Ovos moles — "soft eggs" — are Aveiro's signature food and one of the most distinctive sweets in Portugal. The filling is a thick paste of egg yolks and sugar, cooked to a consistency that is halfway between custard and marzipan. It comes wrapped in thin wafer shells pressed into the shape of fish, seashells, barrels, and other nautical motifs, a reference to the city's maritime past.
Every pastelaria and confeitaria in the old town sells them, and the quality varies. The best versions have a wafer that is crisp rather than chewy and a filling that is rich without being cloying. Look for shops on Rua João Mendonça and around the canal — the good ones are made fresh daily and sell out by afternoon. They travel well in a small box and make a far better souvenir than anything in the tourist shops.