Top 10 Traditional Food to Try in Lisbon, Portugal
#1 - Pastel de Nata
Perhaps the most iconic food of Portugal is the Pastel de Nata. This sweet concoction dates back centuries ago created by monks. It is puff pastry that is filled with an egg custard and then baked to perfection. It’s so fantastic that we each ate a dozen over the weekend and had to take a cooking class on how to make it!
#2 - Bacahlau (Cod)
Bacahlau, which means cod in English, is one of the very symbols of Portugal. You will find bacahlau in anything and everything (maybe not desserts though). It is dried cod that is rehydrated and used in soups, is pan-fried, put in rice dishes, or even in croquette form, like the image above.
#3 - Duck Rice (Arroz de pato)
This one kind of surprised us by how good it was. It is slow cooked duck that is shredded and put into rice with spices and vegetables and usually topped with fried chorizo. It is super savoury and very nice for any lunch or dinner. One of my personal favourites, and I don’t even care for duck!
#4 - Iberian Pork (Porco preto)
Iberian pork is very easy to find around Portugal and Spain. It’s cured pork that is light and salty. You’ll usually find it paper-thin when it’s cut and usually accompanied with olives, capers, cheese, bread, and other charcuterie foods… or you could just eat it straight while sitting next to a pier.
#5 - Seafood Stew (Cataplana de marisco)
When I said the duck rice was one of my personal favourites, this was my other one. It is SUPER flavourful with all kinds of seafood to enjoy in its own broth alongside rice and vegetables. Depending on where you get it, it can be life-changing. We don’t know how they were able to pack so much flavour into this dish, but it absolutely works.
#6 - Prego
This is great for people who love a good piece of beef. It’s essentially a steak sandwich. The steak is usually filet mignon, so the meat is going to be very tender and rich. It is sandwiched together between 2 slices of nice bread with garlic and other spices.
#7 - Caldo Verde
Caldo Verde is basically green cabbage soup. It is very mild in flavour, which is perfect for those who don’t handle spice well. It consists of green cabbage, potatoes, olive oil, onions, garlic, and spices. Sometimes, it is topped with fried chorizo. It’s refreshing and satisfying!
#8 - Portuguese Cheese (Queijo)
I’m always on the lookout for fun local cheeses, and Portugal does not disappoint. We were told the most popular cheese in Lisbon is Serra da Estrela, which is a very soft and buttery cheese that seems melted on the inside. It kind of has a brie-like taste and texture. Whether you’re into cheese or not, we highly recommend trying them and see which ones you like.
#9 - Octopus with Olive Oil and Potatoes (Polvo à Lagareiro)
If you’re ready to try something a little more adventurous, grilled octopus may be a good one to try. All the ones we sampled are very tender and flavourful. Accompanied with buttery sauce and herbs, potatoes, and olive oil, this is a rich dish… and usually huge in portion size.
#10 - Suckling Pig (Leitão assado)
Lastly, suckling pig is another item you should try if you see it on the menu. It is slowly cooked and is found in a lot of different varieties, such as on its own, in a sandwich, a soup, or other versions. Either way, you’ll really enjoy its sweet yet savoury taste, tenderness, and overall flavour and aroma.
**Some items we didn’t mention on our official list but are definitely worth checking out are açorda, francesinha, grilled sardines, and arroz de marisco. The reasons why they weren’t included were either because they were hard to find, not a Lisbon-specific staple, not in season, or we didn’t think it was good enough for our Top 10 List. That being said, by all means try these too and see what you think. Portugal (Lisbon specifically) has some of the most incredible food we’ve had while traveling around Europe. Try as much as you can!
