Porto Food

The food in Porto was absolutely outstanding and this included everything from traditional low-brow Portuguese food to fancy prix fixe meals to non-European cuisines including Brasilian, Vietnamese, Argentinian, and more. Be warned — this post is not recommended if you are hungry! Also, please don’t judge the number of photos! We were in Porto for two months and went to several of these places more than once.

Starting with the traditional, the food at O Buraco was authentic, homey, and satiating. You won’t find this spot on google and we only learned about it from our Airbnb host (we were actually staying in a unit owned by one of the owners of the restaurant and our host rented out his apartment for him). Everything we had here was delicious and the homemade potato chips were something I’ve never had before and am still craving. The rice and beans were flavorful and a nice balance to the lightly fried fish. The food was very reasonably priced and it is a good lunch destination. The place was often packed.

Another authentic find was Aquele Tasco. They serve lots of small plates and they were all delightful. Our favorite was the seared padrón peppers that were drizzled in sea salt. The prices were pretty reasonable and this spot stays open between lunch and dinner which is a rarity. The staff ranged from very friendly to a bit curt.

Almada 331 was recommended by a friend of my mom’s and I only wish we had learned about it sooner. We visited in our last week in Porto and were blown away. This hole in the wall is another authentic Portuguese restaurant but this one can seat maybe three parties at a time and is run by the owner and his witty, quirky chef. The two of them bantered the entire evening and included us in the fun. The menu is small and every dish was impeccable. Our favorite was the salmon sashimi. The owner was also quite generous with his alcohol serving and we had to work hard to keep up!

Alecrim is a very cute and cozy restaurant with a lot of incredible dishes. We visited a couple of times and our favorites were the risotto (the flavors change daily and it’s always delicious!) and their salads. It is run by women and everyone was beyond kind and helpful. The cuisine felt like a modern twist on Portuguese food.

DeCastro Gaia was a bit unlike the other places I’ve listed here. It’s in Gaia (across the river from Porto) and at the top of a hotel. We had a bit of trouble finding it because we weren’t aware it was part of a hotel. The views are incredible and, as you would expect, it was a bit higher end due to its location. While the price point was higher, the food was quite good. It was also a modern take on Portuguese cuisine. The most unique and delicious dish was a stew with black pork and bread.

Another updated twist on the traditional can be found at Tasco. While everything we ordered was delicious, the standout dishes were the salmon ceviche and the pork ribs. In addition to amazing food, the cocktail menu is creative and divine. The mixologist will also create their own drink for you based on what you tell the waiter about your likes and dislikes. Again, the waitstaff here was outstanding and took such good care of us!

Our very first night in Porto was a Sunday and it was cold and rainy. We were lucky enough to discover VietView online and were taken away with the quality and authenticity of the Vietnamese dishes served here. The Pho had a savory, complex, and rich broth and my husband says it’s the best Pho he’s had in his life. The Bun Cha, our favorite dish from visiting Hanoi, was almost as good as the versions we would devour on the Vietnamese street. To top it off, the service here was kind and attentive.

Apego served probably the most beautiful and delicately composed dishes of all the places we tried in Porto. The chef, a half-French half-Portuguese woman who worked at a 3-star Michelin restaurant in Paris, brings a lot of care and creativity into each plate. There is an option to order ala carte but we opted for the prix fixe menu and each dish was unique, flavorful, and remarkable. The homemade pasta with a tomato raspberry sauce stood out but I would eat every dish again if given the chance.

Another lucky find was Spice Art in Gaia. This is a family run authentic Indian restaurant with an extensive menu of traditional north Indian dishes. The ingredients are fresh and authentic and the spiciness can be modified to your desired level. We visited several times and the Chana Masala and the Paneer Tikka Tandoori were our favorites. Even though it’s in Gaia, it’s right off the metro line and definitely worth crossing the river!

We were staying about half a block down the street from A Cave Do Bon Vivant. We walked by several times before venturing in and always noticed the frivolity that emanated from this tiny spot. This wine bar with a limited but outstanding menu is run by a Frenchman named Stan. The walls are lined with wine bottles from all over the world and Stan knows all about each of them and typically has a story to share about the wine or the winemaker. A big part of the experience is sampling several different varieties of wine at Stan’s suggestion. What we didn’t expect was the elevated dishes that came out of the basement kitchen. The mussels and the smoked salmon avocado toast were our favorites but there wasn’t a dish that was disappointing here. And, if you visit a few times, you’ll likely become friends with Stan and Bon Vivant will feel less like a wine bar and more like your pal’s dining room.

One of our favorite spots was an Argentinian restaurant, Belos Aires, that was run by very sweet women. The food was outstanding. And, while we knew to expect stellar meat, the dishes we are still thinking about are some of their veggie options. The buratta and grilled veggie salad and the tomato polenta salad were next level. So was the lomo saltado and the osobuco. Go with some friends so you can get several dishes!

El Argento is around the corner from Belos Aires and is run by the same folx. It’s a casual counter-service spot that serves a variety of empanadas as well as some deep dish style pizza. This is a great option for picking up some food for a picnic or a bite for later. The empanadas are also served next door at their sister restaurant.

Another great Gaia find was the beautiful food hall, Mercado Beira-Rio, which is on the the river and has a great variety of dining options. We sampled a few different stalls but the one we kept going back to was the Brasilian Botequim à Brasileira. The staff is incredibly kind and attentive and the dishes were fresh, flavorful, and amazing! Our favorite was their main dish, Feijoada A Brasileira, which is hearty plate of rice, kale, cassava flour, meat, and a black bean stew with sausage.

If you are craving Thai food while in Porto, Thailander is a great choice! Their spice level is great, the dishes are fresh, and the selection includes both mainstream options and more authentic ones. We loved the basil stir fry and the larb. They deliver to most addresses in central Porto and also have a fairly large dining room with an upstairs and downstairs.

Porto has a ton of sweets everywhere. I don’t think I’ve seen so many bakeries in one city! While we admittedly had more sweets than pictured below, these are a few highlights. The Pastéis de Nata are everywhere in Portugal and are delicious egg custard tarts — definitely worth sampling at least once. I’d recommend sprinkling some cinnamon on top! The other custard treat we discovered on a walking tour in a tiny bakery that we would never be able to find again. It was remarkable — a graham cracker-like base topped with a whipped cream and then covered in butterscotch. And finally, we kept walking past this adorable bakery, Tonton Cake, and finally ventured in. The miniature tartlets were delightful and came in a wide variety of flavors. They also make larger versions. In all, if you have a sweet tooth, Porto will not disappoint.

Yes, we did more than just eat in Porto. For proof, check out this post. The quality, variety, and uniqueness of the food really did blow us away. There is, of course, great wine and port in Porto as well and most restaurants carried ample beverage options.

Tips:

• Several places require reservations so do some research in advance.
• All of the places we went took credit cards but there is no way to tip using your card so make sure you have some cash to tip.
• Many restaurants do not start serving dinner until 7pm or later.
• A LOT of places are closed Sundays. There are a few places open but you have to really look for them and do some research.
• Cod is a very popular staple in Portuguese cuisine. You should definitely try it at least once in Porto but we were, unfortunately, not fans.
• Too Good To Go is an awesome service that’s available in select countries around the world. We used it a handful of times in Porto as a way of trying out bakeries and getting goodies from our favorite natural food store. It reduces food waste by connecting dining establishments and grocery stores with consumers and selling items that would normally be tossed.
• Try the Vinho Verde, a Portuguese young wine!