Asian cuisine is not only part but also the protagonist of the wide local gastronomic offer. But if decades ago it was limited almost exclusively to that from China, later other cuisines were added and today those of Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese origin shine.
It should be noted that this option is not limited to the menu options, but always goes further and also includes a respectful and faithful setting of the Japanese and Far Eastern spirit, to make the evening a complete and memorable occasion. Below, the must-see dishes of Japanese cuisine and where to eat them.
HANDROLLS IN SACHI
Based in the heart of Belgrano, Sachi is presented as a novel gastronomic proposal that combines a modern and relaxed atmosphere with a Japanese-inspired culinary experience. This place stands out for the quality of its raw materials and the innovation in its combinations and presentations, offering a menu where handrolls become the protagonists. All of these are prepared with fresh fish from the Argentine coast, koshihikari rice seasoned with rice vinegar, mirin and salt, and wrapped in kombu seaweed.
Among the classic handrolls section, you can choose between citrus, with fish of the day, fennel, mandarin and cucumber; the sweet chili, with catch of the day, teriyaki, sweet chili and onion; the sriracha, with catch of the day, sriracha mayonnaise, mango and corn furikake; the jalapeño, prepared with catch of the day, cilantro, olive oil and jalapeño; the avocado, with catch of the day, avocado, onion, lemon and sesame oil; or the prawn one, made with prawn tartare, ginger, sesame and soy.
Address: Franklin D. Roosevelt 1702, Belgrano.
Instagram: @sachi.bsas
RAMEN IN KURO NEKO
Kuro Neko arrived on the Buenos Aires scene recently with a striking Nikkei proposal specialized in nori tacos, the first to open in the city. The spot, directed by the chef Raul Zorrillaoffers a contemporary approach to the classic flavors of Peru and Japan with fresh ingredients and innovative combinations that elevate dishes to another level.
In addition to the house’s star product, a hit of the place is the popular ramen, a collagen concentrate with pork belly, low-temperature egg, egg noodles, soy sauce and green greens. On the menu you can also find other favorites of this cuisine such as handrolls, nigiris and chirashi. As in any Nikkei bar, drinks play a determining role and there are sake-based cocktails and original lemonades that accompany without overpowering.
Address: Paraguay 831, Retiro.
Instagram: @kuroneko.ar
TEMPURA IN SHIMADA
On the terrace of the renowned Haiku restaurant, in Belgrano, is Shimada, an exclusive omakase bar for nine diners per shift, where the master Takeshi Shimada surprises with its exquisite tempura, the protagonist of one of the menu steps. Currently you can taste prawns and white fish of the day or seasonal vegetables with options such as eggplant, zucchini or carrots.
Tempura, a traditional Japanese technique, consists of quickly frying the ingredients after covering them with a thin layer of batter. The secret to its perfection lies in keeping the mixture very cold and cooking at a constant temperature, between 180 and 200 °C, for less than two minutes, to achieve a crispy and light texture. In addition to tempura, Shimada provides a complete sixteen-course dinner that includes nigiri, usuzukuri, yakitori and other unique creations, inviting a sensory journey through Japanese cuisine.
Address: Franklin D. Roosevelt 1806, Belgrano.
Instagram: @shimada.omakase
GUNKEN IKURA UZURA IN UNI OMAKASE
With a bar designed for 12 people, UNI offers an authentic and intimate omakase experience. Under the expert direction of the sushiman Damián Shiizu, Each preparation uses top quality ingredients, complemented with fresh fish of the day. During the evening, diners can enjoy Gunken ikura uzura, a traditional piece of Japanese cuisine. This sushi roll includes traditional Japanese rice, made daily on the premises, and adds trout roe marinated in soy sauce, sake and mirin, wrapped in nori seaweed, and ends with a quail yolk on top.
Address: Guatemala 5820, Palermo.
Instagram: @uni.omakase
BATHROOMS AT NEKO RESTAURANT
The kitchen modern nikkei has a great reference in Neko Restaurant, a space where the traditional fusion of Peruvian and Japanese flavors are enhanced with recipes from other latitudes, such as Thailand, Korea, China, Philippines and of course the local cuisine. The result is well-made dishes with their own seal, as well as a fresh sushi proposal between handrolls, rolls, nigiris and sashimi.
From the versatile menu, a recommended one is the baos, the typical breads of Asian cuisine that are steamed, extremely spongy. They are served stuffed with crispy chicken, coleslaw salad with ají pollero sauce, huancaína de rocoto and pickles. To drink, they have striking cocktails, Japanese Minga beer and young, organic wines.
Address: La Pampa 1391, Belgrano.
Instagram: @nekosushi.ar
YAKITORI IN HAIKU
This cozy restaurant is founded on Japanese tradition and is characterized by the variety of its dishes, its spicy flavors and the hospitality of its hosts. On one of the walls of Haiku you can see a mural of lakes and mountains that, with dim lights and functional music, provide serenity.
To start the experience, among the appetizers, the yakitori stands out, a traditional grilled chicken skewer: chicken and greenery stem are interspersed, and browned on both sides and then brushed with teriyaki sauce. To accompany it, customers can opt for traditional sake, select wines by the glass or bottle from a careful selection of wineries, or choose between beers and sparkling wines.
Address: Franklin D. Roosevelt 1806, Belgrano.
