Taberna Dos Mercadores

We had to wait for about 30-40 minutes before we got a table. The staff came out during this time and told us they can’t guarantee a place for us and that larger groups might have to sit separately. If you can reserve a table as otherwise you might not be able to taste their delicious food. We had the octopus with its rice as well as the steak with the sausage rice. We shared a mixed salad for a starter. The food arrived in time and was delicious. It was worth the wait. The staff is very friendly and polite. It’s worth a visit and with just 16 seats one of the smaller restaurants we have been. Highly recommend but be prepared either to wait or reserve a spot.

Very disappointing. Food is not great, doesn’t worth time and money. There is always line waiting outside not because it’s popular, just because the place is so small that can only contain 8 tables. And you know it’s in Europe, takes ages to order and get the food, people wanna spend time on meal, so all you can do is waiting for long time… If you still wanna go, make a reservation. We came at 7pm and waited for 2hours. We ordered shellfish porridge and pork rib & sausage rice. Both are terrible. Porridge feels like smashed potatoes with seafood inside. pork rib and sausage rice is just cooked rib in a plate and risotto with few slice of sausages in another pot. At the end we were asked to pay tip. Don’t even think about it. Make more tables and improve your cooking and then ask for tip.

We ordered the clams and sausage as starters, octopus rice as main and apple tart with lemon meringue to finish. First of all, we read all the reviews and got there an hour before just to queue, we were first in line. I would recommend making a reservation for the date you would like to dine. We loved the clams, and the sausage was okay because we didn’t expect it to be fried. The octopus rice was yummy but felt a little flat after three bites. I’m sad to say the apple tart was not good at all, but that’s a personal opinion, as I found it way too sweet and cannot taste the fruit at all. All in all, I would give our experience a 6/10 (and this is not considering the 1 hour wait.)

We came for the second time and the most impressive dishes is the beef steak with rice! Of course, other must order dishes sea bass (with fire), clams, octopus and the potato soup. An average of 1-1.5 hours waiting time, and worth for the queue if you look for authentic and high quality of food.

Genuine and authentic Portuguese experience in the heart of the Ribeira! The octopus rice & octopus salad were incredibly fresh and packed with flavor. We also had the codfish croquettes. The poached pear and meringue cake were the perfect way to end the meal. Expect a wait for a table tho as it has roughly 9 tables.

It’s a small space (16pax capacity) so expect to wait in line or go early. There was already a long line 30min before opening. Quite cramped inside but the food is tasty. We got the seafood soup, clams, garlic prawns, salt crusted fish, and baked octopus rice and it was all delicious.

We absolutely loved our experience here! The food was incredibly delicious and clearly made with top-quality ingredients. The restaurant is quite small, with just a few tables and often a line of people waiting outside—which says a lot! Still, we never felt rushed. The atmosphere was relaxed, and it was clear that the focus was on the guests’ enjoyment rather than simply turning tables. That kind of care and customer focus is rare to find these days, and we really appreciated it.

This restaurant truly lived up to its reputation. The octopus rice was outstanding—second to none. The seafood was incredibly fresh, and the octopus was perfectly tender and flavorful. The croquettes were crisp and freshly made, adding to an already fantastic meal. Though the space was quite small, the cozy atmosphere made it even more charming. The service was excellent, with friendly and attentive staff who made the experience even better. It’s no surprise that this place is so popular. I visited three times during my stay in Porto, and each time, there was a long line. But trust me—it’s well worth the wait!

My cousin recommended this restaurant from her recent trip to Portugal and it was a perfectly timed tip as we happened to be finishing up our day in Ribeira after exploring Gaia across the river. The restaurant is super tiny and only seats 16 -- couple that with leisurely European dining culture and you can imagine that wait times are long! We arrived a little before 7 and ended up waiting well over an hour and a half. We got the Shrimp in Frying Pan, Octopus Rice and Veal and everything was 5/5, absolutely scrumptious!! SHRIMP IN FRYING PAN: Like their codfish and a few of their other dishes, the shrimp came out still in flames on a carbon steel pan. I liked how they were served with the heads on but without tails. Cooked in a savory garlic wine sauce, this was an excellent appetizer to begin our meal. OCTOPUS AND ITS RICE: Omg I'm still thinking about this dish!! I loved the crispy bits of rice and how simple yet delicious the seasoning is to allow the perfectly grilled octopus to stand on its own. One of my favorite octopus dishes ever! VEAL: tenderloin in a mouthwatering red wine sauce. if you're American then I highly recommend ordering this medium rather than the usual medium rare -- our waiter told us that most people order medium rare, but in Europe this is more like rare. Hands down the best non fine-dining meal that I had during my two weeks exploring Portugal and the Azores and well worth the wait. Service is quick and the servers are open to sharing which ingredients they use in case youre enamored by your meal and simply must take a stab at recreating it at home, like the couple dining next to us :^) A must for your Porto itinerary and the perfect way to wrap up a day exploring Gaia across the river and Ribeira!

