Review: Portena, London

This small restaurant is found inside London’s foodie mecca, Borough Market. Over the years, this once unfashionable market has become a hub for gourmands from around the world. Portena serves up Argentinian street food, surrounded by businesses offering Ethiopian, Brazilian and Italian cuisine.

A photo posted by Portena Shop London (@portena.london) on Jan 6, 2015 at 12:49pm PST

In this sort of environment, it takes something special to draw in punters. Portena has struck on the perfect recipe with its delicious empanadas, with both meat and vegetarian-friendly fillings.

Served piping hot, the empanadas are big enough to fill a hole. Tuck into two and it’s a delicious light lunch that will set you up for further exploration of Borough Market and the trendy Bankside area surrounding it.

A photo posted by Portena Shop London (@portena.london) on Dec 10, 2014 at 2:54pm PST

Pull up a chair at the outside tables and watch the fashionable weekend crowds mill around. Get yourself a Quilmes beer or two if you want to rest your weary legs slightly longer, but be careful you don’t end up staying for another round of those empanadas. Delicious they may be, but healthy they are not.

Each empanada costs $3 and a beer is $4. It’s a great little spot busy year-round, and there is plenty to see in the local area. Borough or London Bridge are the nearest tube stations, and the Tate Modern is within a 10-minute walk.

Portena

58 Riley Rd. 16d

London SE1 3DG, United Kingdom

44 20 3540 8268