If you’re visiting Porto and want to eat like a local, there’s one item you absolutely can’t miss: the oh-so-very famous “little hot dog” or cachorrinho do Porto. This spicy, crunchy, cheesy mini hot dog is one of the city’s most iconic petiscos.

This is a snack to eat with friends, over a beer, on your way to something: home, an FC Porto match, a date, a big night out… Apparently, they have other things on the menu, but we’ve never tried them. It’s always the cachorrinho for us! You don’t believe us? Check out Anthony Bourdain’s episode in Porto – we took him there and he loved Cachorrinho do Porto!

What is Cachorrinho do Porto?

A cachorrinho, literally translated as “little dog”, is Porto’s own take on the hot dog, served in bite-sized portions but packed with big flavors. Its invention dates back to the early 1960s, with Cervejaria Gazela, near Praça da Batalha, often credited as the birthplace of this iconic snack.

Unlike the typical American-style hot dog, the cachorrinho uses:

• A thin, crispy bread roll;
• Fresh sausage;
• Spicy linguiça (Portuguese cured sausage);
• Melty cheese;
• Sometimes fiambre (ham);
• And a homemade piri-piri sauce that’s not for the faint of heart.

All this is pressed and grilled until golden and crunchy, then sliced into bite-sized pieces, perfect for sharing.

How a Cachorrinho Porto-Style Is Made

At establishments like Gazela, watching a cachorrinho do Porto being made is almost as satisfying as eating one. Here’s the process:

• The Bread: It starts with a long, thin Portuguese roll, crispy on the outside, soft inside, and ideal for pressing on a grill;
• The Filling: Sausage, spicy linguiça, and often a bit of ham – all layered with a slice of cheese for that gooey center;
• The Grill: The sandwich is grilled and pressed until golden brown, fusing the meat, cheese, and bread into a crispy, melty masterpiece;
• The Sauce: What truly sets the cachorrinho apart is the application of piri-piri sauce, a fiery chili oil made in-house and brushed generously over the sandwich before serving;
• The Cut: Each cachorrinho is sliced into several small segments that look almost like sushi rolls. This makes them perfect for sharing (though you may not want to) and great for dipping.
  

Why Locals Love the Cachorrinho Porto Classic

The cachorrinho do Porto is more than a snack. It’s street food perfected over decades: bold, simple, and meant to be shared. A bite-sized symbol of everything Porto stands for: authenticity, warmth, and community. Take one bite, chase it with a cold Super Bock, and you’ll understand why locals keep coming back.

Want to try the best cachorrinho Porto has to offer? Taste Porto Food Tours take you beyond the tourist trail and into the heart of the city’s flavor. You’ll eat like a local and hear the stories that make each bite matter.

Tips for First-Time Cachorrinho Eaters

• Don’t skip the piri-piri, unless you’re extremely spice-sensitive. The heat is part of the charm!
• Pair it with a Super Bock;
• Bring friends, because one cachorrinho often leads to two… or more;
• Go with an open mind and empty stomach. You’ll want room for more petiscos afterward.

If you’re wandering through Porto and craving something quick, hearty, and authentically local, do yourself a favor and order a cachorrinho do Porto. One bite is never enough. And honestly? That’s exactly the point!

With love,
Your Foodie Friends in Porto