Ramen in Lisbon: Where to Savor the Slurp

Grab your chopsticks plus a spoon and discover where to eat great ramen in Lisbon.\

Ramen in LisbonPhoto by2foodtrippers

There were just a few ramen shops when we moved to Lisbon in 2019. Times have changed. We sometimes joke that it's now easier to find a ramen shop in Lisbon than it is to find a pastel de nata shop. And, while that's a bit of an exaggeration, it's not far from the mark. That's how trendy the Asian food favorite has become in Portugal's capital city.

We’ve wasted quite a few brain cells thinking about this phenomenon and we still haven’t figured out why there are at least a dozen different ramen shops within a 15 minute walk from our apartment. Is it because opening a ramen shop requires minimal overhead? Or is it because the profit margins are super favorable? Maybe it's the broth. Or perhaps the springy noodles.

The upside is that most of Lisbon’s ramen shops are decent. And, if you know where to go, some are great.

Pro Tip: Don't worry if don't eat meat. Most Lisbon ramen shops offer vegetarian and vegan options.

What Is Ramen?

A Japanese food staple with Chinese roots, ramen is one of the most popular soups in the world. And, as previously noted, it's especially popular in Lisbon. However, before we dive into the Lisbon ramen scene, let's talk about what ramen is first.

For the uninitiated, bowls of ramen are traditionally filled with savory broth, toothy wheat noodles, chashu (pork), nori (seaweed), scallions and a softly boiled egg. Broth variations include miso, shoyu (soy sauce), shio (salt) and tonkatsu (pork bone).

The dish, which has roots in Eastern China, reached new levels of refinement in Japan. While lamian noodles have been popular in Chinese cities like Shanghai for centuries, the Japanese get credit for perfecting ramen before sharing this comforting noodle soup with the world.

Lisbon Ramen Shops

Ramen in Lisbon is relatively cheap with most bowls priced under 15 euros. It's a good value considering the variety of ingredients required to make ramen. Plus, a bowl of ramen is satisfyingly filling.

However, if you're like most people, you'll want to add a drink and appetizer to your order. We often pair our ramen bowls with beer and start with an appetizer, like karaage fried chicken or gyoza dumpling, if we're feeling hungry. These add-ons transform a ramen bowl to a ramen meal.

Many of the best Lisbon ramen shops make their own noodles while some offer unique flavor combinations. After slupring slurping ramen all over the city, these are our favorites:

1. Hachiko Ramen by Honda

Operating in the multi-cultural Martim Moniz neighborhood since March of 2024, Hachiko Ramen by Honda has quickly soared to the top of this list for one key reason - its ramen is excellent.

Owner Rajesh Jwarchan may have Nepalese roots, but he learned a thing or two about ramen while living in Japan for a decade. That knowledge shines in traditional ramen bowls filled with slowly simmered broth and hand-pulled noodles. It also shines in our two favorite ramens - one that's flavored with kimchi and another that's generously topped with large discs of chashu pork.

Small dishes, like crispy karaage (i.e. fried chicken) are solid while the omurice has turned us into fans of Japan's unusual egg topped ketchup fried rice dish. Our only hesitation with elevating Hachiko Ramen by Honda to the top of this list is that the cosy ramen shop could become crowded. It's a risk that we're willing to take.

Fun Fact: Hachiko Ramen by Honda's name inspiration was a Japanese dog that achieved cult status due to his unyielding loyalty. Hachikō (the dog) has been the subject of multiple movies and is memorialized with a statue at Tokyo's bustling Shibuya Train Station.

2. Afuri

Unlike many of the best Lisbon ramen shops, Afuri doesn't emululate its Japanese brethen. Nor does it need to. The original Afuri opened in Tokyo in 2001 before spreading its wings to Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, the USA and Europe. In a lucky twist of fate, its first (and only) European locations are in Lisbon.

Afuri produces its noodles locally using Japanese flour. While its menu features a full range of ramen options, the ramens to order here are the ones flavored with tangy yuzu.

Fun Fact: Afuri's Parque das Nações location serves dumplings in addition to ramen.

