No need to dig deep into your pockets to eat well—we’re here to share the best cheap eats Lisbon has to offer! On the whole, Lisbon is a cheap city. But like most European capitals, it’s also packed with tourist traps. And in a city with so many fantastic options for food, you don’t want to waste a single precious meal at an overpriced, low-quality spot.
Eating well—and authentically—in the Portuguese capital doesn’t have to break the bank. In this guide to the best cheap eats in Lisbon, we’ve rounded up the best budget-friendly bites—because dining out on a budget doesn’t have to mean resorting to McDonald’s.
Lesson number one: skip the olives and bread you’ll find on your table at typical Portuguese restaurants. As tempting as they may be—and contrary to what you may think—they’re not free.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get right into it with some of our favorite cheap eats in Lisbon.
The best cheap eats in Lisbon
Come lunchtime, locals head to Provinciana for their daily special, or the prato do dia—the plate of the day!
This family-run restaurant is a hidden gem in an area full of tourist traps. Américo and his daughter manage the front-of-house service, while mom Judite is in charge of the kitchen.
Every day, Judite cooks a classic Portuguese dish. On Mondays, there’s arroz de cabidela (chicken with blood rice); on Tuesdays, chanfana (goat stew). Wednesdays are for feijoada (a bean and meat stew from Brazil that’s become popular in Portugal as well); Thursdays, the cozido à portuguesa (traditional stew with meat and vegetables), and so on.
Insider’s Tip: For lunch, be sure to arrive before 1 p.m. or you might need to wait in line.
Taberna da Casa do Alentejo: Affordable petiscos
It’s no secret that we’re big fans of Casa do Alentejo. It made our list of the best hidden restaurants in Lisbon that locals love—and few tourists even know exists.
There are technically two restaurants inside this former casino, both of which are excellent. But if you’re eating on a budget, the small tavern downstairs will do just fine.
Here, you can order traditional petiscos from south-central Portugal’s stunning Alentejo region at affordable prices. The soup of the day goes for just a few Euros, and you can pair it with a sandwich for a very filling meal. For larger portions, you can order the daily special, which costs under 10 Euros.
We recommend going on Tuesdays for the pica-pau de vitela (little chunks of veal) or Wednesdays for the choco frito (fried cuttlefish).
Rosa da Rua: All-you-can-eat buffet
If you want a verifiable feast at a low cost, Rosa da Rua is the place to go! Housed in an 18th-century building, this restaurant serves an all-you-can-eat buffet nearly every day for lunch and dinner.
On Wednesdays, it’s cozido day—a traditional Portuguese dish made with a mix of vegetables, meat, and smoked sausage. Keep in mind that it is quite the hearty feast, so come hungry if you’re in the mood to try it.
Cantinho do Aziz: A taste of Mozambique
Cantinho do Aziz has brought the flavors of Mozambique to the heart of Mouraria. Aziz set up the restaurant back in the 80s, and it’s still in the family today, run by chef Jeny Sulemange.
Simple food with a touch of spice draws locals and tourists to this small eatery every day. You must try their delicious samosas and the bakra piripiri, a spicy lamb dish with vegetables and coconut rice. To save money, come here at lunch and order the menu of the day!
The Food Temple: Best option for vegetarians
Ordering vegetarian food in Portugal hasn’t always been easy. You could probably manage to get a meat-free salad at most places, but that was pretty much it. Luckily, things have changed, and today, Lisbon is full of veggie-friendly spots.
One of our favorite vegetarian restaurants in Lisbon is The Food Temple. Behind the restaurant is Alice Ming, a Canadian with Chinese heritage who brings a mix of Asian and Portuguese flavors to the table. It’s hard to recommend a single dish because the menu is always changing—but trust us, it’s worth the visit!
Insider’s Tip: The restaurant is small, so make sure to book in advance.
Don’t let the prices fool you: at Zé da Mouraria one portion feeds at least two, if not more, so bring a buddy!
This local favorite has two locations, one in Mouraria (Rua João do Outeiro, 24) and the other at Campo Mártires da Pátria (Rua Gomes Freire, 60). The only difference is that the first one is only open for lunch, and the second just for dinner.
The menu changes every day, but there’s always a good selection of meat and fish. If you need help narrowing it down, you can’t go wrong with their pepper steak and the roasted codfish.
If there are leftovers at the end, there’s no shame in asking for a takeaway box! Whichever restaurant you pick, make sure to arrive early to guarantee a table or book it in advance.
Bonus: Sample Lisbon’s street food
Eating on the go is the best way to spare your budget in Lisbon. Try the prego (beef sandwich) or the bifana (pork sandwich) from a local café, and you’ll have a hearty local bite for less than €3!
Check out our Lisbon street food guide so you know where to get both of the above, as well as other delicious Portuguese treats for cheap.
Update notice: This blog post was updated on August 17, 2023.
Eating like a local truly goes a long way in taking your travel experience from “good” to “great.” On our Tastes & Traditions of Lisbon Tour, we’ll skip the tourist traps and head off the beaten path into some of the city’s last remaining truly authentic neighborhoods. There, you’ll sample countless beloved bites (including one taste mentioned here!) at the family-run places that have been making them for generations, and come away with a deeper understanding of Portuguese food culture.
