Cervejaria Ramiro

If you like seafood, this is definitely the restaurant you should try in Lisbon. The restaurant is quite big, with two floors, but is literally always full!
As a starter I recommend you to get Portuguese-style clams (“Ameijoas à Bolhão Pato”) with warm buttered bread – which is so delicious it really just melts in your mouth. We also tried shrimps, crabs, lucifers fingers, giant tiger prawns and oysters which were all perfectly made. The price is a bit higher than the average in Lisbon but totally worth every penny.

Unfortunately, it’s not possible to make a reservation upfront, so you’ll probably have to wait quite some time. The best thing to do is just to go there, take a ticket and walk around for a bit while you wait for your table. They have a beer tap/vending machine outside with some tables and benches in case you prefer to wait there. Just make sure you are not that hungry because you will sense the amazing seafood from across the street!

Papo Cheio

This traditional Portuguese restaurant is located in Bairro Alto, very close to Miradouro São Pedro de Alcântara. From all the local restaurants I tried in Lisbon, this is one of my favourites. This is the place where they definitely serve the best Bitoque in town, they call it Bitoque à Casa.

Bitoque is a very famous dish among the locals – a fried beef steak, with french fries and fried egg on top. At Papo Cheio, the garlic sauce is key for the distinguished flavour that made the place famous. It costs only 8€ and was already awarded the prize for best Bitoque in Lisbon, so it’s definitely a must. If you prefer they also have other dishes on the menu around the same price.

It’s a very small restaurant, with around ten tables so making a reservation is almost mandatory.

You can find this restaurant’s location here.

O Trigueirinho

This restaurant is located in Mouraria, a very traditional neighbourhood, birthplace of Fado music. The restaurant is run by a small family and they serve typical Portuguese food, from the heart.

The place is very small and can pass almost unnoticed for most of the people. Those who know the place, specially locals, are certainly keeping it busy. The food is very nicely and homely made – meat and fish are both great. If you are a fish lover (like me) then the grilled salmon is definitely a winner!

You can this restaurant’s location here.

Lucimar

I LOVE the food at this restaurant! I first tried it when I just moved to Lisbon and was looking for local restaurants. It’s a traditional Portuguese restaurant located in a residential area close to Entrecampos station.

Every dish I tried there was perfectly made. From starters to deserts, everything was delicious – the Portuguese flavours really popped up, in every bite.

The most famous dish is the Francesinha – a kind of french toast filled with meat, sausage and a special sauce. It’s actually a Porto special, but Lucimar brought it to Lisbon and mastered its flavour perfectly.

Don’t expect a fancy place, but a really traditional local restaurant with friendly, genuine staff. It’s always busy, so I do recommend you to make a reservation.

You can find this restaurant’s location here.

David da Buraca

This restaurant is very spacey and therefore perfect for dinners with a group. It’s located in Buraca which is already outside the city, but fairly close – about 20/25 minutes away. There is no public transportation close by, so you will have to go by car.

I went there several times, ordered several dishes and I never got disappointed. Especially when I ordered fish! Their tuna and salmon steaks are very nicely grilled. The waiters are quick, friendly and very welcoming. If you don’t like fish, I recommend to order one of the specials, Bife na Pedra (steak slowly cooked on a hot stone).

You can find this restaurant’s location here.

Insider Secret Tip

Sometimes the best meals in Lisbon are found on the smallest places.

As Bifanas do Afonso

This is the best bifana place in the city! Since bifana is Portugal’s most famous sandwich, this is quite a statement.

A bifana is basically just a bread with slowly cooked pork meat. These bifanas are made right in front of you and cost €2,50 each. The place is always very busy, specially during lunch time, and manly with locals.

The place is super tiny so be prepared for take away. There is a little square right in front, so you can get a seat and enjoy your freshly made bifana.

You can find this restaurant’s location here.

The post 6 Local Restaurants in Lisbon You Should Try! appeared first on Lovin Wonderland.

Take a look at our list of the 7 Best Thai Dishes that you must try:

Pad Thai

This is the most popular dish in Thailand and it was also one of the best Thai dishes we had. We tried this dish in Portugal before, but it wasn’t as good as this one!
These delicious stir-fried noodles are flavoured with fish sauce, dried shrimp paste, tamarind pulp, peanut sauce, egg, shrimp (or chicken) with roasted peanuts on top. We had it across the street of our hotel, in an outside place called “Siam Restaurant” next to Hua Lamphong station. You can find this dish almost everywhere and you should definitely not miss this one out!

Khao Pad (Fried Rice)

Sometimes, the simpler the better, right? This awesome Thai Dish embodies that statement perfectly. It’s really just fried rice, egg, onion, seasoning and a few extra ingredients which can vary according with the place. We tried this dish multiple times and it always gave us a very warming and comfy feeling. It’s simple, but definitely deserves a spot in this list.

