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What Must You Eat while Visiting Porto? Porto Traditional Food

Discover the delicious traditional food of Porto! Learn about the famous Francesinha sandwich to the hearty Pastéis de Natas and where to find the best traditional food. Don't miss out on this culinary experience!

What Must You Eat while Visiting Porto? Porto Traditional Food

Porto is one of the most beautiful cities in Portugal and it's famous for its great seafood. But there are other traditional dishes in Porto that should not be missed during your visit. Here are some suggestions:

Francesinha

A Francesinha (image above) is a sandwich made with several types of meat, covered in melted cheese and tomato sauce, and typically served with French fries and a beer.

You can order your Francesinha either soft or hard (as in "fried until crispy"). The bread roll used for this amazing dish is called Pão de Forma (literally translated to “bread form”) which originated in Porto around 1835 by one baker who would make his own bread from scratch every day!

Where to Eat Francesinha in Porto?

A Melhor Francesinha Do Mundo restaurant. This place was recommended by a friend of mine born and raised in Porto. I tried one from another place the day I arrived but after he took me to this restaurant I had a VERY good time.

Pão Com Carne

Literally "bread with meat". Pão com carne is a traditional Portuguese dish consisting of a roll of bread filled with a meat mixture. The meat mixture is typically made with ground beef or pork, and may include ingredients such as onion, garlic, and various spices. The bread roll is then sliced and often toasted before serving. It is considered a popular and traditional dish in Portuguese cuisine, and is often served as a meal or as a snack.

You can also find this dish in A Melhor Francesinha Do Mundo restaurant as well as in many other Portuguese restaurants.

Bacalhau com Natas & Bacalhau à Brás

Bacalhau com Natas (top) & Bacalhau à Brás (bottom)

Bacalhau com Natas translates to "codfish with cream", and while it may not sound like much, bacalhau com Natas is one of Porto's most popular dishes. Like many other traditional Portuguese dishes, this simple recipe has been adopted by many chefs who have added their own twist to the original recipe. However, for those who wish to experience the true taste of Portugal without having to travel far from home, bacalhau com Natas will provide you with an authentic taste of Porto.

Bacalhau à Brás is a traditional Portuguese dish made with shredded salted cod, potatoes, and onions. It is typically seasoned with olive oil, garlic, and parsley, and may also include other ingredients such as scrambled eggs or black olives. It is often served as a main course and is considered a popular and iconic dish in Portuguese cuisine.

Ingredients for Bacalhau com Natas:

  • 8 oz dried salt cod (bacalhau)
  • 2 cans evaporated milk (leite condensado)
  • 1 cup water

Where to Eat Bacalhau com Natas & Bacalhau à Brás?

This is a personal choice but I was not dissapointed of it, Porto Escondido restuarant is where I had my Bacalhau com Natas & Bacalhau à Brás for a very good price, located in the Cais da Ribeira near the Luís I Bridge entrance.

Porto Escondido (Hidden Porto) restaurant

Pastéis de Natas

Pastel de Nata
Photo by Samantha Gollnick / Unsplash

Pastéis de nata (also known as Pastéis de Belém or Portuguese custard tarts) are a traditional Portuguese pastry made with a buttery pastry crust and a custard filling made with eggs, sugar, and cream. They are typically small, about 4-5 centimeters in diameter and are sprinkled with cinnamon on top. They are believed to have originated in the 18th century at the Jerónimos Monastery in Belém, a suburb of Lisbon. They became famous and are still made today in the Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém, which is very famous in Portugal, and are considered a must-try for anyone visiting Portugal.

You can find this pastry pretty much everywhere in Porto.

Rocky's Restaurant

Rocky's Kebab and Burger Resaurant

If you want to try other type of cousine during your stay I recommend this VERY good Kebab and Burger restaurant - Rocky's. Located in the city center (the very popular street of Rua das Flores), Rocky's restaurant is a nice place to take a break and have a nice meal while doing some tourism in the city.

Conclusion

These dishes are characteristic of the region and they should not be missed during your visit to Porto.

The dishes I’ve mentioned in this article are traditional dishes from Porto. They are not tourist food, but rather local favorites that are enjoyed by everybody in the city.

There is a lot to see and do in Porto, but these dishes are a must try if you are visiting. Make sure that you give them all a try while you're there, and enjoy!


That's it for now! Please let us know if you have any questions in the comments or if you would like me to cover one in more detail =).

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