Porto Food Guide: Where and What to Eat in Porto Portugal

Wondering what to eat in Porto as a solo diner? Look no further because I have compiled a list of the best food in Porto for anyone who has never been to the city.

And I also put together a list of must-try restaurants in Porto for anyone who has never been to the city and also returning traveller who wants to get off the beaten path and try authentic Portuguese food in restaurants where locals go.

And best of all, eating in Porto will not break the bank. Many local restaurants, tascas (taverns), cafes, and cervejarias (pubs) are very affordable.

If you love eating as much as I do and are excited to go on a culinary journey in Porto, then keep reading.

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Porto Solo Dining Tips

Before trying some of the best food in Porto, check out my post on all the best things to do in Porto in 2 days to get an idea of what you can do in the city.

Here are a few additional tips for eating in Porto by yourself:

• Solo dining is quite common in Porto. I saw many lone diners eating on patios, inside restaurants and sitting and standing in the pubs. And many of them are locals grabbing a quick bite or enjoying a delicious lunch with wine.
• Some restaurants offer either half or full portion for the main course. A half portion is actually for one person.
• Some places offer seafood rice and stews for one person (which is typically catered for two people).
• Typical food in Porto can be quite meat-heavy. But there are vegetarian options. Check the online menu before you go.
• Check the hours of operation. Most restaurants open during lunch (between 12-3pm), close for a couple of hours and then open again for dinner (7pm until late).
• Bring your credit card as many places accept credit cards only.
• Bring cash as a handful of cafes in Porto only accept cash.
• Tipping is not required in Portugal.

What to eat in Porto Portugal

Porto Sandwiches

From the Porto’s most famous sandwich to classic Portuguese sandwiches you can find throughout the country, you can always find delicious sandwiches anywhere in the city. Here are a few you shouldn’t miss.

• Francesinha – it translates to “little French women” and the most well-known food in Porto. This hearty sandwich originated in Porto and it has beef steak, sausages, cured meat, and ham sandwiched between two slices of bread. Then it is topped off with melted cheese and beer sauce.
• Cachorrinho – or cachorro, is a Portuguese hotdog. It starts with sausage and cheese in a thin french roll. Then the entire hot dog is grilled in a panini press, cut into small bite-size pieces, and topped off with a spicy sauce.
• Bifana – the traditional Portuguese sandwich is made with marinated sliced pork and bread roll. In Porto, the pork sandwich is a bit spicier.
• Pernil – roast pork sandwich made with pork shank and a crusty bun. Try it as is or add Queijo Serra da Estrela (soft sheep cheese) or other toppings.
• Prego – it means “nail” in Portuguese. It refers to chunks of garlic pounded (or nailed) into the sirloin steak before cooking. And there are variations of this Portuguese steak sandwich where you can add cheese, fried egg and/or ham.
• Presunto – dry-cured ham sandwich. In Portugal, a generous portion of thinly sliced cured ham is placed in a crusty bun. You can also add sheep cheese to add a a buttery texture.

Salty Snacks and Appetizers

Many restaurants in Porto offer “couvert” (means appetizer). In this section of the menu, you can find “salgados” (means salty snacks), like cod croquettes. And you can smaller portions of food which are typically bite-sized. They are great for sharing but also excellent as a light meal for solo diners.

Besides finding these treats in restaurants, they can also be found in casual cafes, diners, pubs, etc.

Here’s what to look for:

• Bolinhos de Bacalhau – Portuguese codfish croquette. Also known as Pastéis de Balcalhau, it is made with a mixture of mashed potatoes, shredded salted cod, eggs and seasonings. Then it is deep-fried until golden. Excellent as an appetizer or a snack.
• Pataniscas de Bacalhau – similar to the croquette in ingredients, but the pataniscas is shaped like a flat patty
• Rissóis – a breaded pastry shaped like an empanada. The half-moon patty is typically stuffed with shrimp and is deep-fried.
• Alheira – a type of Portuguese smoked sausage made with chicken, turkey, partridge, veal, rabbit or other game meat. The horseshoe-shaped sausage is invented by Jewish people in Northern Portugal who wanted a pork-free sausage substitute.
• Ovos Rotos – means “broken eggs” in Portuguese. The dish starts with French fries, then a fried egg is placed on top. Other toppings like ham, sausages and mushrooms can be added. When you eat it, break the egg on top and mix it with the fried potato.
• Rojões – different cuts of pork are cut into small pieces, marinated and deep-fried.
• Pica Pau – a plate of small pieces of tenderloin steak, red sausage, garlic, and a special gravy sauce. The dish’s name means “woodpecker,” similar to how you would eat this dish by picking the beef with a wooden toothpick.
• Polvo – small pieces of boiled octopus with onions, bell peppers, garlic and olive oil.

Porto Traditional Food

Next, let’s talk about the main dish in a restaurant in Porto. And typically, you can find two main categories of food: fish and meat.

