After trying every traditional Portuguese restaurant in Porto, it’s time to move on to the international options. With such unique and exotic dishes, you will leave Porto feeling like a global citizen.
Let’s go, we have to travel around the world!
Portugandhi (India)
First Stop: India
Portugandhi might be a fusion restaurant with a clean and bright look, offering some Portuguese inspired dishes to honor the bond between the two countries, but don’t let that fool you! The experience will be as real as possible since the dishes are prepared by an Indian chef, offering rich and complex flavors from the knowledge and tradition of several generations. Prepare yourself for a tasty and spicy journey. Several dishes are prepared using the tandoor, a cilindrical oven traditionally used in India, including meat for the kebabs, tandoori paneer (indian cheese and roasted vegetables) or fish tikka (roasted fish marinated in masala). The menu also includes chicken tikka masala, naans and several recipes of basmati rice, that in harmony with the main dishes will bring out the best flavors. As for desert, dare to try the rose ice-cream; it’s time to taste the flowers.
Where: Rua do Bonjardim, 1143
Opening hours: Monday-Thursday 12:00-3:00 pm 07:00 pm-10:30 pm; Fridays and Saturdays 12:00-03:00 pm 07:00 pm-00:00
Sabores do Sebouh (Syria)
Photo courtesy of: Sabores do Sebouh
At this restaurant, where the inspiration comes mostly from the middle east -all inspired from family recipes, you are guaranteed to get the true Syrian experience. Their main focus is vegetarian cuisine, but on the menu, you will also find two dishes that include chicken, so that the kebab lovers don’t feel left out. Falafel, babaganoush, and hummus, are only a few of the options available that all prepared with fresh and local ingredients. Just a way of supporting local farmers by using their produce.
Where: Rua de Miguel Bombarda 34
Opening hours: Monday 08:00 pm-10:30 pm; Tuesday-Thursday 12:00-03:30 pm 08:00 pm-10:30 pm; Friday 12:00-03:30 pm 08:00 pm- 11:00 pm; Saturdays 01:00 pm-03:30 pm 08:00 pm-11:00 pm; Closed on Sundays
Frida (Mexico)
Photo by: Nuno Carvalho
At Frida, they honor not only the great Mexican painter but also gastronomy, with a menu filled with the most authentic dishes. The space is simple, with small details that will take you across the globe, like a wall decorated with Mexican newspapers. But the food is certainly more complex, colourful and full of flavor. Spicy tacos, chiles en nogada and the best guacamole in town are just a few of the options that go perfectly with an ice-cold margarita or a corona.
Where: Rua Adolfo Casais Monteiro 135
Opening hours: Open every day 08:00 pm to midnight
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Belos Aires (Argentina)
Photo courtesy of: Belos Aires
And now let’s go to Buenos Aires. Sorry, Belos Aires.
Look for the blue door, it will take you to a bright and colourful space, where you can enjoy the best Argentinian wine and meat, like ojo de bife or colita de quadril. The meat is served with three different sauces (chimichurri, barbecue and criolla), polenta and salad. Their new spring menu includes a lot of healthy and refreshing options, and some delicious deserts you should definitely try if after the main course you don’t feel like you just ate a whole cow.
Where: Rua de Belomonte,104
Opening hours: Monday-Wednesday 08:30 am-11:30 am 07:00 pm-00:00; Thursday-Saturday 08:30 am-11:30 am 12:30- 03:00 pm 07:00 pm-00:00; Closed on Sundays
READ ALSO: Things you can do to celebrate Father’s Day in Porto
Bao’s (Taiwan)
Photo courtesy of: Bao’s
This cozy Taiwanese corner, will certainly impress you with their delicious bao’s and unique flavors that surprise every palate. The soft, steamed buns have different fillings that vary from pulled pork to codfish, crab or tofu. There are also rice bowls and noodle soups available, and for side dishes, mandioca Cajun chips or sweet potato fries with wasabi mayo. As for drinks, there’s passion fruit and mango bobba tea and apple sider that comes straight from Taiwan. If you can still find some space for just one more bao, have one for desert with peanut or black sesame ice cream.
Book a table online
Where: Rua de Cedofeita, 263
Opening hours: Sunday-Thursday 12:00-11:00 pm; Fridays and Saturdays 12:00-00:00
Tia Orlanda (Moçambique)
Photo by: Nuno Carvalho
Tia Orlanda (Aunt Orlanda), will invite you in with a lot of comfort food. The menu includes Chicken Moamba (chicken stew with vegetables and palm oil), chicken with peanut sauce and different types of curry, including one with crab. On the first Friday of the month, they have live music and a special menu for 15€. Book in advance if you want to feel the African rhythm.
Where: Rua das Taipas, 113
Opening hours: Sunday-Thursday 12:00-15:00 pm 07:00 pm-11:00 pm; Fridays and Saturdays from 12:00-15:00 pm 07:30 pm-00:00; Closed on Tuesdays
Shiko (Japan)
Final destination: Japan.
If you have mad chopstick skills, or if you’ve just been dying to try some other Japanese dishes besides sushi, you should visit Shiko. They have other options that are also perfect for sharing, like fish kimchi (fish salad with seaweed and vegetables) or okonomiyaki (Japanese pancake with seafood and bacon).
From Tuesday to Friday, a special lunch menu is available, which includes twelve pieces of sushi plus tea or water for 12 euros.
Where: Rua do Sol, 238
Opening hours: Tuesday-Friday 12:30–03:00 pm 07:30 pm-11:00 pm; Saturdays 01:00 pm-04:00 pm 07:30 pm-11:00 pm
And that’s it for our trip! Which international restaurant are you eager to try?
