Jimão Tapas e Vinhos

Do yourself a favour and don't eat along the Quayside that's where all the tourists go. Venture up a side street and you come across this amazing restaurant. The owner and staff are just fantastic so polite and accommodating. I was shown to a table upstairs which was perfect and had great views with lovely decor and atmosphere. The waitresses helped choose the food and wine which was perfect. The food was gorgeous and so tasty served at just the right speed leaving a little time between each course to relax and enjoy the meal. If I could give this restaurant more than five stars then I would, I definitely recommend this restaurant.

A cozy little place and friendly service. The food is ok, definitely not the best tapas around. The mushroom risotto was the best part of the meal and the portion was quite large. The shrimp tasted ok but were a bit overcooked. The pumpkin appetizer was decent. Overall, nothing special but not bad either.

Very yummy tapas style food! Definitely a bit more of a gastronomic experience than some of the other restaurants on this street. The octopus with squid ink pasta was very good but my personal favourite was the shrimp - so flavorful! Service was pretty good but it definitely takes quite awhile for your food to come.

We were greeted warmly by Carmen who is the proprietor of this beautiful restaurant. She is passionate and knowledgeable about everything that comes out of the kitchen, her understanding of the wine pairing also helped us enjoy our meal immensely. If you are feeling adventurous, let Carmen order for you! You wont regret it! Also, try to book if you can as the resultant fills up very quickly. A must try in Porto!

Great food! One review mentioned they didn't like the shrimps, but it might be a result of bad translation in the English menu. I see they aren't shrimp, but prawns. Slightly different but closely related and have different flavors. I loved it. The codfish was amazing as was the octopus and pasta. Bread and olive oils was great quality. Try and make reservations beforehand as they fill up.

The food and the service is beyond amazing. Not just decoration of the food and the taste, all those very fine little detail bring up the levels this place to a fine dining experience restaurant. the price is so reasonable here. and the only thing is always full and you must need the reservation. the Owner Carmen not just a restaurant owner. She is a artist with passion.

We had lunch at Jimao back in April 2018 and loved it! We made sure to stop by for dinner on this trip (Mar 2024). The service nor the food has changed- its as good or better than I remember!!! Everything we had was delicious!! Wine, tapas and desserts. Definitely recommend this place. We didn't think March would be crowded in Porto but, we were wrong. Its a small but charming place. So, make reservations to guarantee a table. We tried without one and couldn't get in but returned the next day.

Did not have any reservations but the owner was very accommodating and arranged a table for four. This tapas and wine restaurant offers exceptional food coupled with a very knowledgeable owner. Put this place on your bucket list if you want a great meal without the noise and chaos of the riverfront restaurants.

A memorable meal in Porto! It really doesn't get much better than this. A Cute restaurant just far enough fro the super touristy area on the water, to enjoy a peaceful meal. We were very lucky they had 1 table left as we walked in on a whim without a reservation. We decided to share everything we ordered and then order extra of our favorite dishes. Servings are small, more of a tapas style. It turned out to be the perfect plan. We had several favorites, but overall we enjoyed every dish. All 5*... Vegetable tagliatelle Toast w/ ham, brie and tomato jam Mushroom company Cod ceviche with toasted hazelnuts and apples

Food: Started off my Portugal vacation with my first meal here! Ordered several dishes and shared it with my friend and I could not have been any more happier! Loved all the dishes we ordered and was extremely happy and satisfied with our first restaurant once landing in Porto! Cost: Reasonably priced dishes (maybe a tad on the expensive end) but the quality of the dishes were worth it! Environment: The restaurant is very cozy! Initially I thought it was super small but the rooms are just very long and they have a decent amount of seating available however it does fill up fast so after reading some reviews I did choose to make a reservation just incase! Service: Good service, had no issues and all the dishes came out in a timely manner. Uniqueness: Cozy restaurant with plenty of dishes to choose from!

Overall this place is very overpriced for how much they give even though everything tasted ok. Quality- everything was cooked and flavored well but nothing really stood out as a must have again. The ham and jam and sardine appetizer is something I can make myself for breakfast. The beef dish was a bit over cooked so it was quite dry. The octopus dishes tasted good but was a bit rubbery because it was overcooked. Quantity- not a lot for 70 euros Atmosphere- it was very hot inside. I would have preferred some AC. Service- good fast service.

This spot is listed on all the main touristy blogs... and I get WHY - yet, I wouldn't recommend it. YES - the food was yummy, but the service was subpar. It took over an hour just for us to get our starter. The restaurant is situated in a narrow 2-story building with no AC so it was rather stuffy and warm. The portions are very small yet elaborately plated to give you that "upscale" dining feel. For me, it wasn't worth the price or the wait.

Nice local small restaurant with tasty food. Service was very pleasant. Ambiance was well suited with the dining space. Highly recommended for tourists and locals alike.

