Póvoa has one of the oldest fishing traditions in Portugal, and the kitchen leans heavily on the daily catch. Look for pescada à poveira (hake stewed with potatoes), arroz de marisco (seafood rice with tomato and coriander), and lagosta suada (lobster cooked in its own juices).
The Bairro Sul fishermen's quarter, around the seaport, is the place for traditional seafood — small tavernas where the menu changes with what came off the boats. The casino district and Avenida Vasco da Gama are home to more modern restaurants, including the local specialty francesinha poveira, the Póvoa version of Porto's famous sandwich.