I had the bruschetta and the duck, both were AMAZING! I didn't originally order the bruschetta until the person next to me started eating theirs, it looked so good I immediately ordered one. Sooooo good! The duck was cooked to perfection also, the side of sweet potatoes was superb. I'd really like to eat here again. read more

Tapabento - Bruschetta - Portuguese Near Me - Porto, 13

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Fantastic place in Porto. Great wine list and service. The atmosphere was casual upscale. Make sure to try it !!

I didn't mind the 1.5 hour wait in line. I didn't mind them being out of multiple dishes that we ordered. I didn't mind that the bathroom is outside in the train station and the key didn't work. I *do* mind the ultra rude server (woman whose name begins with 'B') that walked away from our table WHILE WE WERE ORDERING just because we took longer than 30 seconds to decide after finding out that one of our dishes was no longer available. And that was just the beginning of our unfortunate journey with B. I don't know about you, but when the server is rude, it gets my cortisol flowing, and when my cortisol is flowing, food just doesn't taste as good. The "bread with tomato" was very plain. Just OK. The tuna with sunomono was also just OK, no better than any of 10 Japanese restaurants near where I live. The ceviche was pretty good. The pork cheek was pretty good. In short, I expected to have my mind blown but instead felt we wasted a precious evening of our vacation. read more

Everything that we ordered were delish, highly recommend this place.. the service is awesome! Its a must to visit in Porto!

This was our favorite meal on our trip to Portugal this past Thanksgiving. We already had reservations here even before our hotel recommended it. Not only was service outstanding catering to our young son (they played with him, brought him legos, etc), but the food was delicious. We tried the potato tart, cheese platter, beef carpaccio, prawn risotto. We were so full but went for the highly recommended peanut crunch dessert. It was out of this world! Thank you staff for a memorable dinner in Porto! read more

Tapabento owner Isabel told me Alma means soul in Portuguese. During our Portugal trip we happened to dine at the two Michelin start restaurant Alma, and I think they need to take a trip to Tapabento to see what real soul feels like. From the Foix Gras toast, to the risotto and roasted duck all was simply amazing in taste and presentation. The ambiance was lively and when looking at the faces of other patrons there was real feeling of joy in the room. Our waiter who has been like most of the employees working at Tapabento for many years exuded his love for working with Isabel. She has created the necessary family feel for the employees that carries over into all aspects of your meal. If you are so fortunate to dine at Tapabento please indulge yourself with the peanut foam dessert. One of my top ten lifetime desserts. Soul is easily said yet very difficult to create. Tapabento you have succeeded. read more

How to do Tapabento: 1. Make a reservation! This will save you time and stress. 2. If you don't have a reservation, arrive 15-30 minutes before opening (7pm). You may not be the only people there, but you don't know who has reservations and who doesn't so don't get territorial! 3. Be nice and enjoy! We did option number 2 because I didn't think I needed a reservation. We came to learn that nearly everyone who was waiting outside before opening with us had a reservation but this didn't stop everyone from crowding around the front door to make sure they told the host their name or put their names down on the waitlist. By the way, the hostess is the most gentle, friendly person and she's a saint and an expert about dealing with hungry, competing crowds. Be nice to her!!!!! Luckily for us, we were only 2 people and were able to be seated at the bar. The dining experience at Tapabento is sorta like going to someone's house and being served fancy food. It's not fancy in a way that's unapproachable, it just looks very pretty. We had the foie gras, mushrooms, a salad?, the cod, and the peanut foam. Everything was delicious and very nicely displayed. The other dishes we saw people eating, the prawns and mussels, looked amazing as well. The star of the show was definitely the peanut foam and even if you don't think you have room, you do. The drinks were also great and if you need help selecting a port, the bartender is happy to tell you which are the best. read more

This place is so ridiculously good that I came here TWICE on a two day trip to Porto. In fact, had I known about this place on day 1 i would have come three times! We came here around 3pm on day 1 for a very very late lunch and didnt require any reservations and was seated upstairs. We had razor clams, ceviche, truffle mushrooms, and avocado and fish on toast plus a GIANT glass of Sangria I couldnt even finish. The service was so great!! When it wasn't busy, the owner even held our baby for us for a bit and introduced him to other patrons of the restaurants while we ate...hahaha The second night we came by reservation in a big group and we got clams which was even better than razor clams. The price is pretty reasonable too! I would love love to eat here everyday! read more

