Restaurante Esperança Verde is a contemporary portuguese restaurant in Maximinos, Braga.
Michelin Guide-listed and led by chef Hugo Sousa, Esperanca Verde serves modern, technical tasting menus built on local Minho produce off the ring road.
Signature dishes: Tasting menu Irreverencia (6 moments), Tasting menu Entre o Campo e o Mar (9 moments), Seasonal land and sea plates
Must order: The Irreverencia tasting menu: a six-moment journey through chef Hugo Sousa's modern, produce-led Minho cooking, renewed every two months.
Address: Avenida Dr. Artur Soares 312, 4700-363 Braga
Tia Isabel is the restaurant Braga residents send family to on Sundays. Papas de sarrabulho, stuffed bacalhau and roast kid are kitchen staples.
Signature: Bacalhau recheado à moda de Braga, Papas de sarrabulho, Cabrito assado
Order: Bacalhau recheado: stuffed cod with herbs baked the Braga way, served with white rice.
Founded in the 1970s on the outskirts of Braga, Arcoense built its reputation on certified Bisaro pork, Minho-style cod and padeiro-style roast.
Signature: Bacalhau à Braga, Rojões à minhota, Cabrito à padeiro
Order: Rojões: braised Bisaro pork cubes with lard-fried potatoes, one of the more honest preparations in northern Portugal.
Tip: Located six kilometres from the centre. Reservations almost essential at weekends.
An izakaya-style counter from chefs Guilherme Yamato Michishita and Marcos Kurosaki (the name is a portmanteau of their surnames). Seasonal Japanese plates including sashimi, takoyaki and a lunchtime bento. Chefs work in view of the counter.
Signature: Bento box at lunch, Hiyashi chuka (cold ramen), Takoyaki (grilled octopus dumplings)
Order: Lunchtime bento box: traditional compartment box assembled fresh by chefs Yamato Michishita and Marcos Kurosaki, available only at noon and sells out by 13:30.
Tip: Sit at the counter rather than a table; the chefs explain each plate and pour newly tested dishes when they trust you to try them.
Tia Isabel is the restaurant Braga residents send family to on Sundays. Papas de sarrabulho, stuffed bacalhau and roast kid are kitchen staples.
Signature: Bacalhau recheado à moda de Braga, Papas de sarrabulho, Cabrito assado
Order: Bacalhau recheado: stuffed cod with herbs baked the Braga way, served with white rice.
A sharing-table restaurant with azulejo floors and orange walls in the historic quarter, serving duck rice, cod and roast kid. Every Wednesday brings Pasto.
Signature: Arroz de pato, Bacalhau à Narcisa, Cabrito assado
Order: Arroz de pato: duck and chorizo rice baked until the top layer caramelises dark and crisp.
Founded in the 1970s on the outskirts of Braga, Arcoense built its reputation on certified Bisaro pork, Minho-style cod and padeiro-style roast.
Signature: Bacalhau à Braga, Rojões à minhota, Cabrito à padeiro
Order: Rojões: braised Bisaro pork cubes with lard-fried potatoes, one of the more honest preparations in northern Portugal.
Tip: Located six kilometres from the centre. Reservations almost essential at weekends.
A small, warm room in Braga's historic quarter with a seasonal menu from chef Whesley Amorim. Portuguese technique meets Latin American flavours.
Signature: Peixinhos da horta, Seasonal fish plates, Latin-inflected starters
Order: Peixinhos da horta: the classic battered green beans done with the chef's Latin inflection.
Tânia and Rui filled a Cividade street-level space with vintage crockery and family recipes. The homemade soups are a reason to visit at lunch;
Signature: Daily specials board, Homemade soups, Minho meat mains
Order: The dish of the day: changes daily, always Portuguese and priced for the neighbourhood.
