Panda Cantina is a Chinese restaurant in Lisbon where you will find the best & most honest ramen in town (truly, I am not exaggerating!).

They recently opened a second space located in Príncipe Real, but I have only visited the original one which is located in Baixa-Chiado, and here are my thoughts: the place is small and usually you will have to be patient to get a spot inside – but it is worth the wait. The food is really good and the prices quite attractive. The ramen and/or the menus have a great cost-benefit and the restaurant’s focus seems to be on simply providing a traditional experience instead of offering an overpriced Asiatic meal for tourists.

It is a very simple and discreet space, they have just one large table and a counter with some benches, and the menu is only one page with a few options of ramens (beef, pork, tofu), drinks (Chinese beer, coke, etc) and some flavors of ice creams for dessert.

Personally, I think this place is a hidden gem in Lisbon and reflects very much how plural this city can be in offering not only traditional Portuguese experiences, but also the traditional experiences of immigrants.

Panda Cantina is definitely a highlight in Lisbon!