The best place to eat grilled sardines in Lisbon is Casa do Peixe, a modest restaurant on the second floor of the Saldanha food market. This eatery dates back to the first part of the 20th century, when a cook from Galicia came to Lisbon and set up a few tables in the market to serve poached fish. The restaurant quickly became a destination for food lovers.
The current owner, Aníbal Sousa, bought the restaurant 30 years ago. When the Saldanha market moved from its graceful old building to its current unremarkable location, he added a charcoal grill and started to grill sardines and other fish.
The restaurant is noisy and there is no ambience. But it is always full of locals who love to eat fresh fish, everyone from clerks and shopkeepers to government officials and business executives.
Three cooks work nonstop to produce a constant flow of perfectly cooked treasures from the sea. All the fish is great but the sardines are extraordinary; moist and flavorful, grilled to perfection. We asked Aníbal Sousa what makes his sardines so exceptional. He smiled and said: we have been grilling them for many years and we only serve sardines when they are at the peak of their quality.
If you’re a foodie in search of the perfect grilled sardine, Casa do Peixe is the place for you.
Casa do Peixe is located on Mercado 31 de Janeiro, Rua Engenheiro Vieira da Silva, 135, Saldanha, Lisboa, tel. 213544233.
Salt of Portugal 
I love the photo! The cooks are the soul of good meals.
Yes, these cooks are magicians.
Reblogged this on Only Way Is Forward !! and commented:
Portuguese food always look so fresh
I must go there when next in Portugal – September – can’t wait. Janet
It’s the kind of place that only the locals know about. There is no ambience but the prices are modest and the grilled fish is wonderful.
That’s exactly the kind of place I love. Thank you and enjoy the day. Janet:)
Oh wow, this sounds like a beautiful meal! And I love the photo behind the scenes. Seeing the dynamic trio behind the delicious food you’re eating always adds a level of appreciation! http://www.ourfoodieappetite.com/east-beach-farmers-market-norfolk-va/
so glad i found this blog, great tips on portugal, will definitely try this spot for sardines xxx
It has no ambience but the fish is wonderful!
You are making me hungry! I can almost smell them.
Reblogged this on The Portugal Years and commented:
A lovely Portuguese treat!
I will need to check this out! Perhaps I will also blog about it on my website!
It is a place for fish connoisseurs. There is no ambience but the fish is really great.
Sounds perfect to me!
Great post! Wished we would have seen this before we made our trip to Lisbon. Sounds like something Andy would have enjoyed trying!
It is a great place to eat fish. Thanks for visiting our blog.
Definitely going back to Lisbon, love the country and the city, so will look out for this next time.
Wish I had known before I visited!!
You can always come back!