Portugal may be best known for classic dishes like arroz de pato and peri-peri chicken, but its capital city holds a secret. Lisbon’s street food scene is small but mighty, with a glorious blend of savory bites and tasty confections waiting to be discovered.
Before designing my Lisbon food tour, I seriously underestimated the quality of the city’s roadside dishes. I’d wrongly assumed the City of Seven Hills lacked the street food creations of other destinations in Europe, only to learn that great Portuguese food also extends to smaller servings.
These are my must-try picks from Lisbon’s street food offerings and the best places to try them all.
Photo credit: Bifana
Bifana is a delightful sandwich stuffed with thinly sliced pork marinated in white wine, garlic, and paprika.
This hearty concoction traces its origins back to the Vendas Novas area just an hour west of Lisbon. However, little else is known about how these sandwiches came to be, but they’ve gone on to be treasured nationwide.
I love how simple bifanas are, as only mustard, chili oil, and occasionally a handful of fried onions accompany the pork and fresh papo seco bread.
I’ve had a couple of bifanas in my time, but the sandwich I got at Bifanas of Afonso has been the most memorable yet. I came across this place by chance on my way to the Lisbon Cathedral in Alfama.
These guys run a super casual joint with just a handful of outdoor seats, but the no-frills ambiance is what makes it such a great spot.
There’s nothing I didn’t love about this bifana. The bread rolls were crispy on the outside yet fluffy inside. A combination of tender pork, spicy chili oil, and sharp mustard made every bit feel like an explosion of textures and flavors.
The Bifanas of Afonso (€) – R. da Madalena 146, 1100-340 Lisboa – Portugal – Open every Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 6:30 pm, every Saturday, 8:30 am to 1:30 pm, and closed every Sunday
Photo credit: Prego
Another Portuguese favorite that leaves my mouth watering just thinking about it is prego. These garlic and steak sandwiches are central to Lisbon’s street food culture. In fact, I think they may be even more delectable than their pork-based counterparts.
Prego has been a staple dish for locals since it developed near Sintra during the 19th century. Its affordability quickly cemented its status as a go-to option for working-class locals in Lisbon.
In addition to crusty bread, steak, and garlic, prego requires just a touch of olive oil and butter.
O Prego da Peixaria is one of the best restaurants for satisfying prego. The innovative team here at their location near Alvalade Subway Station has whipped up a bunch of alternatives to the classic sandwich. Having never tried prego before my visit here, I had to go for the traditional version. O Prego is a little out of the way compared to the other places, so maybe consider renting a car.
Before even sampling the goods, I was instantly charmed by the decor. Think mismatched wooden furnishings, red brick walls, Mediterranean tiles, and a huge skylight above the bar area.
I didn’t expect to be this blown away by a sandwich during my trip. Every component came together perfectly, from the juicy, robust cuts of steak and the slightly chewy bread to the silky, creamy garlic butter.
O Prego da Peixaria (€€) – Av. da Igreja 34, 1700-036 Lisboa – Portugal – Open every Monday to Thursday from 12:00 pm to 3:30 pm and 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm, every Friday from 12:00 pm to 3:30 pm and 7:00 pm to 12:00 am, every Saturday from 12:00 pm to 12:00 am, and every Sunday from 12:00 pm to 11:00 am
Chorizo and Portuguese bread are two things I was already fond of long before I’d tried my first pão com chouriço. Naturally, I had a pretty clear indication of how amazing this combination would be.
Somewhere between a snack and a sandwich, pão com chouriço has been popular in Lisbon for quite some time. There’s not a whole lot of information about the background of pão com chouriço, but it’s likely to have developed in the 1800s as chorizo became more readily available.
A quick grab-and-go dish, pão com chouriço is made using just yeast, flour, and chorizo.
A Merendeira was recommended to me by a friend of mine. Situated in Cais do Sodré close to the Mercado da Ribeira, A Merendeira is somewhere I already can’t wait to return to.
It’s an understated spot with old-school Portuguese features like terracotta-colored walls, dark wooden beams, and tall ceilings.
Served piping hot, the bread from the pão com chouriço was beautifully doughy, while the sausage was firm and chunky. The mild flavors of the bread allowed the intense, smoky chorizo to really shine.
A Merendeira (€) – Av. 24 de Julho 54, 1200-657 Lisboa – Portugal – Open every day from 12:00 am to 7:00 am and 9:00 am to 12:00 am
Salgados is Portugal’s take on finger food and is the snack of choice for locals craving a quick, savory bite. Food trucks, kiosks, bars, and everything in between serve these deep-fried goodies. Fish, meat, and cheese tend to be the fillings of choice.
Codfish fritters are among the most famous examples of salgados in Lisbon. As is the case with many fabulous foods, these came about as locals worked to use up their leftovers.
Each bite contains a mix of salted cod, coriander, potato, and onion.
On one of my first visits to Portugal, I was heading towards Rua Garrett when I stopped by Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau in Chiado.
This gorgeous eatery and its elegant interior drew me in before I’d even realized it was famous for its take on codfish cakes.
I didn’t expect such an abundance of rich, caramel-like sheep’s milk cheese inside. Despite my initial hesitation, this gooey cheese worked harmoniously with the gentle, flaky cod, tangy onions, and crunchy outer layer.
Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau (€€) – R. Augusta 106, 1100-053 Lisboa – Portugal – Open every Sunday to Thursday from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm and every Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am to 10:30 pm
Pastéis de Nata are signature Portuguese snacks. There’s no way I could leave these dreamy custard tarts off this list!
The world has monks in the Belem neighborhood of Lisbon to thank for these sweet treats, which were crafted in a monastery here during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Made from a string of basic ingredients, pastel de nata consists of egg yolks, flour, butter and cinnamon.
This beloved Lisbon street food is a cornerstone of local cuisine, and Manteigaria in Bairro Alto dishes up some of the best pastel de nata I’ve ever tasted.
Modern, compact, and ever-so-busy, Manteigaria is quite the hotspot for this iconic dessert. I had to join a queue to get into this pastelaria, but the excellent staff and tantalizing eats made it all worth it.
After picking up two tarts, I paired one with powdered sugar and the other with a dusting of cinnamon. The pastry was buttery and delicately layered, keeping the luscious, lemon-tinged filling in place. Of the two, the cinnamon-topped tart and its woody tones won out.
Manteigaria (€) – Rua do Loreto 2, 1200-108 Lisboa – Portugal – Open every day from 8:00 am to 12:00 am
Lisbon is finally getting the recognition it deserves as a top European foodie destination. Its thriving street food scene showcases some of the finest delicacies and age-old snacks in Portugal.
Within the next few years, I’m betting that Lisbon’s street food options become even more diverse, so keep an eye out!
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