Really impressed!! It was really hard to find the restaurant because the sign is small and the location was wrong on Apple Maps. However, our server (who happened to be the owner I believe) was super kind and considerate to us. Most importantly, the food was awesome! I particularly recommend the vegetarian tagliatelle, which was definitely the best dish we had, and the bar was very high. We also got the chorizo sausage, an octopus dish, sardine toast, and ceviche, all of which were done really well. I found every dish to have its own personality and also be delicious in its own right. Had a great time and would definitely come back!

As good as it gets. First meal in Portugal and it was very memorable. . Food was fantastic. Recommended to a coup,e staying in the hotel I was in and they reported back that it was the best meal they had while in Porto. Server was attentive and made recommendations that were spot on. We made reservations weeks in advance and while we were eating, several parties were turned away. It is very small

I'm not even sure how to describe the service- amazing, incrediballs, one-of-a-kind. Amazing dinner, service, and wine. Make reservations!

Really cute local restaurant. The staff is extremely friendly. Food and drinks are great. Only took a phone of the cheese board. But we got squid spaghetti and a few other things that were great too.

Excellent food, gracious and caring host, wonderful music in the streets, just about all I can ask for in a restaurant we stumbled upon, and mercifully had a table for us! Reservation is recommend tho, I just got lucky!

Although tapas in Porto is not the most local influence, we enjoyed our dining experience for dinner here. I called for a last minute reservation and was lucky enough to snag a seat in this small row home style restaurant. I would say the restaurant sat 40 max? We sat upstairs with a great terrace view of the water. We ordered a variety of hot and cold tapas. I'd highly recommend the shrimp stuffed avocado, the Roquefort stuffed potatoes, mushrooms and asparagus gratin and the squid ink seafood pasta. We also had some port tonics, but I preferred a glass of tawny port with my meal. We ordered the dessert sampler and it did not disappoint. This restaurant was close to our hotel and very satisfying. Definitely worth the stop.

We went in starving after a long amazing day in Porto. Unfortunately this restaurant was beyond disappointing. Not only do they penny pinch even for the bread and olive oil, the bread was no better than cardboard. The soup was bland and chorizo in it uncooked. Our cod dish was the worst fishiest fish you could possibly order with a sauce that tasted like nothing. The service wasn't much better. Even though they noticed I didn't eat my soup, they didn't offer to take it off the bill. We felt like a joke was being played on us. Not a 4.5! There are so many great restaurants in Porto. This is not one of them.

What a jam!!! Great service, delicious food and convenience location. Highly recommend this place.

4.5 stars. First meal in Porto and we were wowed! The food was simply made and very good but combined with the service and atmosphere, it was something special. We had a lovely bottle of red wine recommended by waiter (first time in Portugal, we were not recommended the most expensive wine on menu but rather a mod range one that suited our palates) We ordered 5 items off tapas menu which had us well fed after walking in famished. 1. We tried the mushroom ravioli which was delicious, bursting with mushroom flavor but ravioli could have done with 1 more minute in water as it was slightly under with a little flour taste coming through. 2. Next we had the chourico which was perfect, in a balsamic, garlic and honey glaze which we mopped up with bread. 3. Next came the octopus with black pasta, the most tender octopus I have eaten, delicious! 4. The pork cheek and truffle mash was our least favorite dish. The mash had too much truffle oil in it which clashed with the lovely flavor of the pork. 5. Last was the toast with Iberian ham, brie and tomato jam... Hubby loved the amount of jam on and I scraped some off but this was a delicious combo of prime ingredients. We had some port and creme brûlée, perfect (see video) to end.

This is the most amazing food I've eaten anywhere in the world. The food is fresh, the dishes are carefully planned and the food is beyond delicious. What a great find.

The thing to remember about Jimao is that it's family owned and operated, and the pride the family takes in their location, their decor, their service, and their cuisine, is utterly unparalleled in Porto. The interior has a beautiful blend of old world charm with the tenderness of a European homestay. From the hardwood floors to the gorgeous chandeliers, to the charm of that classic Portuguese arched sealing; the restaurant perfectly encapsulates the charm that a traveler could ever want from a restaurant in Porto. The true reason to come to Jimao, however, is the food. If you want classic Portuguese fair that has been brought to the most beautiful forefront of modern excellence, than there no reason to eat anywhere else in this city. The braised pork cheek has the most beautiful tenderness of almost any pork dish Ive ever eaten, and I just got back from exploring guanciale across Italy. The only reason not to order the Octopus with paprika, is to absolutely make sure to order the Octopus with squid ink linguini and cherry tomatoes. To tenderness of the octopus, to beautiful chew of the pasta, the bitterness of the green onions that garnished it, and the acid and meatiness of the superb, Portuguese cherry tomatoes made for a dish that shook the pillars that I've built my palate upon. Don't waste a trip to Porto by not taking the time to eat here. Love the food, love the people watching, love the location, and love the people. It's THE place to eat on the water in Porto.

