Although Portuguese cuisine is generally considered as healthy, Portuguese also love their typical fast food. In this article I will describe some typical Portuguese fast food that Portuguese are so proud of. I have also added some traditional places in Porto where to try it.
- Bifana – Bifana is a classic Portuguese sandwich made of pork chops, simmered with garlic and wine and placed into heated bread. There are also variations including marinating and grilling or roasting the pork and also different sauces. If you want to try a typical bifana, you should definitely go to Conga, O Astro, A Fábrica da Picaria or A Cervejaria by Caçula Group. For a less known place, visit Talhasca Villa Parda.
- Sande de Pernil – This Portuguese sandwich consists of shredded pieces of slowly roasted pork shoulder or leg (called in Portuguese “pernil”) which are placed on a crusty bread roll. The most typical and iconic place to try sande de pernil in Porto (and I think in whole Portugal) is the Casa Guedes. You will also get an excellent sande de pernil at Xau Laura.
- Sande de Presunto – Sandes de presunto are made with cured ham similar to Spanish “jamón”. This Portuguese sandwich is often upgraded with “Queijo Serra da Estrela”, a soft sheep’s cheese that’s made in the mountains of northern Portugal. One of the most typical places to try sande de presunto in Porto is Tasca da Badalhoca, or in Taxca.
- Sande de Leitão – This typical sandwich is made of “leitão” – Portuguese name for a suckling pig, which is roasted and shredded into small pieces. You can try it e.g. in O Forno do Leitao Do Ze.
- Tosta Mista – The “Tosta Mista” is the pressed and toasted sandwich filled in with ham and cheese. It is as simple as that, but Portuguese love it. You can try Tosta Mista in each typical Portuguese café.
- Prego no Pão – At first glance, a “prego” looks pretty similar to a “bifana”, but the “prego” is made with beef instead of pork. The word “prego” means “nail” in Portuguese, supposedly referring to the practice of pounding (or “nailing”) garlic cloves into the beef before cooking it. It is also served on a plate and accompanied by a fried egg and french fries, called in Portuguese a “Prego no Prato”. You can try Prego no Pão e.g. in Venham mais 5.
- Cachorrinho – Cachorrinho is a Portuguese hot dog. However, the preparation is very different from the standard hot dog . The bottom part of the bread is prepared on a contact grill with a fresh pork sausage. Once the sausage is ready, cheese is added, the top part of the bread, and the meal is baked again under the grill until the cheese melts. Then the it is chopped into small bites and poured with a spicy sauce over it. Btw the Portuguese word “cachorro” or its diminutive “cachorrinho” means also a puppy dog. You can try traditional Portuguese cachorrinho in Gazela, or Republica dos Cachorros.
- Francesinha – The queen of Portuguese fast food Francesinha does not need to be introduced. For more information on where to eat the best Francesinha in Porto, refer to this article.
