From Thailand to Vietnam, passing through China and making some incursions into Japan, the new restaurant at Marina de Cascais is dedicated to Southeast Asian specialities. YAM opened in May and has been a success, attracting locals and tourists thanks to the good reviews it has been accumulating online.
The space is divided into four parts. There is a terrace with a view of the sea (and the boats), an Asian-style counter, a dining room, and a future indoor garden that is still being prepared, where there will be a lounge area with DJ sets from Thursday to Saturday, right next to the bar. Altogether, it can accommodate around 90 people.
YAM is a project by three partners, Paulo Corte-Real, Litsa Savastano and Luís Eduardo Marques. The key word is sharing. 'We designed a menu with the idea of a shared table in mind, which is very much in line with Asian tradition', explains Paulo. 'We wanted a modern and contemporary environment, casual, but with food that remains true to its origins, albeit with a different presentation. And we have affordable prices in a premium location'.
Perhaps the ideal way to start is with one of the Little Big Things, as they call a series of starters to share at the table. There are salt and pepper squid with nam jim mayonnaise (10€); chicken or vegetable gyozas (8,50€ for four units); seasoned pork ribs with ginger and chinkiang vinegar (8€); mixed dim sum (9€); Peking duck with hoisin pancakes (10€); Vietnamese prawn soup (9€); or goi cuon, steamed rice paper rolls (8€). Another option is the baos, rice buns originating from Taiwan, which can contain chicken katsu (12€); crispy prawn (13€); or Korean barbecue-style pork (12€).
If you prefer more substantial dishes (also designed to be shared), there are various types of curry (15€-16€) — which can include chicken, prawns, or tofu; the classic pad thai (14€); and nasi goreng, the Indonesian fried rice with pork and prawns (12€).
The meal must end with the only dessert available at YAM: a salted caramel mousse with pistachio crumble (6€).
At the bar, for now, they offer a menu of classic cocktails. However, they are already preparing a series of specialties closer to Asia, such as the Hokkaido (12€), made with sake, gin, triple sec, and wasabi; or the Sakerinha (10€), for those who prefer to swap the cachaça in a caipirinha for traditional sake. We also got to try the YAM Thai, a house recipe based on dark rum and bourbon.
This was a project that Paulo Corte-Real, a native of Cascais, had in the drawer for 15 years. The chef and entrepreneur began working at Fortaleza do Guincho under the guidance of Vincent Farges and passed through Panorama by Henrique Sá Pessoa at the Sheraton, before moving to Australia, where he worked with Steven Snow. It was there, thanks to the proximity to Southeast Asia, that he became enchanted by this 'vibrant, fresh, and fragrant food, full of highs and lows'. 'People love it and there was little on offer here in Cascais. There are many sushi and Thai restaurants, but Cascais needed a restaurant with Southeast Asian food with a contemporary and uncomplicated approach'.
He returned to Portugal during the economic crisis triggered in 2008 by the collapse of Lehman Brothers. At that time, he was a pioneer of a private chef project, later opening a catering company. He went on to create a brunch brand, Kafeine, which initially had a space in Lisbon and then expanded to Marina de Cascais in 2021. This paved the way for finding a home for the Asian restaurant he had long dreamed of, located upstairs.
Marina de Cascais, shop 19. Wed-Mon 12.30-23.00. 21 484 4517