So we were stumbling around Porto looking for something a little different than the regular tourist trap stands, and this place popped up on foursquare so we decided to give it a try. And we're so glad we did! Have been in Portugal four days now and had some great food in a lot of places, but this is actually the best food we've had yet. I love how they do a creative spin on Portuguese classics (if you're familiar with the genre of "New American food," think of this as "New Portuguese"). The staff are all super professional and the owner is delightful to talk with as well. And very beautiful! But of course the food is the main attraction. We ordered six tapas from the front of the menu and each one was better than the next. Our favorites were melon with prosciutto (they serve it in a very original and delicious way!), the chouriço sausage (in some kind of honey glaze really amazing), and the octopus salad (I died). Wonderful wonderful place.

Located just off the main tourist drag by the river, so convenient to get to. You definitely need to book a table here if coming, as we saw them turn away customers without bookings. Overall, the food was above average, but not wow. We'd already been in Portugal for 7 days by the time we ate at Jimao, and had some really good food (both more expensive and also at a similar price) so this was a good meal, but not great. Octopus with black pasta - the highlight for me. Really good pasta, and octopus was tender. Pork cheeks and mash - the red wine sauce was a little too heavy, and the mash was a little under-seasoned. Good size portion though - almost like a main. Shrimp salad - came with two big tiger prawns, which was a surprise! Well put together salad. We had the three dishes between two people, and it was definitely filling. Bread was so-so (so feel free to skip). The atmosphere was like a casual tavern, a little cramped, but OK.

Be sure to make reservations or be prepared to be politely turned away. My first meal in Portugal and it was AMAZING! Quaint little place with few tables. I would not linger here talking over coffee because others would like to have a seat too.

It would be easy to plunk a restaurant in a beautiful Portuguese city on a famous river in the oldest part of town and live off the ambiance because people are just going to come no matter what. It's a lot harder to deliver outstanding food and service consistently in that gorgeous spot. Which is what Jimão delivers. We got an early reservation (19:00), were seated in the tiny restaurant on the second floor by a window, and proceeded to have lights-out tapas -- mildly but creatively spiced, simply prepared, and artfully presented. We had soft cheese and bread and olives with dried apricots, walnuts, and apricot jam (ridiculously low-priced), soft stewed octopus with pasta dyed with the octopus ink, meaty sautéed mushrooms (softened but not limp), and an asparagus toast with manchego cheese crisped in the broiler. Totally lives up to the hype on the web. Two glasses of a subtly dry but fruity vinho verde, and walked out with a five-star meal for 60 euros.

So so good! Tapas were delicious and authentic Portuguese food. We had the cheese plate, potatoes, mushrooms/asparagus, risotto, beef tenderloin and creme brûlée.. all seriously so good! Would go back again in a heart beat!

Surprisingly Super good restaurant, last meal in Porto, I loved the octopus with paprika oil, and the baby eel fish with shrimps is very special, just around the corner of the busy riverside area, highly recommend!

Outstanding homemade foods (breads, cheeses, gurneys and desserts) and local meats, vegetables and wines. Friendly service and great location!

What can I say about this place? Just a great experience overall. Our waitress, Vanessa, and the other staff went above and beyond in making us super happy. Not only did the food taste delicious, the people were also absolutely amazing. My friends ordered black pasta with octopus, mussels, I had the creamy mushroom (delish, btw), octopus paprika (yum according to my friends), bread/olives/cheese, Porto wine, and much more. Everything was delish. Their hospitality was to the top. A friend dropped a utensil, our waitress heard it and asked which one she dropped and immediately replaced it. I dropped my sunglasses and broke it, they offered super glue!!!! They have everything. I just think it's worth visiting this place when you're in Porto. It's by the Douro river, not water front but close to it. Enjoy!! (:

Fantastic food. Very friendly staff! Great gluten free options and a knowledgeable waiter who helped navigate their menu. Most items can be made gluten free. Great ambiance. Space is intimate, so recommend making reservations ahead of time. You won't regret it! We had a great time!

We were lucky to find a table without reservation and was amazed by this spot! We tried different appetizers and dishes and was completely satisfied, you have to definitely come here!

Sadly and unexpectedly, the least favorite meal of our entire trip. We had high expectations based on friend's recommendation and other reviews. Alas, dishes were a bit hit or miss. The caprese salad with peach was great, but other dishes were just okay. The avocado salad dish was pretty underwhelming; not a fan of the truffle-heavy pork cheek; and the octopus in the octopus pasta was the most rubbery of all the octopus dishes we had during our 2-week trip. The pasta was good but not even as good or flavorful as it could have been. On the plus side, the family-run staff is very warm and accommodating. The meal wasn't bad, per se, but not as glowing as many have reported here.