3. Ajitama Ramen Bistro

António Carvalhão and João Azevedo Ferreira opened the original Ajitama Ramen Bistro in 2019 after operating a not-so-secret Lisbon supper club and honing their skills in Japan. Ajitama was already popular by the time we stumbled upon the original Picoas location during its inaugural year. We would have eaten there weekly if it weren't expensive for Lisbon at the time.

Fast forward to the present and some things have changed. The Portuguese duo behind Ajitama now serves their shoyu, shio, veggie, miso and hakata tokotsu ramen at two locations. The newer Chiado location is a show stopper. Also, for better and worse, Ajitama's prices no longer seem that expensive due to inflation.

Pro Tip: Take time to 'powder your nose' at Ajitama's Chiado location if you're a fan of Japanese toilets.

4. Koppu Ramen Izakaya

Inspired by Japanese food culture, Susana Diogo opened the original Koppu Ramen Izakaya in 2016. We never made it to that location before it permanently closed; however, we've eaten at the two current Koppu locations multiple times.

Beyond its tasty soup, Koppu stands out from the Lisbon ramen pack for a couple reasons. First, its monthly ramen specials are indeed special. (We were big fans of the special fried chicken ramen and hope it comes back). Second, its executive lunch deal includes a bao bun and a drink in addition to a big bowl of ramen.

Fun Fact: Although koppu is the Japanese word for cup, Koppu Ramen serves its ramen in bowls.

5. Ramen House Aska

Ramen House Aska's owner, Osaka native Asuka Watanabe, makes ramen that transports us back to Japan's 'foodiest' city. If there was a Spa World down the street, we'd truly be in heaven.

Watanabe takes ramen seriously as is typical with Osaka natives. Although her ramen shop is tiny with just a half dozen seats, she cooks everything, including broth, noodles and gyozo, from scratch. Her gyoza are among the best we've eaten in Lisbon. Her ramen, notable for its complex broth, is equally excellent.

Pro Tip: Ramen House Aska is in the process of relocating to a bigger space near the Time Out Market. While the new location will have eight tables, the menu should remain the same.

6. Magokoro Ramen

Magokoro Ramen screams Japan. Literally every nook and cranny of the ramen shop is decorated with Japanese memorabilia. But it's not acutally Japanese. Instead, this Lisbon ramen shop is owned by a Chinese immigrant named Sunny Chen. Like us, Chen clearly has a high appreciation for the Land of the Rising Sun.

While the ramen at Magokoro is solid with some bowls adorned with unconventional ingredients like ground beef and dumplings, the restaurant has some kinks to work out. Specifically, the service was painfully slow during both of our visits. That being said, their solid ramen is worth the wait.

Pro Tip: Stop for ramen before or after you travel to Porto. Magokoro Ramen is located across the street from Lisbon's Santa Apolónia Station.

7. DoraDora

At first glance, DoraDora, in Areeiro, feels like a neighborhood restaurant. A deeper look reveals ramen made with handmade noodles and bone broth that's slowly cooked for 10+ hours.

While DoraDora's four ramens (saisho, tonkatsu, tantenmane and tofu) are fairly typical, its menu also includes a trio of sobas and four donburi rice bowls. All eleven dishes can be ramped up with additional tamago, chashu, chicken or noodles for a minimal cost.

Pro Tip: Consider sitting in DoraDora back patio if the weather is favorable.

8. Panda Cantina

Panda Cantina serves Sichuan-style ramen that's less refined than its Japanese-style cousin. We liken the flavorful soup to hand drawn beef noodle soups we've eaten in Taipei and Philadelphia. Helmed by Yin, who's originally from the Sichuan region of China, the local chain makes its ramen to order using house made noodles and slowly cooked broth.

Despite its Sichuan ramen style, Panda Cantina is eerily similar to ramen shops in Tokyo. Ramen is the only thing on the menu and there are just three choices - beef, pork or tofu. Ordering involves selecting from a heat scale of one to five. (Warning: These heat levels should be taken seriously.) Other than that, the only other option is to supersize the bowl.

The one thing missing is a shokken (i.e. an automated ordering machine) like they have at Tokyo ramen shops. This omission hasn't stopped Panda's growth from one Lisbon ramen shop in 2018 to five today.

Pro Tip: Be prepared to wait in a queue when you eat at Panda Cantina. Due to its tasty soups and low prices, the chain is popular with both locals and tourists.

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