Made a last minute decision to try Taberna Dos Mercadores. The restaurant is very small and I had already read reviews about needing to arrive early. Unfortunately, one thing let to another, and we ended up arriving a few mins before opening and ended up needing to wait ~45 mins before being seated (since we had to wait for the first round to be done). If you arrive 20-30mins before opening, I think you should be able to get in as part of the first round. We shared the pastel de bacalhau, salt crusted sea bass and octopus rice. The cod fritters were solid. The salt crusted sea bass was good but nothing to write home about - although the show was a fun part of the dish. It also came with broccoli and potatoes on the side. The octopus rice was my favorite! The rice was so flavorful, with crispy bits on the side; the octopus was very tender. I also thought that prices were fair relative to the quality of the food. Overall, I'm glad I made the last minute decision to visit despite the wait!

Some of the best food I have had while abroad. It was recommended to us by a mix of locals and tourist foodies. Another small venue of only ~20ppl. No reservations, ,walk in only. The staff were wonderful, they gave us an extra dish with our dinner. The octopus rice is a big hit as it should be. We ordered enough food to share and drink family style for 3 people and it was ~90 euro.

Well... Taberna Dos Mercadores was quite the experience! It is a small (16-seats) family owned restaurant with consistently long lines. When my party of 3 arrived around 6:30 PM on a weekday, there were already many people ahead of us. Most of us did not know if they were opened as their door was locked. We realized that's how they operated and there was a doorbell you could ring to hopefully get one of the staff to come outside and answer your question. I found out that they do take reservations and recommend calling around 11 AM before they get busy with their lunch service. But the wait was worth it for the food. The service was so attentive and cracking jokes with us - it is clear that they loved what they do. This reflected in the food with the flavors and quality. I really loved the octopus rice and seabass - if you love seafood, Taberna Dos Mercadores is definitely a restaurant that you must try out when you are in Porto!

The wait here was really long. I'm not sure if it was worth the wait for me (it was about an hour wait), but the dishes I had here were tasty. I had the shrimp appetizer and octopus rice. The shrimp were very boozy, I was kind of surprised by that because typically it would be cooked down more. The octopus rice I had was a huge portion of rice, but not all that much octopus. The octopus though was delicious, it was cooked perfectly and the rice has nice crispy bits. After eating the dish for awhile, it was a bit one note and the price for this dish was pretty high compared to other places. I ended up taking half of it back to hotel and had it reheated the next day and it might have been even better than when I ate it in the restaurant.

Get a reso if you can! Otherwise line up 30 mins before opening times. We ended up waiting in line for 1.5 hours and it was worth it bc the food was divine. Service was great and it's a small and intimate space. Would highly recommend: - octopus rice, somewhat comparable to a paella and I adored it and we finished every bite. - salted sea bass - nice cut of fish and v buttery. Hubby devoured it - grilled shrimp - table side presentation was so fun and great garlicky broth - dry white wine reco was solid and a great accompaniment to our meal

Our daughter recommended this place to us when she visited Porto last year. She said it has the best seafood in town. Therefore, we were determined to try it. Taberna Dos Mercadores does not take reservations (through website or phone) and we definitely found out why when we went there. They only have 6 tables. One is a 4-seater and the rest are 2-seaters. The host and server told us that it was going to be about an hour wait but turned out to be two hours and fifteen minutes before we got seated. This was the longest that we ever waited for a table. Was it worth it? I have to say that it worth every minute. The food by far was the best that we had in Portugal

Simply amazing. 16 seats. Line up out the door. Food is amazing. Service top notch. Had the octopus salad. Best I've ever had. Followed that with the clams. Very, very tasty. My spouse had the veal, medium rare, with smoked sausage and rice. Top notch. Very tender. Service is quick, staff friendly. I would repeat a visit if there wasn't so many other options to try. You won't be disappointed. Suck it up, wait in line. Best decision of your life.

