read more super indicative.

Fresh food & fast service here! I would recommend the chicken katsu - very large portion & great…read moreflavor that comes along with the vegetables. The language barrier wasn't so bad here, and the menu was easy to ready.

Great ramen worth coming back to. The broth is deeply savory and balanced, they cook the noodles to…read morehave the perfect chew, and the chashu and toppings are thoughtfully executed. Nothing on the menu has disappointed me; their gyoza and karaage are especially great for sharing. There can be a crowd at peak times which makes things a little warm, but service moves briskly, and the energy feels appropriate for the quality and turnover. Ótimo ramen. O caldo é bem saboroso, eles cozinham o macarrão perfeitamente. Todo do cardápio é bom, especialmente os gyoza e o karaage. As vezes, tem muita gente, mas o atendimento é rápido com energia boa.

Giving this place four stars because the food was delicious. The service could've been a little bit…read morebetter, but that could be because of a language barrier. Highly recommend this it tasted like legit Ramen and the food was salted. It wasn't bland. Server was amazing but the bartender seemed a little snarky.

Amazing service and fresh food! It was a treat to see the sushi chefs hand make each creation…read morewithout any machines all by hand! Really good atmosphere for the hour I went into. It was the lunch crowd and the service managed to keep up and stay perky! 5 stars!! Happy Yelping

Truly one of the best fish i have ever had. Sao Paulo is known for their sushi and pasta, so I was…read morelooking for a great place for sushi to take my husband. He is also a sushi snob. Toro Moema has a great ambiance, trendy, and elegant, yet casual enough to make anyone feel comfortable. The service staff is very attentive and always ready to help. I would definitely go back anytime.

Normally I don't write reviews on Yelp. If you have an opportunity to be in São Paulo, and you…read morewant great Japanese dining, you want to come here. Saude and Kanpai

Was wondering what our last meal would be in São Paulo, and this one was a great choice. It's been…read morea while since I've had good grilled Japanese food (a few places in the Bay Area and of course in Japan). I recommend trying a variety of each, since the skewers are all reasonably priced and small portioned. The roasted garlic, chicken teriyaki, and okra were among my favorite. I also tried the quail eggs, shiitake mushroom, asparagus wrapped in bacon, and beef (which was like ground meat). I only wish the shiitake was a little more grilled, it was undercooked. If you are more adventurous, they have different cuts of chicken and beef, and chicken hearts and livers if you like. If you are in a small group or by yourself, I recommend sitting in front of the grills (glass separates you from the smoke and sizzle) because it's fascinating to the watch the cooks rotate the meat, dip in the marinade, clip off the burnt parts with scissors, and manage the grill with all the busy orders flying in. They also serve oden, which you can see stewing right next to the grills, overflowing with broth and variety of vegtables. Other typical dishes, like sushi, yakisoba, miso shiro are all available as well, but I recommend to at least try some of the grilled items, since that's it's specialty. Note that they serve edamame as an appetizer, even if you don't order it but it gets added to the bill. Of course it's obvious this place is good, when the locals who patronize it are of Japanese decent, and it retains authenticity. The head chef can be seen working the customers, socializing and even serving. I will definitely return to this place when I get a chance.

This is one of my favorite Japanese spots in Sao Paulo. A Japanese bar where you can find an…read moreawesome thematic and simple decoration. Most of the dishes are finger foods as it's a bar and they're delicious, do not leave the place without having an furikaki oniguiri. The beer is always as cold as it can get and you can find Brazilian, international and Japanese beers/liquor. Both owners are always there seeing if everything is running smoothly and they also have a karaoke room where you can reserve and sing a lot with your friends. A must visit in Sao Paulo.

Authentic and with good deals for lunch, plus it is in a less chaotic part of Vila Madalenaread more

This is the best sushi restaurant that must exist outside of Japan. In a word, tonight's meal was…read moresimply sublime. This neighborhood spot in Vila Madalena doesn't look like much from the outside, and its modest interior also might not suggest the amazing fish that awaits, but let it be known, Tanuki is the best I've ever had. We saddled up to the sushi bar while 4 expert sushi makers handled each fish with delicate care; I loved getting a front row seat to the beautiful display of filets. We ordered sake, miso soups (drink it from the bowl, not with a spoon), and the Combinado de Sushi e Sashimi Individual platter (despite having no idea what fish would arrive, we found the order to be spot on). 18 pieces came out of which 10 were sashimi (mixed between salmon, tuna and another fish), 4 nigiri (salmon, tuna and a white fish), and 4 uramaki (salmon on the inside and rice on the outside with sesame seeds). After our eyes rolled back into our skulls (from being so blown away by the first bite), we added another 8 uramaki rolls (tuna) to the order. If you're looking for something safe, you should just copy our order and if you don't speak Portuguese, ask for the English menu! The fish was so freaking fresh it didn't have that fishy taste you often associate with, well, fish. It was tremendous. I also don't typically like salmon and I managed to scarf down every piece that was presented to me... and then want more. Other things to note: this place is small so might not be best for a large group (or perhaps call ahead) and we arrived without reservations and were easily able to grab 2 seats at the bar around 8:30pm. As for the meal, Jiro, you have your work cut out for you!