Our first night in Lisbon, Portugal and was trying to find a place nearby hotel that serves great…read moreauthentic Portuguese food. Having read the reviews on Yelp, decided to stop by. We ordered the grilled octopus with potatoes cooked in olive oil. The side of the octopus was tremendous and mm mm tender. It really was cooked to perfection. Also, we had the fried shrimp in olive oil and garlic. For about 12 Euros, it must have been about 15 medium size shrimps. That was another home run. My son got the mustard steak which judging by other people's reviews, they were mainly positive. Yes the sauce drenches over the entire piece of grilled steak but it was not overpowering at all and complimented the protein well. All in all, great service and seems like a hole in the wall. Hey, that's the fun of it, right? For this place, I would definitely recommend.

This is a hidden gem near our hotel Locke de Santa Joana. Me and my boyfriend were craving…read moreauthentic Portuguese food. This place didn't disappoint! Their octopus was so delicious and well marinated as well as their clams for starter. We will definitely be back again before we head back to the States.

What an affordable restaurant! I can't believe the sooo and sandwich combo is less than 5 euros…read more The green soup was delicious and the sandwich was filled with pieces of sausage.

This place is one of those eateries that have existed across generations and become an institution…read moreby itself. It's a place frequented by the locals but thankfully not many tourists know of this. Hence the price level is low and the food is great. Value for money at its best. You walk in through the old solid wood doors and come to a place that is at once charming and old age. The service was quick and efficient and friendly. All in all a great experience.

This was an absolute find, I was just walking around Lisbon and all the places seem to have similar…read moremenus. This place is a home style cooking restaurant and the food couldn't be better. I had tried two different types of fish and the seasoning and spices of each of these dishes was to die for. I had some yummy Porto too. Definitely recommend.

I was wandering around Lisbon for the day and decided to stop by here when I saw they had outdoor…read moreseating available in the shade. They had a decent number of seafood and meat options, and I decided to go with the octopus. The portion of the octopus was fairly substantial, especially compared to what you'd get in the US. I thought the potatoes and veggies on the side were relatively standard. Just note that they're cash only, so be sure you're prepared!

This place is a small, traditional tasca that has been run by husband and wife team, Sr. Duarte and…read moreD. Alda, for over 40 years. The place does look every bit its age. The tiled wall has some children painting on it, not sure what the significance is. It's known for its namesake, grilled sardines, although my husband is not a fan of the very fishy and boney little fishes, despite its health benefits. (Interesting, another tourist couple the table over shared the same sentiments...) So, if you want to avoid the fish, there are also other standard Portuguese fares. Usually the locals recommend bitoque, a fried beef steak, or feijoada, a meat and bean stew. My local friends enjoy a good chat with the owner, and as she is a regular, we also got some complimentary dessert as well. Won't be a place I'll tell others to seek out of the way, but if you want to experience some authentic fare in a mom-and-pop with good prices, this place has been around for a while.

From the moment I first laid eyes on Restaurante Sardinha, I knew there was something special here…read more I remember getting off the train at Santa Apolónia station having just arrived in Lisbon from Porto. I had just set out on my 30+ minute walk to my Airbnb in Bairro Alto when this restaurant caught my eye. It's unassuming and looked like the type of place that only locals eat at. Perhaps it was the laundry hanging from the windows above, the old timers seated by the doorway, it just had character and I told myself I'd have to come back and try it. And try it I did. I came twice while in Lisbon, and would have made it a third time had they not been closed (breaking my heart) my last day in town. I am absolutely in love with this restaurant. It was by far my favorite while in Portugal. The man who I think is the owner and was my server is awesome. He too had character and helped me navigate the handwritten menu (which I also loved). The food is awesome and tastes homemade. Their house wine is fantastic too as was their coffee. Prior to coming here I had not known anything of sardines other than the canned variety, which I do like and which are a big industry in Portugal. What I did not know was how great freshly grilled non canned sardines were. I got to experience that here. I also got to experience their Feijoada, which was delicious. The pork was so succulent coming right off the bone with zero effort.This was Portuguese comfort food at its finest. There's another thing I loved about this place. I've been to a dozen Michelin star rated restaurants, with varying experiences. Some have been amazing and others incredibly disappointing and just flat out bad (one of which left me ill). I plan on trying others in the future, but for me, there's something special about a place like Restaurante Sardinha. Not overcomplicating a dish and just making simple damn good food is an art form in its own right. As is the ability to create positive deep emotions within you, which I felt here on both visits. Simple does not mean easy, and achieving simple food that's delicious is no easy endeavor at all. I respect world renown chefs and many are highly deserving of the applause, but give me grandma's cooking any day of the week and I'll take it over the next big thing each and every time.

Excellent service, and lovely food. I had the fish cakes with rice and beans and a salad- before…read morethe friendly and helpful waiter brought bread, butter and goat cheese (amazing) and olives, as well as a samosa and another fried ball- maybe corn? I was alone and here for work and am glad to have stumbled upon this place. Simple and delicious.

The food was typical Portuguese, great fish, huge portions. Our waiter was friendly and helped us…read moremake good decisions. Not touristy at all and in a great little quiet neighborhood.

You will be missing out if you are not at this restaurant at least once while in Lisbon. Literally…read moreas local as it gets and family owned. Popular do Capelo is right across from The Ivens Hotel and right next to a ceramics store Cerámicas La Linha. We have stopped by almost everyday for a quick bite. Locals come in and out for their quick espresso shot with pastry or just have a cold glass of Sagres on tap. It's a simple menu with good food for both lunch and dinner. This is the place to just experience what locals eat and chill. Walk slow so you don't miss the entrance.

This place is a hidden gem! A small hole in the wall, family…read morerun restaurant, that one wouldn't look twice, unless you're a local. The food is delicious. The service is wonderful. It became our go to lunch in Lisbon

Came here upon a recommendation from hotel concierge. Upon entering the restaurant, it didn't look…read morelike a busy one. But coming from a long day's travel with a hungry tummy, we decided to give it a try. We wanted to have authentic Lisbon food and host just decided two dishes for us - octopus and bacalhau. Delicious-ness at its best. Both dishes were well paired with root vegetables and sides that brought out the flavors of the dishes. Specially loved the tenderness of the octopus, it's well seasoned and sweet potatoes was the perfect contrast that elevated its flavour. The restaurant looks small and unassuming from the front. The owner brought us to the back and it's actually a house with several rooms converted into several dining areas. It's beautiful and has a distinct old European ambiance. A must try!

Food, service, and ambiance was amazing! We stayed at Exe Hotel across the street and searched…read morehours for a good place to eat on our last night in the area. So charming and beautiful!

Went twice in 4 days. Fried cuttlefish - Delicious. Monkfish and Shrimp fish stew was awesome and…read moremade me inspired to come home and cook the dish. Locals joint, no English menu. Sirloin steak on the stone was amazing ( so soft, supple, tender, and really affordable). This is the restaurant that you take a risk (without all of the English menu) to try and then it brings you the most joy because you had no idea what to expect and surpassed all expectations. Challenge yourself with going somewhere that the locals go and try. Of all restaurants I tried in Portugal I tried I would come here every night.

Food was excellent. The wine we ordered was not available. Seemed a bit pricey. Service was very…read moregood; especially for how busy the restaurant was. I would definitely suggest a reservation.