Sushi, samba and killer caipirinhas – Japanese-Brazilian fusion takes Rome by storm
It isn’t just classic Japanese cuisine that’s beloved in the capital. Fusion restaurants are popping up everywhere too. Whether it’s a fusion of Brazilian and Japanese cuisines, or Hawaii and Peru, Rome has its fair share of fusion restaurants. Here’s our selection of the best eateries where you can taste Japanese with a twist, paired with some great cocktails.
Finger’s Roma
Via Francesco Carrara, 14 (Flaminio)
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If you are looking for a transformative and multicultural gastronomic experience, Finger’s Roma is for you. A stone’s throw away from Piazza del Popolo, this extraordinary restaurant in Rome lets you step into a corner of Japan, take a detour to Brazil, and lose yourself in the myriad of mingling flavors.
The all-Japanese kitchen staff provides ample choice for any palate, between classic Japanese dishes and Brazilian-Japanese fusion; Finger’s offers something for everybody, sporting a biblical menu counting 77 dishes to choose from.
Temakinho
Via dei Serpenti, 16 (Monti)
Borgo Angelico, 30 (Borgo)
Inside La Rinascente in Via dei Due Macelli, 23 (Via del Corso)
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Not long after their first hole in the wall hotspot in Monti acquired a cult following, Temakinho expanded to a new space: a colorful, funky, Brazilian-sushi playhouse sprawled over three floors on Borgo Angelico in Prati. Step into another world – a colorful, tropical one with incredibly fresh fish. Like most Sushi restaurants it’s not cheap – rolls range from €10 to €15, but the portions are generous you will not leave hungry. Reservations are highly recommend (you can now book through their app) – we weren’t joking about the “cult-following.” What we love: tartare di salmao gostoso, Rio Bananal Roll and Carnaval roll. Feeling wild? Try the pineapple mint or acai Caipirinha.
Mahalo South Pacific Fine Food
Via Flaminia 496/b1 (Ponte Milvio)
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Step-in inside Mahalo will feel like mmersing yourself in a tropical greenhouse – the disruptive vegetation makes its way through the glass and creates a welcoming environment dominated by colors and shapes reminiscent of the Pacific Ocean. On the menu you’ll find Hawaiian dishes that range from the famous poke (the classica Hawaiian salad with diced raw fish marinated with avocado, oil and sesame seeds); soups with shellfish and coconut oil, sushi rolls of all kinds enriched with tropical fruits and much more. The perfect Hawaiian fusion restaurant in Rome.
Manioka
Via Ofanto, 35 (Salario)
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Cozy and off-the-beaten track, Manioka is one of the newest Brazilian Fusion spots to open in Rome. Staying true to the free-spirited nature of the Brazilian-Japanese Fusion spots, Manioka does its own thing and has its own specialty rolls with authentic ingredients: farofa, tenkasu and tapioca to name a few. The menu is unique in that it features a large selection of very fresh fish combinations that can be made into temaki, rolls or tartare. Must-try: Salamao Dragao tartare Copacabana roll, Caixas do Sul and one of their Sobremesas or desserts- we’re suckers for the Maracuja Cheesecake, but the Pudim di Manioka is also worth tasting; add a fresh mixed juices (we love the mint Pineapple one) or one of their Caipirinhas to get the full Manioka experience. Book ahead.
