When you travel, finding good places to eat is a must for a successful trip! But first, here’s a quick guide on Portugal’s most popular dishes and what to look for!
POPULAR PORTUGUESE FOOD GUIDE
The national food of Portugal is called Bacalhau – meaning dried and salted cod. Rumor has it, there are over 300 different recipes for Bacalhau! So you might get to taste a few different variations of this dish! However, over 70% of cod in Portugal is imported from Norway, since cod is not native to the country’s coastline. I highly recommend trying this dish, and hopefully, you’ll love it just as much as the Portuguese! After all, it is the national food of Portugal.
On the contrary, the Atlantic Ocean supplies Portugal with many of its other loved seafood dishes around the country, such as fresh lobster, crab, oyster, and prawn dishes. Seafood Rice is particularly a popular dish. Seafood rice is usually served with tomato paste or olive oil, making it a delicious and flavorful dish! However, just like the Bacalhau, Seafood Rice has many different recipes, and everyone adds their own special touch!
Followed by Seafood Rice, you may try some Canned Sardines. These are especially popular in the coastal cities of Lisbon and Porto. Portugal is long known for great fish preservation. However, what makes them more iconic is the artistic can designs! If you are visiting Lisbon, make sure to stop by The Fantastic World Of Portuguese Sardines store!
Away from the seafood, we have Caldo Verde – Portuguese potato and kale soup. Caldo Verde translates to ‘green broth’. This is another wonderful and iconic Portuguese dish! Traditionally this soup is made from potatoes, chouriço sausage, and sliced kale or collard greens. It’s a popular choice in Summer and Winter as it can be served hot or cold!
If you are looking for something more casual, make sure to grab Bifanas – the national Portuguese sandwich! Some of the usual ingredients include lettuce, bacon, eggs, tomatoes, and the ‘secret’ sauce.
Another popular Portuguese staple dish is the Piri Piri Chicken. The chicken is seasoned with a blend of chile and zesty flavors, often served with fries and salad. Sometimes this dish is also referred to as Peri Peri Chicken.
Now let’s talk dessert, starting with the Portuguese most popular and favorite, Pastel de nata – Portuguese egg custard tarts. No doubt, this is something you must try if you visit Portugal. These simple yet delicious pastries have everyone hooked! Traditionally made from only a few ingredients, some of which include egg yolks, sugar, sea salt, all-purpose flour, and cinnamon. In some places, you can find alternative fillings, such as Nutella. Although I have tried the Nutella ones and I loved them, there is nothing that will surpass the traditional recipe!
I must also mention trying the ginjinha, or also known as ginja – a Portuguese sweet cherry liquor!
Lastly, I have to mention the famous gelato ice cream, or ‘gelado’ as some Portuguese say! Although many associate gelato with Italy, I must mention that the Portuguese also very much love their gelato ice cream! You will find plenty of ice cream shops to enjoy.
TIP: One of the best gelato ice cream spots in Portugal is found in the nearby scenic town of Cascais near Lisbon. The shop is called Gelados Santini!
SIDE NOTE: Although there is a lot of mention of seafood, Portugal has plenty of other great dishes and cuisines apart from seafood, so if you are not a fan of seafood, don’t worry! Make sure to try the other popular dishes I mentioned instead. Otherwise, you can enjoy Italian, Asian or Indian dishes found across the country!
WHERE TO EAT IN LISBON
The following restaurants are not exclusively Portuguese cuisine, but rather a mix of all the places I truly enjoyed, while also including some of the most highly-rated spots in Lisbon. You can also learn where to get some of the best Portuguese staple dishes named previously!
So here are some of the best food places I visited in Lisbon and highly recommend it!
1.) THE TIME OUT MARKET LISBOA
This is one of my favorite food places I explored in Lisbon! Something about this place just draws you in and makes you want to try everything…You will find a bit of everything here, from hot dogs, delicious donuts, Asian street food, popular Portuguese dishes, pastel de nata, quirky snacks, and much more! Not only can you find great food here, but you can also explore cultural events and cooking workshops! It’s open every day of the week from 10 am to 12 am.