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Go. Don't hesitate. Just go. I won't sit here and write the same things that other yelpers wrote but by far one of the best meals we had in our Portugal/Spain trip. One thing I will say is that portions are big. So don't think of regular "tapas". For two people we got salmon ceviche, potato tortilla, seafood curry, salad and steak toast. We ordered probably 1-2 more dishes than we needed. Amazing. And the owner is very nice. read more

They are definitely victim of their own success. We knew we wanted to try the place but couldn't make reservations. We ended up going 30 min before opening, waited in line, and luckily got the last 2 seats at the bar by the door under the condition we would have to be out by 8:30 PM to make space for the next patrons with reservations. Not going to lie we felt a bit rush but the food was worth all the trouble. Really outstanding flavor and I appreciated allergens being written on the menu. I wish more establishments would do that and offer that quality as well. read more

We spent 4 nights in Porto and ate here twice. We would've come a third time but we were out of opportunities! Make reservations as soon as you arrive--we were able to book for the following night but that is not a given (we had to fit into the only spot they had to offer!). It's an unassuming location near the train station, a frenetic ground floor level with a tiny open kitchen and a constant flow of people begging for a table (or like us reserving for another night), and also a second, much more sedate floor with another 8-10 tables. The dishes we'd HIGHLY recommend are the tuna toastie or bruschetta for a starter (both are fresh and delicious), or the fish soup if you like shellfish (though possibly not if you're ordering the seafood mix for your main, as it might be too similar). The Seafood Mix sounds so unassuming but it's a gigantic platter of stew consisting of more clams, mussels, prawns and hunks of fish than you could even manage. Most people we saw were sharing this between 2 people (wiser, as a single eater noted shellfish fatigue setting in!). As far as I was concerned the Tuna Tataki was the highlight of the menu--this €12 tapas dish came with a generous hunk of sliced sesame encrusted ahi, and so many flavorful sides that I'm sure I can't do it justice. Wasabi (of course), but also exquisitely fresh apple and cucumber ice cream (!!), tiny lemon bursts, picked sprigs of something delicate, masago and sweet pickles. The sides are all separated so you can mix and match or ignore as you like. What an extraordinary delicacy! This dish works as a main or a shared plate, so be sure to include it somewhere. The cod over vegetables with crispy onions is also a winner, though slightly salty. The Thai Fish and Seafood Curry is another misnomer--the unsuspecting patron may believe it would have a hunk of fish and smattering of shellfish, but it is an overwhelming pile of shellfish--the waiter had to remove the plate of discarded shells at least 3 times during the meal... For dessert we tried the Equator (a light tropical mixture of flavors), and though we were told to try the Peanut Foam, sadly we ran out of room before we could (on both nights we dined there). The staff was passionate and attentive--we hugged Isabel, the owner as we left the first time (feeling so pleased that she'd squeezed us in for the following night), and as we left the second time because we were mourning the fact that we probably wouldn't be able to return for quite some time... read more

Tapabento - Portuguese Near Me - Porto, 13

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This is hands down the best meal we've had in Porto! The seafood is very fresh and cooked just right! Highly recommend the seafood curry and the organic mushrooms! Also the service is amazing and people are very friendly and warm. We didn't have a reservation around 7:10 pm but they said we would get seat around 8:30, and it was right on the money! They are very accommodating and helpful! Plus side they have menus in 8 languages! Definitely a must eat! read more

Tapabento - Garlic wild shrimp - Portuguese Near Me - Porto, 13

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food was phenomenal best we had in porto owner was so nice... walked in not knowing you usually need to book weeks in advance snd we lucked up on a table for my wife my 2 yr old and i. would come back to porto just for this food. garlic prawns clams and curry for us and the fanciest chicken nuggets my son has ever seen. read more

Six years later I came back for dinner, same place, same table, same delicious food, for me this is the best in Porto! Love it