Khao Soi

You haven’t really experienced Chiang Mai without eating this dish. It’s a delicious curry noodle soup with bean sprouts, chilli peppers, egg, coriander and chicken (or pork). There are several ways to cook Khao Soi, not only in Thailand, but also in neighbour countries of Myanmar and Laos.
For us, the Chiang Mai version was just the perfect balance of flavours. It’s definitely one of our Thai favourites.

Green Curry

Another classic dish to try while in Thailand. The spices combined with coconut makes this dish very refreshing, perfect during the warm weather. Green Curry is a great first introduction to authentic Thai spices and flavours.

Tom Yum Goong (Spicy Shrimp Soup)

If you’re looking to experience the authentic Thai flavours, this should be on the top of your list. Tom Yum Goong is probably the most popular soup in Thailand. It’s a hot and sour flavoured soup with shrimps, mushrooms, fresh tomatoes, and kaffir lime leaves. The aroma and flavour of this spicy shrimp soup perfectly embody what Thai food culture is all about.

Pineapple Fried Rice

A tangy alternative to the classic fried rice. It’s very similar to the Khao Pad, but served with/inside a pineapple and mostly also with cashews. This was the last dish we had before leaving the Phi Phi Island and it surely brings us a lot of delicious memories. It was served inside a pineapple and looked just adorable!

Sticky Rice with Mango

I can’t mention Thailand without mentioning one of the best deserts on Earth. Sticky Rice with Mango is the absolute perfect dessert for me!
The rice is cooked with sweet coconut cream and served with mango on top. Thai mangoes are the best I’ve ever eaten! These mangoes combined with the coconut cream is what makes this dessert even more delicious. You can find this dish almost everywhere in Thailand.

We totally loved the Thai food and hope you love it as much as we did! We went to fancy restaurants, but definitely found our place in the numerous street vendors, pretty much everywhere.

Hesitating to try out the authentic street food? Check out our post ‘Eating Street Food Without Getting Sick‘ for tips to make sure you can try all the amazing Thai flavours in a safe way!

The post 7 Best Thai Dishes You Must Try! appeared first on Lovin Wonderland.

Travelling to Thailand brings one big question:

Can we eat street food without getting sick? Luckily, we can! It’s important to be careful and watch out for some things, but below you can read all about it and prepare yourself for an amazing trip without missing great flavours!

Before our first travel to Thailand we read stories from others who got sick after eating street food. But going to Thailand and not being able to try all the amazing street food they have, was a no go for us. We did some research upfront and got ourselves prepared – hope these tips help you as much as it helped us!

So, what should you do to eat street food without getting sick?

• Visit the markets in the morning. By doing this you’ll have the freshest food of the day. The weather can get pretty warm and some of the food stands don’t have a proper cooling system.
• Before you order, take a good look at the area, food and cookery. Check if everything’s okay and if they keep the food cool and fresh, with ice for example. Avoid vendors that don’t use gloves or follow proper hygiene practices.
• Try to eat at the same time as locals. That’s when the food is freshly cooked and that’s when you want to be eating.
• Order at a place where you see more local people waiting in line. This will definitely higher up your chances to enjoy some great food without getting sick!
• Make sure your food is fully cooked – and if you have any doubts, just ask them to cook it a bit more. Properly cooked food is the safest!
• We are absolute sauce lovers, but it’s important to be careful with table condiments. These are kept at room temperature and can be there for several days, creating bacteria that will get you sick.
• Don’t buy fruits which are already cut. You don’t know for how long they are in the open air. Just pick a fruit yourself and ask them to cut it in small pieces for you.
• We always bought bottles of water and never drunk from the tap. Water was super cheap and also easily found everywhere. Make sure that the water bottle is properly sealed to make sure it’s brand new and not just refilled.
• Avoid icy drinks and fruit shakes where the chances of contaminated water are higher.
• We know that for many this can be the first experience in Asia and you are feeling adventurous, but if something doesn’t feel right, just stop eating. You want to enjoy your trip to the fullest so there’s no need to take unnecessary risks.

Pro-Tip: If you have any kind of food allergies, bring your own allergen translation card. Better be safe than sorry!

What if I get sick?

So, after following all the tips you got sick anyway? Don’t panic, it will probably go away in just a few days.
If the food poisoning or stomach illness don’t fade away as expected, then you should consider visiting a local doctor. Many of them are familiar with traveler’s diarrhea and have good knowledge about the local viruses and bacterias. In the meanwhile, keep a steady diet with plain rice and banana, and hydrate as much as possible. If you are on the move or have a long bus ride ahead, then Imodium pills will probably be your best friend! We had these pills with us the entire trip, but eventually didn’t even used it.

In our case, we had a great experience and felt totally fine after eating Thai street food. Luckily we had the opportunity to try amazing different dishes, full of flavours and bright colours. If you want to know which dishes you definitely cannot miss while in Thailand, then check-out check our post 7 Thai Food Dishes You Must Try.

The post Eating Street Food Without Getting Sick appeared first on Lovin Wonderland.