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The dream (and life goal) of Monkey D. Luffy, the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates and protagonist of the anime One Piece, is to find the treasure that shares its name with the series. Since 1997, the year the first edition of the manga introducing this character was released, the fan community (which keeps growing – as pages, episodes, and now even a Netflix live-action production with two seasons under its belt continue to be released) has been trying to find out what and where this secret is. While the scriptwriters don't reveal any more clues, sailors should mark 69 Rua de Braga, in Carcavelos, on their maps and sail to Yakimar Izakaya, where they will find a true fortune in the form of Japanese gastronomy.
Opened on 17 March, this restaurant, decorated with figures from the anime, aims to redefine the Portuguese public's perception of Japanese food. Inspired by the classic and laid-back tradition of Japanese taverns, the new space offers small plates to share and typical dishes, steering well clear of stereotypes.
From Nova SBE to the Universe of Monkey D. Luffy
At the helm of the project is 25-year-old Jin Huang, who combined his academic background in Management at Nova SBE with his personal passions to bring this concept to life. The genesis of Yakimar Izakaya is closely linked to the journey of the young man, who arrived in Portugal from China's capital, Beijing, at the age of 11, and completed all his education here.
The choice of the restaurant's imagery was based on a rigorous market study. Jin explained to Time Out that, when analysing the current gastronomic landscape, he noticed there were already some establishments with decorations inspired by the universe of Japanese animation, but "only with anime culture in general", he tells us, mixing various popular references. "I thought: what if I went in another direction? Instead of focusing on something so general, what if it were more exclusive? That’s why I chose One Piece," he says, justifying the decision because he is a "big fan" and because, from a marketing perspective, it is one of the most popular animes today.
Thus, the restaurant has been transformed into a tribute to the famous One Piece, which maintains a legion of active fans who remain eager to discuss the direction and outcome of the narrative, unlike projects such as Naruto, which have already concluded.
Way Beyond Sushi: Yakitori and 24-Hour Ramen
One of Yakimar Izakaya's major missions is to tackle the prejudice and lack of knowledge surrounding Japanese cuisine in Portugal – yes, there is so much more beyond sushi. Yakimar Izakaya seeks to bring customers closer to Tokyo's daily eating habits, betting heavily on traditional grilled dishes and slow-cooked broths.
The menu features yakitori, the traditional Japanese grilled skewer, as one of its main pillars, which Jin Huang considers an excellent option for the Portuguese due to their natural affinity with the grill. Time Out tried the mixed yakitori (6 pieces, €13.90; 10 pieces, €19.90), which included chicken, prawns, and pork.
One of the standout dishes is the Japanese curry with omelette and rice, which can be accompanied by fried chicken (€12.90) – which made its way to the table of this writer –, fried prawns (€12.90), chicken leg (€14.90), and chashu (€15.90), something you don't find in many Japanese restaurants in Portugal.
The star of the show is the ramen, whose rich and intense broth is the result of continuously boiling pork bones and vegetables in the kitchen for twenty-four hours. The author tried this dish with chashu (€15.90), a pork belly marinated in a sweet mixture, skewered, and roasted in an oven, but there are also options such as fried chicken (€12.90), fried prawns (€12.90), chicken leg (€14.90), and a vegetarian option (€10.90).
Amongst the starters and small plates for sharing, highlights include takoyaki (4 pieces, €4.90), savoury spheres filled with octopus, and the classic, crispy prawn tempura (4 pieces, €5.90).
For dessert, you can try different mochis (€4.50) or dorayaki, two pancakes with a chocolate filling (€3.90) – something you would already know about if you were a fan of Doraemon.
With the aim of ensuring accessibility for different audiences, the restaurant offers a student menu (€9.90), a lunch menu (€13.90), and, for grill enthusiasts, a yakitori menu (€14.90).
Smooth Sailing, with Copyright Intact
Despite the strong visual element inspired by comic books and animation, the management exercises great caution when it comes to copyright. When asked if they intend to introduce some of the famous dishes made in the anime (for example, by Sanji, the cook of the Straw Hat Pirates, or from the One Piece cookbook), the owner states that, for the time being, the theme can only be used in the atmosphere of the space and not in the commercial names of the dishes.
For the future, after stabilising this first opening on the Cascais coast, the young entrepreneur admits the possibility of expanding the concept, keeping the philosophy but exploring other famous figures from Japanese animation, such as the Dragon Ball universe. Until then, he welcomes One Piece fans who travel from as far as Coimbra and Setúbal in search of the pirate treasure.
Rua de Braga, 69 (Carcavelos). 12.00-15.00; 19.00-23.00