Take out lunches don't get much healthier than this. Customers can pick and choose from a colourful and appetizing selection of fresh vegetables (raw and cooked) — tomato, lettuce, broccoli, corn, olive, onion and more — and garnish their salads with boiled egg, spinach or walnut before adding a dash of Thousand Island dressing. There are also pasta and fish and seafood options (the prawn and pineapple salad is a favourite dish, and they make another using brie cheese). For something simple, there's a wholemeal baguette and Panini menu. Fruit juices can also be ordered to go. The restaurant actively promotes a healthy lifestyle and set menus are designed to up vitamin levels while lowering the cholesterol count.
Recommended for Take Out because: The healthy pick and mix selection provides a great excuse to detox.
Paul's expert tip: The nearby Armazens do Chiado shopping mall also has a branch of Vitaminas.
Now here's an odd combination — Indian and Italian cuisine served under the same roof. As its name suggests, it's the hot, spicy food that has put this modest down-to-earth curry house on the map. But they whip up decent pizza and pasta as well, and meals are tasty and inexpensive. The menu is extensive and lists all the favourites including a wonderfully smooth and tangy chicken tikka masala and tongue tingling madras options. There's a good wine list and plenty of beers to wash it all down. And all this can be ordered to go by taking advantage of the restaurant's swift take away service. Mind you, chances are the fabulous aromas emanating from the kitchen will make you change your mind and eat in.
Recommended for Take Out because: Very popular with foreign visitors, Ghandi Palace is appreciated for its authentic recipes and value for money. The take away service is prompt.
Paul's expert tip: The king prawn tandoori is one of the house specials and goes down a treat with a dry white wine.
Lisbon's "riverside market" is an immense food hall consisting of approximately 35 kiosks and restaurants and a traditional fruit and veg market. A number of specialist shops also grace the premises. Each kiosk represents a Lisbon restaurant and the quality of food served reflects the high status of the eatery. Besides Portuguese gastronomy diners can choose to sample among other dishes Italian pasta, Thai curry and even good old British-style fish and chips albeit prepared to a recipe created by one of the city's leading chefs. Most visitors prefer to eat at one of the many tables set in the centre of the market but it is possible to order take away portions, a great idea if it's warm and sunny — there's a park located just outside the building. And at weekends revellers can take advantage of the late-night hours to stock up on solids before hitting the town.
Recommended for Take Out because: One of Lisbon's outstanding success stories, the refurbishment of the old market has created a wonderful al fresco dining experience with plenty of local flavour.
Paul's expert tip: This is also a great place to shop for original souvenirs and fantastic Portuguese wine as well as fresh fruit and homemade cakes and sweets.
The colourful frontage of this busy sidewalk caf— announces a mouth-watering selection of take out fresh fruit cups crammed with chilled slices of mango, kiwi, pineapple, melon and papaya — one of the healthiest take away options in the city and a great snack idea on a hot day. The caf— is also renowned for its pao com chourico e queijo (spicy sausage and cheese wrapped in a homemade bread roll). A caf— has stood on this spot since 1890, and the location was the focus of national attention back in 1962 when an anti-fascist rally taking place in Rossio Square turned ugly, with several demonstrators losing their lives in the riots that followed. The scene is described on a panel behind one of the counters inside.
Recommended for Take Out because: The convenient city-centre location and proximity to a range of budget hotels makes this cafe a real value-for-money option
Paul's expert tip: Ask if they've any p—o com chouri—o e queijo just out of the oven when the cheese is still melting and the bread is warm. Delicious!
A healthy take away idea imported from The Netherlands, Frozz is the place to enjoy a frozen yogurt treat. Using 100% natural yogurt and an array of biological ingredients, tubs are prepared on site and customers can choose their own toppings, anything from fig, strawberry and caramelized almond to blackberry, melon and hazelnut, with mango and passion fruit sauce to finish it all off! For a bit of indulgence, you can also ask for grated chocolate. A variety of shakes are available, and the bottled water on sale is Earth Water — profits go to the United Nations World Food Programme.
Recommended for Take Out because: Highly nutritious quality product and with profits from the bottled water donated to charity make this a take out with a conscience.
