Bifana: how to put it on the menu
The bifana is a sandwich of a crusty roll (papo-seco) filled with thin slices of pork marinated in garlic, white wine, bay leaf and paprika, cooked in their own juices. It is eaten standing at the counter, with mustard and a beer.
Updated October 2026
How it reads on the menu, in each language
| Language | Name | Line for the guest |
|---|---|---|
| Portuguese | Bifana | Pão com bifanas de porco marinadas em alho e vinho branco, cozinhadas no próprio molho. Mostarda à parte. |
| English | Bifana | Pork steak sandwich: thin slices of pork marinated in garlic and white wine, simmered in their juices, in a crusty roll. Mustard on the side. |
| Spanish | Bifana | Bocadillo de cerdo: filetes finos marinados en ajo y vino blanco, cocinados en su jugo, en pan crujiente. Mostaza aparte. |
| French | Bifana | Sandwich au porc : fines tranches marinées à l’ail et au vin blanc, mijotées dans leur jus, dans un petit pain croustillant. Moutarde à part. |
Usual allergens to check
- Gluten
- Mustard
- Sulphites
A guide based on the traditional recipe. Only your recipe and your suppliers tell you what the dish contains. How to list allergens
What Bifana is
There are two schools: the southern one, with the meat fried in the marinade, and Porto’s, with the meat simmered in a spicier sauce.
How to write it for visitors
In English, “pork sandwich” undersells it; say the meat is marinated in garlic and wine. If the mustard is already in the roll, say so, because it is an allergen.
Where and when it is eaten
All over Portugal, in cafés, tascas and bars; in Porto some places serve nothing else. See also the prego.
Frequently asked questions
Which allergens does a bifana contain?
Gluten (the roll), sulphites (white wine in the marinade) and mustard, if served with it.
What is the difference between a bifana and a prego?
A bifana is pork; a prego is beef.