Yabani

São Paulo is definitively one of the food capitals of the world. The variety and richness of its restaurants is gathering global fame – and, let me tell you, that is entirely deserved!

One of the jewels of this vibrant city is actually Japanese food. São Paulo has the largest Japanese community living outside of Japan, and that explains why sushi here is so extraordinarily good – even more as Paulistas (the true name for a São Paulo inhabitant) were able to combine the delicacy of traditional sushi with the vibrancy and freshness of the tropics!

Yabani is one of those restaurants. It is located in the new business centre of the town, in Vila Olímpia, quite close to Itaim-Bibi. It is a long restaurant, combining Japanese and modern decoration, in the kind of light that you’ld expect in a good disco – dark and intimate. It has a long bar that goes the length of the restaurant and a small second floor, where you can sit and eat on the floor (if you don’t like that, just stay in the first one).

Start with some gyosas or miso soup, before having a look at the sushi, sashimi and tempura menus. They are all quite delicious, mixing the freshness of the fish and the juicy flavour of tropical fruits, but, if you follow my advice, you would also want to taste the “hot sushi” – I think it is great, and it is my number one choice whenever I go there! Actually, you may want to ask for a medley of sushi and sashimi that includes some hot pieces – just try to not abuse on the quantity (and that will be quite difficult)! Oh – and by the way! This goes well with Asahi or saké. You may also want to go for one of the various combinations of saké and fruity caipirinha, and you will probably like it! Go for it!

For dessert… Well I am a sweet teeth, so, I would go for a “petit-gateaux” with icecream (this hot chocolate fudge and icecream combination is delicious in this place) or a traditionally Japanese bean-icecream that is actually quite fresh.

So, let me tell you – this is definitively a place to go if you are in São Paulo and like sushi. And it is an almost perfect setting to go have dinner with a sushi fan you want to impress before going out and riding São Paulo night!

Where: São Paulo - Brazil

Address: Rua Professor Atílio Inocenti, 53 - Vila Olímpia

Phone: (11) 3078 – 7773

Website: http://www.yabany.com.br/

Expensive: Between 40 and 60 euros – it all depends on you sushi hunger