Eating in Porto is a highlight of travel to Portugal. The food in Lisbon is great, but it is markedly more international than cuisine in Porto. Eating in Porto feels like a more Portuguese event, whereas the food in Lisbon, the capital city, has more influences and flavors from territories of the former Portuguese empire.
Food in Porto has some of these foreign influences as well, but the more international status of Lisbon means more international Portuguese food.
Eating in Porto is a delicious and hearty undertaking. Thankfully, I had a lot of guidance from a friend who was born and raised just outside the city. This guide will help you find the best food in Porto, whether that’s the famous meals or cheap eats for backpackers. And let’s not forget about the famous port wine!
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Eating in Porto – What?
First off, eating certain specialties is an important part of visiting Porto. In between strolling the picturesque, winding (and hilly) streets of Porto, there is plenty of good food to eat. And there are certain must-eats in the city.
These are some of the most popular foods, best eats and my personal favorites to eat in Porto:
Francesinha
Oh, my francesinha!
A francesinha (pronounced: fran-seh-seen-ya) is a stack of artery-clogging bliss. It is a sandwich with a couple thick slices of fluffy bread, ham, sausage and a steak. Yeah, and a steak. It is then covered in cheese and drenched in sauce. To further disappoint your cardiologist, it is usually served with a plate of fries.
A francesinha is something that seems more fitting for gluttonous food television, but it is a key part of exploring and eating in Porto. This Portuguese pile of pleasure is not a hands-on undertaking. It is definitely a knife-and-fork event.
Forget about water and electrolytes. The francesinha is the cure for a hangover. Or, if you’re planning to drink more than you should, a francesinha is the perfect base to support a copious amount of Portuguese booze.
The most important part about eating a francesinha in Porto is to follow up the feeding with a walk and a nap. Obviously, a couple pounds of meat, cheese, sauce and bread is heavy. A short post-francesinha walk isn’t going to be fun, but it’s necessary. And the nap – yeah, that’s inevitable.
Bifana
Of all the fantastic Portuguese sandwiches, the bifana is my favorite. It doesn’t have the same dirty appeal as a francesinha, but the bifana – at the right places, of course – is otherworldly.
A simple sandwich, the bifana is traditionally a companion of beer, though today the sandwich is popular throughout Portugal.
I ate quite a few bifanas in Portugal. The bread always seems to be good, some better than others, but it’s really a meat feast. And it’s often hit or miss. Some bifanas were okay, others were not. Eating bifanas in Porto is a much better experience. The few I ate in Porto were some of the most delicious sandwiches I’ve ever had.
Bifanas typically consist of chopped meat that is grilled or simmered in its own fat and juices. A handful is piled onto bread and a spoonful of said juices is usually poured on top of that. The best bifanas are kind of like an already-dipped French dip.
Bifanas are simple sandwiches. They are a little messy but a cheap, quick and tasty eating experience in Porto.
Papas de Sarrabulho
I sat down at a restaurant in Porto and began perusing the menu. I was there to try another great Portuguese sandwich, and then I saw it: Papas de sarrabulho.
To go along with the sandwich, I asked for a bowl. The look on the face of the waitress changed immediately. Her brow furrowed and she was confused. It was clear that she believed I was mistaken.
With a deep look of concern, she said, “Ohh, but do you know?”
I laughed and confirmed that, yes, I wanted a bowl.
Papas de sarrabulho is not a dish that appeals to most people. Essentially, it is blood soup, and it’s not a very pretty sight. It looks more like diarrhea than a local delicacy. Don’t let that scare you from eating something new and unusual in Porto – it’s delicious.
Papas de sarrabulho is technically a soup, but it’s more of a thick stew or porridge. The coagulated blood is mixed with bits of pork and seasonings and cooked down to a thick sludge. It is then topped with a heavy dusting of cumin.
Although the idea of eating any form of blood in Porto is not on the list of most people, travelers should jump at the chance to try this dish. Most importantly, it’s really good. But it’s also a wonderful example of a food that is uniquely local to Porto.
I encourage people to eat and taste all kinds of foods, and that includes strange meats and meat products. If we raise it, feed it and kill it – eat it. Don’t be an annoying, childish or picky eater. Try new food. You might like it.
Bacalhau
Bacalhau is the national food of Portugal. The dried, salted cod is prevalent in its smelly natural state and common as a part of many other dishes as well.
Like in Lisbon, eating bacalhau in Porto is a popular part of the cuisine. Along with finding the salted cod in everything imaginable – the Portuguese say there are 365 bacalhau dishes, one for each day of the year – Porto has a unique casserole.
Bacalhau à Gomes is a famous variation of this Portuguese favorite that originates from Porto. It is a casserole, but it is differs from the more famous bacalhau à brás. Bacalhau à Gomes is lighter on the eggs, has olives and has pieces/chunks rather than shreds.
