10 Amazing Must Eats in Lisbon

Planning a trip to Lisbon and don’t know what to eat? Check out this post on the 10 amazing must eats in Lisbon!

As someone who’s planning to visit Lisbon in the next year, there’s a lot I still don’t know about Portuguese cuisine. For example, did you know that Portuguese cuisine is famous for its delicious seafood. I sure didn’t. In fact, Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, is even known as one of the hottest food cities in Europe. So, if you’re a food lover, you’ve definitely come to the right place. This post alone will highlight 10 of the most amazing must eats in Lisbon, Portugal.

Pastéis de Nata (must eats in lisbon)

Pasteis de Nata is a Portuguese custard tart that’s made with puff pastry and egg custard. In fact, if you order these pastries in Lisbon, they’ll usually be served with a dusting of powdered sugar and a pinch of cinnamon. However, some bakeries might serve them with neither. In that case, as long as their enjoyed warm within a few hours of baking, the pastries will always taste good. In fact, the best ones are usually nice and crispy with a creamy and smooth egg custard. So, if you’re planning on trying Pasteis de Nata for the first time in Lisbon, I highly recommend it. The Manteigaria in Lisbon is a great place to go!

Bacalhau (must eats in lisbon)

Bacalhau is dry-salted cod that plays a leading role in traditional Portuguese dishes. In fact, according to Food and Road, Bacalhau can be consumed and served in many different ways. For example, in Portugal, there are many different Portuguese dishes with codfish like Bacalhau à Brás, Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá, Bacalhau à Lagareiro, Bacalhau com Natas, Bacalhau com Todos, Arroz de Bacalhau, Bolinhos de Bacalhau and so many others. In fact, the cod can even be prepared fried, boiled, sliced, shredded or even tin canned. So, if you’re planning on trying Bacalhau for the first time in Lisbon, I highly recommend getting some from A Casa do Bacalhau.

Piri Piri Chicken (must eats in lisbon)

Piri Piri Chicken is a traditional Portuguese dish that’s made of grilled chicken covered in a chili based paste or sauce. The sauce or paste used comes from African Bird’s Eye Chili which is grown all over northern Africa and southern Portugal. In fact, the taste of the sauce can be quite complex. This is mostly because it’s spicy, sweet and salty all at once. So, in other words, think of the sauce as sort of like this explosion in your mouth. Once you finish the dish, your taste buds will be dancing for joy. So, if you’re planning on trying Piri Piri Chicken for the first time in Lisbon, I highly recommend getting some from Frangasqueira Nacional.

Bifana (must eats in lisbon)

Bifana is a traditional Portuguese sandwich that’s made with thin slices of pork. These slices of pork are also marinated and simmered in a sauce made of white wine, garlic and paprika. In fact, these sandwiches can also be served on soft rolls before it’s topped with a lot of mustard and piri-piri sauce. However, not everyone eats their bifanas the same way. For example, some people like caramelized onions on top of their bifanas while others prefer nothing but pork, bread, and sauce. So, if you’re planning on trying bifana for the first time in Lisbon, I highly recommend it. O Trevo in Lisbon is a great place to go!

Arroz de Marisco (must eats in lisbon)

Arroz de Marisco is a delicious Portuguese dish made of rice and various seafood ingredients. In fact, compared to the Spanish paella, many people describe it as a thick rice stew. The seafood ingredients used in this stew include but are not limited to prawns, mussels, squid and clams. The dish can also be seasoned with fresh herbs and white wine, then complemented with vegetables like peas or tomatoes. So, if you’re planning on trying Arroz de Marisco for the first time in Lisbon, I highly recommend it. The Baixamar in Lisbon is a great place to go!

Bitoque (must eats in lisbon)

Bitoque is a traditional Portuguese dish that’s made of lean fried or grilled steak or pork. In fact, according to 196 Flavors, the steak can even be topped with an egg as it is accompanied by fries, rice and various salads. The name bitoque (pronounced bee-tok) itself even originates from the dish being cooked in a wood burning oven as the olives were milled in the oil mills. So, if you’re planning on trying Bitoque for the first time in Lisbon, I highly recommend it. O Bitoque is a great place to try it! The service is terrific and the ambience is great.

Feijoada (must eats in lisbon)

Feijoada is a Portuguese stew made of beans with pork or beef. In fact, the name feijoada itself comes from the Portuguese word for ‘bean’, which makes sense since it’s basically another version of the Nigerian beans porridge I had growing up. The only difference between them is the meat. For example, feijoada can be served with rice and assorted sausages. These assorted sausages include but are not limited to chouriço, morcela, and farinheira. So, if you’re planning on trying feijoada for the first time in Lisbon, I highly recommend it. Brasuca in Lisbon is a great place to go!

Arroz de Pato (must eats in lisbon)

Arroz de Pato is a delicious Portuguese dish that’s made of duck and rice. To make the meal, the whole duck is usually cooked in a seasoned stock alongside smoked meat and sausages. Then, the shredded meat is placed in a clay pot as it’s topped with rice cooked from the same broth. Lastly, before it’s ready to bake, the dish is usually also topped with sliced sausages or pieces of smoked meat. So, if you’re planning on trying Arroz de Pato for the first time in Lisbon, I highly recommend it. Zé da Mouraria in Lisbon is a great place to go!

Alheira (must eats in lisbon)

Alheira is a Portuguese sausage made of bread and meats. These meats include but are not limited to pork, veal, duck, chicken, quail or rabbit. In fact, the sausage itself was invented by the Jews of Portugal in 1497. This was because the Jews who converted to Christianity around then wanted to retain their Judaistic belief of avoiding pork. So, to avoid attracting attention to themselves, the Jews created sausages from other meats while mixing them with bread for texture. So, if you’re planning on trying Alheira for the first time in Lisbon, I highly recommend it. Gambrinus in Lisbon is a great place to go!

Ginjinha em Copo de Chocolate (must eats in lisbon)

Ginjinha is a Portuguese liquor made of ginja berries, alcohol, sugar, cinnamon and water. In fact, in Obidos, the drink is usually served in chocolate cups that are around the same size as shot glasses. So, as a result, when people finish drinking their liquor, they eat the cup as well. Imagine that… eating the cup that held your shot of liquor. Sounds like a HELL YES to me! In fact, although I’ve never had a shot before, I definitely want this to be my first one. So, if you’re planning on trying Ginjinha em Copo de Chocolate for the first time in Lisbon, I highly recommend it. Ginginha do Carmo is a great place to go!

Overall, I really hope you enjoyed this post on the 10 amazing must eats in Lisbon, Portugal! Please let me know in the comments down below which food you would like to eat the most! I would love to hear from you.

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