I would recommend the catalpa de peixe e Mariscos, similar to a cioppino. We also ordered a wild tuna tataki dish. The restaurant opened at 7 pm and that's when we arrived without a reservation on a Wednesday night in October. We waited in line for 30 minutes and then we were seated. This is definitely a go to place in Porto. It's the same space as the Sao Bento train station with a separate entrance. read more

Great place - great food and drinks, better ambience, and the best service! We felt welcome walking in the door and could have stayed all day. read more

Very casual looking, which belies the excellent food that ranges from rustic comfort to elegant decadence! Stopped in for lunch because the wait was too long the night before (make a reservation). The menu is a combination of tapas and main dishes. The potato tortilla is really a potato pie with layers of potato, eggs, cream, and onions we enjoyed this with a salad, and a glass of Douro Rosé (Douro wine is amazing). We followed this with the Foie gras crostini (pictured) which we ordered because the one served to the table next to us looked like a work of art. It was really a fried duck liver (not pâté like as one would expect). It was rich...fatty...delicious...and needed a second glass of wine to cope with the richness! Lunch wasn't busy at around 2pm...great time to go! Planning to head back for the grilled steak (the table next to me had to be tired of me drooling over their food) read more

Tapabento - Foie gras crostini!! - Portuguese Near Me - Porto, 13

From the long lines you see daily, you know you're in for a treat when dining here! The minute you step in, you're caught by surprise that the beautiful, mellow and modern restaurant is actually part of the train station! The interior immerses you in a very calm, chique and cool vibe that makes you feel right at home. The food is outstanding! I recommend the garlic shrimp (which we ended up getting 2 orders of), the mushroom risotto and make sure you save room for dessert. The staff are kind, the music relaxing - making for one of the best modern Portuguese restaurants in Porto. You're in for a treat! But make sure you reserve early! read more

This was my first meal in Porto, let alone Portugal and it could not have been a better start. I made reservations in advance, which paid off as I was seated right away upon arriving. I was dining solo which worked just fine considering I came with quite the appetite, however, there was much on the menu I did not get, but would have loved to try so this is a great spot to come with a group that enjoys sharing. I started off with their Fish Soup, which looked quite simple, but had layers upon layers of flavor. They did not skimp out on the fish portion of the soup either. Next was their Goat Cheese, Walnut, and Basil Salad with a Balsamic Drizzle. This salad made for a dynamic combination of wonderful flavors and diverse textures. Plus, I've always loved goat cheese, but prior to this dish, I was completely ignorant to the many wonders that Portuguese goat cheese is and how it differs from the type of goat cheese I've had before. For one thing it was encased in rind and the texture was a bit more firm. It had an artisanal quality and taste to it that I thoroughly enjoyed. I'm now a complete convert and will be seeking out various Portuguese cheeses in the future. My main dish was a plate of Razor Claims steamed in a divine wine sauce with garlic and a dash of amazingness. This dish was a joy to eat and so was slurping up all of the delicious broth. I followed this with their homemade brownie for dessert coupled with some Port of course. Service was prompt and attentive and the atmosphere was lovely. Without question this is definitely a place to stop by for a great meal in Porto. read more

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Food is delicious and need reservations. Small authentic tapa restaurant great spot highly recommend a visit here and the tomato bread

This was my favorite restaurant during a recent trip to Portugal, think the owner has somehow just gotten everything right. Food - We liked every dish. Place seems to be more focused on seafood, and we ended up ordering an extra dish of razor clams because of how much we liked it. Service - Friendly and welcoming staff. Overall, this restaurant felt like eating at a friend's home who happens to be a great chef. We went back again for lunch on the next day before we left the area, and would definitely return if I ever visit Porto again. read more

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Be sure to make reservations since it's pretty busy even for a Tuesday night. No complains whatsoever, it was worth the wait. Service is impeccable. We tried a few plates and everything, everything tasted amazing. Don't leave without trying the Peanut dessert. read more

Tapabento - Steak - Portuguese Near Me - Porto, 13

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Randomly found this place and it surprised us. We didn't make reservation, but we came before it opened. (highly recommend to make reservation first, it's packed right after it opens) Staff welcome us friendly and prepared English menu for us by asking where we are from. Lovely dining place, super delicious food. We ordered shrimp risotto, a dozen of oysters and peanut foam for dessert. Nothing let us down. Don't miss this place if you visit Porto! read more

