Aska Lamen House (Liberdade)

466 Rua Galvão Bueno
Liberdade

I love this place for many reasons...One, it's the only place in Sao Paulo I even know to go to for a bowl-o-Japanese noodles. Two, it's cheap. You can get out of there, stuffed, for 20 Reais. Three, it's delicious. Four, once you get a table (you could wait 30 minutes-1 hour!!), it's really quick!

I also love the rules on the front of the menu...it's such a small restaurant by Brasilian standards that they are like Japanese restaurant czars about their seating and eating policy. I wish I had taken notes...but things like...if you are two people, sit at the counter, not at a table; on the weekends, you might have to share a table; only one refill of broth (but not on the weekends or holidays), and some other weird stuff I have never heard of in a restaurant, but I think is standard for Japanese restaurants?

The menu is not really that understandable if you are not Brasilian or Japanese, but I really don't think you can go wrong with any of it! The guioza is delicious (some of the best I have had in SP, I think), and Mary K. told us how to create the best dipping sauce...1 part soy, two parts vinegar, and a little bit of the hot stuff. It made all the difference!

This is a place to frequent, if you don't mind the wait and rush...because the big bowl-o-noodles will keep you full all day long. :)

Black Dog (Jardins)

Black Dog
Alameda Joaquim Eugenio Lima, 612
Various Locations
http://www.blackdog.com.br/

Quite possibly the most interesting hot dog I have ever had. Still trying to decide it if it was delicious or disgusting. In my defense, I really only ate at Black Dog because it is situated on Eugenio Lima, where I really wanted to scope out some buses that pass by there. I was specifically looking out for the 669A, which goes straight down Santo Amaro from there. Unfortunately, there wasn't a parada (stop) there like I thought, but it was still a thrill to see the bus go by, knowing that I don't have to walk all the way to Brigadeiro Luiz Antonio to catch a bus to Moema. But back to the dog.

Here is what comes on the dog:
Two hot dogs (your choice of regular, spicy, soy, or chicken), sliced open. Vinaigrette. Cheddar cheese. Corn. Mayonnaise. Requeijao. Crispy potatoes. Parmesan encrusted mashed potatoes. Chopped tomatoes. Oregano.

The best part? The bread. And the parmesan-encrusted mashed potatoes. Surprisingly gourmet and delicious. Not disgusting! All of the other stuff...well, I admit I fore-went the mayonnaise and requeijao...it just seemed that it would be tooooo creamy....and gross. I only got a mini, and I didn't eat the whole thing. And I just don't get it...who thought of of putting it all together like that???? I know who. Drunk people.

Black Dog is open 24 hours for a reason...and the "praia" of bars across the street are probably what keeps this particular location in business. I'll definitely take my drunk friends here. And they will love it. And they will be soooo Sao Paulo. :)