Portuguese cuisine is recognized by rich, filling and full-seasoned dishes.

It consists of a wide diversity of spices used thru the influence of Portugal's former colonist. There are also Moorish and Arab influences, particularly in the south. Olive oil is used for flavoring meals and cooking. Portuguese breakfasts are simply coffee or milk, fresh bread with cheese, butter or fruit preserves. The most usual soup is "caldo verde," with chunks of sausage, potato and chopped cabbage.

The national dishes are bacalhau (dried salted cod) and cozido à portuguesa (vegetables with several varieties of meat). Fish is served fried or deep-fried, grilled, boiled, stewed or even roasted. Also popular are sardines, horse mackerel (grilled), cuttlefish, crabs, lobster, spiny lobster, octopus, squid, shrimp and prawns, and more.

Portuguese usually eat cheese before or after the primary dishes. Some popular cheeses include cabreiro (strong goat cheese), Queijo de Azeitão (creamy slight cheese), Queijo da Ilha (extraordinary cheese of Azores Islands) and Queijo da Serra da Estrela (sheep cheese produced in Serra da Estrela region). The most distinctive desserts are cinnamon-seasoned rice pudding, caramel custard and flan oftentimes they include a kind of cheese. Most popular are arroz doce( rice pudding), leite-creme and pudim flan (custard) as well as pastries and cakes.

"Eating out in Portugal is not expensive..."

Even though tourists should be aware that many restaurants charge the small appetizers and bread, which are typically brought to the table without being ordered, will be added to the cost of their meal. Traditional dishes that travelers will find in many restaurants include roasted chicken, which the Portuguese love to eat with fries, roast potatoes or rice. Portuguese cook rice in many different ways by adding vegetables such as green peas, carrots, cabbage and tomatoes, as well as fish, seafood and meat

Portugal has a large number of gourmet met restaurants that are expensive and cater to a discerning clientele. These restaurants typically require reservations. Many of these restaurants are located in trendier cities such as Lisboa, Porto and the Algarve region. They serve gourmet menus surrounded by a stylish and lavish décor that can range from the traditional and opulent to the modern and minimalist. Menus include traditional cooking and French and Italian cuisine.

One recent trend is ‘Portuguese fusion’, a blend of international fare with Portuguese cooking.

Due to the influence of other cultures, Portuguese increasingly drink a wide variety of international soft drinks with their meals, and pizza, pasta, salads and sandwiches are becoming popular foods at lunchtime. The big fast-food chains, including McDonalds and Subway, can also be found in Portugal. Gas stations and shopping malls usually have fast-food shops and/or food courts featuring different types of ready-made food, from burgers, pizza and pasta to traditional Portuguese food.