Winter in Lisbon has been colder than usual this year, but that hasn’t stopped restaurants from opening almost daily. We’d love to try them all, but our stomachs sometimes call for something more casual — after all, we can’t eat out for both lunch and dinner every single day. Still, we try to keep up with some of Lisbon’s newest additions.
This time, we went to Tasca Abaladiça, which had been on my radar since it opened at the end of 2025. Knowing the chefs behind it, I was confident it would be worth a visit. So, on a cold Saturday, I took the opportunity to walk to Bairro do Rego and sit down at the small terrace
Luckily, there was a table available. I sat with pup Julião and admired the concise yet rich menu.
Choosing was easy: coentrada de cação and ensopado de raia. If you haven’t noticed by now, these are dishes you don’t often find in Lisbon restaurants — they’re deeply rooted in southern and Alentejo traditions. For a southern girl, that alone is reason enough to be happy.
The verdict was exactly what I expected: tasty, well-seasoned dishes, thoughtfully prepared with different ingredients. A true delight. For dessert, I ordered a pudim. I’m not sure if it was an Abade de Priscos, but its texture was absolutely spot on. Yum.
All of this at an incredibly affordable price. When I say affordable and honest prices, I truly mean it. I paid just €15 for a hearty, comforting meal that would easily have cost €35 at one of those trendy, overhyped spots.
Tasca Abaladiça is a real gem. While I want it to thrive and endure these challenging times for restaurants, I also hope it doesn’t become a hype spot that loses its soul after a year. I´m sure it won´t. So here’s to neighbourhood restaurants — places where you hear real people talking and chatting about the world.
Long live Abaladiça.
You have my heart.
