Francesinha: Porto's Iconic Monster Sandwich

In Porto, there's a sandwich so decadent, so audaciously over-the-top, that it has become a symbol of the city's bold character. The Francesinha ("Little Frenchie") is not for the faint of heart—or stomach.

Picture this: thick slices of bread stuffed with wet-cured ham, linguiça (Portuguese sausage), fresh sausage, and steak or roast meat, covered with melted cheese, and smothered in a thick, spicy tomato-beer sauce. It's typically served with a mountain of French fries and sometimes a fried egg on top.

Every restaurant in Porto guards their Francesinha sauce recipe like a state secret. Made from tomato, beer, piri-piri, and various other ingredients, each version is unique. Some are sweeter, others spicier, but all are utterly addictive.

The sandwich was allegedly invented in the 1960s by Daniel da Silva, who adapted the French croque-monsieur to Portuguese tastes—making it bigger, meatier, and drowning it in sauce.