Tasting Portugal: Five Must-Try Dishes for an Unforgettable Culinary Experience

Last updated on February 16th, 2025

Portugal is a feast for the senses, from panoramic views of her Atlantic coastline to vibrant and bustling cities, from majestic historical sites to the lush green expanse of the Buçaco Forest. But of course, it’s also a feast in the most literal sense. Portuguese cuisine, with its delicious array of desserts and abundance of fresh seafood, offers foodies some of Europe’s most indulgent and rewarding dining experiences. 

Whether you’re traveling solo or booking one of those luxurious Portugal private tours, there are a few dishes that you should not miss out on.

Pasteis de Nata

Perhaps the most iconic bite on the list is the pastéis de nata, Portugal’s small, sweet egg custard tarts. 17th-century monasteries and convents used egg whites to starch their vestments and subsequently found themselves with an abundance of egg yolks. It became common for these institutions to use those yolks to make pastries, and the monks of the Jerónimos Monastery turned theirs into pastéis de nata.

Nowadays, you can find pastéis de nata in any bakery in Portugal, but it’s very popular to visit the almost-original source–Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém. This bakery opened when the Jerónimos Monastery closed and the monks there sold their recipe to a nearby sugar factory. The Fábrica is still owned and operated by descendants of these original owners.

Pão de Ló

While pastéis de nata are perhaps the most famous of Portugal’s desserts, pão de ló, her version of a sponge cake, really can’t be passed up.

The cake itself–almost like a soufflé–is made primarily with egg yolks beaten to maximum fluffiness. But beyond that, there are many variations around the country. For example, the city of Ovar’s version, which is a culturally protected recipe, is wonderfully custardy and delicately moist. 

Other regions have drier, spongier versions, or they drizzle theirs with syrups or cinnamon–you might visit several cities in Portugal and never have the same version twice, but it’ll always be fantastic. 

Travesseiro

The people of Sintra are justifiably proud of their city’s most popular dessert, the luscious almond cream-filled travesseiros. Named from the Portuguese word for ‘pillow,’ the pastries are large, square cushions of flaky puff pastry filled with a layer of almond cream. The baking process causes the pastry to rise into an air pocket over the cream, so when you bite into it, flakes of tender pastry and crystals of sugar cascade down your shirtfront! That’s how you know it’s perfectly baked.

Travesseiros are the creation of Casa Piriquita in Sintra, so be sure you go directly to the original source to try your first one.

Bolinhos de Bacalhau

On the savory front, Portugal’s culinary scene leans strongly towards seafood. One of the most popular seafood dishes is bolinhos (or pastéis, depending on where you are) de bacalhau, the humble fried cod fritter. These plump and delicious croquettes are made with deeply savory salted cod, giving them an extra depth of flavor. With a crisp fried batter surrounding the tender, flaky, and garlicky cod, bolinhos de bacalhau are fantastic for any meal of the day.

Bifana

A pork sandwich may not sound like the most exciting thing to order in a culinary paradise like Portugal, but pub favorite bifana isn’t just any pork sandwich. To start, thinly sliced pork is marinated and then slow-simmered in a flavorful sauce made up of white wine and garlic. 

Then, once the slices are tender and juicy, they’re tucked into a crusty white roll and served with mustard. Bifanas are amazing with a cold drink, a satisfying meal that isn’t too heavy but is loaded with incredible flavor.

Gustatory Gratification

To explore Portugal’s culinary landscape is an endlessly rewarding and fascinating experience, with incredible history behind every bite you take. No matter which dish ends up being your perfect foodie bite, you’ll enjoy each minute. Savor every flavor of your scrumptious journey – it’s sure to be unforgettably delicious in every way.

If you’re going to Porto specifically, discover some of the must-try dishes from one of the country’s most energetic cities.