Authentic.
Many restaurant's nowadays claim authenticity when it comes to japanese cuisine and styling, but few stay true to these premises.
Saikai Izakaya is one such rare instance where i can definitely vouch for such authenticity.
A gorgeous interior design, decoration and furniture, easy to catch the eye of not only those inside but also the passerby's on the street (i saw many people gawking through the glass window).
A true beauty, not many japanese restaurant's in Portugal can match the style and aura of Saikai Izakaya. The wooden furniture and the attention to small details (like those small lights under the counter for example) make this a restaurant that provides food for your eyes before your stomach.
That's not to say that it doesn't have it's shortcomings:
The tables are low and even with an average height i felt somewhat uncomfortable as my thighs chafed against the wood (see the attached picture).
The space is a bit small and it can get a bit cramped inside, specially around the tables.
As to the food, the menus are simple and rather straightforward.
You get your usual chicken, pork, beef dishes with a good ammount of vegan options.
The Buta Gyozas are truly delicious, and, quite honestly, among the best i've ever had.
Crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside, i really have nothing bad to say.
The Gyu Tan was another positive surprise.
Lean, tender and juicy beef strips, accompanied by white rice and a special sauce that really went perfect with the meat, it was a pleasure from start to finnish.
The Asahi beer was fresh and it's a good opportunity to try it drafted as most japanese restaurant's in Portugal usually only have the bottled version.
As desert i ordered the cheesecake mochi, which was good but a bit pricy considering the rather small dosage.
And that's probably the main negative aspect i could point out.
It's a pricy restaurant. A full course meal (starter, main dish, drink and dessert) costed me 42€.
It's definitely not a restaurant where you can expect to eat a lot and feel like you got a bargain when the bill comes up.
But then again, not every restaurant needs to be like that. And quality does have a price.
I'd rather pay more money and get a good service than paying maybe 10€ to 12€ less but leave disappointed.
In conclusion, i do reccomend Saikai Izakaya a lot to everyone. It's one of those restaurant's that is worth visiting even if you're not particularly a japanese cuisine aficionado. You might be surprised.
Instead of the usual sushi and ramen offering, you find other japanese dishes that don't have the same popularity in the current portuguese restaurant scene.
5 stars, a place in my favourite restaurants (the first asian to do so) and a certain return in the near future.
