Authentic Japanese izakaya · Málaga

Sake Izakaya — logotipo

Where Japanese tradition meets the energy of Málaga. Market-fresh sashimi, comforting broths, charcoal grill, plates to share and a carefully chosen sake list.

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Our story

A journey into the most authentic Japan

Sake was born from the years our chef, Juan López Ramos, spent immersed in Japan: in its markets at dawn, at its worn wooden counters, in those neighbourhood taverns where the cooking doesn't try to impress, but to welcome.

An izakaya —«a place to sit and drink»— is the social heart of the Japanese night: small plates arriving one by one, sake poured for the other, conversation with no clock. That spirit, tapas told in Japanese, is what we brought to the Old Town of Málaga.

There are no shortcuts here: produce that's respected, technique learned slowly and a room kept small on purpose, so we can cook up close, the way it's done over there.

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Chef Juan López Ramos and his team in the kitchen

Chef's selection

Dishes that tell a journey

A taste of what comes off our counter and our stoves. The menu changes with the market and the season.

Seasonal fish plated by the chef

Seasonal raw fish

Tataki, ponzu and citrus: the best market fish of the day, in clean cuts.

Bowl of steaming broth with shellfish

«Thai» Dashi

House dashi broth with a Thai accent and a scarlet-prawn dumpling.

Crunchy fried bite with chopsticks

Chicken Karaage

Japanese-style marinated fried chicken: crisp outside, juicy within.

Bowl served on the counter

Gyoza

Dumplings seared golden on the griddle, finished with steam, made in house.

Signature dish plated

From the grill

Seasonal fish and vegetables over charcoal: the heart of the izakaya.

Seasonal dish on a leaf

Tempura

A light, fleeting batter over seasonal vegetables and shellfish.

Hamachi sashimi on Japanese ceramic

Sashimi

Market fish in clean cuts. The produce, undisguised.

Sake bottle in the lit alcove

Sake selection

Junmai, ginjo, daiginjo: a cellar built to accompany every dish.

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The menu

House classics

Free, approachable chef's cuisine, respectful of Japanese tradition and built on local produce. Dishes made for the middle of the table: order a few and share without hurry.

Zensai

Starters

  • Miso soup

    Soup of the day

    MP

  • Sautéed edamame

    Butter, garlic, ginger and soy

    6.5 €

  • Potato salad

    Potato, charcoal-grilled fish, edamame and wasabi

    8 / 11.5 €

  • Sunomono ika

    Wakame and squid salad

    8.5 / 14 €

  • Iberian gyozas

    Yuzu-kosho dashi

    12.5 / 17 €

Tsukuri

Raw & sashimi

  • Aburi salmon

    Kimizu and pickled fennel

    18.9 €

  • Hamachi tiradito

    Portobello and yellow chilli

    22 €

  • Sashimi

    Catch of the day

    MP

  • Kimuchi tuna

    Spicy tuna cubes and pickled cucumber

    24 €

Agemono

Fried

  • Karaage

    Free-range chicken

    8 / 12 €

  • Ebi ten mayo

    King prawn, wasabi, mayonnaise

    13.5 €

  • Ika nikkei mayo

    Squid, spicy Nikkei sauce

    16 €

  • Yasai tempura

    Vegetable tempura

    16 €

  • Shiitake katsu

    Shiitake, chicken and Japanese tartare sauce (2 pcs)

    7.8 €

  • Duck nem

    Mango and teriyaki

    10 €

Yakimono

Grill & more

  • Dengaku aubergine

    Pickled cherry tomato

    14.5 €

  • Bimi skewer

    Iberian pork belly, taberu rayu and yaki-bimi

    16 €

  • Yuan-yaki corvina

    Snow peas

    24 €

  • Acorn-fed Iberian pork

    Shio koji and kimchi salad

    24 €

  • Smoked duck breast

    Pickled pear and rocket

    21 €

Nabemono

Hot pots & stews

  • Yakisoba «Boletus Carbonara»

    Soba noodles, Japanese mushrooms and onsen egg

    18 €

  • Japanese curry with Galician beef

    Meatballs and udon noodles

    23 €

  • Beef picanha sukiyaki

    Japanese mushrooms and truffle (2 people)

    28 €

  • Sukiyaki (vegan option)

    Japanese mushrooms and tofu

    20 €

  • Japo-chuelo

    Monkfish broth, king prawns and coral mayonnaise · pre-order only (2 people)

    24 €

Prices in €. MP = market price. Two prices = half portion / full portion.

