Brasao Aliados in Porto opened in 2014 as the first Brasao Cervejaria, with the city's most-Instagrammed francesinha and a black-garlic mayo for rissoles.
Signature dishes: Francesinha, Meat rissoles with mushrooms
Must order: Francesinha with the egg on top, croquette flight to share.
Tip: Open daily. Queues from 12:30 to 14:00; book ahead or arrive at noon.
Address: Rua Ramalho Ortigao 28, 4000-407 Porto
Cafe Santiago on Rua de Passos Manuel in Porto is the most-cited francesinha counter, layered with mortadella, sausage and steak under tomato-beer sauce.
Signature: Francesinha
Order: Francesinha especial with egg, side of fries to soak the sauce.
Tip: Closed Sundays. The original 226 site is the one locals defend; the second site up the street is overflow.
Bufete Fase on Rua de Santa Catarina in Porto is the locals' francesinha counter, an even-keeled sauce balanced by the same owner since the 1990s.
Signature: Francesinha
Order: Standard francesinha. No egg, no fries, just bread and sauce.
Tip: Cash only. Queue starts at 12:30; arrive earlier and you might get one of the eight tables.
O Buraco off the Bolhao market in Porto is a working-day tasca open since the early 1970s, with veal pie, fried sardines with bean rice and tripas a moda do Porto at lunch.
Signature: Veal pie, Tripas a moda do Porto
Order: Tripas a moda do Porto, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Veal pie any other day.
Tip: Closed Sunday, no dinner Saturday. Best dishes run out by 14:00; arrive early.
Casa Guedes on Praca dos Poveiros in Porto has pulled roast pork leg into a soft fofo roll since 1987, with optional Serra da Estrela cheese melted on top.
Signature: Sandes de pernil, Pernil com queijo da Serra
Order: Sandes de pernil com queijo da Serra, glass of vinho verde.
Tip: Open daily, kitchen runs continuous service. A second site at 76 to 80 handles the overflow on Saturdays.
Cervejaria Gazela in Porto opened in 1962 off Praca da Batalha and built its name on the cachorrinho: griddled sausage, crisp bread, butter and spice.
Signature: Cachorrinho da Batalha
Order: Two cachorrinhos and an imperial. That is the order.
Tip: Closed Sunday. Anthony Bourdain filmed Parts Unknown here in 2017 and the queues followed; arrive before 13:00.
O Paparico in northern Porto runs an evening-only Portuguese kitchen inside a small stone house near the Areosa church, with a long Douro wine list.
Signature: Slow-roast suckling pig, Bacalhau a moda do Paparico
Order: Slow-roast suckling pig, bottle of Douro red from the cellar.
Tip: Closed Sunday and Monday. Two services, 19:00 and 21:30; book a fortnight ahead.