Probably my favorite place for dinner in Porto. Very hard to get in if you don't have reservations and don't show up on time, else you probably have to get in line around 5pm or be the first couple of folks in line in order to get in elsewhere you will wait and possibly not get in if your past 20 people deep. But the food/experience is totally worth it. We will never forget the food here. Muito bom!

Honestly our best meal in Porto! There was no reservation system so we tried our luck by lining up right by the time they opened and we got lucky thankfully. The place is small and it gets really packed, like you can hear the conversation next to you even if you don't want to. However don't let that deter you. There were 2 women cooking and a gentleman attending to everyone. Small yet efficient team! We started off with some clams, so good and then some gambas al ajillo which was perfect to soak up the bread with that sauce. For entree, I went for the octopus with rice. I'm still dreaming of this dish. Don't know how they manage for the octopus to be so tender and you mix it with like paella-ish type of rice but a class on its own! My husband really loved the seafood stew for his entree and we loved sharing everything. You absolutely can't go wrong because everything is delicious! Also seems there's a grilled fish that's also very popular here and the place is especially loved by Korean customers who know their food! Line up early because by the time we left around 6:30pm, the line was outrageous and discouraging! Plan your activities around having dinner here, it'll make you want to come back to Porto! I did not even get to take pictures and only have videos because you'll be very distracted in the best way. Also, my favorite white wine is the best pairing for seafood so go and get some vinho verde! You're very welcome and enjoy! :)

TIPS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: - Reservations are booked 2 months out. Reservations are daily for 2 time slots (7pm/9pm). They won't hold your table for too long, so come as soon as you can to your reserved time or you will forfeit the table to walk-in guests. - Always a line outside for walk-ins due to the small capacity inside. If you don't have a reservation, try to get there as early as possible for the least wait time and best chance to get in. - The smaller the group in your party, the faster you can go in. They reserved only select tables for 3-4 people groups. - Large groups (over 4 people) is not likely, so skip this place altogether - They stop taking walk-ins after 9:45-10pm. We came around 7:30pm on a weekday. My friends and I consisted of a 3 people party, so we ended up waiting 2hrs in total! They only had a table by the window available for 3 guests, so we literally had to wait for the party before us to sit down, order and finish their meal. That took a good while! Finally, our turn arrived. We sat down at the table near the window where everyone outside waiting in line can see use eating, but we had no choice. We already knew what we were going to order, so we ordered immediately. We got a Petras Sparkling Water to share. We also got 3 dishes to share: SHRIMP IN FRYING PAN When the dish comes out, it's a fire show. It's blazing with fire which eventually dies down. You are treated with several pieces of prawn soaked in a delicious sauce. It was a nice small appetizer to start. OCTOPUS AND ITS RICE IN THE OVEN This is probably the most biggest and best valued dish on the menu. It's toasted on the top due to being baked in the oven. The octopus pieces are mixed in with the rice. In general, the rice was a tad bit salty for my taste, but nonetheless, it was very flavorful/seasoned. SHELLFISH PORRIDGE This is also quite big. It's a pot full of various seafoods: clams, mussels, prawns. The porridge had like a grits-like textured content inside as well making it filling. The sauce was very flavorful. This was a dish that we were debating on, but super glad that we got to try it. It was delicious. Despite the extra long wait for our table, I think it was worth it. The food is amazing! I love all our choices and you can't go wrong with whatever you get. Now, I get the hype around this restaurant. Probably one of the most memorable restaurants we ate at in Porto. Definitely recommend.

We came 10-15 minutes prior to opening time and it wasn't early enough to make it for the first seating. We ended up waiting almost 2 hours for a table so my tip is to come early (maybe 30 minutes before opening). We ordered the pastel de bacalhau (3,00), shrimp (9,00), octopus salad (11,00), Seafood rice (38,00) and a meringue pie (4,00). The portion size here is very generous. Our favourite dishes were definitely the shrimp and the octopus salad. The seafood rice had a lot of seafood in it and that itself could definitely feed 4 people. I would recommend you come here with 4 people as their portion sizes are quite large. The dessert was okay - not our cup of tea. I would want to try the flan next time. If you want to visit, I would recommend coming early or you will be stuck waiting. They do around 1 and a half seatings during lunch before they close. They had to turn people away after the second seating.

