New & Hot: Sakaba Malabar for Spanish-Japanese Food & Drink

Sponsored by Sakaba Malabar

Malabar has been a fixture on Wuding Lu, serving Spanish tapas, beer, and wine since 2012. Early this summer, the time came for a refresh in a bold direction, and it's one that's turning out rather nicely.    

Introducing Sakaba Malabar, a sleek restaurant and bar that blends Spanish tapas with Japanese cuisine alongside sakes, cocktails, and wine.

About

Sakaba Malabar

Sakaba Malabar resides in the same space where Malabar was on Wuding Lu. If you’ve been to Malabar, Sakaba is nothing like it—it’s been completely transformed. It's backed by the same people, led by chef patron Juan Campos, also of RAW Eatery, and they're adamant about retaining the same casual dining experience and great drinking atmosphere that Malabar had.

At the center is a gorgeous horseshoe bar encircled by leather clad bar chairs, the walls surrounding adorned with bottles of wine. It's a cozy space with just over 40 seats, 20 of those are at the bar.

The Food

What's On The Menu

The food menu is a creative blend of Spanish tapas with Japanese influences, courtesy of brother-sister duo Juan and Ana Campos. Imagine hints of teriyaki (which is made in-house from scratch), and the use of kombu and miso weaved into Spanish favorites. And it's all reinforced with a strong drinks program (more on this below).

“Spanish-Japanese” is difficult to imagine on paper. So here's what to expect:

Table bread, alongside a welcome drink, a refreshing cocktail of shochu infused with jasmine, topped with cava. (Welcome drink to rotate.)

Mediterranean Salad (¥58) – Greens over goat cheese foam with black olives and pesto dressing. Creamy & refreshing. Be sure to mix the salad well.

Tuna Tartare (¥198) – Premium blue fin tuna with plum, salmon roe, and grilled foie gras, seasoned with a house-made teriyaki. Lovely.

Japanese-Style Escabeche Mackerel (¥48) – Mackerel cured in umeboshi cherry vinegar, kombu, and ginger atop pickles. 
    

Leek Croquettes (¥78/three) – One of the sacred Spanish foods. Puffy clouds of fat croquettes topped with cold crab salad and Iberico Bellota ham. Crispy on the outside, molten on the inside. 

Beef Croquettes (¥68/two) – Beef that’s been macerated and mixed with the same fluffy potato mixture and fried, topped with a sliver of Iberico pork belly and uni. A bomb.

Baked Crab “Txangurro Donostiarra” (¥108) – A traditional Basque dish of fresh crab meat cooked with béchamel. Topped with pieces of sake-infused foie gras. It’s a luxurious dish. You’ll be hesitant to share this with your dining companions. Best enjoyed with bread.

Sous-Vide Egg (¥78) with Iberico Bellota ham, pumpkin miso cream and crème fraiche. This is a divisive dish due to its sweet profile. Be sure to mix well to get the onsen egg at the bottom.

Tortilla de Patatas (¥58) – One of many quintessential Spanish dishes, the potato omelette. Topped with thin strips of sautéed king mushroom—to evoke angulas, baby eels, also a popular Spanish tapas—and black aioli. Tasty, comforting, and easy to love.  

Iberico Pork Rice (¥238) – Rice cooked in a stock of shiitake, miso, kombu, and bonito flakes, sautéed with Iberico pork belly, Bellota ham, and garlic, over sous vide egg, topped with sea urchin. It’s oh-so comforting.

Mini Seafood Paella (¥128) – A two-person pan of al dente rice cooked in a rich stock loaded up baby squid, Iberico pork, and red prawns.

Grilled Eggplant (¥58) studded with okra and eggplant cream, dressed with miso honey yogurt.

UYYU Uruguay M7 beef (¥198) – 100g of uber marbled wagyu beef fired on the josper grill, served with charred bamboo and manchego foam.

Fries (¥28) – Side dish, doused with black garlic miso mayo.

Chocolate Mousse & Caramel Cake (¥68) - Easily the most sinful of desserts. 

Japanese Fruit Ice Cream (¥58) – Peach or Pumpkin flavor available.

For Drinks

Cocktails, Sake & Wine

For drinks, Sakaba Malabar has cocktails, sakes, sojus, wines, and spirits. The cocktails (all ¥88 each), which feature eight house signatures, have been curated by award winning bartender Yao Lu of Union Trading Co.

Of the cocktails tried, all were delicious, especially the Horchata Milk Punch. There are also mocktails for ¥68 each.

Horchata Milk Punch – Golden Rice, almonds, cinnamon, clarified milk, sherry brandy. Silky smooth, punchy, and milky. It’s absolutely appetizing, and my favorite of the three cocktails tried. This should be the first cocktail you order.

Tochigi Cobbler – Oloroso sherry, lemon juice, strawberry jam, pineapple. An easy sipping, refreshing drink.

Takeda Isabella – Sake, rose petal jam, aquafaba, fresh lemon. Not very sweet, floral-citrusy, and mildly herbaceous.

Yuzu Liquor (¥638/bottle) - A sake-based pomelo liquor that's tart, fragrant, bright, and refreshing. Delightful.

Wines start at ¥58/glass, ¥298/bottle; sakes from ¥418 a bottle. Looking for a recommendation? Ask for General Manager Anup Rajbhandari (formerly of Bar Rouge). He’ll gladly provide options.

In Summary

When Fusion Works, It's Fantastic

Sakaba Malabar just opened last weekend. Given its location, the backing of Juan and Anup, and Shanghai’s incessant desire to try out new places, it’s no surprise that it’s busy.

It is a new, interesting, and bold concept. Marrying two cuisines together is no easy feat. But what Sakaba has managed to do is quite unique, and it works. Oh, and the atmosphere is excellent.

Favorite dishes: Tuna tartare, both croquettes, baked crab, tortillas de patatas, Iberico pork rice, paella, chocolate mousse.

Book Now

Book Your Table

Sakaba Malabar has seating times for dinner at 5:30pm, 7:30pm, and 9:30pm. Last order is 10:30pm.

• Book through the QR Code to receive one complimentary welcome drink per person! Valid from Sunday to Wednesday only.
  

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Sakaba Malabar

Address: 1081 Wuding Lu, near Jiaozhou Lu 武定路1081号, 近胶州路

Tel: [phone]

Hours: Sun-Thu, 5:30pm-1am; Fri-Sat, 5:30pm-2am

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