Absolutely superb from the atmosphere, service, food and owners. This was our last meal before leaving Porto. Definitely the most memorable meal of the trip. The restaurant is a little hidden but well worth the find. The swordfish and pork tenderloin were wonderful. Thank you too both Fernando's for the wonderful experience.

Best food we had in Porto! Fantastic tapas, many to choose from. Service was also great, very professional and friendly. They bring your silverware to you in a box. Highly recommend!

Food was awesome, had the octopus in paprika oil, baby eel with shrimp and the octopus pasta and it was super fresh and tasty. The baby eel and shrimp may not look the most appetizing but was surprisingly good. My waiter was knowledgable about the menu and recommended the perfect amount of food as well.

Excellent food and lovely host! Our travel guide recommended this restaurant to us. The tapas were out of this world and the wine was superb!

My wife found this place on trip advisor. Four and a half stars, over 1000 reviews. I was skeptical as it's in the touristy revieira, but it was Amazing. Small. So get here before 8 or make a reservation. The bread with pate delicious. I love sausage, and this may be the best I've ever had... Chorizo cooked in port and honey on top. Surprising mix of sweet and salty. salmon tartare was ok. Shrimp salad good.... Shrimp was fresh and tender. the octopus was amazing. Tender fresh. We ordered the poor cheek. My wife likes it, but I'm not as much a pork cheek guy.

I read the reviews and decided to stop by here since I was getting a little tired of the fish and fries and tourist traps in the area. Made a reservation for 7 pm the night before, which worked perfectly. Was sat promptly at a table with my name on a blackboard, and the servers called me by name for the rest of the night which was nice! Had 3 tapas, the crostini with Iberian ham and cheese, pork cheek with mashed potatoes and creamy mushrooms and asparagus. Everything was delicious - crostini was nice and soft in the middle with a great sweet jam on top to make the cheese and ham shine. Mushrooms had a cream sauce that was rich but not as thick as you'd expect and a lovely cheese layer on top, and the pork cheek was so tender and came in a yam (?) mash with potatoes on the side. Stylish, great service, and it was clear that the owner takes so much pride in his food. Came by several times to make sure everything was going well, and had good chats with all tables around me too. Definitely try to make a reservation if you can, but if you come for the 7 Pm sitting you might be fine! Highly recommend this place for a tapas dinner; I'm going back tomorrow!

A family owned restaurant with the nicest staff. It's 2 story and is tucked just above the riverfront. These are the best tapas we've had in Portugal because they take the traditional items and add original touches like fresh vegetables, as well as unexpected presentation. Bonus-there's plenty for us gluten free and red meatless people. The wine list is extensive and there are taps and several bottled beers. They're moderate pricing is icing on the cake!

Not going to go into details as to what my spouse and I ordered. What I can offer is that, without exception, everything we ordered was excellent. This is a small, family owned and run establishment. Apparently by local standards it is considered relatively expensive. However, for starters (bread with olive oil, olives, an incredible shrimp pate and local cheese all more than enough for 2), 5 different small plates, two glasses of wine, 3 bottles of sparkling water, a trio of local desserts and a glass of 30 year old port totaling just 80Euros I consider this an evening well spent. The matriarch is the chef and runs a tight ship and her husband and daughter manage the service and are multi lingual, friendly and outgoing. All together an excellent meal at a very friendly establishment.

Simply put, Jimao was one of the finest dining experiences we have ever had! Highly recommended

The food and service were outstanding. Would highly recommend to anyone in the Porto area.

Sometimes it pays to plan ahead - if you're going to Porto, make your reservation for Jimao Tapas now. I got lucky the first night I was in town, just stumbling past the door I stuck my head in and asked if they had room for one. They did, just. One of those chance encounters that proves to be a great piece of luck. As I soon discovered, it's a small place and the food and service are excellent. That combination means finding an empty table as a walk-up customer is rare. So good was the experience, I returned on my third and final night in Porto for a second dinner outing (booking ahead this time to be sure of it), and it was just as delightful. The tapas are sensational - often putting a twist on Portuguese favourites. The wines - oh, the wines - are a magnificent accompaniment. And the service is first rate. On both occasions I was greeted by the management and made to feel at home. The staff are friendly and know their stuff. You'd be well advised to do as I did and let them choose something to drink from their wonderful stock of local wines to accompany your meal. You won't be disappointed. This is a restaurant worth putting your trust in - they won't let you down.

A bit touristy, great location, nice sample of Portuguese food, friendly service with much welcome advice for novices. I would give it 5 stars, except I tend to reserve those for restaurants where I'd go far to get to -- Jimao is not that unique in the area.

Fabulous find in lovely Porto. Excellent food, friendly professional service. Tiny charming place but make sure you make a reservation.