The best meal we've had in Porto so far, and we've been really pleasantly surprised by Portuguese food! Taberna makes me want to stay longer here... just for the food! We arrived half an hour before opening time, since we knew that a line was highly likely (having read the reviews). And indeed, many people started queueing up right after us! Fortunately we were first in line, and were the first to get seated in this tiny, cavern-like restaurant. There are only 4 tables that can each seat 2 people or so... making the full restaurant capacity only 8!! Wow! Were we blown away by the food. For starters, we ordered a codfish croquette, clams in oil, and fish soup. For mains, we shared the seafood rice (for 2 people). The codfish croquette was served first, and it came piping hot and freshly fried. The texture was crispy on the outside, soft and mashed on the inside, but also with some sinewy bits not dissimilar from pork floss. It was very good. The clams and fish soup followed. The clams were good, imbued in a garlic and shallot filled oil, as was the fish soup, which was a deep orange hue (likely from shellfish broth) and full of fish bits. Then came the showstopper. The arroz de mariscos, or the seafood rice. My god, this was so delicious!! The rice had some bite to it and was immersed in a deeply flavourful stew, filled with shrimp, mussels, clams, and cockles. We just couldn't stop eating bite after bite!! The staff were also very kind and respectful, and we had an absolutely great time. Would highly recommend to everyone who comes by Porto!

Delicious, amazing server and very cozy ambiance. Try their specialty rice and octopus.

We went there 45 minutes before open on Sunday night and was second in line. I normally don't like to wait in line like that but turned out the food is as good as many stated. I was pretty impressed with the reasonable price as well. Vegetable soup - It's one of the best I've had. The ham they use floats the smokey flavor into the soup. Good balance of veggies and potatoes mashes. Not too salty. Perfect! Fish soup - A bit fishy for my taste but my wife loved it. Octopus rice - Amazing. The rice was excellent, not too soft, not too dry and chef stir fry the rice like Chinese fried rice but only with seafood broth but some how, it's got the flavor but not the sogginess. The flavor was perfect as well, though many people thought it's too salty is because the octopus is salty because it's fresh from sea and we noticed every where we had octopus, it seems a bit heavy. That's why we think it's not the chef or the way they grilled it but just salty nature. Lamb chop was really good. The herb rub or marinate was very tasty. It was crisp on the outside and tender on the inside.

PORTO PORTUGAL - 04/25/23 -We were searching for someplace to grab dinner on Yelp and found Taberna Dos Mercadores. On 43 reviews they had 5 stars & best of all it was within 1 block of our hotel. We decided to check it out. Taberna Dos Mercadores is a small restaurant locate on a narrow street similar to the gothic section in Barcelona. The restaurant is a cool little space w/about 10 tables inside & 1 make shit table outside. There is an overhead wine rack above the tables below w/a nice selection of wines. When we arrived around 8:30 they restaurant was packed to capacity w/people waiting. Some like us were put on a waiting list based on our arrival order. Every once in awhile a few people w/reservations were able to jump the list of people waiting for a table. The server kept telling everyone the last seating was @ 10pm as they closed @ 11 adding to the pressure hoping that we would be able to be seated as we were leaving the next day. As good fortune me had it we were able to be seated. I had been reading the reviews & we decided to order the octopus rice. The octopus was baked over rice w/a delicious crunch. We also ordered fish soup as an appetizer. The soup was tasty but nothing exceptional. The octopus rice was excellent w/the octopus cooked super tender w/a nice char on it. There are so many other things I would like to try on this menu but I'm not sure when I will make it back to Porto again. This was truly an amazing opportunity to try this restaurant & I hope to make it back someday.

Excellent place to eat! If you are visiting Porto (Portugal), try to make it to Taberna Dos Mercadores for at least one meal! The place is a small restaurant in one of the alleys near the riverfront and is often filled with customers. They offer a menu with primarily traditional Portuguese food that is super delicious! We liked the food so much that we visited twice during the six days we were in Porto! There are, at most, a dozen tables in this restaurant, so often, they must turn away clients during hectic hours. So do not take it personally if you are turned away! Make a reservation ahead of time, and you'll be fine. Their fresh octopus salad is delicious, as is their seafood rice (the Portuguese version of seafood paella). But those shrimps! Oh my goodness! If you enjoy shrimps and/or prawns, you must try theirs! The other dishes you may enjoy at Taberna Dos Mercadores are their seabass and lamb chops. For dessert, we tried their pear. I do not recall what they called it, but it was in a delicious sweet sauce. The restaurant is in a small and charming space. The servers are on top of their game and are very helpful.