TIP: If you are taking a ferry to the Sanctuary of Christ the King or any other boat tour, the Time Out Market is located just a 6 minute walk from Cais do Sodré ferry Terminal!
2.) GOODFELLAS
Here you can find a mix of Portuguese traditional dishes and Italian cuisine. It is located right in the heart of Lisbon, on the busy Rua Augusta pedestrian street. I highly recommend trying their seafood rice!
3.) FRANGASQUEIRA NACIONAL
This is a highly-rated barbecue takeout catering top-notch barbecued chicken! Here you can taste some of the best Piri Piri Chicken along with lots of other grilled meat choices in Lisbon! You will be greeted by friendly staff and served generous portions!
4.) MERCADO ORIENTAL MARTIM MONIZ (FOOD COURT)
This is one of my favorite food places we have discovered in Lisbon! To no surprise, it has over 1.3k reviews on google with 4 and a half stars! This two-story food court is an excellent choice if you enjoy Asian street food! There are 7 different food stalls serving Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Korean food! You can also find some of Asia’s popular drinks such as bubble tea – if you never tried bubble tea, I highly recommend you do, it’s sooo good! This amazing food court is located just outside of Tram 28!
On the ground floor, you’ll also find an Asian food store if you want to pick up some bits for later.
NOTE: It’s open all days of the week 10 am to 4.30 pm, and then it reopens again from 7 pm to 9.30 pm. However, upon our arrival, everyone was gone on break from 4 pm to 6 pm… So times may vary!
5.) SUSHICOME MARTIM MONIZ
Right next to the Mercado Oriental food court, you can find Sushicome. I am personally obsessed with sushi no matter where I go, so I am always on the lookout for a good sushi place! If you are a sushi lover like me, you should check out Sushicome!
6.) A PADARIA PORTUGUESA
This is one of the best spots to have a typical Portuguese breakfast – toast with butter, a sandwich, or a croissant with a slice of cheese and ham. You can also grab freshly squeezed orange juice or a Portuguese favorite coffee – a shot of black expresso.
You can find A Padaria Portuguese cafes all around Lisbon, so there is always one near you!
Below I added one of the most rated locations, however, there might be one closer to you, so make sure to check first!
7.) NICOLAU LISBOA
This is a great brunch spot. Here you can find a mix of healthy food but also some typical brunch options. Choose anything from tasty smoothies and salads to amazing pancakes, pastries, and delicious Egg Benedict! This is one of the most highly rated and popular brunch spots in Lisbon!
8.) PASTEIS DE BELEM
Your trip to Portugal will be incomplete if you don’t have any pastel de nata! Although you can find these delicious custard tarts all over the city, according to the locals, the best pastel de nata is found in Belém. Pastéis de Belém is particularly famous in Lisbon as it follows an ancient recipe from the Jerónimos Monastery, using traditional methods. It is also one of the oldest bakeries in the city, open since 1837!
9.) AS BIFANAS DO AFONSO
This is the place to taste those famous Bifana sandwiches! Enjoy true, authentical, and delicious bifanas. The portions are huge at a very affordable price! Make sure to add some mustard for the best flavor!
NOTE: This place is extremely popular and often you will find long queues, however, it is very worth the wait and the queues move fast enough.
10.) LAURENTINA
If you want to enjoy the national dish of Portugal – Bacalhau, here you can discover why the Portuguese love this dish so much! Again, many places serve Bacalhau around Lisbon, like the Codfish House, however, Laurentina is among the most popular!
11.) PIZZARIA DON GINO
Italian cuisine is quite popular in Portugal and you will find many great Italian restaurants around the country. Although I had a few great pizzas in Lisbon, this cozy family-run restaurant impressed me the most. The pizza was delicious and the staff was very friendly and accommodating. I highly recommend this Italian restaurant, especially if you are staying around the neighborhood! I ended up coming back here twice!
These were all of the best places I got to explore in Lisbon. If you have any other suggestions and recommendations, make sure to share them in the comment section below! 🙂
If you’re looking for a hotel to stay in Lisbon, check out Hotel Review: Czar Lisbon Hotel, Lisbon.
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