1. Bacalhau

Bacalhau is codfish and is a big part of Portuguese cuisine. It is the star ingredient for many main dishes so it deserves its own section.

And there many ways of preparing codfish in Portugal. When you are looking at the menu, look for some of these cod dishes:

• Bacalhau à Brás – shredded codfish with eggs, shoestring potatoes and black olives
• Bacalhau com natas – codfish with cream baked with cheese and béchamel sauce on top
• Bacalhau à Lagareiro – codfish roasted in the oven with olive oil and garlic
• Bacalhau de Braga – fried codfish with onion and potato chips

2. Peixes

Most restaurants in Porto will offer a basic selection of fish. Typically, a whole fish is prepared over a charcoal grill and serve it with boiled potatoes or fries and boiled vegetables or salad. In restaurants that specializes in seafood, there is a bigger selection of fish on the menu.

In most restaurants in Porto, you can find these options for fish:

• Sardinhas – sardines
• Dourada – golden bream
• Robalo – sea bass
• Salmão – salmon

Other seafood options are also listed under the fish category on the menu. Like:

• Filetes de Pescada com arroz – hake fillets with rice
• Filetes de Polvo com arroz – fried octopus with rice
• Polvo à Lagareiro – grilled octopus served with smashed potato and vegetables
• Arroz de Mariscos – seafood rice

3. Carnes

Besides fish, Portuguese restaurants offer various types of carne (or meat) on the menu. And every restaurant has their own selection of meat. The dish often includes rice, fries, and vegetables.

Here are some typical meat dishes you will find in Porto:

• Tripas à Moda do Porto – Porto-style stew made with pork, tripe, white beans and carrots
• Cozido à Portuguesa – traditional Portuguese meat stew made with pork, veal, chicken and vegetables
• Frango Assado – roast chicken with piri piri hot sauce
• Bife à Portuguesa – Portuguese-style steak with prosciutto, fried egg and round cut fried potatoes
• Picanha a Brasileira – a popular cut of beef in Brazilian cuisine. Slices of beef is grilled and served with farofa (toasted cassava flour), black beans, rice and french fries
• Arroz de Pato – Portuguese-style duck rice

Where to eat in Porto: Best Restaurants in Porto Portugal

After several visits to Porto, I’ve compiled a list of must-try restaurants for anyone who has never been to the city and also returning travellers who want to try places where locals go. All the food mentioned in this post can be found in one of the restaurants listed below.

To find the address for each location, click on the restaurant name, which will bring you to the location on Google Maps.

Best Place to Eat Portuguese Food in Porto

Without a doubt, the best place to try Portuguese food is Mercado do Bolhão. The market has rows and rows of food including pastries, cooked food, fresh seafood, fruits and much more. You can buy food from individual vendors, try it on the spot or find a table nearby.

For wine lovers, you can even buy a glass of wine or port and walk around the market. When you are done, return the glass to the vendor.

Prices are quite reasonable considering the variety and quality of food you get. If you have never tried Portuguese food before, this is an excellent place to start.

Must-try Traditional Portuguese Restaurants in Porto

Below are a few popular Porto restaurant recommendations. At first I wasn’t sure if I wanted to try any restaurants that are highly featured on social media. But after eating at these places, I am so glad I did.

Yes, some of them have long queues and you may need to go early to secure a seat, but they are so good! You won’t regret it.

1. Taberna Dos Mercadores – very popular restaurant (also very long queue) for this traditional restaurant. I tried the salt baked fish which was fantastic. Go half hour early so you can be seated when the restaurant opens.
2. Solar Moinho de Vento – highly recommended restaurant featuring many types of Portuguese food and rice dishes. I loved the short rib stew and fried octopus!
3. Taberna Santo António – try to make a reservation or go when it opens. Their codfish croquette is superb! Also loved the duck rice and octopus.
4. O Antunes – best known for their pork knuckle (sharing plate for two). But I had their traditional meat stew – wow!
5. A Cozinha do Manel – this restaurant in Bonfim came highly recommended by locals. I tried the baked veal dish which comes with rice and creamed spinach.
6. Terreiro – pick a table facing the river. And they have seafood rice (for one) on the menu.

Affordable Restaurants in Porto

In Portugal, a tasca is a small family-owned restaurant serving traditional and inexpensive home-cooked Portuguese food. And in Porto, there are many tascas around the city.

I found many of these tascas by observing the long queues of locals outside the restaurants. If there is a long queue, that means the food is worth trying.

