Portugal’s Famous Egg Tarts Ranked (My Honest Opinion!) 🤍
If you’re visiting Portugal, trying a pastel de nata (Portuguese egg tart) is a must! We made it our little mission to compare a few of the famous ones in Lisbon, and here’s my personal ranking. 🍮
🥇 1. Pastéis de Belém (My favourite!)
We went there early in the morning to avoid the long queues, and it was definitely worth it. The first thing I noticed was how incredibly crispy the pastry was! The custard filling had the perfect texture too; not too soft, not too firm.
Compared to the Hong Kong-style egg tarts, Portuguese egg tarts have a much creamier filling. We only ordered the original tarts, and one thing I really liked was that the cinnamon powder is optional. You can sprinkle as much (or as little) as you like, which is great if you’re not a fan of cinnamon. Even without cinnamon, the original flavour was already so good.
🥈 2. Manteigaria
The pastry wasn’t quite as crispy as Pastéis de Belém’s, but I absolutely loved the cinnamon aroma. In my opinion, it had the strongest cinnamon flavour out of all the tarts we tried. Since I’m a cinnamon lover, this easily took my second spot. Still, it couldn’t beat the original taste and texture of Pastéis de Belém.
🥉 3. Fábrica da Nata
Also a really good egg tart! It had a nice creamy filling and a hint of cinnamon, though not as strong as Manteigaria’s. If you enjoy a more balanced flavour, you might even prefer this one.
😅 We also tried an egg tart from a local breakfast café… I’d probably skip it. It was definitely cheaper, but after trying the famous ones, the difference in texture and flavour was pretty noticeable.
💰 Price: If I remember correctly, all three famous egg tarts were priced very similarly around €1.50 each, so there’s really no reason not to try them all!
✨ My ranking:
🥇 Pastéis de Belém
🥈 Manteigaria
🥉 Fábrica da Nata
Of course, this is just my personal preference! If you’re an egg tart lover, I’d recommend trying all three and deciding your own favourite.
When traveling to Portugal, especially Lisbon, indulging in pastel de nata is truly a delightful experience beyond just tasting. One tip I learned from my visits is to try these egg tarts at different times of the day. Earlier in the morning, places like Pastéis de Belém offer freshly baked tarts with a crispier texture, as the ovens are still busy baking the first batches. By afternoon, the crust can soften slightly, which is great if you prefer a less crunchy tart. I also found that the cultural context around each bakery adds to the enjoyment. Pastéis de Belém, with its long-standing tradition and secret recipe, gives you a taste of authentic Portuguese pastry craftsmanship. On the other hand, Manteigaria offers a modern take with a more pronounced cinnamon aroma that really enhances the custard. If you are a fan of a balanced, less intense cinnamon hint, Fábrica da Nata might be your pick. A little practical advice: while all three famous shops price their tarts around €1.50 each, queues can get long, especially at Pastéis de Belém. Going early is a smart move, but if the wait is too much, exploring Manteigaria or Fábrica da Nata means you still get a fantastic bite without straying far from the iconic flavors. Finally, don’t let the optional cinnamon powder scare you off if you’re not a cinnamon fan. Personally, I appreciate that they let you decide how much to sprinkle, allowing the rich custard flavor to shine. Also, comparing Portuguese egg tarts to other varieties, like the Hong Kong style, shows how the creamy filling here is much richer and less eggy, which surprised me pleasantly. Trying these famous pastel de nata back to back was an eye-opening (and stomach-filling) experience that made me appreciate the subtle differences that define Portuguese egg tart perfection.
