Omakase or izakaya?
Kaigi cheekily refuses to pick a lane — and that's exactly the fun of it. Part chef's-choice tasting counter, part relaxed Japanese pub, it blends the precision of the former with the playful, small-plate spirit of the latter, all filtered through a Portuguese lens. If you've been craving proper Japanese food in Porto but don't want the stiff, hushed formality of a pure omakase, this is the sweet spot.
Tucked into a more residential part of Porto, Kaigi is a lovely little spot — probably fewer than 20 seats, built around a counter, with warm, genuinely Japanese-feeling decor. Small touch I loved: there's a USB charging port right at the table, a lifesaver if your battery's dying. On the weekend evening I visited it was full, with guests from all over the world, and the staff were friendly, efficient, and explained each dish well. It's in the Michelin Guide, and you can feel the ambition.
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| A big bar counter seating with central open kitchen |
Tucked into a more residential part of Porto, Kaigi is a lovely little spot — probably fewer than 20 seats, built around a counter, with warm, genuinely Japanese-feeling decor. Small touch I loved: there's a USB charging port right at the table, a lifesaver if your battery's dying. On the weekend evening I visited it was full, with guests from all over the world, and the staff were friendly, efficient, and explained each dish well. It's in the Michelin Guide, and you can feel the ambition.
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| Octopus is every where in Portugal |
🐙 Octopus Tempura
A refreshing opener. The octopus tempura itself was so-so — you honestly can't go wrong with octopus in Portugal — but the pickled cucumber and veg underneath did a great job resetting the palate.
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| A disappointing one, bitter uni |
🍥 Uni
The crispy seaweed was tasty, but the uni itself let it down: a strong bitterness came through, which tells me the quality was just middling.
🍳 Tamago
Served as a starter, which is fine since this isn't strictly a sushi restaurant. A decent version.
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| Good seasoned squid with crispy seaweed |
🦑 Squid
Tasty, with a sauce that paired beautifully and a crispy shard adding crunch. One of my favourites of the night.
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| Nice Yakiniku, one of my favourite of the night |
🍢 Yakiniku (Chicken & Beef)
Great char, juicy and tender, though a touch over-seasoned for me. The bread served alongside did its job for eating with the meat — billed as shokupan, but not quite fluffy enough in my book.
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| Quality Sushi |
🍣 Sushi
Both pieces tasted good and fresh, with nicely formed shari. One oddity: on such a hot Porto day, the fish arrived a little warm, which was a strange experience.
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| Quality tuna paried well with the shiso leaf inside |
🍙 Tuna Hand Roll
Lovely, with a shiso leaf inside that really lifted the flavour.
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| Ok tsukune and the odd bread as a side |
🍚 Chicken Mince - Tsukune
Decent, though I preferred the earlier chicken. The rice was creamy and flavourful, but I don't understand why there were two carbs on the plate — the bread felt irrelevant to the dish here.
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| This mochi dessert end the meal with a highlight |
🍡 Mochi (Dessert)
I loved this. Cheese and peach for a lovely salty-sweet balance, and the mochi's chewiness tied it all together. A real highlight to finish.
Verdict- Inventive Japanese food with a fun Portuguese twist and a warm room — great fun despite some pacing and consistency niggles.
Ratings ⭐
- Food: 4/5 – Creative and mostly excellent — squid, tuna roll and mochi shine, though the uni and warm sushi missed.
- Service: 3.5/5 – Friendly and knowledgeable, but noticeably slow given how many staff there were.
- Decor: 4.5/5 – Intimate, genuinely Japanese feel — and a handy USB port at the table.
- Value: 4/5 – Reasonable for an ambitious Michelin-listed tasting experience.
- Overall: 4/5 – A clever omakase-meets-izakaya worth booking.
💰 Estimated cost per person: £75 (tasting menu around €75, excluding drinks)
📍 Kaigi
Address: R. de Eugénio de Castro 266, 4100-225 Porto
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