LUKA LISBOA — Restaurant in Lisbon

We went here for dinner recently and were initially quite impressed by the place. Clean, hip and modern, Luka Lisboa looks exciting, and we had high expectations.

We ordered the Duck Tacos and the Duck Croquettes. The flavours were strong, and they were nice, although one of us found them both overly salty - we feel there is a reliance on sauces with both dishes. This doesn't impact the croquettes as much, being fried, but the duck tacos were fresh and the strength of the sauces overpowered the duck.

For mains, we ordered Khao Soi and the Bun Cha. The Khao Soi was fine, a little underflavoured, but passable.

We found the Bun Cha to both be unauthentic and, unfortunately, a poor dish. Bun Cha generally consists of pork and vermicelli/rice noodles. Luka Lisboa uses pork meatballs, which were nice, but the noodles had an unusual mouthfeel and were very thin, like angel hair noodles. Also unusual was instead of providing sauce/Nuoc Cham on the side to pour over or dip with, the dish was about half full of a thin (both viscosity and flavour) Nuoc Cham style broth. This made the dish more of a soup which we have never encountered in years of eating this dish, and it didn't work well with the noodles. The garnish was primarily mint, some mung bean sprouts, what seemed to be alfalfa sprouts (unsure), and what we think was julienned red cabbage. In my experience, the garnish is often coriander/cilantro and/or Vietnamese Mint, maybe with some mint and mung beans. The alfalfa tasted strange, especially with the mint. Vietnamese mint isn't always easy to get, not actually a type of mint. It tastes a bit like coriander/cilantro, so they tend to be used as substitutes. Using only mint as the herb did not make it taste Vietnamese.

It was a shame. Maybe if we ordered differently, it'd have been a different experience, but we did order four dishes, and none were great. The staff were nice, friendly and to an extent apologetic - albeit with the implication it was a matter of my taste and that the dish is diversely prepared, and that it's fusion. While I can understand that perspective, I do not feel that fusion cooking is an excuse for what we feel, on the whole, is not a well put together dish. We did voice our concerns but were not offered any compensation, and we didn't kick up a fuss.

Overall, while not terrible, we don't think Luka Lisboa is worth the high price, the high ratings...

Luka Lisboa was the perfect final stop on our Lisbon trip, and it left a lasting impression. The space itself was beautifully designed—cute, stylish, and thoughtfully decorated without trying too hard. Every detail felt intentional, from the lighting to the table settings, and the overall ambiance was fantastic. It struck that rare balance between feeling lively and intimate, making it a place you could just as easily enjoy for a casual dinner or a special night out.

The staff were wonderful—genuinely hospitable, warm, and attentive in a way that made us feel both taken care of and at home. It was clear they cared about the guest experience and enjoyed being there, which really elevated the vibe of the whole evening.

We started with the cauliflower appetizer, and it was easily one of the standout dishes of our entire trip. Perfectly crispy on the outside, tender inside, and packed with flavor—it was rich, well-seasoned, and addictive in the best way. For my main, I had the pad thai, which was a total surprise. Instead of the usual sweet profile, theirs leaned into a uniquely sour, tangy direction that was bold and delicious. It felt inventive without being fussy—just a really good dish made with confidence.

The drinks were another high point. Every cocktail we tried was creative, fun, and legitimately great. They weren’t just “interesting”—they were balanced, flavorful, and served with personality. You could tell there was real craft behind them.

As our last meal before heading home, Luka delivered everything we didn’t realize we were looking for: a beautiful space, fantastic food, standout drinks, and truly memorable service. I’d go back in a heartbeat and would recommend it without hesitation to anyone...

This restaurant was so good we had to come here twice! The staff is so friendly and the food was absolutely delicious. Each dish seemed to have a delicate and well-executed balance of flavors. We ended up eating the following:

Thai Ceviche (10/10) King Prawn Satay (10/10): loved the way it so easily fell out of the shell. Peking Duck Croquette (6/10): For us, it tasted a bit too unseasoned, but perhaps this is the way to enjoy duck, so we give it the benefit of the doubt. Nasi Goreng w King Prawn (10/10): Great mix of spicy heat, acid, and lightness. Miso Salmon (7/10): A little bland with the salmon marinade/seasoning, but loved the barley and fresh greens. Khao Soi (10/10): Wifey loved this the most! Katsu curry (10/10): So glad the katsu was fried perfectly, no extra oil and I only wished I had more of that curry. Coconut Panna Cotta (10/10): nice small portion and the coconut flavor was well enhanced by texture and toppings. Japanese mochi (10/10): by far the best mochi we've ever had. It was not just an icy little brick, it was soft and extremely flavorful. Luka Lisboa Gin & Tonic (12/10): I never tasted anything like this. They describe a very intricate process of brewing and extracting the essence of the ingredients they use. Highly, highly recommend trying this.

At the end we loved our experience so much, we ended up getting some merchandise a few shirts and a hat to keep as memories of our time in Lisbon. Unfortunately, I didn't take too many pictures because I was just engrossed by the experience. We will definitely make it a point to return to Luka when we return to Lisbon and encourage others to reserve a...