Manga Ramen (formerly Shifu)

A robot cat carries the bowls from the kitchen to your table and talks as it goes, and a lot of families come just to see it. When SAPO put the place on its September 2025 list of Lisbon restaurants for children, the robot was the first thing it mentioned.

The rest of the room is built for children who know their Pikachu from their Eevee. The walls are covered in Pokémon, manga and anime art, with neon signs and figures dotted about, so there is plenty to point at while the ramen is being made. SAPO also reported that children could leave with a small packet of trading cards. Treat that as a nice surprise if it happens, since it is the kind of extra that can change.

Many older articles and lists call this restaurant Shifu or Ramen Shifu. It now trades as Manga Ramen. HappyCow notes it was “previously known as Shifu Ramen”, and the Instagram account and Linktree use the new name, with the same Rua Luciano Cordeiro address. If you are searching for “Shifu ramen Lisbon robot cat”, this is the place.

The menu is ramen first, with small plates alongside. Listings mention chicken and shoyu ramen, gyoza (Japanese dumplings), bao (soft steamed buns), yakitori chicken skewers, seaweed salad and cheesecake. Vegan ramen, vegan bao, vegan gyoza and a vegan mochi dessert are marked on the menu.

The restaurant advertises spicy ramen as well as vegan dishes, so ask which bowl is mildest before ordering for a child. Gyoza and bao are the easiest start for a fussy eater. There is no children’s menu in any listing we could find, and the menu site was down when we checked, so we cannot say what smaller portions exist. Restaurant Guru puts a meal at about €15 to €20 a head.

This is a ramen bar, not a family restaurant with room to spread out, and it has thousands of Google reviews, so expect it to be busy. Lunch or an early dinner is the easier time with small children. Restaurant Guru lists it as not wheelchair accessible, so a large buggy may be awkward too.

There is a second branch in Saldanha, on Avenida Visconde de Valmor. The robot and the SAPO write-up are for the Marquês branch on Rua Luciano Cordeiro, so go there if the robot is the point of the trip.

If your child likes this kind of meal, Lisbon has a few more themed places: Railroad Caffe sends drinks round on toy trains, and Ramen Station in Benfica is dressed as a Japanese train station.

Is the robot cat still there?

Reviews on Restaurant Guru and the Spinach guide still mention the robot waiter, and SAPO featured it in September 2025. It is one machine in a busy room, so it will not come to every table for every dish.

Is the food too spicy for children?

Some of it is. The restaurant promotes its spicy ramen, so ask the staff which bowl is mildest, or order gyoza and bao.

Can we book?

Phone the Marquês branch on +351 213 530 920 to ask. Going early is the simplest plan if you can’t get a booking.

Is it good for toddlers?

A toddler will enjoy the robot, but there is no children’s menu listed, high chairs are not mentioned anywhere, and the room is small and busy. It suits children from about four upwards best.