Waited 1.5 hours as there are a lot of people that want to eat here and only a 16 pax capacity. If you miss the first seating be prepared to wait awhile. Really small but cute space. The shellfish stew and octopus rice are musts. The salted fish is popular too but didn't order because it would've been too much food. The food was really good and I can understand why this place is so popular but honestly if you're on vacation the last thing you want to do, especially if you have a tight sightseeing schedule, is to wait a long time for a meal. Skip if you have limited days in Porto. There are a lot of good places to eat here!

Unbelievable food and flavors, deserving of a Michelin Star. Everything was delicious. If you can go - GO!

Delicious! Favorite dish was the beans and seafood casserole dish. tried coming for dinner without reservation and line was not moving. Didn't want to wait 2 hours potentially so I came back for lunch next day 12:35pm there was a line already, but I got in after 10 mins of waiting. TIP- I noticed the restaurant gets empty tables from 2pm onwards so if you want to get a table without waiting or reservations, go at an off hour like at 2pm onwards (before dinner starts)

Certainly a five stars. Marvelous services which the waiter patiently explained the dishes and being very considerate all the time. This is one experience which I nearly cried for eating such tasty food. The seafood porridge was full of fresh seafood flavors that goes so well with the thick and smooth texture of the porridge with the well cooked rice. And what moved my hungry soul the most was the octopus rice. The way it was cooked with the skillet made the rice a bit crispy with ham stir fried in it that mixed the meat flavor in it. The octopus was tender, but not just that. It somehow has a natural sweetness from it. That was the moment I nearly dropped my spoon in amazement. The clam was a good appetizer, a good size being meaty, the olive oil and the spice well balanced. It was an eye opening experience and I fell in love of the city since this meal. I want to come back and visit this city again, even just for the octopus rice.

This is a tiny, cozy place with a long line, but worth the wait, if you're a party of two. More than that, you'll have trouble getting in. It is very small, so you'll be seated next to others. It's lovely. Great wine list, amazing salted sea bream/sea bass, shrimp in a pan and shellfish porridge were also very good. Excellent wine list and service.

Taberna Dos Mercadores is a must-visit for any foodie in Porto. The fresh fish is simply superb, and the service is top-notch. I'm not kidding when I say it's worth the hour wait. I do recommend getting a recommendation weeks before you visit, so you don't have to wait in line. The food is Michelin-star quality, but the prices are very reasonable. We had the clams to start, garlic shrimp, salt crusted fish and octopus in rice. Save room for desert. It was possibly the best meal I've ever had in Portugal. It's almost as good as Belcanto, the two-Michelin-starred restaurant next door. If you're looking for a truly memorable dining experience, I highly recommend Taberna Dos Mercadores.

Food was delicious and service was great. We got the seafood rice and the shrimp in frying pan. The food is on the pricier side by Portuguese standard. This place is small and cannot seat a lot of people. If you want to eat here, make sure to come before they open because line can get long and sometimes people can't get in even if waiting for a long time. We were lucky to have just waited for 30 mins and were able to get in.

This is a Taberna Dos Mercadores appreciation post My friend and I ate our way through Portugal and found the most incredible restaurant the night we arrived in Porto. We waited in line for nearly 2 hours because the reviews for this place were that good. And let me tell you something--it was worth the wait. Highlights: I am a sucker for clams in any sort of broth, especially if it's accompanied by bread, butter, and garlic. I was taken aback by the perfectly cooked octopus in our Arroz de Polvo. It had the consistency of fresh mozzarella. Our neighbors ordered the flaming salt-baked cod--a show stopper. I made sure to burn my mouth on a traditional Portuguese sausage called Alheira, due to the lightning speed at which I felt the need to inhale the dish. And to top it all off, we filled our second stomachs with the necessary Port wine and dessert combo. That night, we ordered more dishes than I can list, but I think you get the picture. This was a meal to remember for a lifetime. The ambiance is intimate and quaint. You can see and hear the chefs making your food and, from what I remember, the restaurant fits about 16 people at a time. Very much recommend you do what you can to get in. Be patient. Be kind to the servers. And have fun talking to people in line because you will be there a while.

Wonderful first day in Porto! After our long travels, getting settled in hotel and a quick rest we were starving. We didn't want to waste our first meal however on just any tourist trap. Taberna is the "real deal" from service to food/flavors and ambience this is where you must start your Porto adventure! There might be a wait after you knock on the door but be patient- it's worth it. This meal set the bar for all other dining experiences in Porto.

