---
title: "Francesinha in NYC — The Real Portuguese Sandwich"
canonical: https://leitaonyc.com/francesinha-nyc/
date: 2026-06-10 15:31:15
description: "Porto-style francesinha at Leitão NYC: sirloin, linguiça, ham, and melted mozzarella in a tomato-beer sauce. West Village. Reserve your table."
keywords: "francesinha nyc"
---

# Francesinha in NYC — The Real Portuguese Sandwich

A francesinha is a Portuguese sandwich from Porto — 4 layers of cured meats and steak, blanketed in melted cheese and submerged in a spiced tomato-beer sauce. Porto’s 300,000 residents have been arguing over the perfect recipe since the 1950s. Leitão is one of the only places in New York City where you can try one.

The francesinha is Porto’s answer to the croque-monsieur — except richer, messier, and far more satisfying. It is not a light dish. It is not meant to be.

## How Leitão makes it

Our francesinha starts with Orwasher white pullman bread, layered with grass-fed prime sirloin steak, spicy salami, Portuguese linguiça, and ham. It’s covered in melted mozzarella, then finished with our tomato-beer sauce — deep, tangy, and built to soak through every layer.

It’s one of the most Porto things you can eat in New York City.

## Francesinha vs. Croque Monsieur

Francesinha (Porto)
Croque Monsieur (Paris)

Origin
Porto, Portugal, 1950s
Paris, France, early 1900s

Protein
Steak, linguiça, salami, ham (4 layers)
Ham (1 layer)

Cheese
Melted mozzarella blanketed over everything
Gruyère or béchamel

Sauce
Tomato-beer sauce — served pooled around the sandwich
Béchamel grilled into the bread

Experience
Rich, saucy, messy — eaten with a fork
Grilled, dry, eaten by hand

## The only place in NYC serving it this way

New York City has over 26,000 restaurants. Fewer than 5 serve a real francesinha. We put it on the menu because it deserves to be here, and because we make it the way it should be made.

If you’ve had it in Porto, you’ll recognize it. If you haven’t, this is where to start.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is a francesinha?

A francesinha is a Portuguese sandwich from Porto, made with layers of cured meats and steak, covered in melted cheese and a hot tomato-beer sauce. It’s the defining comfort food of northern Portugal — rich, savory, and nothing like anything else.

### Where can I get a francesinha in New York City?

Leitão in the West Village is one of the only restaurants in NYC serving an authentic Porto-style francesinha. Most Portuguese menus in New York skip it entirely — we put it on because it’s too good to leave out.

### What’s in a francesinha sandwich?

Ours is built on Orwasher white pullman bread with grass-fed prime sirloin steak, spicy salami, Portuguese linguiça, and ham — topped with melted mozzarella and finished with our tomato-beer sauce.

## Come try it.

[Reserve on Resy →](https://resy.com/cities/nyc/leitao)

Leitão is located in the West Village, NYC.