It’s been two weeks since I was in the best city to visit in 2011 voted by you, Porto, having taken a huge bite out of the city with Visit Portugal and ATTTurismo‘s help. I didn’t quite know how to introduce you to Portugal’s second largest city but when it comes to bites, francesinha is the answer in Porto. This simple cheese exterior hides the 1,600 calorie layers of cured ham, steak, sausage, and bread all swimming in a spicy beer-based sauce. So, while rumors as to its origin are rampant – from French princesses to Porto expats in France (hence the name “little Frenchie”) – it’s city of origin is something everyone agrees on.
Francesinha can be found all over Porto so prevalently that I couldn’t find any two people who had the same favorite spot to get some. The photo above was taken at Cafe Santiago, one of two restaurants with the same name in the city that was voted by Porto residents as serving the best francesinha last year. A bit of a biased result I’m told since Cafe Santiago is nearly twice the size of Restaurante Bufete Fase, another local favorite (and Jamie Oliver’s pick) . While I visited both restaurants to try their francesinha, it’s a debate I can’t find a side to sit on; mostly because I could barely get up after each taste test.
Wow, glad you mentioned it’s calorie count! That photo just screams calories at me. I’d still give it a try though.
haha, I’m glad I checked the number of calories *after* I tried about 4 of them over the course of a week. In fact, I’m still carrying a bit of Porto around with me on my belly 😉
Though if you eat a francesinha early enough in the day, you don’t need to eat much else until the next breakfast 🙂
Haha I had one of these when I was in Porto back in April, it absolutely rolled me. I recently moved house in London and was stoked to find a little Portuguese cafe around the corner that does Francesinha. Hello local cheese-steak-sandwich goodness. 😀
After eating one movement is optional 🙂 Do you happen to recall where you had the francesinha?
Was somewhere on Rua do Infante Dom Henrique, near the old market.
if you are interested in places to eat a proper francesinha in Porto, check out this places-to-eat-francesinha review website:
http://www.projectofrancesinha.com/
Hope it helps, come and enjoy Portugal. 🙂
Awesome site from what I could make out of it. What’s your personal favorite?
I’d crush that thing…
haha, don’t let its size fool you…
At first I thought it was a piece of cake, but after reading your description it sounds way better! All those meats wrapped in cheese and covered in sauce is bound to be something amazing!
I would be scared to see what the dessert-equivalent of francesinha is… 🙂
A well deserved recognition to the fabulous eating experience that is a Francesinha. Really a must for anyone who visits Oporto.
As for the best places… You can follow the rankings of Irmandade da Francesinha.
http://www.irmandadedafrancesinha.com
http://www.facebook.com/irmandadedafrancesinha
Just looking at those pages makes me hungry 😉
Wow, I’m getting suck to the stomach by just looking at that thing!