Cartagena’s not exactly known for its Asian influences, but Teriyaki offers hands-down the historic district’s most innovative (and traditional) Japanese fare. Located in Plaza San Diego, a quaint open space beside Cartagena’s School of Fine Arts and diagonal from the renowned Hotel Santa Clara, Teriyaki offers dishes of Chinese, Thai, Japanese and Korean influence: everything incredibly fresh and bold.

It’s a little silly to wander hundreds of miles from home and go in search of a food you are familiar with, but on hungover Cartagena weekends, there’s no better comfort food than sushi at Teriyaki.

Outside, Teriyaki has several small shaded tables and umbrellas: a nice people watching spot regardless of the quality of food. Inside, the restaurant is simple and chic, your everyday noveau Japanese restaurant in the States or Europe. The menu could fall under the category of overwhelming (something like six pages chock full of entirely diverse cuisine), were it not for the fact that everything is delicious. While I’m generally cautious of restaurants with picture menus, Teriyaki’s is a nice opportunity for non-Spanish speakers to have some idea of what they’re ordering.

Far and away, our favorite dish here (beyond the fresh sushi, sweet teriyaki, stir-frys, and rice dishes) was the “Thai Ceviche” which came as a thin bed of raw sliced mero (grouper). It was decorated with finely chopped avocado, corn, and this fragrant coconut potion of chilis, lime, and, what I can only imagine was nicotine for the fact that the dish was addictive. My first visit to Teriyaki, I ended up ordering two plates of it (yes, that is a shitload of raw fish). My second visit, I ordered one. And my third visit I convinced everyone at the table to order their own then proceeded to steal as much as I possibly could. It’s that good.

Back in the states, I was considering what to make for dinner when I remembered the Thai Ceviche. I searched for a recipe online but found nothing. So I called the Teriyaki branch in Plaza San Diego who said they didn’t hand out secret recipes like that. “We’re not a cookbook,” I think was the manager’s exact wording.

Teriyaki is reasonably priced ($6-$12 main dish) and does a great rendition on something you’d not expect to exist in Cartagena de las Indias. There are several other branches of the restaurant (the biggest being in Bogota) and they seem to have their act together. Fresh food. Some creative Asian/Colombian fusion recipes. Prompt service. And badass Thai Ceviche.

Teriyaki Address:
Calle 38 # 8-28
Plaza San Diego
Cartagena, Colombia
(57-5) 6647115