If you’re a fan of authentic Asian comfort food, get ready for a bit of a race against time. That’s because Koppu Ramen Izakaya, located in the heart of Lisbon’s Chiado district , is celebrating a decade in business , and to mark the occasion , the kitchen has prepared something out of the ordinary— with one catch: it’s highly exclusive.
We’re talking about a ramen that’s starting to appear on more and more menus of this kind, especially in Tokyo and at places like Kodawari Tsukuji Ramen in Paris.
Let’s find out all about it— especially since we went there to try it!
Umi no Paitan Ramen, a creation that is surprising everyone
The star of this anniversary is the Umi no Paitan Ramen, a house creation that has begun to surprise many people, including us, who visited Koppu for the first time (it’s true, it’s a shame we didn’t go there sooner) to taste this delicacy made with a rich, creamy fish broth of turbot, sea bass, sea bream, sea perch, and gilthead sea bream.
Believe me, if regret could kill, we’d be in big trouble for not coming to Koppu sooner. Besides this new dish, they have over 10 other ramen options (we also tried the Gyukotsu Ramen (€17.50) with oxtail, which is equally incredible and bursting with umami).
While the latter is already part of Koppu’s delicious menu, we think the new, limited-edition fish broth created for the 10th anniversary deserves to stay forever. However, as we were told, fish bones and scraps aren’t always available to make this delicious broth, so we expect it might return to the menu from time to time (but no promises, okay?).
Unlike the usual pork- or chicken-based broths, Umi no Paitan goes all in on a rich, dense fish broth bursting with umami that culminates in a deep, comforting finish— the kind that calls for loud slurps and leaves anyone impressed from the very first spoonful.
Limited to 20 servings per day
The real challenge in tasting this umami soup is that this special offering will end soon—more precisely, at the end of April.
The team at Koppu prepares only about twenty servings a day of this commemorative dish, even though some customers—ourselves included—have already asked for it to become a permanent menu item; however, for the reasons mentioned above, it’s quite possible that this won’t be an easy task.
And this is the main reason you should head straight to Chiado to taste this Asian delight that speaks volumes to us—at least for those who appreciate the best and freshest fish from the Portuguese coast.
Beyond ramen
Our experience didn’t end at the bottom of the bowl. The restaurant itself invites you to stay, with the look of an izakaya (the traditional Japanese tavern), but reimagined with a very modern and elegant aesthetic.
Beyond the culinary exclusivity, this “Japanese tavern” offers a very peaceful atmosphere designed for everyone, where the decor stands out—especially the individual seats at the counter and these small booths for a more intimate meal, perfect nooks to ensure some privacy, whether it’s a dinner for two or a lunch for a small family.
Useful information:
Address: Rua de São Nicolau 114 (Baixa)
Hours: daily from 12:30 PM to 11:30 PM
Price: €18.50 (only until the end of April)
Reservations and menus: on the website