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Lisbon, Portugal
5(604)
15 Guests Max
3 hrs
24h Free CancellationIf there’s one speciality that captures the soul of Portuguese comfort food, it’s the bifana.
The bifana is to street food what the pastel de nata is to sweet treats. Tender, juicy, and utterly, hopelessly addictive, this humble pork sandwich has fuelled generations of Lisbon locals and is as popular around these parts as Cristiano Ronaldo. Whether you’re visiting Portugal for the first time or already plotting your next return, knowing what a bifana is (and where to eat bifana in Lisbon) is essential eating knowledge.
Let’s tuck in.
A bifana is a Portuguese pork sandwich made with thin pork slices marinated in garlic, white wine, and spices, cooked until tender, and piled into a soft Portuguese bread roll (usually a papo seco).
For Brits familiar with a pork bap, Italians partial to a panino alla porchetta, or Germans who… well, they eat a lot of pork… this might not sound especially innovative. But like many of Europe’s best street foods, the devil is in the details.
The pork of a bifana is traditionally simmered or pan-fried in its marinade, creating a rich, garlicky sauce that soaks straight into the bread. The result is messy, savoury, fragrant, and deeply satisfying, especially when eaten standing at a counter with a cold beer or glass of traditional vinho verde.
👉 Try bifana, vinho verde and more on our award-winning Lisbon Food Tour!
In terms of its taste profile, a bifana sandwich blends the savoury depth of its juicy pork with the acidity of its garlic and white wine marinade. Some locals like to add a little mustard or piri-piri for a gentle kick, but it’s often better to try it for the first time without any of the frills. The soft bread in which it is served soaks up all these flavours and will leave a lasting taste.
The bifana’s roots lie in central Portugal, particularly the Alentejo region, where pork plays a starring role in the local cuisine. Over time, it made its way to Lisbon, where it became a staple of neighbourhood cafés, tascas, and late-night snack spots.
The matança do porco (“Slaughter of the Pig”) is a long-standing social tradition in rural Portugal, particularly in regions such as Alentejo and central Portugal. Traditionally held in late autumn or winter, when cooler temperatures made it safer to handle and preserve meat, the occasion was marked by the slaughter of a home-raised pig and the preparation of food for the winter months.
Every part of the animal was used. Fresh cuts were cooked immediately, while others were cured, smoked, or preserved for later use. Simple dishes like bifana were ideal for feeding many people at once, and such simplicity and availability contributed significantly to its place among the pantheon of Portuguese cuisine.
Far more than a practical necessity, the matança was a communal event that brought families and neighbours together. Today, however, the matança do porco sits at the intersection of tradition, regulation, and ethical controversy. While it remains legally permitted in Portugal as a cultural practice, it is now strictly regulated, particularly when carried out as part of public events or community celebrations. Safeguards like veterinary supervision, health inspections, and biosecurity measures are required to protect both public health and animal welfare. For many, the matança continues to symbolise heritage and communal identity; for others, it raises ethical and sanitary questions.
This is the kind of cultural context that transforms eating into understanding, and it’s a big part of what makes a Lisbon Food Tour so valuable. Beyond priority service and access to authentic spots locals quietly keep to themselves, Carpe Diem Tours’ guides share stories like these along the way: fun, memorable insights that reveal how dishes such as bifana are woven into Portugal’s history and daily life.
It’s what turns food tasting into a deeper connection with the place you’re visiting. More than just sustenance, but a living, breathing part of a place's culture
📍R. da Madalena 228, 1100-325 Lisboa,
This cult favourite in central Lisbon is our favourite place to get bifana. Its lively, local setting and no-nonsense approach to typical Lisbon food make it a brilliant introduction to bifana.
📍R. Dom Duarte 1B, 1100-240 Lisboa
Don’t let the name fool you: this old-school pastry café is famous for its bifana, beloved by locals who come specifically for the sandwich.
📍R. das Portas de Santo Antão 58, 1150-268 Lisboa, Portugal
Set inside a 17th-century Moorish-style former palace, and featured among our Favourite Restaurants in Lisbon, this spot offers a bifana that stays true to its Alentejo roots, paired with an atmosphere to match.
📍R. da Madalena 146, 1100-340 Lisboa
A legendary name among bifana fans, Bifana do Afonso is a perennial favourite among Portuguese and tourists alike.
Hunting down Portuguese street food is all well and good, but bifana is even better when it comes with local insight, hidden stories, and a full tasting journey. On Carpe Diem Tours’ multi-award-winning Lisbon Food Tour, guests enjoy bifana at one of the capital’s best spots, alongside a carefully curated selection of traditional Portuguese specialities, including:
Prefer something more intimate? The Private Lisbon Food Tour offers the same depth of flavour and expertise, tailored exclusively to your group.
These food tours are led by local guides who don’t just love Portuguese food, they live Portuguese food — and love sharing with you why dishes matter, how they’re made, and where they fit into Lisbon’s food culture.
Spaces are limited, book your Lisbon Food Tour now!
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We take the stress out of planning by curating a unique itinerary, handcrafting a menu that showcases authentic Portuguese dishes, and handling all the logistics so all you have to do is sit back and relax.
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