Where to Eat in Porto: Modern, Fusion, and Ethnic Food

Porto is a fantastic city for traditional Portuguese food, but after a few days of bacalhau, bifanas, and francesinhas, you may be ready for something different. Luckily, Porto has plenty of modern, fusion, and international restaurants, from quick counter-service lunches to stylish, quiet dinners.

In this article, we share our favorite places to eat modern, fusion, and ethnic food in Porto. You will find sandwiches, burgers, pizza, ramen, Thai food, as well as modern high-end restaurants for a tasting menu or a fancy night out.

Some of these places have traditional roots, but take the cuisine up a notch; others are comfortable favorites for when you want a pizza or a curry lunch.

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Comfort Favorites in Porto

Sometimes you want a quick meal that does not turn into a two-hour lunch. These are the places we head to for something casual, easy, and still worth getting excited about.

These are well under 20 euros per person, depending on what you order. Some of them you order at the counter; others have table service, but they should still be relatively quick.

Holy Sandwich Shop

Holy Sandwich Shop is a casual burger spot near the river, close to Palácio da Bolsa and the Ribeira. They specialize in burgers and fries, with large portions.

This place gets rave reviews; people especially love the pastrami fries. There are more than ten specialty burgers to choose from. Try the burger with blue cheese and black garlic mushrooms, and don’t miss the house-made ginger ale. They do not take reservations, so this is more of a show-up-hungry kind of place.

If you love burgers, don’t skip this one; people swear these are the best burgers they’ve ever tasted. Period.

Best for: Burgers, Pastrami fries
Address: Rua do Comércio do Porto 130

Maynard’s Burgers

Maynard’s Burgers is a casual burger spot near Cedofeita with a focused menu of big, messy burgers, fries, and sauces. This is where to go when you want a really good, classic smashburger.

The burgers are generous, with a focus on classic, bacon, and cheddar burgers. They do offer a brie special with a black bun, fried cheese, and spicy jam if you are feeling adventurous!

Best for: Burgers
Address: Rua de Cedofeita 56

A Sandeira do Porto

A Sandeira do Porto is a tiny sandwich shop near Clérigos, with a short menu of fresh sandwiches, salads, and simple sides. It is a great place to stop when you want a lunch that feels healthy and homemade.

You’ll find crusty half baguettes, fresh ingredients, and a cozy space that fills up fast. There are only a few tables, so head here for an early lunch or plan to wait for a table. There are quite a few vegetarian options to choose from. This is also one of the few places we’ve found with a solid salad menu.

It’s easy to walk right past, but look for the dark red door and dimly lit interior. I had the hummus, grilled peppers, and feta, but lots of people love the sardine sandwich!

Best for: Sandwiches, Salads
Address: Rua dos Caldeireiros 85

French Fries Factory

French Fries Factory is a casual street-food spot near Aliados, serving German sausages and Belgian-style double-fried French fries.

Head to the counter to order. First, you’ll pick your meat (Classic pork, chicken, vegetarian, traditional sausage), then pick your sauce- we recommend the “molho secreto,” which is a curry ketchup flavored with Port. Choose your fries (Belgian, sweet potato, or curly), then choose one of eight different sauces for your fries.

You can also add toppings like fried onions, jalapeños, or Parmesan cheese. Finish your order with a Fritz Kola or a German beer.

I chose the vegetarian option and honestly had low expectations, but I was blown away. This is a casual place where your order is served in a paper carton. When you’re looking for a quick meal and in the mood for fried food, this is a delicious choice.

Best for: Currywurst, Fries, Quick meal
Address: Rua do Bonjardim 302

Pizzeria Bella Mia!

Pizzeria Bella Mia is a casual pizza spot just uphill from Rua das Flores, with Neapolitan-style pizzas and a relaxed dining room. This is one of the first places we found in town that we knew we’d be coming back to!

The pizzas have a slightly burned Neapolitan crust and a great selection of toppings. Choose from options like eggplant and provolone or a white pizza with sundried tomato, pesto, and nuts. The “Campania” is the closest to a margarita, with cheese and fresh basil.

This place is not large, so you may need to make a reservation if you don’t want to wait for a table.

Best for: Pizza, Casual dinner
Address: Rua dos Caldeireiros 54

Generosa Pão e Pizza

Generosa Pão e Pizza is an extra casual pizza spot with terrific sourdough pizza. Order at the counter, then find a seat at one of the few tables on the sidewalk.

Go for a basic margherita, or try something more adventurous like bufala cheese, caramelized onion, and thyme.