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This was one of our favorite restaurants in Portugal. After a full day in Régua touring the vineyards, we returned to Porto via train and rolled right into this amazing place. The wait staff was very accommodating. They went out of their way to move us from the bar seating to an upstairs table for 4 ( with no reservations). The food was fabulous. Check out our pics. read more

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Love this place. The service was excellent. The wait staff was very friendly. The mussels were cooked in a ginger/mint brine that was fresh and intense. The prawns were cooked in a saffron sauce. The salmon ceviche was terrific. The peanut foam tasted like an airy peanut brittle. read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in Porto. My big mistake is I always over-order because the tapas in the name suggests small plates while their portions are very generous. The steamed dumplings stuffed with oxtail are delicious. Garlic shrimp are large , very fresh prawns served in a garlic forward sauce. You don't necessarily want to like it but you have no choice. The service is great especially when you consider that the wait staff goes up and down a narrow staircase to deliver these delicacies. Note-reservations are a definite. It's a small space and very much in demand. read more

As I'm planning a return trip to Porto in early July I remembered the previous meals I've had at Tapabento. One of the best food experiences I've ever had! The wonderful hospitality, very solid wine selections, seafood dishes, and the best foie gras I've eaten in any of the 35+ countries I've visited. I do hope you are open when I come back. I'm staying at the ever fabulous Yeatman but will be looking forward to Tapabento first and foremost! read more

Cozy, very friendly and very very good food! Had fish soup and shrimp garlic, sangria! Enjoyed it so much and I didn't have to share and I'll be back for dinner. read more

Tapabento - Portuguese Near Me - Porto, 13

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This was the best meal I had in Porto. It is near the train station down an alley; just look for all the people on the sidewalk trying to get in. We were lucky to get in with no reservations on a Friday night because we promised to eat in an hour or less. The food here is fantastic (I had the fish and seafood mix in thai curry sauce), and the service was attentive, friendly and prompt. Even ordering a full meal, we were able to eat at a leisurely pace and was out in just under an hour. Highly recommended! read more

Quaint yet bustling environment for a local meal with a touch of international flavor. I was appreciative that they were able to get me a seat even though I didn't have a reservation. The other reviews of the food are glowing and I'm not sure if I ordered incorrectly or not but I found the food to be tasty but standard for Portugal (which in fairness is a high bar as the food in this country is amazing). I had the fish soup, the clams from the Algarve and the peanut dessert. The clams were my favorite of these dishes. If I were to return to Porto for one meal I would skip this restaurant and go somewhere with outdoor seating and a view. read more

Given the Yelp reviews, we settled on going to Tapabento for lunch on a rainy Friday around 1:15 PM. We walked in and our party of 4 was the second party on the list with a wait of about 30 minutes (which the hostess would not commit to, but generally agreed that it seemed reasonable). We asked if we could make reservations for dinner then (either later that night or the next), but given it was a Friday or Saturday night, they were fully booked. So, we decided given the popularity of the place, we'd come back in 30 minutes. What a good decision we made. When we returned, we were seated upstairs after waiting a few minutes. The service was typical Mediterranean casual, but we didn't feel too rushed or too impatient. Without a doubt, the Potato Tortilla was the best I've ever had (not that I'm an expert, but have had it a few times). We also had the olive tapenade and hummus with bread. The bread was truly 'meh', and the spreads were good. We also shared a number of good to very good dishes including the fish soup and the the 72 degree cod. The clams were excellent (we shared the smaller ones) and sopping the juices with the 'meh' bread was a great decision. For dessert, based on the waiter's recommendation, we had the peanut foam and that was really yummy. There seemed to be so many other things on the menu that we would really like to try, but alas we will be unable to since they are booked for dinner, and our lunch plans will be determined by where we are at the time we get hungry. read more