Instagram: @sushihaiku.ar
TAIWANESE STYLE BAOS AT KOKO BAO BAR
In 2017, Koko Bao Bar opened its doors in a small location in Palermo to dedicate itself exclusively to a product that soon garnered many fans: Taiwanese-style stuffed baos. These steamed breads are distinguished by their white color with no crust, great sponginess and lightness, a tender and soft texture on the palate, and a neutral, barely sweet flavor. At Koko, they are made daily in an artisanal way, using high-quality wheat flour and a meticulous process that takes at least four moments of proofing. Their baos are large in size (like a main dish) and have very abundant fillings, unlike what is offered in most Asian restaurants in the country. Although they have classic varieties, such as the popular lacquered bacon (with hoisin sauce, kimchi and cilantro), their menu abounds with signature creations with flavors adapted to the local palate.
Two favorites are the roast beef braised in five spices (with homemade aioli, radish and green pickles) and the Korean chicken (with pieces of chicken coated in cereals, hot and sour sauce with gochujang, lettuce and cucumber pickles). There are also veggie versions based on fried tofu or sautéed mushrooms. All are served with double-cooked potatoes, famous among customers for their extra-crispy texture and creamy interior. To complement the proposal, the menu adds dumplings and Asian-influenced dishes such as Chinese spring rolls and curry rice croquettes with mushrooms and ginger. At the Palermo location, they also offer different curry options, such as the classic rendang and a chicken curry. Everything is accompanied with natural juices, mocktails, cocktails, craft beers and well-chosen wines. A place with a warm and well-kept aesthetic, to visit as a couple, as a family or with friends.
Addresses: Arévalo 1501, Palermo; Av. Corrientes 1660, San Nicolás (Manduca in Paseo La Plaza) and Vedia 3600, Saavedra (Ronda in DOT Baires Shopping).
Instagram: @kokobaobar
VIET – THAI CUISINE IN CANG TIN
In Palermo, Cang Tin takes you to the streets of Vietnam both for its street food proposal and for its striking atmosphere. Its name means “cantina” in that country and, precisely, José Delgado and Thomas Nguyen They opened the doors of this restaurant in 2021 with the aim of bringing the most traditional flavors of Southeast Asia to a space that replicates the Vietnamese spirit. The premises are located on a dead end street. It has a large area on the sidewalk with low tables, colorful benches and steps to sit relaxed. Inside, its spectacular staging is loaded with bright colors, lights, natural plants, vases with flowers and a large U-shaped bar that surrounds the kitchen, revealing the work on the fires.
This is the right place to try typical recipes from Vietnamese and Thai street cuisine, with explosive flavors and sweet, sour and/or spicy touches. The preparation is at the moment and in view of the diners, using local raw materials and spices brought from Vietnam. There are starters, dishes to share, soups, rice, noodles and curries, designed to bring everything together in the center and share. Some must-sees are the sweet potato dumplings in coconut milk and curry, served with peanuts and chili oil; he chicken pad thaiprawns or tofu with pak choi; and the khao soi, a yellow curry with pastoral chicken, coconut milk, homemade egg noodles, mustard pickles and red onion. There is no shortage of classic fried nems, chicken satay and pho bo. For the warm season, they also added fresher options such as iconic summer rolls filled with trout and tangerine, and crispy pork wraps to share: pieces of crispy bacon, pickles and glutinous rice to roll in lettuce leaves and dip with nam jeaw sauce . The banquet can be accompanied with cold tea, lemonades, ginger ale, cocktails, craft beers and a small but careful selection of wines.
Address: Dorrego 2415, Palermo.
Instagram: @cang.tin
YAKITORIS AND SUSHI IN YAKINILO
Yakinilo is one of the most successful openings of the year, by the same Jose Delgado – owner of Cang Tin – and Andrés Guanipa. It is a small place that takes you to the streets of Tokyo with its traditional atmosphere and a menu specialized in yakitori and sushi. With an informal spirit, inspired by the typical izakayas, this bar has a bar with twelve seats in front of the grill fires. The mood is enhanced by traditional decorations such as dimly lit paper lanterns and Noren curtains. Music played on vinyl with a high-quality sound system maximizes the experience, emulating Japan’s famous audio bars.
At night, the menu features a wide variety of yakitori, a classic Japanese street food: chicken skewers roasted over embers and served with sauces or simple, noble and very tasty accompaniments. For its preparation, this place uses almost all parts of the bird and high-quality ingredients. Some recommendations are the Tokyo Negima, the most traditional, ham leg with green onion, tare sauce and freshly ground pepper; the Sori Resu, chicken gizzard with sansho and lemon; and the Tsukune, the house favorite, with homemade chicken meatballs to dip in egg yolk. There are also steak skewers, pork belly, trout, tempura catch of the day, corn, zucchini or tomato.
Suggested accompaniments are classics: sesame gohan rice, Japanese potato salad, sautéed ear mushrooms, wakame and sesame slaw, kimchi, and yuzu soy turnip pickles. The evening menu is completed with Asian appetizers and sushi pieces based on trout, catch of the day, squid, eel, crab and ikura (trout eggs that are personally processed on the premises). At noon, the place offers appetizers, special dishes of the day and an unmissable Kaisen Donburi, a rice bowl with fresh fish, accompanied by miso soup. To accompany it, there is an exclusive collection of sakes that Delgado personally imported from Japan.
Address: Av. Dorrego 1551, Chacarita.
Instagram: @yakinilo
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