Best for: Sourdough Pizza
Address: Rua de José Falcão 180

Bao’s Taiwanese Burger

Bao’s Taiwanese Burger is a casual spot on Rua de Cedofeita, serving fluffy bao buns with a mix of Taiwanese-inspired fillings. Choose between beef, pork belly, shrimp, tofu, and more.

The menu has bao buns, rice bowls, fries, and bubble tea. If you have room, the dessert bao is over-the-top delicious!

Best for: Bao buns
Address: Rua de Cedofeita 263

Dona Arepa

Dona Arepa is a casual Venezuelan restaurant near Cedofeita, with arepas, bowls, and yuca fries.

Arepas are round cornmeal cakes that are grilled, split open, and filled like a sandwich. The fillings can include shredded beef, chicken, cheese, beans, avocado, or vegetables, so they are warm and filling, making an easy lunch if you are in this part of town.

Best for: Arepas, Yuca fries
Address: Rua de Cedofeita 315

Empanadas Malvón

Empanadas Malvón is an easy stop near Bolhão for something quick, warm, and delicious. They serve Argentine-style empanadas with a wide variety of fillings, so we each usually choose two flavors.

The empanadas are baked, not fried, with flaky pastry and fillings like beef, chicken, ham and cheese, onion and cheese, and more.

We like these for a quick lunch when we are downtown. They used to have a branch closer to our apartment, and we would get these to-go and eat them at home with a fruit smoothie for an easy dinner.

Best for: Empanadas
Address: Rua de Fernandes Tomás 449

Cult of Pita

Cult of Pita is a casual spot for Mediterranean-style pita sandwiches and bowls. The classic is a falafel in a pita with hummus, cabbage, pickles, tomatoes, and more.

The menu has pita bread sandwiches, from falafel to schwarma; you can also get hummus bowls or plates (no pita).

These are large, filling, and delicious with a beer. Our favorite is the Satan- it has eggplant, an 8 hr egg, beets, pickles, and a delicious sauce. Napkins required!

Best for: Falafel in Pita
Address: Rua de Cedofeita 276

O Jardim do Japão

O Pretinho do Japão is a historic Porto shop near Aliados, and it is much more interesting than it looks at first glance. Inside, you’ll find a traditional specialty grocery, but head out back to find a secret garden and restaurant. You access the garden either through the grocery or through a red door with a dragon, a few doors down.

The lunch menu of the day includes a soup, a non-alcoholic drink, a main dish, and a coffee. The main dish is usually a meat or vegetarian option, served either as a curry, with couscous, or sautéed (salteado). The menu is available 12- 3 pm, for 10 euros. You can also choose to get a sandwich or salad instead of the special of the day.

You’ll be in a walled-off garden, and while you are close to the city center, it’s quiet and serene. This is a great stop when you need to take a break from the city.

Best for: Menu do dia, Secret Garden
Address: Rua do Bonjardim 496

Callejero

Callejero is a Mexican restaurant with a young, street-food vibe and freshly made guacamole and salsas. Choose your protein, and then order it as either a taco, a sandwich (torta), or a burrito. The corn tortillas are handmade on site. You’ll find pork, beef, chicken, seafood, and three different vegetarian options.

You’ll also find Aztec tortilla soup, along with a cocktail menu of Mexican beers, margaritas, and micheladas. This could also have fit into the “take your time” category below, as you can definitely make a night of it!

Best for: Tacos, Nachos, Margaritas
Address: Rua de Cedofeita 246

daTerra Baixa

daTerra Baixa is a vegetarian and vegan buffet in the center of Porto, close to São Bento and Aliados. This is one of the easiest places to go when you want a full meal with a lot of vegetables, grains, salads, and plant-based dishes.

The buffet changes, but you’ll usually find soups, salads, hot dishes, curries, roasted vegetables, legumes, and desserts. We like daTerra because the food is healthy and delicious, and there’s always something new to taste. The kids like it because there’s less pressure to choose one dish, and you can go back for more of what you like.

Best for: Vegetarian buffet
Address: Rua de Mouzinho da Silveira 249

Food Halls

Time Out Market Porto and Mercado Bom Sucesso are great food halls to stop at when everyone wants something different.

Time Out Market is next to São Bento Station and has stalls from several Porto restaurants. You’ll find pizza, burgers, sushi, vegetarian options, and lots of traditional Portuguese food and seafood.