Portuguese Croissant
Yeah, I know. When it comes to the croissant, people think of Paris or Vienna. Well, Portugal has their own version of the popular pastry, and Porto is home of the best Portuguese croissants.
The Portuguese pastry is similar to the traditional croissant in shape, but that’s about it. The Portuguese version is just as big and fluffy, but, in my experience, the dough is slightly more dense.
The most obvious difference is that the Portuguese croissant is sticky. A thin glaze is added to these pastries. It is just enough to make them sticky and add a little bit of sweetness. The sweet on top of the buttery fluffiness is the perfect light (not low-calorie) snack or easy breakfast.
The Portuguese croissant is widely available in Porto. However, I don’t think it’s that special. These pastries are good, but that’s about as much praise as I can levy upon the Portuguese croissant. The varieties filled with cream, chocolate or jam are much better.
Eating in Porto – Where?
Porto has a lot of unique regional eats. The issue for most travelers eating in Porto is not finding or knowing what the famous foods are. The issue is finding the right place with the best stuff. Many (not all) of the popular places on travel lists are tourist traps. At the Hangry Backpacker, we prefer to avoid those and find the best local stuff.
As tourism grows in Portugal, many areas in Porto that were once full of predominantly local businesses and restaurants are becoming more touristy at an alarming pace. Fortunately, for the time being, many local restaurants remain within the tourist areas.
Here’s some of the best places to find the specialties and highlights of cuisine in and around Porto:
The Best Portuguese “Hot Dog”
One of my favorite places for local eating in Porto is Gazela Cachorrinhos da Batalha. This little hole-in-the-wall is a local gem hiding in plain sight. It gained notoriety after Anthony Bourdain made a visit, but, strangely, it remains a local place. On my two visits (it was that good), myself and a friend were the only tourists.
Despite a lack of tourists, the staff at Gazela Cachorrinhos da Batalha are not surprised to see travelers. Better yet, the owner was thrilled, making this one of my friendliest eating experiences in all of Portugal. In a thick accent, he asked where we were from and handed us push-pins. Pointing to a map, he wanted us to pin where we were from.
As my friend said about Gazela Cachorrinhos da Batalha, “They put YOU on the map.”
So, the Portuguese hot dog – what’s that all about? Well, it’s not a hot dog at all. It’s grilled, chopped meat that is put into a hot dog-style roll. It is then cut into bite-size pieces. It’s a simple sandwich, the type of common snack people might eat before going to a soccer game (I was told). Most importantly, it was freaking awesome.
Casa Guedes
Casa Guedes is one of those longstanding popular restaurants that’s still good. It’s very popular with tourists, annoyingly so at times. Nevertheless, locals still give credit where due, and the food here is excellent.
Casa Guedes is known for its pork sandwiches. You want to order the Pernil. It consists of a roll with shredded pork shoulder and local sheep cheese, Serra da Estrela. The Portuguese might be the best creators of simple sandwiches, and this one is elite.
Conga
Conga is a popular restaurant a couple blocks from the main square of Porto. There are a few tourists that venture into this extremely busy restaurant, but, again, the clientele is surprisingly local.
Conga has a large menu with a variety of dishes. I made three visits, and everything I tried was great. But the reason people are drawn to Conga is for the bifana.
Conga has the best bifana. I tried several of these sandwiches in Porto and even more elsewhere in Portugal. Nowhere comes close to the bifana at Conga. What makes Conga more attractive are the prices. Great local food in a local atmosphere – and it’s super cheap. Conga is an excellent choice for backpackers seeking an affordable, local eating experience in Porto.
Bufete Fase
There are many places in Porto to find a great francesinha. However, the most popular options are not the best. The best francesinha in Porto is at Bufete Fase.
This family-run restaurant is off of almost all tourist radars. Bufete Fase is a plain, no-frills restaurant. The food does the talking. Some locals know about this place, but it’s not overly busy. I was turned on to Bufete Fase by my local friend, whose advice proved excellent.
As I already mentioned, a francesinha is no simple undertaking, but eating in Bufete Fase is a pleasant experience. The staff is friendly, and the food is great. Forget about where all the travel lists tell you to go. For a great francesinha at a reasonable price in a truly local atmosphere, eat here.
For more delicious eating in Porto:
- A Badalhoca – great Portuguese ham sandwiches and papas de sarrabulho
- MixPao – go for the sticky croissants
- Rosa das Iscas – order the pataniscas de bacalhau
- Churrasqueira Paraiso – heaps of great Portuguese food in a local setting
- Guindalense Futebol Clube – great place for a drink and a sunset
Eating Cheap in Porto
Eating in Porto is as cheap as you want it to be. In between the attractive tourist restaurants, there are local cafes and bakeries serving fantastic food that is incredibly budget-friendly. Almost any cafe in Porto that doesn’t have that touristy look will have good, cheap food.