I'm surprised this place got such good reviews. The wait is long if you don't have a reservation and I'm not sure the food is worth it. We got the octopus rice, fish salad, and anchovies. The fish tasted fresh and the octopus filet was so tender and delicious! It was all bland, although not any blander than other meals in Portugal. I wish there were more vegetable options on the menu, because I need veggies to use the bathroom (if you know what I mean). I'd recommend eating elsewhere, as this place is on the pricier end by Portugal standards. The views and vibes aren't great and neither is the food.

This tiny restaurant is tucked in a small alley minutes away from the Riberia. Given how small it is and that they do take reservations, it is super hard to get a table. On this last day of our Portugal trip, my friend and I had perfected securing tables at popular restaurants. They key is getting there right around opening time at around 12:30pm. It seems like most people place lunch reservations for after 1pm. All lunch customers who tried coming at around 1pm without a reservation was turned away. Our server chose a nice glass of white wine to pair with our order. We ended up having 2 glasses each. We shared the clams, which tasted super fresh and opted to share the seafood rice dish which was phenomenal and hearty. We were so full after so couldn't try all the other delicious looking options on the menu. A lot of people ordered the salt baked fish. I will definitely be coming back in the future with a reservation that will have to be made a few weeks in advance. If not, I'll come just before opening time!

TL;DR -- Don't leave Porto without trying Taberna Dos Mercadores! The line and wait is daunting, but you can get in (hints in the longer summary). When you get in, the food is exquisite and you'll leave feeling that it was so worth the wait! The Longer Version: First off, thank you to the community of Yelpers who have rated this great LITTLE restaurant and shared their reviews, experiences, and insights. When I first looked for places to eat in Porto, I ran across Tabernas Dos Mercadores. Of course, I flipped through all the pictures first (after seeing the high ratings and relatively high number of ratings). I loved what I saw. I then went on to read the reviews and realized from others' experiences that this place would be tough to get into. So, I was on a mission! I was not going to leave Porto without having a meal here! I had read that I should go about 30 minutes ahead of opening to start getting in line. One Yelper also said that going at 2:00pm when the lunch crowd dwindles worked for her. So, while in the general area, I went to the restaurant at ~1:50pm on a Thursday (spring season)...there was a substantial line of at least 12 people in front of us (we have a family of 4)--even on a rainy day. We waited and waited...I think one group in this line ended up going in before the staff came out at 2:50pm and said that most of us in line won't get in before they closed lunch service at 3:30pm. But, before we turned away, I asked the waiter what time they opened for dinner. He told me 5:30pm (most think dinner service starts at 7:00pm -- this was KEY for me). We stayed in the area and toured the Palacio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange), and then I went back to restaurant at 5:00pm and found that I was already 2nd in line. I knocked on the door to tell a staff member that I would wait in line for a table for 4. He told me that without a reservation, I wouldn't be guaranteed a table, but I could wait. On 3/28, the reservation list was already full until the end of April (according to him). At 5:30, they opened! We were in luck and got in!!! There was a party of 3 in front of me, there were two other parties of 2 each behind me that were all in line...we all got in! That was the end of the line (at that point). There were 2 tables already set aside for reservations. Once inside, you could see why there was such a line. This place can only seat 18 people inside its cozy and quaint interior (tiny!). On average, each table turned in about 1.5 hours. So, that's why the line can be so long and not everyone can get in. While the staff was a little rude when people in line kept asking 'can I get in, when can I get in, is there a table, etc...', once inside, the service was impeccable! Onto the food...we ordered the Shrimp in Fry Pan, Sea Bass Salt Crusted, Octopus and Its Rice in Oven, and the Seafood Rice. Everything was as delicious as everyone else said, and it was SO WORTH the adventure to get in! I think the best summary of the great food was from my oldest daughter who rarely touches seafood and rarely tries anything new..."daddy, this was a really great meal!" As we left around 7:00pm and walked out the door, sure enough...there was the LONG line up the hill...at least 20 deep. Don't go around 7:00pm and think you are among the first.

We only waited about 25 min after getting in line before opening and missed being in the first group of tables. The wait was worth it and everything was so good--high contender for being my favorite meal in Portugal. Service was great and quick, and the inside was really cute. Very very small, but homey, which we liked over the hype of the bigger flashy restaurants.

