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Nuno Mendes is one of London's most celebrated chefs. He's also Portuguese, and determined to share the best bits of his fatherland's food at his Spitalfields restaurant Taberna do Mercado. Until recently the lunch menu was eat-in only, but the two kinds of speciality sandwiches – pregos and bifanas – are now available to take away, which means you can have a five-star lunch on even the shortest of lunchbreaks.
A prego is a traditional Portuguese steak sandwich served in a flat, round bread roll called bolo de caco, and at Taberna Mendes has dialled up the flavour by adding prawn paste and wild garlic. A bifana is the pork edition; it uses the same bread, and this particular version involves creamy yeast mayonnaise and fennel. They're both delicious, and are served with house-made crisps and a drink for £9.50 and £8.50 respectively. The wisest way to use your change is on a warm, crisp pastel de nata.
The takeaway sandwiches are available between noon and 3pm Monday-Friday at Taberna do Mercado