The Francesinhas were born in the city of Porto, invented in 1953, by an emigrant, returned from France, who decided to give a special touch to a typically French recipe, called "croque-monsieur". This gentleman, named Daniel, improvised and adapted this dish to our ingredients and our culture, adding a sauce, which is the soul of the recipe. The first place to launch Francesinha was Regaleira, in Porto, where this gentleman worked and passed the sauce recipe to some "helpers", one of them named José Silva, who then had the original recipe.

José Silva, born in Castelo de Paiva, left Regaleira in 1962 and opened (as an employee) the Mucaba café in Vila Nova de Gaia, taking with him the recipe for the true sauce, transforming this café into an icon of the Porto hotel trade and beyond, through the famous Francesinhas.

In 1970, José Silva established and opened his own business: the Majára Seafood Restaurant in Matosinhos, also becoming famous for this specialty.
 
The Francesinhas of Majára are still the only truly original ones, the same as they were made in the beginning, with cheese, ham, mortadella, roast beef, sausage and fresh sausage in flat bread or biju bread.
 
If you're near Matosinhos and want to taste this irresistible delicacy, be sure to visit us. We also remind you that on Thursdays we have a special menu that includes Francesinha à Majára. Find out more here.
 
Thank you, Master Zé!