The 5 Best Places For Traditional Goan Food In Goa
Image Credit: Vritti Bansal. Chicken vindaloo and sannas at Fernando's Nostalgia in South Goa.

Goan cuisine is the result of both foreign and native influences. While the state is thronged with tourists who are drawn to the beaches, nightlife and shacks serving fast food, it would be a sin to miss out on eating traditional Goan food when you’re in Goa. A few restaurants in both North and South Goa are known for specialising in Goan food. We recommend five of the best ones.

Places included:

  1. Fernando's Nostalgia
  2. Viva Panjim
  3. Mum's Kitchen
  4. Fat Fish
  5. Martin's Corner

The five best places for traditional Goan food in Goa:

Fernando’s Nostalgia

Location: House No. 608, near Our Lady Of Snow Church, Raia, Goa.

Timings: Tuesday-Sunday, 11am-3pm; 7-11pm. 

Cost for two: ₹1,200

Viva Panjim

Location: House No. 178, Rua 31 de Janeiro, behind Mary Immaculate High School, Fontainhas (quarter), Altinho, Panaji, Goa.

Timings: Daily, noon-4pm; 7-11pm.  

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Cost for two: ₹1,000

Mum’s Kitchen

Mum’s Kitchen

Mum’s Kitchen is aptly named because eating here is like eating a home-cooked meal. The restaurant is passionate about preserving traditional Goan recipes and this is reflected in the food. It has also won many important food awards. Goan and Portuguese specialties like chorizo pao, rissois de camarao (prawn rissois), sopa de camarao (Goan prawn soup), ansache sukhem (a pineapple dish prepared during Hindu festivals), fried chonak (local fish), pamphlet kodi (pomfret curry), chicken xacuti and beef vindaloo make an appearance on the menu.

Location: 854, Martins Building, D. B. Street, Miramar Road, Panaji, Goa.

Timings: Daily, noon-10pm.  

Cost for two: ₹2,000

Fat Fish

Fat Fish in Arpora is known for bringing together Goan-Portuguese and Hindu Saraswat cuisine. Try the stuffed crab, which comes with onions, tomatoes and spices and is topped with cheese, or the prawns with butter and garlic. There’s also kingfish in recheado masala and Portuguese-style fish. However, the most popular item on the menu is the fish thali, which includes tisreo (clams), crab xacuti, tarle sukha (Goan sardines), vegetables, fish fry, curry of the day and rice. 

Location: Calangute-Arpora Road, Agar Vaddo, Khobra Waddo, Arpora, Goa.

Timings: Daily, noon-midnight.  

Cost for two: ₹1,100

Martin’s Corner

Located in Betalbatim in South Goa, Martin’s Corner is one of Goa’s most popular shacks. The place offers North Indian, Chinese and Goan cuisine. The Goan section on the menu includes dishes like mackerel recheado, Goan pork sausages, mussels masala rava fry, kismur (dried prawns), shark ambotik, chicken xacuti, pork sorpotel, chicken cafreal and bebinca. Martin’s Corner is so popular that it’s always packed, so it’s best to arrive a little early to be able to grab a table.

Location: 69, Binwaddo, Betalbatim, Goa.

Timings: Daily, 11.30am-4pm; 6.30-11.30pm. 

Cost for two: ₹1,500