I had three days in Porto, Portugal. On day 2, because it was highly recommended and I'm always game to try new dishes, I walked uphill in the rain to try the Francesinha.
Why was I walking in the rain? I think the best way to see a city is to walk around. It also looked so much closer on the map! I didn't have an umbrella but with only 3 days in Porto that wasn't going to stop me. The rain and hill are not the important parts. The best part is the sandwich - this francesinha or "little Frenchie".
Table of contents
What is a Francesinha?
This meaty sandwich apparently originated in Porto, Portugal and is made with sliced bread, cheese, ham, sausage and steak smothered in a slightly spicy tomato sauce. The sandwich isn't fancy and doesn't look like much but filled with all that meaty goodness, it's filling enough to share but tasty enough that you might not want to.
Where to find it
You can find this sandwich at many restaurants around Porto, but I was told that Bufete Fase was the place to go. It's a tiny space with just a few tables tucked into the back.
Bufete Fase
When I arrived they were still prepping to open but were kind enough to let me in, probably because I looked so sad standing in the chilly drizzling rain just peering in the window. The owners, father & daughter, were warm, welcoming and eager to chat as I watched him make my sandwich. Okay, maybe I didn't actually chat with him since I only know a few words in Portuguese but we managed to communicate. He took such pride in creating the sandwich and stopped every so often to bring it over so I could see the progress as he built it layer by layer.
While not the healthiest meal it was delicious and incredibly filling. Definitely a worth it meal. Thank goodness I spent the rest of the day walking around the city! If you are in Porto I recommend going to Bufete Fase (Rua Santa Catarina 1147) for a francesinha. And bring a friend because this is a shareable sandwich.
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