Here are several tascas I tried and loved while in Porto:

1. Casa Viúva – they serve daily specials including several grilled seafood and meat. I ordered Robalo Grelhado (grilled sea bass) and a sparking water and it only costs €10.
2. O Buraco – you know the restaurant is good when many Portuguese grandmas and grandpas eat there. I had the daily special which was the Porto-style tripe stew.
3. Adega Do Carregal – daily specials are affordable and staff is super nice. I wish I could’ve tried the steak but it’s for two people. But solo diners still have many choices.
4. Cana Verde – they only have a few options for grilled fish and meat but it is super affordable. Only open for during weekday lunch and Friday evening.
5. Pedro dos Frangos – the restaurant has been around for 50 years serving Frango Assado and other traditional Portuguese food. They also have cheap daily specials.

Casual Restaurants and Cervejaria

Besides the tascas mentioned above, Porto has many causal restaurants, cervejaria (pub) and cafes that serve affordable Portuguese food.

If you are looking for a quick snack or light lunch, here are some places to consider:

1. Casa dos Presuntos Xico – the thickest presunto or salpicao (cured sausage) sandwich. They also have their own wine.
2. Casa Expresso – they serve the juiciest and thickest pork sandwich. Best to go for an early lunch because it sells out quickly.
3. Conga – a local diner serving bifana, cachorro, francesinha and sandwiches made with ingredients from the three classic sandwiches.
4. Cervejaria Gazela – known for their cachorro but also have prego and other savoury food.
5. Sol e Sombra Bifanas – delicious bifana! There’s also prego and presunto sandwiches.
6. Lareira – many popular Porto sandwiches and bar food are on the menu.

Pastelaria in Porto

You can’t leave Porto until you have a pastel de nata, a traditional pastry made with cream, egg yolks, flour, sugar and puff pastry. You can try one at any pastelaria (pastry shop) but I highly recommend going to specialty shops like Fábrica da Nata or Manteigaria.

Besides the custard tart, there are many other sweet treats you can try in Porto. Below are a few suggestions:

1. Fábrica da Nata – see how they make the pastel de nata and get a freshly baked tart
2. Manteigaria – enjoy a custard tart at the coffee shop in the adjacent space
3. Confeitaria do Balhão – a local cafe with art deco interiors serving excellent espresso and desserts
4. Café Majestic – the most stunning cafe in Porto serving rabanadas (French toast) and other food
5. Padaria Ribeiro – local pastry shop and cafe with affordable savoury and sweet treats

Porto Food Guide: What are you going to try?

As a first-time traveller to Porto, you can create your own food tour by following this guide. I included some popular restaurants and some places that only locals go to.

Or if you want to try Porto food with a local tour, there is an excellent Porto food tour that takes you around the old town.

And even if you don’t follow the suggested places in this post, you can find excellent Porto food just by trying random places across the city. After all, that’s how I found most of these cafes and restaurants in Porto!

So what food are you most excited to try? Let me know in the comments. Or if you come across a restaurant or cafe that should be part of this list, let me know as well.

Ready to plan your trip to Porto? Here are some of my go-to travel planning resources:
* Book your flight: find flight deals on Skyscanner 
* Book accommodation: find the best Porto accommodations on Agoda or Booking
* Buy insurance: Safetywing is my go-to provider for travel insurance, as it covers many things. I will never travel without the Nomad Insurance Package because it protects me against unforeseen events. Get a quote today.
* Order a SIM card: order a SIM card in advance and set up your mobile phone before arriving at your destination.
* Join tours: check Get Your Guide and Klook for the best tours around Porto.

Thank you for reading my Porto Food Guide

I have many posts on Portugal, and you might also like these other posts on solo travel in Portugal:

Solo travel in Portugal

• Portugal solo travel itinerary: 2 weeks in Portugal by train

Northern Portugal posts

• 2 days in Porto: things to do alone in Porto
• 7 excellent day trips from Porto
• Day trip to Guimarães from Porto: 1-day itinerary
• Day trip from Porto to Espinho: 1-day itinerary

Central Portugal posts

• Aveiro day trip from Porto: 1-day itinerary
• How to spend one day in Coimbra Portugal

Algarve posts

• Algarve solo travel guide: 13 best places
• 20 best things to do in Albufeira for solo travellers
• Loule itinerary: best things to do in one day
• Vilamoura and Quarteira: 1-day itinerary

Food around the world:

• Vienna food guide: 23 must-try food
• Budapest food guide: 26 Best Budapest Food
• 25 Bucharest Food: What to eat in Bucharest
• Where and what to eat in Sofia: 21 must-try food
• 21 must-eat food in Singapore
• Where to eat Michelin star street food in Singapore
• 15 traditional Hong Kong food
• Okinawa food guide: 26 best food
• Tokyo Food Guide: 42 best places to eat in Tokyo
• 22 must-eat food in Taiwan
• 15 Ximending food for foodies travelling to Taipei
• Taiwan 7-11 food: 10 must-eat

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queenie mak

Hi, my name is Queenie, and I’ve been a solo traveller for 20+ years and currently based in Hong Kong. Follow me on my adventures through Instagram and my blog!