A couple of years ago, I was camping nearby Lisbon when I asked for a bifana, in a snack-bar. I was salivating for that moist and spicy pieces of pork meat stuck in a bread, but all I got was a simple pork steak, with kind of the same spicy sauce, inside a dry bread: at that moment, I missed the bifanas that I'm used to. I missed the bifana from Conga!
In plain downtown, facing the emblematic Pedro dos Frangos, Conga however took a different direction from its neighbour: while the first keeps the same humble appearance and style that has always been its identity, Conga went in the opposite direction: it looks trendy, new and really welcoming.
And if one could think that going all 'moderny' could affect anything, well, it just didn't: the waiters still treat you with the same sweet harshness and directness ("Hey boss, you want a bifana?"), they shout at each other in their distinct heavy Porto accent and, in a way, carry the flame of the old Conga in their presence. And the bifana, well, the bifana is still spicy hot as hell itself, yet delicious, begging for a beer to put out the fire.
If greasy pork sandwiches are not your cup of tea, there is a vast menu, from hotdogs to salads. So man up, look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself: are you a salad man, or a bifanas man? Or woman, I don't want to sound sexist!
Rua do Bonjardim 314-318
Bifana in bread:
€
3.30
+351
222000113
Explore cities like a local with Spotted by Locals - discover hidden gems and all our locals’ favourites! Get full access to our Porto guide.
Our Spotters' Local Favorites Only. Skip the Tourist Traps.
Find Nearby Spots and Navigate with Ease
Save Your Favorites and See Them on the Map
Our Spotters' Local Favorites Only. Skip the Tourist Traps.
Find Nearby Spots and Navigate with Ease
Save Your Favorites and See Them on the Map