Francesinha Café

A gastronomic ex-libris of Porto when it comes to francesinhas, located on Rua da Alegria, this small yet cosy spot accommodates around 26 to 28 people, so booking in advance is advisable. Service is swift — less than 10 minutes to be greeted and served — and marked by the friendliness of the owners, who make a point of checking at the table whether everything is to your liking. For dinner, I ordered the "Francesinha com Ovo", accompanied by thin, crispy homemade fries and a Super Bock on tap (also available in the Stout version). The francesinha has the traditional size and all the essential components, with the egg perfectly placed on top. The sauce, slightly thick in texture and orange-brown in colour, carries a mildly spicy touch that pairs wonderfully with the drink. It is flavourful and harmonises beautifully with the whole dish — simply divine. I also asked for extra sauce, which came in a small ceramic cup at no additional cost. For dessert, I chose a delicious homemade lime tart, which rounded off the meal perfectly. As a final note, I believe the price of the francesinha (€16) could be slightly more balanced, as well as the fact that the fries (€2.80) must be ordered separately when they could easily be included. Even so, the francesinha is excellent and fully lives up to its reputation. I highly recommend giving it a try!

One of my favourite francesinhas in Porto. The sauce was very high quality, so was the meat and the fries - all washed down with a fino of course. The service was also very fast and professional! I can't wait to come back!

The best franceshinha I have ever tasted! The people who work there are very nice, very polite. And the food is delicious. Every time I go to Porto I ask my boyfriend to take me there. It's a small place but it's always full. So don't forget to make a reservation before you go.

I’ve been travelling through Spain and Portugal on my motorcycle for the past 5 weeks and this restaurant has served the best meal so far on my journey. Appetiser of garlic bread was delicious and then the main course of the most delicious Francesinha and golden fries (outstandingly good) and then finished off with a delicious salted caramel cheesecake and excellent coffee. The service was also excellent. Make sure to dine here if you’re in Porto - you won’t regret it👌🏽

After many years and even more restaurants, I can confidently say that this is the best francesinha I ever tried. First place undisputed! The most tender beef, the sauce with the right level of spiciness (enough to be noticed but not too much that it overwhelms the remaining flavours), and crispy and homemade fries. What else can one ask? To top it off, the staff was super friendly with us.

I discovered Francesinha Café through some buzz on social media, intrigued by their unique spin on Porto’s iconic dish. The café offers its own distinct version of the Francesinha, yet stays remarkably faithful to the dish’s essence. The flavors were perfectly balanced, and the quality of the meat selection stood out immediately. Not only did the food arrive quickly, but it was also surprisingly light compared to other francesinhas in town, leaving me comfortably satisfied rather than overly full or bloated. Francesinha Café is definitely worth the visit-an excellent choice for anyone looking to experience a fresh yet authentic take on this classic Porto staple.

Best francesinha I've eaten in 10 years, and the staff is incredibly friendly. Make sure to book in advance as it's a fairly small yet cozy spot.

Best francesinha in Porto. It is necessary to book a table beforehand.

Yes, when you visit Porto, you have to have some of the namesake fortified wine. But you'll really be missing out if you don't try a Francesinha. It's a local specialty sandwich, typically with ham, sausage, some kind of beef, melted cheese, and a fried egg, served in a bowl of spicy tomato sauce. If that sounds like a lot, it most certainly is. Of course, a bowl of fries to dip in the sauce is recommended as well. The neighborhood near the Marques metro station is a good one to stay in, with a pleasant downhill walk to the main sights, and a direct subway ride back. Francesinha Cafe cements this as a great place to visit. The physical space was a couple of notches nicer than I expected a sandwich joint to be - it turned out to be a very nice little restaurant with a limited menu. We weren't sure if we should split a sandwich and fries between two people - it turned out that a whole sandwich each, and splitting an order of fries worked out well for us. Porto is a terrific place to visit, and the Francesinha is the icing on the cake.

Even thought they don't speak much English, it doesn't matter. Super friendly and amazingly delicious food. Do NOT hesitate to stop and have one of the best Francesinhas in the city of Porto!