Want to snack your way through Goa’s famous cured sausages? This tasting trail homes in on chouriço and chorizo-style flavours in Panjim and Margao—from fresh slices to sandwiches to proper plate-up mains.
Below, you’ll find a focused shortlist of places (with what to order at each stop) and a simple route so you’re not bouncing around town. Adding the cherry on the cake: these are long-running favourites where you can usually ask for grilled/chopped chouriço rather than guessing.
Panjim: Your Start-Line for Chouriço Slices and Sandwiches
1. Britto's (Chouriço Sandwiches)
Britto’s is one of those Panjim names that keeps popping up for visitors who want Portuguese-Goan comfort food. For the chouriço trail, you’re looking for quick, punchy sausage bites—the kind that pair well with a cold drink and a light appetite boost.
When you visit, ask what’s available on the day as grilled chouriço and whether they can do it in a sandwich/roll. If there’s a chouriço appetiser on the menu, that’s your “fresh slices” moment.
Location: Panjim, Goa
Cuisine: Goan-Portuguese
Must-try dishes:
- Chouriço (grilled) — ask for it as an appetiser
- Chouriço sandwich / roll (if available)
- Any Portuguese-style rice/side where chouriço is used (ask your server)
2. Souza Lobo (Portuguese Plates with Sausage)
Souza Lobo is a solid pick when you want chouriço to show up as part of a proper meal, not just a snack. The vibe is classic Portuguese dining, and the kitchen usually understands exactly what “chouriço” means to a Goan-food hunter.
Order with a “small-to-big” plan: start with any sausage-forward appetiser, then go for a main where cured pork flavour is meant to stand out (often paired with rice, pasta, or simple sides). If the menu doesn’t call it out clearly, ask how they serve chouriço that day.
Location: Panjim, Goa
Cuisine: Goan-Portuguese
Must-try dishes:
- Chouriço (grilled/roasted) as an appetiser
- Chouriço in rice (Portuguese-style) — ask if it’s on the day
- Chouriço with sides (fried potatoes/vegetables) if you see it on-menu
3. Cafe Coentro (Tapas-Style Bites)
Cafe Coentro is a practical stop when you want the chouriço trail to feel like easy tapas ordering. It’s especially good for visitors who like to share plates and keep sampling without committing to a huge main course.
What to do: scan for anything that sounds like grilled chorizo/chouriço or “Portuguese sausage” and ask whether it’s served with bread or as a warm appetiser. If you don’t see sausage listed, ask directly—Goa kitchens often can, but don’t always spell it out.
Location: Panjim, Goa
Cuisine: Goan-Portuguese
Must-try dishes:
- Chouriço/chorizo (grilled) with bread
- Sausage appetiser plate (ask what’s available)
- A light pasta/rice option where sausage flavour appears (if offered)
4. Vintage Point (Goan-Style Comfort with Portuguese Flavours)
Vintage Point is a great “second stop” in Panjim because it works for both snack cravings and starter-to-main pacing. If you want chouriço to land as part of a warmer, more filling spread, this is a good option.
Go with the order that lets you taste sausage in its most straightforward form first: grilled chouriço (fresh and aromatic) followed by something that balances it out. If a sandwich or roll is on offer, it makes a perfect halfway-point between Panjim and your Margao leg.
Location: Panjim, Goa
Cuisine: Goan-Portuguese
Must-try dishes:
- Grilled chouriço (ask for the sausage appetiser)
- Chouriço in a sandwich/roll (if available)
- Any rice/potato side that pairs well with spicy sausage
5. Cafe Tato (Old-School Goan Comfort)
Cafe Tato is the kind of place that suits a “no fuss” tasting approach. It’s handy when you want simple, filling food and you’d rather spend your time tasting than studying menus.
Ask for chouriço in the format you want most that moment—sliced/grilled sausage for a proper cured-meat taste, or a sandwich-style portion if that’s what you’re craving. If they don’t label it clearly, your best move is to ask whether they do it as an appetiser or as a sausage-forward side.
Location: Panjim, Goa
Cuisine: Goan
Must-try dishes:
- Chouriço/chorizo (grilled) — ask for appetiser portions
- Sausage sandwich/roll option (if listed or available)
- Sausage served with simple sides (potatoes/bread/veg)
Margao: Portuguese-Style Mains and Chouriço Plates
6. Churchill's (Goan-Portuguese Comfort)
Churchill’s is a reliable Margao pick when you’re hungry and want Portuguese-Goan flavours to feel uncomplicated and filling. This is where a chouriço order often shines as a main-course flavour rather than just a bite.
