According to the dictionary definition, tascas are “modest establishments that serve drinks and light meals.” When visiting Lisbon, it’s impossible not to come across one of these places and enjoy their generous portions at very affordable prices. If you’re looking for the authentic taste of Lisbon, follow this article featuring the city’s best tascas.
1. O Tachadas
Tachadas is one of the best tascas, offering a menu that includes a main dish, drink, and coffee for just €7. With an old-fashioned grill always ready to cook a good piece of meat or fish: grilled chicken, Portuguese-style pork, and Mirandela alheira sausage with fries and an egg, but also grilled sea bass with boiled potatoes and salad, and charcoal-grilled sardines with salad and boiled potatoes. There are many options to be found in this small restaurant in the historic Madragoa neighborhood.
Address: Rua da Esperança, 178, Madragoa, Lisbon
2. Floresta da Estefânia
This tasca offers set menus with a main dish, dessert, and coffee at very affordable prices. The menu may include dishes such as Algarvian-style tuna steak, cod cheeks, grilled pork ribs with egg, duck rice, grilled gilthead bream, hake fillets with rice and beans, tuna with egg and black-eyed peas, grilled horse mackerel with Spanish sauce, among others. The house wine, sold for €3.10, is a great choice. And to finish the meal, nothing better than a dessert: biscuit cake, fruit salad, chocolate mousse, or egg pudding.
Address: Rua Cidade da Horta, 39, Arroios
3. Cantinho do Alfredo
For almost 30 years serving lunches and dinners, Cantinho do Alfredo is a tasca with a wide variety of meat and fish dishes priced between €4 and €5. The menu includes grilled picanha, veal chop, boiled cod, grilled horse mackerel or salmon, Portuguese-style liver, among others. On Thursdays, they also offer Portuguese stew, with a full portion for €4.90 and a half portion for €4.40.
Address: Rua General Taborda, 44, Campolide, Lisbon
4. O Abrigo
This tasca serves complete menus for a price around €7. In the varied menu, with numerous quality dishes, stand out the “Bacalhau à Brás,” grilled picanha, pork ribs, turkey or chicken steaks, grilled pork loin, liver with potatoes, and cheese or ham omelet. Among the drinks, bottles of 0.5 L water or beer are available for less than €1. Since the restaurant is very popular, it is important to arrive early or make a reservation.
Address: Rua Mestre António Martins, 23A, Penha de França
5. O Sardinha
In the Alfama neighborhood, it’s not only the Fado houses that attract tourists’ interest. There are also traditional tascas like O Sardinha, known for serving a good variety of fish dishes, such as horse mackerel and fried or grilled swordfish, but also including liver. There is nothing to criticize about this tasca, with generous portions and affordable prices.
Address: Rua do Jardim do Tabaco, 20, Lisbon
6. Paço de Carnide
If you want to eat “naco na pedra,” Paço de Carnide is one of the best tascas in Lisbon to do so. The restaurant’s menu offers various meats such as veal, pork, beef, roast beef, picanha, loin, and pork loin. All the meats come in 250-gram portions and cost between €10 and €15. But that’s not all, as there are also other fish dishes and snacks.
Address: Rua do Norte, 11, Carnide