I wanted to like Tapabento. Cool place, and I think that's what is drawing people in. People line up early. Unfortunately the food was very disappointing. Soups had no seasoning. Shrimp was tough. Risotto was chewy. Cod was very bland. They don't seem to season anything. The ceviche was good and really the only thing that anyone enjoyed. House wine was very average. Service was also poor. They sent one dish to the wrong table and my wife had to wait over 15 minutes after everyone else received their food. Staff didn't really seem to care about it. Service was very impersonal and they started clearing the table while my wife was still eating. Hostess was very nice. Prices are too high for the quality. Overall it's apparent that the lines and the long reservation lead times are due to the vibe and not the food or service. read more

We didn't have a reservation, the staff was very friendly and we were able to do a take-out. We ordered Potato tortilla, sautéed mushrooms and nasi goreng (fried rice). The portions were generous and tasted delicious. We even had the leftovers for breakfast. Incredible vegetarian food at a tapas place turned out to be a pleasant surprise! read more

We were lucky to get a table without a reservation! We showed up just as they opened and had to promise we would finish in 2 hours. The restaurant has a homey feel and feels like eating in a grandma's dining room. Everyone was helpful and kind. The food was a blend of cuisines that touched Porto like lemongrass and curry. read more

Tapabento - Mussels in a lemongrass sauce - Portuguese Near Me - Porto, 13

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This place looks up to his billing, the service was excellent. We started dinner with a bottle of Quinn de Crasto (€43) and a cheese plate with three cheeses. The selection could've been more adventurous (IMHO there are many great cheeses in Portugal). This was followed by the 2nd course of foie gras on toast which was both sweet and savory and very good. Third course was razor clams in a garlic olive oil - which I've never had before and were delicious as well as generous. The final course was a duck breast perfectly cooked. All told - a wonderful meal. All in €105 plus a €10 tip. read more

We were looking for a good tapas spot for our first night in Porto and Tapabento did not disappoint. We arrived around 830-9pm and it was packed with a few people waiting so we knew it was a popular spot although hidden a little. The line moved quickly and the hostess was really kind about working to accommodate people and we were probably seated within 10 minutes despite 6-8 people ahead of us. We over ordered, no question, but so many things looked good on the menu! Particularly the mushrooms, the potato onion dish, and the tuna tataki and ceviche. Each and every plate was flavorful and delicious and we cleaned our plates and left happy with too-full bellies. Reasonably priced. Highly recommend! read more

Tapabento - Tuna tataki. Tons of flavors to try out and the cucumber ice cream strangely went well with it! - Portuguese Near Me - Porto, 13

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Hands down, phenomenal food!!!This hidden gem is located right next to the Sao Bento train station. The word is spreading that the food is amazing here so expect long lines for dinner.Try to go during lunch hour to snag a table or counter seat. Every menu item we ordered was perfectly seasoned and cooked. The ceviche is a must and the risotto was so flavorful! This is a quaint and rustic restaurant that I highly recommend when visiting Porto. Service is friendly and fast. Portions are good and the taste is unforgettable. Obrigada Tapabento! read more

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I did not have reservation, but waited by the door half hour before the door was open which was 7PM. I was the last one got in wo reservation. Sat by the bar and got to see the bartender making drinks. They turned away many people wo reservations. I was lucky. Food portions were generous by European standards. It has English menu. Wine list is extensive. read more

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excellent food (choices, freshness, served hot), good service reservations required. charming atmosphere

Here's another 5 star review for this awesome tapas joint. I'd say this is my favorite restaurant in all of Portugal. Every dish is thoughtfully and flawlessly executed. PLUS - really cute menu printed on newspaper - very friendly, attentive service - there are a couple seats downstairs that have access to an outlet - the meat plate had complementary goji berries and mustard to eat with your meats. I've never seen this done before and I was really impressed.. - foie gras over pear toast was so immensely pretty and SO GOOD. one of my favorite dishes from portugal. get this get this - shrimp and prawns risotto had such intense and delicious flavor, it was good to share - between 2 hefty eaters, we got 2 tapas and 1 entree. it was just the right amount MINUS - from what I remember, bathroom was a tad small and stairs a bit narrow so be careful if you have a few drinks - as is with pretty much all places in Portugal, there's no AC and can get a little hot even with the fan read more

Tapabento - Risotto - so creamy and the sauce is to die for, generous amount of seafood - Portuguese Near Me - Porto, 13

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