The short version: Porto eats hearty and rich — the monstrous francesinha sandwich, tripas à moda do Porto (the dish that gave locals their nickname), fresh seafood and bacalhau, bifanas and broa bread, finished with port wine from the Gaia lodges across the river. Here is what to order.
At a glance
| Dish | What it is |
|---|---|
| Francesinha | Layered meat sandwich under melted cheese and beer sauce |
| Tripas à moda do Porto | Tripe and white bean stew — the city’s historic dish |
| Bacalhau | Salt cod, baked, fried or à Gomes de Sá |
| Bifana | Marinated pork sandwich, a quick classic |
| Port wine | Fortified wine aged in the Gaia lodges |
The big Porto plates
Porto’s legend is the francesinha — layers of steak, sausage, ham and bread under melted cheese, drowned in a spiced tomato-and-beer sauce, usually with a fried egg and chips. It’s enormous and beloved. The city’s soul dish is tripas à moda do Porto, a slow tripe and white-bean stew whose story earned locals the affectionate nickname tripeiros (“tripe eaters”). Alongside, expect plenty of bacalhau (salt cod), grilled fish, and the bifana pork sandwich for a fast lunch.
The market, the bread and the seafood
Graze the Mercado do Bolhão, the restored covered market, for cheese, presunto, olives and broa (dense corn-and-rye bread). Down by the river and out at Matosinhos, the seafood is superb — grilled sardines and sea bass, arroz de marisco (soupy seafood rice), and polvo (octopus). Sweet options run to the Bola de Berlim (custard-filled doughnut) and, of course, the pastel de nata. A Porto food tour ties the market, the francesinha and the port together.
Port, and how to eat it all
You can’t eat Porto without Port: cross the Douro to Vila Nova de Gaia, where the lodges age the wine in vast cellars, and taste the styles — Ruby, Tawny, White and Vintage (see Port wine explained). It also makes a natural gateway to a Douro Valley day trip upriver. Eat in the Ribeira and the streets above it, and book a port lodge tour to do the wine properly. For Lisbon’s side of Portuguese food, see what to eat in Lisbon.
Frequently asked questions
What food is Porto known for?
The francesinha sandwich, tripas à moda do Porto (tripe and bean stew), bacalhau and fresh seafood, the bifana pork sandwich and broa bread — plus port wine from the Gaia lodges across the river.
What is a francesinha?
A Porto sandwich of layered steak, sausage, ham and bread covered in melted cheese and a spiced tomato-and-beer sauce, usually topped with a fried egg and served with chips. It’s rich and generous.
Where should I taste port in Porto?
Across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia, where the port lodges age the wine and run cellar tours and tastings of Ruby, Tawny, White and Vintage styles.
Taste Porto
Book a Porto food tour or a port lodge tasting, or plan the trip from the Portugal hub.
