AFURI Ramen + Dumpling — Restaurant in Lisbon

AFURI RAMEN + Dumpling Enter at Your Own Risk!

My partner and I were enticed by the glowing neon sign of Afuri Ramen, promising an authentic Japanese culinary experience. Little did we know, our evening was about to take a sharp turn into the realm of appalling dining disasters.

As we entered, the aroma of something vaguely pungent wafted through the air, a foreboding omen of the taste bud torment to follow. The décor was a confusing mishmash of colors and objects, assaulting our senses and leaving us disoriented.

We were greeted - or, more accurately, barely acknowledged - by the host, who grumpily motioned us towards a table, making us feel as welcome as an invasive species. It was no surprise that the server who approached our table seemed to be in the throes of an existential crisis, barely maintaining eye contact, and mumbling under their breath as they took our order. We could only hope they heard us correctly, but our optimism quickly dissipated.

As the evening unfolded, the food we received bore little resemblance to the enticing descriptions on the menu. The sashimi platter featured translucent slivers of unidentifiable fish that appeared as if they had been salvaged from the depths of the kitchen floor. The sushi rolls were an unholy fusion of flavors, and their texture can only be described as the unhinged imagination of a culinary Frankenstein. Each bite was a roulette of unexpected and often horrifying textures and tastes.

The pièce de résistance of our evening was the eponymous dumplings, which arrived suspiciously lukewarm and with an unsettling hue. The filling was a nebulous combination of ingredients that defied identification, as though they were scooped from the darkest corners of the pantry in a haphazard manner. The dumplings proved to be a gastronomic assault on our palates, leaving us reeling from the experience.

To further dampen our spirits, we spent the majority of the evening desperately trying to flag down our server, only to be met with exasperated sighs and perpetual forgetfulness. It seemed that the staff at Afuri Ramen had perfected the art of making their customers feel like a burden.

As we made our hasty retreat from this culinary calamity, we couldn't help but feel a strange sense of camaraderie with our fellow diners, united in our mutual dissatisfaction. If you're seeking an unforgettable experience at a Japanese restaurant, by all means, visit Afuri Ramen - but consider yourself warned, for it's not a meal you'll be eager...

Better than I expected (based on reviews) The staff is nice and quick when something is not working! The ordering experience was almost good - I understand the plates didn’t have an explanation of what it was and that can lead to a bad experience. It is a FAST FOOD/RAMEN place. It’s not a place to enjoy a ramen experience. Contactless wasn’t working and the staff member was quick to let me know. I couldn’t pay anyway as no cards were being accepted, so she took me to pay at the cashier instead promptly. Drink was brought quickly and the food arrived in 5 minutes (or less). The side dish I ordered took a minute longer tops. The food was kinda bland. It looked like not much, but there was A LOT of noodles under! Just 1 piece of meat though and the meat doesn’t seem to have been marinated for 12h+ (like most ramen places in Lisbon, but I cannot confirm, I’m just going by taste and texture) and the noodles were TOO firm for me. It looked okay for a very quick ramen!!! The price was the painful part, as it costed €12 for the ramen - for that price I would expect a bit more? Maybe more meat or garnish. Got a tori karaague as a side dish, €8 and it came enough for 2 people to share, 5 big pieces. Reasonable and probably the only thing done right as I ordered // the ramen seemed to have been assembled only, again, fast food concept! I think it was a great place to have lunch. The place looks nice and it’s suitable for small and large groups. The chopsticks are terrible and I wish they stuck with the regular cheap chopsticks!! Haha I wouldn’t give 5 stars only because of the quality details vs price, but definitely not a bad...

To be honest I can’t remember what we ordered here as it was a few months ago in September, but I can say that we all enjoyed what we received. We were 3 couples tired from walking in late afternoon so we just sat down at the outdoor patio for drinks and then each of us ended up ordering separate appetizers. My wife is celiac and was happy that there were several gluten free options, including noodles. The menu is quite varied, and the flavours are distinct and interesting. Our palates were pleased with the variety and nuance. Service was attentive as well and though the restaurant is small and looks almost fast-food, it would be a nice place for...