Portugal sees popularity of gourmet beef burgers expand

Portugal’s beef and ham burger retail sector, now worth €1.6Bn, is no longer just the realm of fast-food giants like Burger King and McDonalds, with more and more restaurants offering gourmet choices.

Portugal has become a fertile market for gourmet burgers with new international chains opening restaurants in the country according to Jornal Económico.

When the oldest burger joint in the country opened—Sandwich Bar, in Costa da Caparica—the biggest challenge was convincing customers to try minced meat with onions. In the 1970s, in a country accustomed to steak sandwiches and pork sandwiches, this food was a “foreign import.”

Currently, the beef burger has become the protagonist of a sophisticated industry with options for all tastes: beef, artisanal, smash burgers, even gourmet, vegetarian, vegan, chicken, duck, fish, exotic flavors, or even UFO-shaped options, like the one offered by Taste Invaders.

In Príncipe Real, Lisbon, a new space has opened amidst neon lights, music, a DJ, and a long bar that’s more reminiscent of a nightclub than a traditional restaurant. The project arrived in the capital through Plateform, a Portuguese restaurant company, which partnered with the Spanish company Vicio to bring the concept to the country.

The brand originated in Spain in 2020, founded by Aleix Puig, winner of MasterChef Spain, and businessman Oriol de Pablo.

According to an analysis by Informa D&B, the fast food segment continues to gain market share in the restaurant industry, representing 29% of the total in 2024, with a turnover of €1.64Bn.

“This growth is due to several factors: the demand for high-quality, tasty, and protein-rich quick meals; the influence of international trends and the role of social media in discovering new brands; and the evolution of the quick service sector in Portugal itself.

In this context, brands which combines flavor, creativity, and experience, ends up contributing significantly to raising the bar and attracting new consumers,” says Tiago Veiga, marketing director at Plateform.

SOURCE: Jornal Ecónomico
Image: Freepik