Roberto Satoru was for years partner and chef of one of the first temakerias in the city of São Paulo, the Icon Temakeria, in the Itaim neighborhood. The house menu had several options of the famous temakis and even cones – those without the nori, the seaweed leaf.
Later, he worked as a sous-chef at Cão Véio Bar and more recently he worked at the French ICI Brasserie and also at the Asian-accented restaurant Fisherman’s Table.
With a full body of luggage, currently Satoru, alongside Alexandre Ortigoso, commands the pans and the 16-seat counter at the asian icon, a relaxed and welcoming signature Asian cuisine restaurant in Vila Madalena.
Exploring French techniques in the creation of the dishes, all the food is prepared in front of the customers right behind a counter, one of the chef’s favorite places, from where it is possible to enjoy the meal and, at the same time, chat with the professionals.
Away from his counter, Satoru strolls through other cuisines in the city and shares his favorite spots for a good meal in São Paulo below – from pizzas to seafood served in a laid-back atmosphere:
Bottega 21
good drink? Has. Nice food? There is no talk. While Michel Felício does an exquisite job at the bar, the couple Laura Oliveira and Alexandre Vorpagel rock in the kitchen.
Inspired by italian bottegas, the Bottega 21 it’s that bar that you can arrive hungry and that will serve good food – small and individual portions, not just random snacks.
Among the options are Scarpeta (rough meat ragout served with naturally fermented bread) and Gamberetti all’aglio e olio (selected prawns, pulled with olive oil and candied garlic).
Rua dos Pinheiros, 1308 – Pinheiros, São Paulo – SP. Phone: (11) 99342-2332
Ju Roku
Chef and entrepreneur Fabinho Minato does a job that excites me. An old-timey cook, he has a menu of Japanese snacks to be envied.
I love the intimate atmosphere of Ju Roku, in Vila Mariana, low profile and with what I like the most: a balcony. It is worth exploring this place – until the The location’s Instagram is closed, adding to the air of mystery.
Rua Caravelas, 169 – Vila Mariana, São Paulo – SP. WhatsApp: (11) 91369-3146
Pêxi Bar
THE Pêxi Bar, in Fradique Coutinho, is the kind of place I really like: small, but cozy. With a proposal to serve food from the sea, the house brings a beach atmosphere very close to Beco do Batman.
For me, the tiny house has the best combination – cold beer and various seafood snacks. Between oysters, mussels, crab drumstick, lobster tail and seafood sandwiches, you can’t go wrong with any order there.
Rua Fradique Coutinho, 1194 – Pinheiros. WhatsApp: (11) 96039-0427
Hirá Ramen Izakaya
For those who want to experience super tasty ramen and otoshi, my suggestion is the Hirá Ramen Izakaya. You can go and ask with your eyes closed.
The service is great and it’s worth chatting at the counter with chef Daniel Hirata and his right-hand man, Larissa Emi Umezaki. Between ramen, eggplant with ginger and soy sauce, kimchi and gyozas, happiness is guaranteed all night long.
Rua Fradique Coutinho, 1240 – Pinheiros, São Paulo – SP. Phone: (11) 3031-3025. delivery via iFood, Rappi e Uber Eats.
Bocada’s Pizza
I consider mouthful’s one of the best pizzas in São Paulo – and we are talking about the city that is famous for excellent round pizzas!
It’s a house in Deep Bar to eat pizza in a laid-back, no-frills space. The establishment serves naturally fermented pizzas with different flavors – and delicious – such as pancetta and pecorino; cabbage, jiló and tallegio and pepperoni and zucchini.
Not to mention that the command is Jorginho Amaral, a figure that completes the experience!
Rua Dr. Ribeiro de Almeida, 167 – Barra Funda, São Paulo – SP. WhatsApp: (11) 95177-3061. Delivery via iFood (Vila Madalena unit) and Rappi.
Reference: CNN Brasil
