Portuguese cuisine is shaped by Atlantic seafood, Mediterranean ingredients, regional farming traditions and centuries of culinary exchange. Dishes vary significantly between mainland regions and the islands.

20 Foods and Drinks to Know

1. Bacalhau
2. Caldo verde
3. Pastel de nata
4. Francesinha
5. Polvo à lagareiro
6. Sardinhas assadas
7. Arroz de marisco
8. Cataplana
9. Pastéis de bacalhau
10. Bifana
11. Carne de porco à Alentejana
12. Tripas à moda do Porto
13. Alheira
14. Queijo da Serra
15. Broa de milho
16. Amêijoas à Bulhão Pato
17. Arroz doce
18. Ovos moles
19. Port wine
20. Vinho Verde

Regional Food

Porto and the North have distinctive hearty dishes and port wine, the Alentejo is known for bread, pork and olive oil, the coast emphasizes seafood, and Madeira and the Azores have their own island specialties.

How to Explore

Try local restaurants, bakeries, markets, wineries and food halls. Regional wine routes can add a cultural dimension to a food-focused trip.

Pair this with our Portugal regions guide, culture guide and travel guide.

Official resource: Visit Portugal.

Imran Siddiqui

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