Renowned chef Vítor Matos is opening his first Japanese restaurant, tucked away in a luxury hotel in Porto; KANJIRU has just 22 seats at the counter and offers exclusive menus

Vitor Matos, one of the leading figures in Portuguese cuisine, has opened his first Japanese restaurant and his first omakase venture. KANJIRU opened in Porto with just 22 seats, all at the counter, inside the Torel Private Collection, the five-star hotel overlooking the Douro River. The restaurant has its own entrance from the street.

The chef developed the project with João Rocha, who runs the kitchen. The two are guided by three principles: respecting traditional Japanese techniques, treating ingredients with care, and allowing room for creative freedom. The Japanese inspiration avoids purism and blends techniques and ingredients from Japan with a Portuguese and contemporary twist.

There are no traditional tables. Guests sit at the counter, watch each dish being prepared, and speak directly with the chefs, as the omakase concept dictates: the choice is left to the kitchen. The menus are a surprise, changing with the season and the best ingredients available at the market, and the intensity of the flavors builds throughout the dinner.

The restaurant offers two menus:

• Dentõ to Kakusshin (€155 per person) blends tradition and innovation
• Ai-Jō (€220 per person) evokes the concepts of harmony and love.

Among the signature dishes are the miso, toro, and caviar meringue; the Algarve red shrimp carpaccio; the lírio no zuke sashimi; and the chawanmushi, a savory Japanese custard. This is followed by a selection of nigiri that uses Portuguese fish whenever possible—including sardines—and concludes with the traditional tamagoyaki.

The Kagoshima Wagyu marks the highlight of the meal, served before dessert, which includes Japanese cheesecake. Guests may choose to pair their dinner with a selection of wines and sakes, mineral water, champagne, or signature cocktails—both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

The interior design is by Isabel Sá Nogueira: Oriental-inspired wallpaper, paper spheres suspended from the ceiling, and tones of wood, gold, olive green, and black. On the wall, the KANJIRU logo may evoke the rising sun, a Japanese flower, or a pair of chopsticks.

The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday, for dinner only, from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Reservations are made in time slots at 7:00 p.m., 8:00 p.m., and 9:00 p.m. There are no vegetarian or vegan options. Torel Private Collection is an adults-only hotel, so the restaurant and bar do not admit children. Access is via Rua da Restauração, 292, by panoramic elevator or stairs.

The KANJIRU Bar, located on the hotel’s terrace and overlooking the Douro, was scheduled to open in October. It will welcome guests and the general public daily from 11:30 a.m. to midnight, offering light meals—including vegetarian and vegan options—along with a menu of cocktails, wines, and coffee, curated by bar manager Tiago Santos.