Magokoro Ramen restaurants have a host of summer specials you’ll want to try, starting with a new summer menu, the Tokyo Summer Set, along with yakitori— Japanese charcoal-grilled skewers — and bento boxes.
We chose the newest location of this ramen-specialty restaurant chain , the one in Parque das Nações, but we know that the locations in Santa Apolónia and Amoreiras also serve some of these incredible summer delicacies.
The summer menu: Tokyo Summer Set
On one of those hot late afternoons in Lisbon, I wasn’t in the mood for a heavy dinner or traditional sushi; I wanted something lighter yet fun, something I could share with my family.
Through a quick search on Instagram, I came across this new menu at Magokoro— an account I’ve been following since the very first day I tasted their ramen, which is delicious, including the summer versions.
Founded by the Chen sisters, Ângela and Sunny, these restaurants are already well-known to all Lisboners, and many more will want to check them out now that there are several new dishes to try.
One of the most exciting options is sharing a variety of Japanese appetizers, just like in Tokyo’s izakayas, reflected here in a menu featuring two options:
- For two people (€45)
- Serves four (€85)
Textures and contrasts: this is street food!
There were three of us—two adults and a child—so the first set menu for two was a perfect fit.
We’ve already tried some of the appetizers offered by Magokoro, so we chose a few classics, such as the Original Wontons (the restaurant’sbest seller, stuffed with pork and handmade), the Karaage Chicken (Japanese-style fried chicken), and the small, delicate dough balls stuffed with octopus, known as Takoyaki.
As for new dishes we’d never tried before, we sampled the Buta Kakuni, a delicious, creamy pork belly slowly simmered in sake, soy sauce, and mirin until it was soft and tender, giving it a deep, comforting flavor. It was, without a doubt, our favorite Japanese snack.
We also tried the house kimchi (which we didn’t like that much); the Karrage Vulcão, which is the same fried chicken, but this time with a sweet and spicy sauce; and yet another new addition, even crispier, the Karaage Nasu— nothing more and nothing less than breaded fried eggplant with sweet chili sauce— which offered us a crispy exterior and an interior that melts in your mouth, creating a very interesting array of textures.
A toast with Umeshu
The Tokyo Summer Set experience goes beyond the dish itself. The drink selection is vast, but to beat the muggy late afternoon at Expo, we skipped the usual ice-cold Imperial and the Japanese beers.
We went with Umeshu, the traditional Japanese plum liqueur served in a glass and well chilled. It has the perfect balance between sweet and tart. There are also sake options by the glass, if you prefer the more classic route.
Other new items to try: skewers and bento boxes
We haven’t tried them yet, but we know there are other summer specials at Magokoro restaurants. The first—and the one that caught our attention the most—is the famous Yakitori (between €5.95 and €6.50), small Japanese skewers grilled over charcoal, an exclusive offering you’ll only find at the Amoreiras location, Friday through Sunday, for dinner.
Magokoro Bento Box
Another typically Japanese new offering is the Bento Box (€13.50), perfect for lunch or dinner, capturing all the flavors of Japan in a single box.
At Magokoro restaurants, these food platters include:
- Rice
- Salad of the Day
- Gyozas
- 1 protein of your choice, from:
Oh, and you’ve surely noticed the “smiling” desserts in the photos above; they’re Magokoro’s new sweet treats, the Kawaii (€6.50).
The Kawaii Yuzu looks like a small, rounder lemon , and its aroma blends notes of lemon, tangerine, and grapefruit, creating a unique citrus scent. It consists of a crunchy base topped with yuzu and lemon cream.
The Kawaii Mangō, on the other hand , features a crispy base and a smooth mango-vanilla cream, offering a more classic and balanced flavor.
Useful information:
Address:Rua Caminhos de Ferro, 136 (Santa Apolónia); Rua Professor Sousa da Câmara 138A (Amoreiras); Alameda dos Oceanos 79A (Parque das Nações)
Hours:daily from 12:00 PM to 3:30 PM and from 6:00 PM to 10:30 PM (except for the Santa Apolónia location, which is open all day Friday through Sunday)
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