Order as if you’re building a balanced plate: one chouriço-forward dish (grilled/roasted sausage if offered), then something that gives you a neutral base—rice, potatoes, or a simple bread component. If a menu doesn’t state chouriço clearly, ask your server what sausage-based options are running that day.
Location: Margao, Goa
Cuisine: Goan-Portuguese
Must-try dishes:
- Grilled chouriço/chorizo (ask if it’s on the day’s menu)
- Chouriço with rice (Portuguese-style) if offered
- Sausage-forward mains or hearty sides where it’s used
7. Trincas (Bar & Restaurant Plates)
Trincas is a practical choice for travellers who want chouriço in a casual, come-as-you-are setting. It also works well if you want to order a few things at once and keep the pace relaxed.
Start by asking for grilled chouriço/chorizo or any sausage appetiser. Then, if you see dishes that pair sausage with rice/potatoes/vegetables, go for one of those as your “main”. The goal: taste the cured sausage flavour in multiple formats without over-ordering.
Location: Margao, Goa
Cuisine: Goan
Must-try dishes:
- Grilled chouriço/chorizo appetiser
- Any dish where cured sausage is mixed into rice or sides (ask)
- A hearty plate that balances spice with carbs
8. Martin's Corner (Local-Favourite Eating)
Martin’s Corner suits the final leg of your trail: it’s ideal when you want something that feels local and filling, with flavours that won’t take forever to reach the table. If chouriço is part of the day’s specials, this is a good place to go all in.
Order your “final taste” as grilled/roasted chouriço (fresh slice-style) and then pair it with a straightforward carb base. It’s a great way to finish your tasting arc—spicy, savoury, and undeniably Goan.
Location: Margao, Goa
Cuisine: Goan-Portuguese
Must-try dishes:
- Chouriço/chorizo (grilled/roasted) as your main flavour
- Any sausage sandwich/roll option (if offered)
- Simple paired sides (bread/potatoes) to balance heat
Planning Your Chouriço Trail (How to Get Around + Best Time)
How to get between Panjim and Margao: The drive is typically around 45–60 minutes depending on traffic and where you’re starting in each city. If you’re using Goa’s ride options, you’ll find it easier to go from your Panjim neighbourhood pick straight to Church Square / Tilak Maidan in Margao.
A good pacing rule: Keep it to 2 stops in Panjim and 2 stops in Margao if you want to really taste (and not just eat out of momentum). A common pattern that works well:
- Stop 1 (Panjim): grilled chouriço + bread/sandwich
- Stop 2 (Panjim): a sausage-forward main or rice dish
- Stop 1 (Margao): grilled chouriço in a “bigger plate” format
- Stop 2 (Margao): chouriço in a hearty, comfort-food dish
Best time to visit: Goa is most comfortable for eating-out in November to March, when the weather is cooler and evenings feel pleasant for sitting down. If you’re chasing extra “festive menu energy,” plan around the Christmas–New Year period or Easter season, when Portuguese-style flavours often show up more strongly—availability can vary by kitchen and suppliers, so always ask what they have fresh that day.
Ordering tips that get results:
- Say: “chouriço, grilled” or “chorizo—like the Portuguese sausage”.
- If the menu is vague, ask: “Do you have fresh chouriço slices or a grilled appetiser today?”
- For the sandwich goal: ask “Can you serve it in a roll/bun?”
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between chouriço and chorizo in Goa?
In Goa, you’ll often hear “chouriço” (Portuguese-influenced) and “chorizo” used for similar cured sausage styles. What you’ll taste is the cured, spiced, pork-sausage flavour—menus may use different names.
Is chouriço usually spicy?
It can be—many Goan Portuguese-style sausages use chilli and paprika notes. If you’re heat-sensitive, ask how spicy the current batch is.
Can I get chouriço as a sandwich in Panjim or Margao?
Yes, at several Portuguese-Goan restaurants you can usually ask for it in a roll/bun or as a sandwich-style appetiser. When in doubt, ask staff what formats are available that day.
How do I order if it’s not clearly listed on the menu?
Use simple keywords—ask for “grilled chouriço/chorizo” or “fresh slices/sausage appetiser”—and the kitchen will usually confirm what they can serve right now.
Are there vegetarian alternatives with a similar flavour?
True cured sausage flavour is hard to replicate without pork, but some restaurants may offer non-meat Portuguese-style plates. Ask your server what vegetarian options they can pair with Goan flavours.
When is the best time to eat Portuguese-style cured meats in Goa?
November to March is great for dining comfort. For extra menu enthusiasm, many kitchens lean into Portuguese flavours around Christmas–New Year and Easter, but availability still depends on the day.