Food is one of the biggest attractions of Porto, a coastal city in Portugal. That means that you will not only be [email protected] with its beautiful tourist areas, but also with what it has for your palate.
We made a list of typical Porto dishes which is worth trying. They are all here for a reason, they are delicious and represent the gastronomic roots of the area, that is, in each bite you will know what Porto tastes like. Let us begin!
Porto typical food
Porto is a coastal city in Portugal that has a lot to offer in terms of gastronomy and as an example, we will give you some proposals below.
Little Frenchie

With the Francesinha we begin our list of the best typical dishes of Porto. This is one of the most famous in the city thanks to its combination of ingredients and flavorswhich pay homage to the citizens of Porto.
It is one of the most gastronomic proposals healthy and delicious that you will find in Porto. Plus, the original recipe features so many ingredients that it’s impossible not to leave with a full stomach. Being one of the most substantial recipes has allowed it to stand out very well among the fishing community.
The francesinha is made from a multi-tiered sliced bread sandwich and a lean beef steak. This recipe is completed with sausages, spicy sausage, ham and lots of melted cheese on top. Some diners tend to add hot sauce and others prefer a sweeter sauce.
When searching where to eat Francesinha in Porto, choose an establishment that specializes in the sale of Francesinha. Well, they are the ones who resort to the traditional recipe, which is the most delicious and substantial of all.
Green soup

The green broth is the dish that is eaten the most in Porto when the cold strikes Since its mixture of ingredients will not only allow you to feel a feast on the palate, but it will also warm you up so that you spend the night at a more pleasant temperature. In fact, you can eat it during the day too as many locals do.
The green broth is prepared with potatoes, Galician cabbage, olive oil and salt. Some people also add onion and garlic to enhance its flavorespecially when they accompany this broth with cornmeal bread or broa for dipping.
In some recipes, he adds slices of sausages such as paio, chorizo or sausage. These sausages must be boiled separately and added at the last moment to the soup so that do not alter its original flavor.
Locals tend to drink green broth mostly in celebrations such as weddings, birthdays and traditional celebrations. However, tourists can find different establishments where they prepare green broth to the traditional recipesince it is one of the most typical dishes of the area.
sarrabulho potatoes

Sarrabulho potatoes is a recommended recipe for meat lovers. That because it is prepared through a mix of different meats and it is one of the most exquisite dishes in this part of Portugal.
Keep in mind that this recipe has its season, mostly in winter times which is when the pig slaughter begins. Sarrabulho potatoes are prepared with chicken, pork, and pig’s blood. It also carries some cold meats such as ham, chorizo and totally fresh smoked sausages.
It is seasoned with cumin, lemon and bread, or, failing that, cornmeal. Although it is not a recipe suitable for vegans, we are sure that carnivores will enjoy it to the fullest because it is the best to savor in Porto.
And by the way, when you order your sarrabulho potatoes, the waiters will probably offer you their wine list to accompany it. It is that this recipe is usually accompanied by some green or red winebut that already depends on you.
aletria

Aletria is a typical dish of Porto’s Christmas traditions. It is impossible not to include it in our list since during those dates, this area of Portugal receives a significant number of tourists, many of them looking to try the food that most represents them at Christmas.
We are talking about a preparation that is similar to rice pudding, but it is made with noodles. It also contains milk, sugar, butter, egg yolks and lemon zest to give it a citrus touch that hooks the palate.
The aletria is decorated with ground or branch cinnamon for greater showiness. However, we know that there are people who are allergic to cinnamon, so it will depend on each person whether to add cinnamon or not. In the end, the taste will remain the same.
In Porto there are many typical food restaurants where they serve this rich preparation. However, they offer it mostly at Christmas time. That means that if you go to Porto at another time of the year, it will be more difficult to find it on the menu.
Octopus with green sauce

The octopus with green sauce is the most served dish during the summer in Porto. In fact, it is ideal for an evening by the sea in the company of your partner or it can also be with the family. We are sure that you will enjoy it, whoever you are with.
This recipe uses cooked octopus, onions, parsley and garlic, finely chopped and seasoned with olive oil and a pinch of vinegar. This dish has a very high demand in summer, sometimes there are even long lines in restaurants just to order it.
It is recommended to eat octopus with green sauce in restaurants specializing in fish and seafood. These are the best establishments for said dish as they specialize in cutting and preparation. Other restaurants may do a good job, but none are as flawless as these.
Grilled sardines

Sardines are one of Porto’s specialties due to the connection that this city has with the sea and its wonders. If you are in Porto and don’t try a fish based dishit’s like you never visited them.
We are talking about an autochthonous dish that is prepared with fresh sardines, that is, freshly caught. They are seasoned very well with coarse salt and grilled on both sides for at least ten minutes.
These are served on a slice of bread to absorb the fat from the fish. Not to mention that bread is the favorite accompaniment for this recipe because it gives it a characteristic flavor that makes it more irresistible. Some locals accompany the sardines with roasted potatoes and peppers.
have you decided what Porto typical dish try first?
Frequently asked questions
Let’s discover more information regarding the typical foods of Porto in this block of the section.
What are the typical foods of Porto?
The gastronomy of Porto is one of the richest in Portugal and the most typical proposals that this area has are the following:
Grilled sardines: The cheapest dish you will find.
Octopus with green sauce: Appropriate for a special evening.
aletria: A sweetness with a Christmas flavor.
sarrabulho potatoes: Best for meat lovers.
Green soup: To combat cold days.
Little Frenchie: Surely the most demanded at present.
What is the most typical Porto dish?
The francesinha, is the typical star dish in Porto that you cannot stop trying when you decide to visit this part of Portugal. It is a sandwich filled with several layers of meat and another list of ingredients that make it unique.