Izakaya Issa - Review - Liberdade - São Paulo - The Infatuation

"Brazil has the largest Japanese community outside of Japan, and São Paulo is its beating heart. You’ll find plenty of izakayas across the city, but this one, just off the main drag of the historic Japanese neighborhood Liberdade, is a must visit. It’s small—there’s bar space for around eight people, and only a few tables—so expect a wait. The kiwi caipirinhas are strong, and there’s a short-but-sweet menu of Brazilian and Japanese sake. But Issa is most famous for its food, including steaming-hot takoyaki balls studded with morsels of octopus, or smoky aubergine covered in bonito flakes." - Tomé Morrissy-Swan