When I started researching our 4 day Lisbon itinerary, I must admit that the must try foods in Lisbon wasn’t high on my radar. In hindsight, it should’ve been a telling sign that Lisbon is home to the inaugural Time Out Market. Time Out is a curation of the best of the city’s food and culture that has now been replicated in cities across the world. Time Out Market was our first stop in Lisbon for a quick and easy bite after hopping off our red-eye, and it was the perfect way to set the scene of the incredible food to come over the following week in Portugal.
Although salt cod and sardines are Portuguese delicacies found in abundance, we kept reverting back to the same few places over and over for these must try foods in Lisbon. These five foods are one of the many reasons you should add Portugal to your travel bucket list.
A Prego Steak Sandwich from O Prego da Peixaria
As we wandered the stalls of Time Out, red-eyed and jet lagged, a steak sandwich sounded like a comfortable first venture into Portuguese cuisine. The seemingly simple prego no pão, thinly-sliced beef with a garlicky butter aioli on a papo secos roll, was a perfectly unintended introduction to Portugal’s approachable yet delicious food scene.
Pro Tip: These handhelds are highly portable, so grab a prego to go and head to your favorite miradouro for lunch with a view.
Landeau Chocolate’s Chocolate Cake
Simple, yet delicious became a recurring theme throughout Lisbon. Compiled of three layers of rich cake, light moose, and cocoa powder topping, this decadent dessert is more than meets the eye. Before we left the US, I scoffed at a reviewer who deemed Landeau’s chocolate cake the best chocolate cake he’s ever had. Well, just one bite had me contemplating writing a Yelp review to second his sentiment and cement this as one of the must try foods in Lisbon.
Pro Tip: Pairs well with a coffee from Landeau. You’ll find locations in Lx Factory and Chiado.
Pastel de Nata at Manteigaria
I’m not going to lie to you, nothing sounded appealing about Pastel de Nata to me. But as we walked past Pastéis de Belém, home of the original custard egg tart, well – when in Rome! Pastéis de Belém follows the centuries-old original Pastel de Nata recipe that was created and passed down by monks at the adjacent Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. As my first foray into the sweet treat, I was impressed. But my expectations were surpassed when I had my second Pastel de Nata at Manteigaria the next day. Manteigaria became a daily stop – okay, sometimes twice-daily – to get my fix, and is an absolute must try food in Lisbon.
Pro Tip: sprinkle with powdered sugar and cinnamon for an extra punch.
Anything on the chalkboard at Taberna da Rua das Flores
It would be impossible to point to one dish as a must try food in Lisbon. The chalkboard menu changes daily based on what’s in season. It’s one of the stand out features of Taberna da Rua das Flores. This friendly, Portuguese tavern is hole-in-the-wall in size, but well-known among locals and tourists alike. The nondescript exterior is only given away by the ever-present line of patrons waiting for one of their few tables. Taberna da Rua das Flores was a standout, and the best food we had in Lisbon.
Pro Tip: There are no reservations, so get in line early and bring cash.
Boa Bao
If you want a break from traditional Portugueses fare, head to Boa Bao, where you will be greeted by friendly waitstaff, fun ambiance, and killer Asian fusion dishes. We found a silver-lining in unforeseen travel woes when we found ourselves with an extra afternoon in Lisbon, and got to come back to Boa Bao for round two.
Any Ceviche from A Cevicheria
If the name is any indication, the ceviche is what they are known for at A Cevicheria. That, and their pisco sours, served out of a cocktail window. They do not take reservations, so the window comes in handy to grab a drink while you wait. Most patrons will be sipping the signature pisco sour, a traditional Peruvian cocktail and refreshing aperitif.
A Cevicheria sits atop one of Lisbon’s many hills in the Príncipe Real neighborhood. Because of it’s location, it can be breezy if you’re sitting outside. Bring an extra layer to enjoy your ceviche al fresco.
What did I miss? Comment below with your favorite must try foods in Lisbon!