Mercado Bom Sucesso is near Boavista and Casa da Música. It has a mix of Portuguese and international options, with a more modern vibe.

Best for: Groups, Flexible meals
Address: Time Out Market, beside São Bento Station; Mercado Bom Sucesso, Praça do Bom Sucesso.

Sit-Down and Relax Dining in Porto

These are restaurants where you sit down, order from a menu, and take your time. They are the middle ground- not a date night splurge, but not a quick and casual stop either.

These places range from 15 to 40 euros per person, depending on what you order. Reservations are a good idea for the smaller or more popular places, especially on weekends.

Duello Mexican

Duello Mexican is a casual Mexican restaurant near Bolhão, with tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and more. When you are craving nachos and a margarita, this is where to go. They have five kinds of flour tacos, including one vegetarian option. You can also get quesadillas with either pork or mushrooms.

Duello is a sit-down restaurant that is not super quick, but has a casual vibe.

Best for: Mexican food
Address: Rua do Bonjardim 233

Siktak

Siktak is Porto’s first Korean restaurant, located near Cedofeita on Rua dos Bragas. It is small and cozy, with a menu of traditional Korean dishes that guests rave about.

You’ll find dishes like tteokkochi, bibimbap, kimchi stew, fried chicken, and other plates with generous portions. Closed Sunday and Monday, opens at 11:30 on other days.

Best for: Korean food
Address: Rua dos Bragas 346

Thailander

Thailander is a casual Thai restaurant in central Porto, with curries, noodle dishes, rice dishes, soups, and stir-fries. When you are craving coconut milk, lemongrass, chili, and something with a little more heat, this is a good place to go.

The menu has familiar Thai options like pad thai, green curry, red curry, and tom yum soup. It is a sit-down restaurant, but still casual and easy.

Best for: Thai food
Address: Rua do Almada 57

TapaBento

TapaBento is a fusion tapas restaurant tucked beside São Bento Station. It has a funky vibe, and it’s one of our favorite places to visit with guests.

The menu changes, but you may find dishes like tuna tartare, cod, curries, noodles, seafood, and creative small plates. For a group of 4, we usually order about 5 dishes to share.

It is small and popular, so you’ll need to make a reservation in advance. To find the restaurant, walk out onto the train platforms and head all the way to the left.

Best for: Creative tapas
Address: Rua da Madeira 222

Ramen Shifu

Ramen Shifu is a sit-down ramen restaurant near Cedofeita, with a fun, colorful interior and a menu of ramen bowls, gyoza, and other Japanese-inspired dishes.

We’ve noticed more and more ramen places opening around Porto, but this is a favorite spot for authentic ramen and delicious gyoza.

Best for: Ramen
Address: Rua de Cedofeita 132

Okra Pizza

Okra Pizza is one of our favorite pizza places. You can grab one of their wood fired pie’s in the Time Out Market, but they also have this elegant dining room. You’ll find white tablecloths with wine glasses on the table, and the same delicious pies.

When you want pizza to feel like a proper dinner, head here. We love the artichoke and asparagus pizza. You can also try duck or octopus on your pizza. Enjoy some wine and end your meal with a delicious ricotta and fig semifrodo.

Best for: Upscale Pizza
Address: Rua de Adolfo Casais Monteiro 94

Incontro Bistrot

Incontro Bistrot is a small Italian restaurant that feels like a good find once you know about it. Right in the heart of downtown, if you love Italian food, you’ll want to go more than once.

We have friends who eat here at least once every time they visit. We usually get pasta when we’re here, with a selection of bruschetta. Don’t skip the tiramisu!

Make a reservation in advance, as they only have a few tables. Closed Wednesdays, opens at 3 pm most days.

Best for: Italian
Address: Rua das Taipas 4

DONAU

DONAU is an Austrian café-bar in Bonfim, a hip neighborhood where a lot of university students live. When you first walk in, it looks more like a cafe than a full restaurant. You’ll find small tables and dripping candle holders.

The menu has hearty dishes like goulash, sausages, schnitzel, lasagna, and even an authentic apple strudel, depending on the day. It’s all large portions, and absolutely delicious.

Best for: Austrian food
Address: Rua Joaquim António de Aguiar 80

Restaurante Swaad

Restaurante Swaad is a South Indian restaurant near Marquês, with curries, samosas, thali, dosas, hoppers, and vegetarian options. This is easily the most popular Indian restaurant in Porto.

Best for: Indian food
Address: Rua de Cedofeita 291

The Door

The Door is a modern restaurant near the Ribeira, with a creative menu of dishes to share. This restaurant is on the edge of this category as it can be on the high side of this category depending on what you order.

