Rua Amarela in Cascais has a new neighbour. Where Coal used to be, steaks have been swapped for specialties from countries like China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand – Asian Papa brings together a range of dishes from across Asia.
With thoughtful presentation in both the space and the dishes, you’ll find starters like duck with endives, seasoned with cumin and sesame (€9.90); spicy pork gyozas with cucumber (€8.90 for six pieces); fried prawns with wasabi sauce and Japanese mayo (€9.90); fried shiitake mushrooms with spicy mango sauce (€6.50); crispy karaage chicken with spicy Korean sauce (€6.90); or Vietnamese (€11.90) and Korean (€12.90) pancakes, served with prawns, vegetables, and other fillings.
From meats to fish and salads, there are plenty of main dishes to choose from. Highlights include Peking duck, served sliced with pancakes on the side and a set of vegetables (€19.90); whole steamed sea bass with chilli, leeks, mint, lime, onions, and rice (€17.90); sweet and sour ribs with potatoes, rice, and red peppers (€16.90); teriyaki salmon (€16.90); prawn curry (€18.90); and Sichuan beef strips with onions, green beans, red peppers, sesame seeds, and rice (€17.90).
For dessert, try the traditional Chinese mango pudding (€6.90) or the matcha cheesecake (€6.90). Pair it all with Asian-inspired cocktails on the menu, like the lychee caipiroska (€9.50) or soju mojito (€8.90).
With 56 seats inside and a terrace that fits an additional 20, Asian Papa offers two dining rooms and a small outdoor passage. The entire restaurant is decorated with Asian motifs, aiming to create a “pleasant atmosphere” for a “special meal” that stands out from more everyday Asian options, as described by the owner, Tingting “Tina” Zhang, who opened the restaurant with her husband, Ming Lin, the chef behind the menu.
They have lived in Portugal since 2015 and also run Shoyu Ramen & Izakaya in Jardim Visconde da Luz, Cascais, as well as the Soya Noodle Bar chain, which has a branch near Rua Amarela and locations in Carcavelos, Algés, and Saldanha. In the coming months, they reveal plans to open another in Parque das Nações.
“With Asian Papa, we wanted a restaurant with more refined cooking and better presentation”, explains Tina, the Western name she adopted and by which she introduces herself. “We want people to experience more of Asia - Cascais has many international residents who are open-minded and embrace new things. My husband is very creative, truly passionate about cooking, and there are always new ideas for customers to try”.
Originally from southern China, they passed through Russia, the Czech Republic, Latvia, and Lithuania before settling in Portugal. It was in Lithuania that they had their four children, but the market for Asian restaurants there wasn’t as strong - and finding certain ingredients was a challenge. So they decided to move to Portugal.
They opened their first restaurant in Cacém, an Asian buffet that ultimately didn’t see much success. They then moved to Carcavelos, where they opened a similar spot. “We love serving quality food, but with the accessible prices we offered, it was tough to make it work”. That’s when they decided to focus on ramen, since the Japanese specialty wasn’t very common in Cascais, where they had their sights set. They even spent a month in Japan learning to make the famous broths and noodles before returning to open Noodle Ramen House in the Cascais Villa shopping centre (now closed).
They didn’t see the success they had hoped for and decided to try their luck in the streets of Cascais. They opened Soya Noodle Bar at the turn of 2019 to 2020. When the pandemic hit Portugal hard, their staff were “afraid of getting sick”, so Tina and her husband worked in the space alone, handling all the takeaway and delivery orders. “We had really bad timing. Eventually, the team came back once they felt it was safe”.
The concept ended up becoming a hit—so much so that there are now three other locations and another one on the way. Not wanting to waste the expertise they’d gained, they also launched Shoyu Ramen & Izakaya, blending other Asian specialties into a fusion menu.
“Every time we open a new restaurant, we say it’ll be the last one because it’s so exhausting. But then, once things start running smoothly…” Tina sighs, uncertain if there will be more openings after the Soya Noodle Bar in Parque das Nações. What’s certain is that they’ve been building a small empire of Asian cuisine - and Asian Papa is set to be the crown jewel.
Rua Afonso Sanches, 54, Cascais. 12.00-23.00. 935 665 589