Izakaya Issa

Hands down best izakaya (heck, best overall restaurant) in the whole Liberdade neighborhood. And I don't mean this lightly. There's beauty in simplicity and this restaurant proves it. Every dish we ordered packed a unique punch which left us speechless, and are well worth the price. The Karaage was perfect. Not greasy at all, very crunchy and juicy, the ginger didn't steal the show nor was it absent from the flavour. It just made the chicken shine even more. Tyampon (which I had) had a really rich and complex flavour, I had to contemplate life with each bite because it was just that good. The service was also great, everybody was really friendly and answered all of our questions with patience. Depending on how big your group is and what time you arrive, you may have to wait in line for a bit before you enter. You have the option to either sit at a table or at the counter. I suggest the counter since it's easier to order and you can chat with the lovely people that work there (plus, if you sit at the right end you will always be smelling the wonderful foods from the kitchen nearby). All in all, you can't go wrong here, I'm sure you won't regret it!

My partner and I spent a fantastic evening here. We felt like being back in Japan. Great food in an unpretentious and very welcoming atmosphere. We would love to return!

DO NOT GO TO THIS RESTAURANT Their treatment of customers is absurd and disrespectful. We arrived as a couple. A third friend joined shortly after. They refused to let us take a table, saying they would only accept us as a group of five. The doorman was totally disrespectful, bordering on aggressive. There are plenty of better eating options in the neighborhood.

Very cozy and authentic Japanese vibe with outstanding food variety.

Doorman was an absolute jerk. 3 people arrived early out of a group of 5 to make sure we got a table. He refused entry until all 5 arrived (the other two were on their way about 5 minutes away) but kept the table empty, while letting others behind in the line go in smaller groups. Frustrated we left and went somewhere else instead.

Walked in at 7pm and sat at the bar with two people. Great customer service and one person spoke English and they had an English menu. Would recommend the Takoyaki and thinly sliced pork! The gyoza had a good unique texture that was different from the states. The Pork Ribs presentation caught us off guard but the broth was amazing!

Best Izakaya in Liberdade area! We have ordered some starters to share: Kimpira gobo, shiitake batayaki, lebanira itame, shogayki. Super recomemended!

A portal to Japan, well, at least for me, that have never been there. But it totally feels like you are somewhere else besides Sao Paulo, because of the environment and also the food. Such an amazing food, please, do yourself a favor and ask for the takoyaki, you'll never regret. And everything else is also good, in this tiny charming small piece of Japan in Sao Paulo.

An Izakaya is first and foremost a neighborhood bar that serves drinks and bar food. This place did a great job making me feel welcome, offering me a menu in English as we greeted. There were certainly plenty of Japanese speaking customers mixed in with Portuguese. And I, the odd tourist, felt right at home. The bamboo shoot and shitake mushroom appetizers were delectable. The chicken broth ramen was insipid. The Gyukatsu Kare (breaded fried beef with curry sauce over rice) was better, but not the ultra crispy panko planks I've had in some places. Maybe it was because I ordered it at the end of the night. The Brazilian brewed cold sake was really good. Could hardly tell the difference from Japanese sake. But, the highlight of the dinner of Sanma Shio--grilled pike mackerel with sea salt. Inexpensive for Sanma, uber fresh, grilled crispy so that you could crunch up the head and tail! The service was prompt, efficient and very warm. Even the owner came by to chat several times. Arigato gozaimasu! Obrigado! Thank you.

It's not bad... We went here at night and to be totally honest we didn't feel that great about the relative safety of the neighborhood we were in. It felt a bit sketchy. Something to keep in mind if you're considering going here and you're a visitor. Other than that, the food is pretty standard izakaya fare- not that much of a Brazilian influence from what we could tell. And we're very familiar with the genre (tons of these in the NYC) so we knew what to expect. The food is pretty tasty and the service was pretty good. The restaurant kinda feels like you walked into someone's kitchen which is pretty interesting. But overall we've actually had much better Japanese food. So there's that. But not a bad option if you're looking for something completely different in São Paulo.

I was told the best Japanese food could be found in Liberdade and this was a great place to get it. Very local, friendly joint with authentic food, drinks and tatami mats. I felt like I was transported back to Tokyo and getting a beer with my friends. Several older businessmen in the back were speaking on Japanese and the sights and smells were all reminiscent of Japan. Had to start off with a highball to get rehydrated and ordered a variety of small dishes including agedashi (this is my litmus test for Japanese restaurants-if they can do this well, the rest of the food is usually very good). It came out hot, slightly crispy with plenty of gingery broth and a covering of chopping green onions. It also came with a piece of roasted eggplant in the broth which was a surprise since we also ordered nasu (eggplant). Okonomiyaki was excellent with a variety of seafood and toppings, just as filling as we hoped. She even made sure we weren't allergic to seafood before we ordered it. I wish I knew there was a yelp bottle we could have had a free shot from! Maybe next time we make it back out here.

Everybody knows that Sao Paulo is the best city to eat great Japanese food outside Japan. I always had great experiences eating at Izakaya Issa, one of the best Japanese food I have already had (different from te sushi-sashimi we are use to). I have never been in Japan, but I heard that Izakaya Issa is very authentic and traditional. The ladies working there are always very friendly, and Dona Margarida Haraguchi, the owner, is so sweet and conversationist! The star dishes from the place is the octopus balls (really creamy and well-flavored) and the ramen!

I think we need to bring some balance in the ratings. Environment ...weird, food: average to simply ok. Nothing exceptional. It can't be the highest rated place in the area! All the next days I had exceptional food in São Paolo. I was misled by the ratings. Of course it was extremely cheap so at least it was a low cost experiment

We had a lovely time at this delightful restaurant. It is small but very cozy. There is bar seating for approx 10-12 people. There four booths that are set low. You remove your shoes and sit comfortably. The meal was delicious. The best part for us was that they had American menus and the waitress spoke English.

Izakaya Issa was decent. The prices were relatively high, and I would say the value for money isn't exactly the best here. Still, the ladies that work there were extremely nice and helpful. The atmosphere was also very authentic Japanese, but I wouldn't say it's the same for the food I've had. It's not not up there on the list of places I'd recommend, but it's a decent place for a late night bite if you're ever in that situation.

Nice, small restaurant. If you are looking for sushi, this is not the place. They specialize in traditional cooked Japanese food. A very unassuming exterior (kind of hard to find), but delicious food, and a very friendly staff. Definitely worth a stop.

Everytime I take someone new to Izakaya Issa, I usually hear: "there's something special about this place". And there is - this small japanese bar (aka. Izakaya) is not trying to be the hip place of the moment, so it feels home -- well, your japanese home. Izayakas are built around drinks and snacks, so keep up the style and ask yourself a bottle - even if it's only beer - and the day starters, usually a four-type-combo that change daily. They're small and individual, so take your time and do not rush! Afterwards, go for an Okonomiyaki, the japanese pizza, and enjoy the bonito flakes moving over it, looking like they're alive. Still hungry? Some Takoyaki will do it. Izakaya Issa accepts credit cards, and you'll probably need to arrive early. Other than that, enjoy your travel to Japan!

A really really small Japanese restaurant in Liberdade. It has the feel of an old traditional bar in Tokyo with plenty of Sake on the walls and the 'grandma' behind making the meals. Lots of small snacks on other as well other main dishes such as lamen and noodles. The food is freshly prepared in the traditional Japanese way and I would have to say the best lamen I have had in Sao Paulo so far. The meat with nice and tender while the egg was soft boiled and runny. The other options are also very tasty but I'll be back for the lamen.