Bacalhau and beer in T1 beats one last KFC bucket
In Terminal 1’s post-security food court, right next to KFC, O Mercado is the spot people pick when they want a final Portuguese plate instead of another generic burger. It sits in the central cluster of restaurants after passport control, so you can see your gate time on the overhead boards while you eat.
O Mercado runs typical T1 food court hours, roughly first departures to late evening, and lands in the mid-range $$ bracket. Expect mains around standard airport prices, more than McDonald’s but not white-tablecloth levels. You order at the counter, grab a tray, then sit in the shared seating area that covers this section of Terminal 1.
The move here is classic dishes: bacalhau (salt cod) in different preparations, caldo verde if it’s on, plus basic grilled meats and sides. Regulars treat it as a “last Portuguese meal” stop before US or UK flights, grabbing cod, potatoes and a beer instead of defaulting to KFC or McDonald’s across the aisle. If you just want fries and nuggets, you’re in the wrong line.
There’s a dedicated beer service area next to the main counter, and groups use it as a pre-flight meetup spot. You can sit with a lager and watch the T1 crowd move between the gates and the big McDonald’s opposite. Service is airport-fast casual: pay first, wait for your tray to land on the counter screen, then hunt for a table in the common seating zone.
No consistent horror stories float around, but remember the rating hovers around 2 out of 5, mainly for “fine, not amazing” food on busy days. Quality swings with the rush, especially at peak morning and late-afternoon bank times. If your connection is under 45 minutes, skip a hot plate and just grab a drink at the beer counter.
Tip: sit closer to the KFC side of the food court; from there you can see both the departures board and the main T1 gate corridor without getting up.