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Drinks

Drinks menu

Japanese sake, wines from our land and sparkling wines to accompany the table.

Beers & soft drinks

  • Victoria draught2,80 €
  • Sapporo3,80 €
  • Kirin3,60 €
  • Victoria 0.02,80 €
  • Glass of Ribera · Ripa Dorii3,80 €
  • Glass of Rioja · Garu3,80 €
  • Glass of Verdejo · Ripa Dorii3,80 €
  • Glass of Chardonnay · Entrechuelos3,80 €
  • Tinto de verano3,50 €
  • Vermouth4,00 €
  • Soft drink2,80 €
  • Still soft drink2,60 €
  • Water2,60 €
  • Sparkling water2,80 €

Sake carafes

  • Keigetsu Gin-no-Yume12,00 €
  • Shalala · 300 ml17,00 €
  • Sotenden · 750 ml39,00 €
  • Akitora Junmai9,50 €
  • Kubota10,00 €
  • Choya Umeshu9,50 €

Wines · Rioja

  • Luis Cañás Crianza28,00 €
  • Garu Crianza21,00 €

Wines · Ribera del Duero

  • Ripa Dorii Roble · Tempranillo22,00 €
  • Pruno Crianza · Tempranillo · Cabernet · Merlot27,00 €
  • Matarromera Crianza53,00 €

Wines · Sierras de Málaga

  • Descalzos Viejos27,00 €

Whites

  • Entrechuelos Chardonnay22,00 €
  • Emina Albariño26,00 €
  • Bobal · Vicente Gandía28,00 €
  • Tilenus Godello · Bierzo26,00 €
  • Ripa Verdejo21,00 €
  • Manzanilla Alegría23,00 €

Rosé

  • Emina Rosé22,00 €

Sparkling

  • Cava Miracle Brut · Vicente Gandía26,00 €
  • Champagne Veuve Clicquot97,00 €
  • Veuve Ambar28,00 €

Our kitchen

Craft, produce and time

We cook the way it's done in Japan: few things, done very well. House broths, fresh market fish, Japanese rice worked daily and a menu that breathes with the season.

Sashimi & Raw

Market fish selected piece by piece, clean cuts and precise dressings. The produce, undisguised.

Broths & soups

House dashi and seasonal soups: that first warm sip that makes peace with the day.

Izakaya plates

Small plates for the middle of the table: charcoal grill, light frying, pickles and Japanese tavern recipes.

Sake & Cocktails

Sake served at its right temperature, highballs and Japanese mixed drinks to stretch out the night.

The experience

A night at the izakaya

Warm wood, low light, conversation, sake and plates to share: an experience designed to carry you to a contemporary Japanese izakaya.

A plate served on the wooden counter

The counter

Four seats facing the chef, where everything happens.

Guest enjoying the intimate dining room

The dining room

Twenty seats, low light and wood. We cook for a few.

The chef plating in the kitchen

The kitchen

Market produce, Japanese technique, hands that are in no hurry.

Silhouette of a guest before the red circle

The nights

Sake poured for the other, plates arriving, time forgotten.

Gallery

Sake, in pictures

Hours & location

Find us in the Old Town

Kitchen hours
Lunch13:30 – 16:30
Dinner20:00 – 00:00

Open Tuesday to Sunday. Closed on Mondays.

Address

C. San Juan de Letrán 4

29012 Málaga

We're right in the heart of Málaga's Old Town, a mostly pedestrian area: the easiest way is to come on foot or leave the car in any of the public car parks in the centre.

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Reservations

Book your table

Enjoy an unforgettable Japanese night in the heart of Málaga. Just 24 seats per service: we recommend booking ahead.

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