Indian€€boavistaMon-Sat 12:00-15:00 19:30-22:30
Mendi on Avenida da Boavista in Porto has run a tandoor-led Indian kitchen since 1997, with murgh makhani, kadi pakoda and a long vegetarian half of the menu.
Signature: Murgh makhani, Tandoori platter
Order: Murgh makhani with garlic naan and a vegetable kadi pakoda starter.
Tip: Closed Sundays. Lunch and dinner; reserve on weekends and ask for a wall-side table away from the entrance.
Portuguese (petiscos)€€ribeiraTue-Fri 17:00-24:00, Sat-Sun 12:30-24:00
Taberna do Largo on Largo Sao Domingos in Porto is a small wine-and-petiscos counter with Iberian acorn ham, queijo da Serra and a regional Portuguese wine.
Signature: Iberian acorn ham, Sheep cheese board
Order: Iberian acorn ham with bread, glass of Douro red.
Tip: Closed Sunday. Counter seats only; arrive by 19:30 to claim one.
Modern Portuguese€€baixaMon-Thu 19:30-23:30; Fri 19:30-00:00; Sat 13:00-15:30, 19:30-00:00; Sun 13:00-15:30, 19:30-23:30
Mistu on Rua do Bonjardim in Porto is a tiled cervejaria with a younger crowd, plating sea bass cataplana, octopus a la lagareiro and a tight.
Signature: Sea bass cataplana, Octopus a la lagareiro
Order: Sea bass cataplana for two, glass of vinho verde.
Tip: Open daily. The kitchen runs until 23:00; book past 20:30 for a quieter dinner.
Traditional Portuguese€€baixaMon 18:30-22:30; Tue-Sat 12:00-15:30, 18:30-22:30; Sun closed
Abadia do Porto in Porto's Baixa has served traditional Portuguese plates since 1939, with a cataplana to share, bacalhau a Gomes de Sa and a 200-label wine.
Signature: Cataplana, Bacalhau a Gomes de Sa
Order: Bacalhau a Gomes de Sa with potatoes and olives.
Tip: Closed Sunday. The tiled side room is calmer than the main hall.
Portuguese (bifana)€baixaMon-Sat 11:30-22:00
Conga on Rua do Bonjardim in Porto has slow-cooked bifanas in a paprika-and-garlic broth since 1976, a stand-up counter where pork sandwiches and Super Bocks.
Signature: Bifana, Imperial beer
Order: Bifana with mustard and piri-piri, imperial beer.
Tip: Closed Sundays. The lunch queue clears by 14:30; arrive then if you want a stool.
Portuguese (cervejaria)€€fozMon-Sun 12:00-15:30 19:00-24:00
Brasao Foz on Rua de Gondarem in Porto is the Foz neighbourhood site of the Brasao group, with the pork-loin francesinha a antiga and truffled meat rissois.
Signature: Pork-loin francesinha, Truffled meat rissol
Order: Pork-loin francesinha, truffled rissol to share.
Tip: Open daily, kitchen until 23:30. The back garden terrace is the move on summer evenings.