A unassuming door on a quiet street and the only way you knew it was an amazing place is the long line of people outside hoping for a table. Luckily we had reservations and once of the best meals of all time. The flaming fish is a must try but really everything was delicious. Highly recommend

Lovely flavors and presentation, food was delicious and great ambience. Loved this small restaurant, they make you feel like family.

Thanks to Yelp we tried this restaurant on our first night in Porto. Lucky for us it is on the same street as our apartment. I can't say enough good things about it. Service was outstanding, food the best I've had in Portugal so far and very appealing atmosphere! My daughter had salted codfish which comes with quite a show when served! I ordered Shellfish Feijoada and it is the best meal I've had in Portugal! Our waiter spoke perfect English and was delightful! I could go on and on but I'll just say if you are in Porto don't miss dining here. Reservations are highly suggested!

We went by at 5pm and it looked like they were closed. So I tried the door and they opened up. No line, no wait. Just us and one other couple. It was perfect! The food was great, octopus rice, shrimp, and fish soup. Some delicious bread and a glass of wine. We had the drunken pear for dessert and port of course. Each item was excellent and the ambiance is perfect. It's small and got packed while we were inside but we timed it perfectly. When we exited, the line was pretty long! Go here, don't go anywhere else for your seafood fix in Porto. You'll be very happy.

Everything was delicious. waiter recommended a bottle of wine that was outstanding. We got the cod, lamb ribs, and lemon meringue. It was a bit confusing outside because they only have limited seating and the door is locked and you just have to wait outside in line until they call you in. Staff is very friendly and it's just a wonderful vibe. Did i mention the food is outstanding.

Phenomenal food and people. Feels like eating at someone's home. Make a reservation. Don't miss this

Had a friend who lived in Lisbon call to book a table for me 3 weeks in advance. This was the first restaurant on our trip. This small restaurant restaurant is one of the best restaurants in Porto!!!! All the food was delicious and cooked to perfection!! Lines outside with no reservations will have to wait till a table leaves. We had the delicious shrimp (must get) and octopus salad as appetizers. The seafood rice was to die for!!! One of the best seafood rice that I've ever eaten!! Punch in your face seafood flavor. The salt crust fish was Ok. The octopus rice was also good. Will definitely come back here when we are visiting and will tell all our friends who come to Porto!

First meal in Porto and I struck gold. Very friendly service and excellent food. It was packed inside so I was grateful that the tiny table outside was just paying their bill so I only waited 5 min to get seated. I wanted to sit outside anyway, so it was meant to be. I had a glass of vino verdhe, the clams, which are my fav, and the octopus rice. I thought the octopus rice was about a third of the size it actually was so my eyes bugged out when they brought it to the table. Needless to say I had plenty of leftovers. The dish was phenomenal. So flavorful.

Pretentious much? The host literally laughed in my face when I inquired about making reservations for a future date. I'll be taking my money elsewhere.

Don't stand in line if you've ever had a good meal. It's not that the food isn't tasty (it is)), or the staff is not friendly (they are), or the place is not cute(it is). It's that you can probably find another restaurant that is all these things without standing in line for between one to two hours. The fish is fresh and well prepared, and all the dishes were good, but none were amazing. While I will grant that most of the restaurants we tried in Porto were pretty underwhelming, you can find another place that offers good food without suffering.

Taberna Dos Mercados is a fantastic and cozy local restaurant in Porto near the Douro River. There are only about 10 tables inside, and it fills up fast, so come and queue up 15 minutes before opening (7 pm) if you want to eat here. The cuisine is delightful, the portions are massive, and the proxies are cheap. You could probably split an appetizer and an entree among two people. The staff are also very friendly and welcoming -- they make you feel at home, and they make the meal a memorable experience. Worth a stop!

Our hotel is only about a block and a half from the restaurant. We were exhausted from a full day of travel, and looking for some delicious, authentic Portuguese food. We read the reviews for this restaurant and decided to give it a try. When we arrived, there were 11 people standing in line in front of us at the restaurant. It was 7:30 PM. Over the course of the next 90 minutes, several more people join the line. One server came out two different times to let everyone know that they would continue to seat until 10 o'clock. If folks were not in by 10 o'clock, then they would not be seated. We were fortunate and were seated around 9 PM. We were so excited! The aromas from the restaurant were amazing. The restaurant is very small and extremely authentic. Two women cooked in the back in an area visible from the seating area. Two men wash dishes waited on tables and interacted with guests. We ordered the clams as an appetizer. They were absolutely delicious. The clams were in a butter, olive oil, garlic, and parsley sauce. For dinner, we ordered the seafood and rice for two. We had some white wine as well. We could not have been more pleased with the delicious, Fresh, and authentic experience. We would highly recommend anyone who loves seafood, and who loves to immerse themselves in local culture to check this restaurant out. We did learn that you can make reservations by calling the restaurant. That would've been helpful.

