Arouca's local food is straightforward mountain cooking: roast kid (cabrito assado), cured meats, and the cheese and sausages that the region produces in quantity. The farinheira de Arouca — a smoked wheat-flour sausage seasoned with paprika and garlic — is a regional speciality worth seeking out. Restaurants in town are small, family-run, and honest; there is nothing pretentious here.
The best places to eat are in the town centre, clustered around the monastery square and along Rua do Município. Most close on Mondays. If you are heading to the Passadiços do Paiva trail, bring your own food — the cafe at the Espiunca trailhead is basic and busy.