Let’s start with the restaurant’s spicy star: that bright orange sauce promises to “set your taste buds on fire,” so if you’re a fan of food with a touch of heat, get ready—this sauce challenges even the most daring palates.
Any self-respecting Mexican restaurant must have one of these sauces, worthy of the reputation of one of the cuisines that has been gaining the most traction in Lisbon.
One of the newest Mexican restaurants in Lisbon makes it straight into our guide, of course, but it’s not just because of this exciting sauce; they also serve some of Latin America’s best-known delicacies here , and we even found a dish that surprised us— a Mexican version of Ovos Rotos.
From the house-special spicy sauce to the classic beef dish
La Ruda has set up shop at LX Factory and serves not only authentic traditional fare (tacos, burritos, and quesadillas, ranging from €8.50 to €16) but also some interesting specialties.
Take these chilaquiles con tinga (€10), a kind of Mexican scrambled eggs that completely delighted us with its filling of shredded roasted chicken, gratinated cheese, chorizo crumble, chili, sesame, totopos , and a fried egg serving as a “lid” that—just like in our version—lets the yolk run through all the ingredients as soon as we make it “explode.”
Before that, we started with the more traditional nachos with guacamole (€7) and a small portion of esquites (€4.50), which we’d never tried before but also loved; the flavor of the grilled corn combined with chipotle mayonnaise, requeijão, smoked paprika, cilantro, and totopos was a pleasant surprise— in what is considered a light snack in many cities across Mexico.
The decor and flavors that “transport” you to Mexico
The space at La Ruda—where we’d highlight the small wrestling ring in the middle of the room (with a table at its center)—invites you to share dishes with intense flavors in an atmosphere decorated with traditional masks and illustrations of Mexican popular culture.
From the extensive and refreshing menu, we also sampled one of the most popular tostadas, the tuna tostada (€8), lightly seared and served on a crispy corn tortilla, which we could dip into the intense chipotle, avocado, and fried leek mixture—a combination that made tasting this delicious dish a real treat.
To finish off the meal, the restaurant stays true to traditional desserts and serves churros accompanied by a bowl of dulce de leche (€5.50), as well as offering an excellent selection of cocktails, beers, sangrias, and wines.
Served at our table were the famousMargarita (€8.50) and a Guadalajara Mule (€9.50)with Gusano Rojo mezcal, lime juice, mango purée and foam, and smoked paprika. Wow! It was divine!
Useful information:
Address:Rua Rodrigues de Faria 103, Edifício H 0.11 (LX Factory, Alcântara)
Hours:Sunday through Thursday, 12 p.m. to midnight; Fridays and Saturdays, 12 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Average price:€15–€30 per person
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