The dining room is stylish with playful, patterned dishware. The chef is from Argentina, so you’ll feel the influence and a bit of spice in some dishes. You’ll find dishes like nori tacos (our favorite) and grilled Argentine steak.

We love going here for creative bites after a fado show at the nearby monastery.

Best for: Creative fusion
Address: Rua das Taipas 121

Fine Dining Favorites in Porto

These are the restaurants for special occasions or when you want a more upscale restaurant experience. Porto has an amazing food scene, including 7 Michelin-starred restaurants, but these are the places we personally would send family and friends for a special dinner.

Plan to spend at least 50 euros per person, often with an additional and make reservations 30-60 days in advance.

Borboleta

Borboleta is a fusion restaurant near the Soares dos Reis Museum, with a beautiful outdoor dining space in the back. This is one of the more interesting restaurants in Porto when you want a meal that feels creative without being formal.

Prices per person range from 20-50€, with recent dishes including tuna tartare with cherries and crème fraîche, crispy focaccia with petingas and lemon mascarpone, and grilled octopus with lobster bisque risotto.

The food pulls from Portugal, the Mediterranean, and a few global influences, with a lot of attention to texture, sauces, and seasonal ingredients. When in doubt, order chef’s choice.

The hidden garden is what lifts this experience, making it worth seeking out on your next trip.

Best for: Hidden garden
Address: Rua Dom Manuel II 346

Flow

Flow is a stylish restaurant with a menu that mixes Mediterranean flavors and Portuguese ingredients. The dining room is large and beautiful, with plants, warm lighting, and an elegant brasserie style.

This is a more traditional menu with a rib-eye, beef Wellington, and sea bass fillet all gracing the menu. They also offer several rissotos and a large variety of starters. While these dishes may seem standard, diners repeatedly call the food here “life-changing”.

Best for: Upscale Dining
Address: Rua da Conceição 63/65

LIZ

LIZ is located outside of the city center, but it’s worth the Uber. Go for the tasting menu, and you won’t regret it.

We went for our anniversary this year and shared a wine tasting with the meal. The chef has roots in Mozambique, which come through in some of the courses. Everything is thoughtful, beautiful, and delicious.

Best for: Modern Tasting Menu
Address: Rua de Mota Pinto 170

MISTU

MISTU is a stylish restaurant in the historic center with a menu that mixes Portuguese ingredients, Asian influences, and other global flavors.

It has a warm bistro atmosphere- diners rave about the duck salad, and the grilled octopus. You’ll find a mix of seafood and meats, with lots of fresh greens and artful presentation.

Best for: Modern Seafood and Meat
Address: Rua do Comércio do Porto 161

Apego

Apego is a small fine dining restaurant near Marquês, with a seasonal tasting menu and a kitchen that brings together influences from Portugal, Brazil, Mozambique, and France.

Plan for a slow dinner with six different moments, with a strong emphasis on vegetables. They describe themselves as “a seasonal and sensory dining experience rooted in local products, time and human connection.” We haven’t had a chance to try this one personally, but it has appeared on lists of the best restaurants in the city and gets amazing reviews.

Best for: Tasting menu
Address: Rua de Santa Catarina 1198

Tips for Modern and International Restaurants

A few things to keep in mind before you head out:

• Many smaller restaurants still close between lunch and dinner, so check hours before you go.
• Restaurants in Cedofeita and Bonfim can feel more local and relaxed than places closer to the Ribeira.
• Make reservations for fine dining, they fill up quickly.
• Some casual spots are tiny, so going early can make a big difference.
• Most restaurants in Porto open for dinner between 7 and 7:30 pm and fill up closer to 8 or 9.

There You Have It

Porto is famous for traditional Portuguese food, and you should absolutely eat the bifanas, bacalhau, and francesinhas while you are here. But some of our favorite meals in the city are at more modern restaurants.

Whether you want a quick sandwich, a big bowl of ramen, or a special dinner with a tasting menu, Porto has plenty of places that make eating out feel fun again after a few days of very hearty Portuguese meals.

These are the places we keep in mind when friends come to visit, the kids need something familiar, or we want a meal that feels a little brighter, spicier, lighter, or more creative.

Porto is a growing foodie city, with a lot more to offer than traditional restaurants, so try a few new places and let us know what you think!

Planning your trip? Check out the best places to stay downtown, and our recommended 3-Day itinerary.