Paul's expert tip: The pleasant gardens across the road offer peace and quiet and plenty of shade, and is a great place to enjoy your yoghurt.
Sushi on the go is the concept at this small breeze in, breeze out bar. The inventive take away menu tempts with a choice of tamaki, hosomaki and uramaki specialities. The Tamaki is made with salmon or tuna, and mixed with a variety of ingredients. For a real kick, try the crocante wasabi! They also do prawn tempura and an all-veg special. Tamaki can be ordered separately or as a set menu, along with a drink. For something a little more substantial, ask for a box — a combination of hand-rolled sushi, again with a choice of drink. Aficionados of Japanese cuisine will be pleasantly surprised by the quality of these take out versions, but the real deal is the low price.
Recommended for Take Out because: Unpretentious sushi bar with a menu that's prepared quickly while you wait. In other words, fresh food served promptly.
Paul's expert tip: The sashimi is served as a side dish, and you can sit down for the Miso soup.
Little more than a hole in the wall, this pocket-sized Italian-owned pizzeria serves up rectangles of thin-crust pizza to an appreciative clientele — the place is a stone's throw from the bar and club districts of Principe Real and Bairro Alto and gets busy in the small hours. Pizzas are baked on site and are prepared with some amazing toppings: for example, the Zucchine is coated with mozzarella cheese, courgette and bacon. The special treat is the seasonal Prosciutto e fiche — mozzarella chees with cured ham and figs! And there's always that great standby, the classic Margherita. Pizza slices are weighed to calculate the price, so decide how hungry you are before ordering.
Recommended for Take Out because: Great location near clubland, and perfect for soaking up the beer!
Paul's expert tip: After midnight pizza is ordered, paid for and served through a hatch in the wall.
The simple idea of layering savoury fillings inside oven-baked cones crusty bread has put this tiny take out firmly on Lisbon's snack map. Traditional Portuguese ingredients are used to create a tasty menu to go, and hungry customers can choose from a list that includes Mirandes — a cone packed with chicken, spinach and mountain cheese — and the Selvagem that spills over with mushrooms, goat's chees and pesto sauce. For a real treat, try the Ilha da Sardinha, a cone that heaves with sardine, tomato and spring onion all topped with cheese. Side dishes of baked potatoes with fresh herbs, or crunchy vegetable mayo dip can also be ordered to go.
Recommended for Take Out because: "Your meal in a new shape" adequately describes this new and friendly take away.
Paul's expert tip: Ask about the drinks voucher!
Located out of the city centre and somewhat off the regular tourist trail, this restaurant is nonetheless worth seeking out for arguably the best grilled chicken in town. Indeed, Valencia's reputation has been forged out of its frango no churrasco, and locals flock here for the ambiance and the low prices. The menu is traditional Portuguese and as well as chicken to go, take away customers can also order from the 'Dish of the Day' list. The chicken is served whole or half and you'll be asked whether you want if with piri-piri (hot chilly sauce). Side dishes of crispy French fries and a fresh salad of lettuce, tomato and onion provide the perfect complement.
Recommended for Take Out because: Word of mouth alone is enough to make the effort to find this place, but if you're still not convinced, browse the travel guides.
Paul's expert tip: If you opt for it, go easy on the piri-piri - it's pretty hot stuff!
This multicultural space in the middle of the city is serious takeout territory. Food stalls serving all types of tasty world cuisine line either side of this central square, and when they fire on all four cylinders the aromas are fabulous. There are at least ten different kiosks offering anything from Taiwanese noodles to African prawns. Kebabs Mid-east style, Korean pancakes, Japanese sushi and Chinese chicken is also in the mix. The area is known for its immigrant workforce so the ingredients and garnishes are genuine and prepared in time-honoured style. There's also a tempting array of drinks being served — try the Brazilian caipirinha or an ice-cold Portuguese beer. It's not called the "Fusion Market" for nothing.
Recommended for Take Out because: As near to a Far East street food market as you'll likely to get, the "Fusion Market" adds colour and spice to Lisbon's culinary scene.
Paul's expert tip: Drop by mid-evening to take advantage of a diverse music and cultural programme staged by locals.