Honest Bao

Omakase or izakaya?  Kaigi cheekily refuses to pick a lane — and that's exactly the fun of it. Part chef's-choice tasting counter, part relaxed Japanese pub, it blends the precision of the former with the playful, small-plate spirit of the latter, all filtered through a Portuguese lens. If you've been craving proper Japanese food in Porto but don't want the stiff, hushed formality of a pure omakase, this is the sweet spot. Tucked into a more residential part of Porto, Kaigi is a lovely little spot — probably fewer than 20 seats, built around a counter, with warm, genuinely Japanese-feeling decor. Small touch I loved: there's a USB charging port right at the table, a lifesaver if your battery's dying. On the weekend evening I visited it was full, with guests from all over the world, and the staff were friendly, efficient, and explained each dish well. It's in the Michelin Guide, and you can feel the ambition. A big bar counter seating with central open ki...

After feasting on so much seafood, meat starts calling. Portugal doesn't have a signature beef breed the way Spain flexes its Rubia Gallega, but that's no reason not to find a steakhouse and dig in. MUU caught my eye with a huge 4.9 with over 3000 reviews on Google Maps — an genuinely high score — great-looking photos and reasonable prices. Worth a shot. Good industrial style decor The decor is seriously cool: industrial style, soaring high ceilings, real presence. The staff are super friendly and helpful, and you're welcomed with a complimentary sparkling wine — instant good vibes. My one gripe on the setup: for a place pitching itself as a quality steakhouse, I'd expect far more information about the beef — breed, farm, origin, whether it's aged. There's only one dry-aged steak on the menu, which felt a bit thin. All the staff are very friendly and helpful which was the highlight of the meal 🦐 Seafood Starter   Rich and generous, loaded with seafood. The razo...

Here's a truth every seafood lover learns the hard way: no matter how good the feast, eventually flavour fatigue sets in. That's why I'm forever on the hunt for a good bowl of ramen across Europe — Barcelona, Paris, London, Birmingham. Most are decent at best, plenty are just plain average. But my ramen soul refuses to be put off.  Not an obvious store front, the shrimp like logo is cute So I did what I always do — scoured Google Maps for something that looked the part, and spotted RamenMe. Decor not anime-themed? Tick. Presentation looking like the real deal? Tick. A small, ramen-focused menu? Tick. Looked authentic, so off I went. Refreshing drink during summer It was a quiet weekday — the World Cup was on, Portugal playing no less — so the place was calm. The decor is modern and quirky, not your typical Japanese style, though I'll admit the lighting is a touch dark inside. Staff were friendly and helpful, and the menu actually explains the differences in broth and no...

Porto's street and local food scene is legendary — piri piri chicken, suckling pig sandwiches, all delicious. But is any sandwich worth hours in a queue? I'd argue not — especially in summer, when standing under the blazing sun for 30+ minutes is torture before you've eaten a bite. Here's my way to ditch the queue and still get your favourites. The answer: delivery. Before you call me out, hear me out. Yes, it might not taste quite as good as in-store — but if a place is good, it'll still shine through a delivery bag. You can obviously dodge queues by going early morning or late night, but if neither sounds appealing, delivery works surprisingly well. And if you fancy a lazy lie-in at the hotel? Perfect match. So how do the famous names hold up in a box? Here's the review. Enjoying the food in a comfy hotel room 🍗 Restaurante Pedro dos Frangos Charcoal-grilled piri piri chicken, and it arrived still piping hot. The chicken is on the small side, but the price...

With one of Europe's longest coastlines, Portugal is a seafood paradise — the variety rivals neighbouring Spain, but often at friendlier prices. Porto is no exception. Here's my guide to getting the best seafood value in the city: one place to book, and one place to browse but not necessarily eat. 🐙 Meia-Nau Porto Great seafood rice Location is a big win — right in the centre, walking distance from many attractions, with a fun fishing-themed decor and friendly, helpful staff. A bit too creamy and big for the croquettes Onto the food. The shrimp croquettes were bigger than I'd like — and size really does matter here. With croquettes this chunky, the creamy potato filling becomes a bit too much; even the shrimp chunks inside can't stop it feeling heavy. The fried squid tasted with great flavour, though the squid itself was softer than I like — purely personal preference, some people love that texture. The accompanying sauce was tasty but turned salty at the end; pair it...

Portugal's most famous snack needs no introduction — but here's one anyway. The pastel de nata was born in the 1700s at the Jerónimos Monastery in Belém, Lisbon, where monks used leftover egg yolks (the whites went to starching habits) to bake little custard tarts. When the monasteries closed in 1834, the recipe was sold to the sugar refinery next door, and Pastéis de Belém opened in 1837. The rest is flaky, caramelised history. Porto is packed with nata chains all claiming the crown, so I did the hard work and ate my way through five of the big names. Same tart, five very different experiences. You're welcome. 🥧 Fábrica da Nata The most traditional of the lot — azulejo-style decor, old-school counters, the works. Walking in feels like stepping into a postcard of Portugal. The tart itself is a stunner: shatteringly flaky pastry, deep rich egg-yolk custard, sweet but balanced, finished with the subtlest dusting of cinnamon. If you judged on flavour alone, this might be th...

Some restaurants coast on reputation. Lung King Heen, perched inside the Four Seasons Hong Kong, still cooks like it has something to prove — even after slipping from three Michelin stars to two. Spoiler: it earns every one of them. 🍽️ Food & Drinks   Not a single dish let me down. The char siu pineapple bun is a showstopper: crunchy crust, sweet glaze playing beautifully off smoky barbecue pork.  Great char siu pineapple bun, much better than the dim sum chair - Tim Ho Wan Prawn spring rolls arrived shatter-crisp and bursting with fresh, full shrimp flavour.  Crispy prawn spring roll, but seems quite a lot of dish repeat with the same prawn paste The signature abalone tart is genuinely lovely — tender abalone, seasoned with care, in a buttery crust — though, dare I say, not quite the religious experience some make it out to be.  Another signature dish abalone tart The char siu, soya chicken and jellyfish are top notch, miles beyond any high-street siu mei join...