There are a lot of small cafes, bakeries and coffee shops that serve a wide variety of pre-made food. I’m not talking about packaged junk from 7-Eleven. This food is made in house, just a lot at once and sold throughout the day. I witnessed the preparation on multiple occasions in the early morning hours in Porto. These cafes are not the place to go for the best or fanciest foods. These are great places to go where travelers in Porto can quickly have a bite of Portuguese food on the cheap.
Aside from my favorite fast food, the always-affordable doner kebap (or durum), fast food is not that cheap in Porto. Traditional fast foods like burgers, fries and chicken tenders are really not as prevalent. You’ll spend more at a McDonald’s than you will at a local cafe.
The biggest bang for my buck in Porto, and perhaps anywhere, is Churrasqueira Paraiso. This restaurant has fantastic Portuguese food. The portions are enormous. Whether it’s a plate of meat or bacalhau, the servings are huge. A single plate can easily feed two hungry people, and it’s quite cheap. If you’re looking for a place to chow down a ton of local food for less than 10 euros, Churrasqueira Paraiso is that place.
Tourist Traps to Avoid
Avoiding eating at tourist restaurants in Porto is simple. Most tourist traps are concentrated near the river. The fantastic views along the river make the prospect of dining here even more difficult to resist. In general, most of these places are overpriced and geared for tourists.
If the temptation of dining with a great view is too much, try and stick to something small and a drink or two. Otherwise, the tab can quickly grow into a budget buster. Many of the restaurants in the Bolhao area and most of those along the Douro River near Luis I Bridge are for tourists. Choose carefully, lest you desire to spend too much for inferior food.
One particular tourist trap to AVOID is the famous Cafe Santiago. Numerous locals, from my friend from Porto to an employee at the hostel, told me to avoid Cafe Santiago. By all accounts, this restaurant is a tourist trap and mediocre at best.
Drinking in Porto
Port Wine
Drinking in Porto is, by far, most famous for port. Port wine is a fortified wine that comes from the Douro River Valley in northern Portugal. Porto, as the largest city on the Douro River and in northern Portugal, is the port wine hub of the world.
Personally, I’m not a fan of port, not yet at least. It’s far too sweet for my liking. Every single sip is heavy. Regardless, it’s always important to try local specialties, particularly when that specialty is world famous and you’re right there at the source.
Drinking port wine in Porto involves organized tours for many travelers. If you’re into wine, if you already love port or if you are interested in learning more about port, take a tour. Most of them are fairly similar, visiting a few different wineries and pouring lots of information. And wine. These tours involve a lot of port consumption, so you’ll want to eat a bit before the tour. Keep in mind, though, even a small glass of port wine sits heavy.
If you don’t want to join a tour, it’s easy to visit the wineries in Porto on your own. On the south bank of the Douro River, there are several wineries open to visitors. Technically, this is the city of Gaia, but it’s a short walk across the river from Porto.
Many of the wineries along the Douro River in Gaia offer tours and tastings to visitors. Burmester is a popular winery, notable for its large barrels in caves (cellars). Sandeman is popular with tourists, as well. Porto Cruz is another popular winery in a trendy space. Porto Cruz is an excellent place to have a glass of wine and enjoy the sunset.
Any of the wineries in Gaia will be a good choice. Most staff is knowledgeable and friendly. Whether you’re a wine aficionado or a total novice, staff can help you get started exploring the world of port wine and determine what suits your palate best.
Beer in Porto
Beer in Porto is not much different than beer in Lisbon. It’s a simple, boring drink, the product of Big Beer dulling consumers’ senses for decades.
Super Bock is generally considered the beer of Porto and northern Portugal. It’s mediocre. Essentially, Super Bock is something to drink when you want a beer-like beverage.
Craft beer in Porto is on about the same level as Lisbon. It exists, but don’t expect to find an array of taprooms and microbreweries. That is slowly changing, but Porto is not a beer-drinking destination. That is, it’s not a place to travel with an expectation of higher quality brews. Port wine is the shining star of alcohol in these parts.
Eating & Drinking in Porto
When visiting Porto, arrive hungry. And plan to do a lot of walking. The city itself is beautiful and worth wandering, but you’ll want to keep moving to balance out the heavy meals.
Drinking in Porto is a great experience for those interested in wine. The beer in the city leaves a lot to be desired, but it is adequate as a pairing for the many hearty meals travelers will enjoy.
Eating in Porto is great. Portuguese food, much to my surprise, is different and far better than I imagined prior to arriving. Thankfully, I had some local connections to point my hangry grazing in the right direction. I tested these suggestions and went a few bites further. The result was getting a thorough taste of a wonderful, seriously underrated food city.
All of this looks so good! 🤤
It was delicious! Cant wait to go back for more. Thanks for reading!