“If you get a chance, the pork sandwiches here are one of the best things I ate in Europe.”
I was enjoying a beer in Letraria—Letra Brewery’s beer garden in Porto—and looking for somewhere to go for dinner after. Fellow GBH contributor Mark Spence sent me a message advising me to visit Casa Guedes, and when you receive recommendations with such conviction, it’s usually wise to take them on board.
I had somehow missed the place when doing my pre-trip research, so it surprised me to find a queue out the door when we arrived. Inside, it was tight on space, but both locals and tourists propped up the counter and the few tables squeezed in along the side of the shop. Staff members danced around each other as they tended to simmering pots.
Casa Guedes is best-known for its pork knuckle sandwich. I would guess that that’s what most people were waiting for. A member of staff stood by a large piece of meat, cutting away at it as he filled roll after roll—not so fast that he became clumsy, but fast enough to feed the line of eager guests.
The meat was as tender and juicy as I’d hoped, and the slab of melting Serra da Estrela cheese created the perfect contrast with the warm and crispy roll. Given the super cheap price, every bite felt like a steal.
We asked to take our sandwiches away, but opted to nab a table just as one became free. Eating amongst the bustle and chatting with staff gave us the full experience of the place, and was a nice reminder that some things really are worth queueing for.
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By themselves, they're just small moments in and around beer. Together, they're the culture we love.
