History
The bifana is Portugal's national sandwich, but each city runs a different version. The Braga bifana at BLB Bifanaria in Largo da Senhora a Branca uses a wine-and-vinegar sauce with more chilli heat than the Lisbon variety. The shop stays open late on weekends and is the student-quarter institution for a late snack after a night out. The bifana's association with Braga deepened as the university expanded from 1973, making it the defining budget meal of student life in the city.
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Common allergens: Gluten
Make it at home
Ingredients
- 4 pork loin steaks, about 120g each, thinly pounded
- 4 papo-seco rolls or crusty white rolls
- For the marinade: 200ml white wine, 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar, 4 garlic cloves minced, 1 tablespoon sweet paprika, 1 teaspoon piri-piri or chilli flakes, 1 bay leaf, salt and black pepper
- 2 tablespoons lard or oil for frying
- Mustard to serve (optional)
Method
- Combine all marinade ingredients. Submerge the pork steaks and marinate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
- Heat lard in a wide pan over high heat. Remove pork from marinade (reserve marinade) and fry 2 minutes per side until browned.
- Pour the reserved marinade into the pan and reduce over medium heat for 3 minutes until it thickens and coats the pork.
- Split the rolls and heat them briefly in the pan or under a grill. Stuff each with a pork steak and spoon the sauce over generously.
- Serve immediately while the roll is still warm.
Tip from the editors. Use the thinnest possible pork loin cuts; the bifana is a thin, saucy sandwich not a thick pork chop. Pound each steak to under 1cm thickness before marinating.
Where to eat bifana (braga-style)
Bifana (Braga-style) in Braga
BLB Bifanaria ★ 4.4
The best bifana in Braga: pork loin in spiced wine sauce in a crusty roll, open Monday to Saturday with late hours on Fridays, well-regarded by students.
OrderBifana picante with extra sauce and a Mini on draught for under €5.
TipThe spicy sauce version is the house recommendation. Late-night queues form after 23:00 on Fridays and Saturdays; the bifana is worth the wait.
More places to eat in Braga
Not on this list, but among the highest we score in this city. Every one is in our guide with its address, hours and what to order.
- Pausa Util Vegetarian, our score 4.9
- Frigideiras do Cantinho Street food, our score 4.8
- Palatial French fine dining, our score 4.8
- Frigideiras do Cantinho Shop Market, our score 4.7
- Nordico Coffee Shop Brunch, our score 4.6
- Cafe A Brasileira Brunch, our score 4.5
More cities are in research. Want bifana (braga-style) covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.