Casa dos Caracóis

There are 11 branches of "House of Snails." Austin Bush for Gastro Obscura

The French don't have a monopoly on these slimy yet satisfying treats. Austin Bush for Gastro Obscura

Sidle up to the counter and order your snails. Austin Bush for Gastro Obscura

Snails are a recurring decorative motif. Austin Bush for Gastro Obscura

Sangria pairs perfectly with snails. Austin Bush for Gastro Obscura

One snail attempts to make a break for it. Austin Bush for Gastro Obscura

Order this delicacy by the bucket. Austin Bush for Gastro Obscura

Grab your snails to go. Austin Bush for Gastro Obscura

Smaller snails get boiled in a delicate broth of oregano and garlic. Austin Bush for Gastro Obscura

Larger snails are terrific grilled. Austin Bush for Gastro Obscura

Austin Bush for Gastro Obscura

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Portugal: A Culinary Adventure from Porto to Lisbon

Explore Portugal through food, from the cities to the seaside.

Per capita, the people of Portugal consume just about as many snails as the French. And Lisbon’s one-stop-shop for all its snail needs is Casa dos Caracóis, literally “House of Snails.”

The brand has 11 shops across Portugal, with seven in the greater Lisbon area alone. The capital’s Campolide branch is typical of the brand: spotless and brightly lit, decked out in stainless steel and snail paraphernalia, including prehistoric snail fossils. The shop stocks everything a Portuguese snail consumer could possibly need: snails, of course, but also the requisite snail peripherals, which include bread (for toasting), oregano and garlic (for boiling snails) and beer and sangria (for drinking with snails).

At least four varieties of snails can be bought live, to be taken home and boiled or grilled. Smaller snails are typically boiled in broth with that oregano and garlic, while larger snails are grilled. Alternatively, each shop has the facilities to boil hundreds of kilos of snails for take-away, in sizes ranging from small containers to massive €40 buckets. The vast majority of snails sold at Casa dos Caracóis are raised on farms in Morocco.