Perfection in Porto! We lucked into a table for lunch here with zero wait time, and later found out from our hotel concierge that this is one of the most sought after places in Porto, nearly impossible to get a table at any time of day or year! It's a tiny spot (15 people max) near the river in Porto. It's tucked up a small alleyway with a very unassuming exterior. The food is top notch, high quality and the service is just perfect. We got the bachalau fritters and salt crusted sea bass. Good bread and olive oil to start, and wine with lunch, port to finish. A wonderfully memorable meal!

The food was top notch. There are no reservations but believe me when I tell you it is worth the wait. Get there 1/2 hour before they open because the line starts to cue. The owners son greats and shakes your hand when you leave. Get the seafood stew. Out of this world. The ambiance is quaint and you can meet people from all over while chatty over your delicious meal.

Make a reservation to this amazing place! * * * EXPERIENCE * * * We didn't make a reservation and thought the wait wouldn't be long on a Wednesday 2:30pm but we were wrong - waited till almost 3:45pm before we could get in. Granted the staff has already told us they don't know how long the wait could be. The restaurant is very tiny, all the waiters were super friendly. * * * FOOD * * * Sea Bass with Vegetables: A They lit up the whole sea bass on fire in front of you and slowly started peeling off the skin and separating the meat for us. The fish was very fresh, not too salty although there was large amount of salt used on the tray, the waiter explained that the skin was used as barrier for salt getting in. It came with broccoli and potato too, they were fresh and with olive oil it was very tasty. Seafood Rice: A It's tomato based and it was super tasty especially on a cold raining day. It's not salty, it's not like a porridge nor paella neither - something in between. The shrimps were super fresh, and all with shells taken off. Meringue Apple Condense Milk Cake: B+ It looked amazing so we decided to try one - it tasted alright, it's in between a pie and a cake, the layers were separated and not intact in the middle. Milk Chocolate Deep Fried with Cinnamon: A It tasted soooo good! The waiters gave us free of charge too, it was very soft on the inside, not too sweet at all and a bit salty which was surprising, I really want to find out how this was made so I can make my own. Overall, a happy and delicious dining experience. Don't miss out this place when you are in Porto!

This was a great stop. It's reminiscent of Cleveland Westside market, but not as ornate, nor as large however, that being said, this place was a wonderful chance to get immersed in many varieties of local and international cuisine. There were dozens of options. It's a busy place and I could go back there every day for weeks and get a different meal. It's definitely worth a stop. it's a fun and busy place to go. I would advise going there earlier in the day however, it gets pretty crowded as the day progresses.

I did not have an opportunity to enjoy a meal at this restaurant. We waited in line for a little under 3 hours only to be turned away when we were next in line. In all fairness a server came out about every 15 minutes to inform the line that closing is at 9:45 pm at which point no one is allowed in. If possible ensure a reservation before you show up at the restaurant or go at least 30 minutes before they open and expect to wait. From the outside looking in all dishes served looked amazing! I must say however that I witnessed the server being rude, argumentative and condescending to others standing in line if they dared to ask him a question. He was truly unnecessarily rude and loud making sure all of us line could hear him literally scold the person asking a simple question. My star rating is solely based on the servers rudeness, NOT the food.

Best meal I've had in Portugal, (after only 5 days here). I had the salt crusted sea bass. The presentation and flavor were amazing. We were able to get a table at 12:45 on a Thursday in February.

Amazing food and service. Nearly two years since visiting and I still think about it. It's very small, so if you don't have a reservation then your best bet is to get there when they open and hope a table is free. Seeing as how there's little info anywhere on how to make a reservation, you get this auto-reply when messaging them on Facebook: "Olá, Agradecemos o seu contacto. Infelizmente não aceitamos reservas pelas redes sociais. Queira por favor contactar pelo 22 201 05 10. Até breve! Thank you for contacting. We don't take social media reservations. Please call us +351 22 201 05 10 See you soon!"