Every day at mealtime, Goans adore a delicious fish dish. Thus, there are many different fish preparations available in Goa's culinary landscape. Continue reading to find out how Goans enjoy local fish in a variety of delectable ways and where to locate fantastic eateries that serve authentic seafood.
Every Goan knows their favorite seafood spot, which is typically a tiny eatery or bar offering a fish thali or a restaurant specializing in fried fish and fish curries.
Goa's fresh catch offers a wide variety of options, including
Pomfert
Pomfert, called paplet in Konkani, is highly regarded in Goan cooking and is frequently prepared with coconut and a variety of delicious spices.
Bangdo (Mackerel)
Bangdo Racheado is the name for slit and stuffed bangdo fish that is cooked with a spicy red masala made with homemade vinegar and red chillies. The fish is then shallow-fried.
Modso (Lemon Fish)
Every Goan loves modso, or lemon fish, also known as black king fish. It has firm meat, extremely soft flesh, and a wonderful flavor that makes it ideal for roasting or frying.
Chonak (Asian Sea Bass)
Well-known for its delicately rich flavor, it is frequently fried with Goan Masala coating.
Visvon (Kingfish)
Known as visvon or vison locally, this is a goan favorite for fries or curries.
Harro Bangdo (Horse mackerel)
Well-known for its solid texture and delicately rich flavor that withstands heavy spices, it is frequently fried with Goan Masala coating.
Mori (Shark)
Utilized in the majority of Goan recipes, serves as an example of how a wide variety of seafood—including unusual options like shark—are welcomed in Goan cooking.
Sangot (Catfish)
This fish, which is used in many Goan recipes, is particularly well-known for its delicate flavor in curries and fried foods.
Tharle (Sardine)
Either deep-fried to a crisp texture or dipped in a traditional Goan curry, with the spices counteracting the oiliness.
Lepo (Sole, flounder)
This crispy and tasty tongue sole fish fry will transport you to the real Goa. Ideal for the delight of a seafood lover!
Kalvam (oysters)
This fish is especially well-known for its subtle flavor in curries and fried dishes, and it's a staple in many Goan recipes.
Tisreo (Calms)
Tisreo sukhem is the dish prepared by coating half shell using dry coconut and onions.
Sungta (Prawns)
Either rava fried or masala fried or used in curry this fish is most popular in Goan cuisine.
Xinaneo (Mussels)
This rava fried fish is most popular in Goan cuisine.
Manki (Squids)
Squids are best enjoyed stuffed, which is very soft and tender, or chilli fry and eaten with roti or chapati.
Frying these fish (with a liberal coating of semolina) is the easiest way to enjoy it.
Rice, curry, and fish are commonly recognized as the holy trinity of Goan cuisine. A dish of delicious curry laced with sol kodi (kokum), heaped with locally grown ukde rice, and fresh fish can be just what the doctor ordered.
A lot of people travel to Goa to have wild parties. You would be familiar with the well-known bars and cafes where dressed-up patrons wait impatiently to have a good time. There are also Goa's hidden treasures, which are often frequented by locals due to their genuine atmosphere and are buried in places not many tourists know about. Do you look for these kinds of places as well? If so, stop your search right now! See some of Goa's most stunning and authentic spots that perhaps none of your friends have visited.
Here are some great places in Goa to try seafood.
Darya Deger
Darya Deger (old Goa, St Estevan Ferry Road) is my favorite. The seafood tastes really fresh, and my favorite dishes are the prawns with butter and garlic and the mackerel racheado. They have some of the best butter garlic prawns in the state, in my opinion. It's where I've been going for years. The masala prawns is also delicious.
Price for two: 1000INR (without alcohol)
Timings: 11:00AM – 3:00PM, 7:00PM – 11:00PM
Closed On: Open all days of the week
Zomato Rating: 4.2
Ritz Classic
The hallmark dish of Ritz Classic, a seafood lover's paradise, is their thali, which comes with four different fish dishes. The restaurant offers a variety of delectable recipes, including curries, produced from its flawlessly fresh seafood collection. You can sample their crab masala, fish thali, butter-garlic calamari, rice and fish curry, and, for the best value, the fish thali.
Price for two: 1500INR (without alcohol)
Timings: 11:00AM – 11:00PM
Closed On: Opan all days of the week
Zomato Rating: 4.8
Sheela Bar and Restaurant
Sheela Bar and restaurant is a great diner on the Vasco - Cortalim Road that is open all year round. It offers delicious fish thalis along with other Goan specialties. Their fish and seafood thalis are simply epic! Be ready to wait as the location gets crowded at the busiest time of year. You won't regret it at all.
Price for two: 1000 INR (without alcohol)
Timings: 12:00PM – 3:45PM, 7:00PM – 11:00PM
Closed On: Open all days of the week
Zomato Rating: 4.2
Copperleaf
This Goan restaurant in Panaji and Porvorim is well-known for its mouthwatering, flavorful fish thalis and wonderful, authentic dishes. You may probably feel compelled to openly criticize every other thali you have ever eaten after tasting their fish thali. Everything is delicious and worth trying, including the prawn masala, calamari, mussels, and fish thali. You have to check this business out for their portions and quality, along with their pleasant personnel and excellent service.
Price for two: 800 INR (without alcohol)
Timings: 11:30AM – 3:30PM, 7:PM – 11:00PM
Closed On: Open all days of the week
Zomato Rating: Panaji branch 4.1; Porvorim branch 4.5
Longuinhos Bar, Restaurant and Confectioners
The restaurant Longuinho's is located in Margaon, Goa, near a major intersection. The place has an old-fashioned, vintage elegance from the 1970s. It is among the most recognizable restaurants in Goa. Renowned for its traditional Goan cuisine.
Price for two: 950 INR (without alcohol)
Timings: 8:30 AM -11:00 PM
Closed On: Open all days of the week
Zomato Rating: 4.0
Kokni Kanteen
Panjim's little but lively Kokni Kanteen restaurant is a fierce rival to Ritz. You can satisfy your craving for Goan seafood here, which is perfectly flavored, rich in taste, and reasonably priced. Once here — definitely try their fish thali, it’s quite possibly the best in the world! Everything from the mussels rava fried to the pomfert masala fry to the Kokum kodi is equally tasty.
Price for two: 850 INR (without alcohol)
Timings: 12:30PM – 3:00PM, 7:30PM – 11:30PM
Closed On: Open all days of the week
Zomato Rating: 4.5
Bombil
In the center of Panaji City, Bombil Restaurant serves a lavish thali lunch that has already won over locals and toursits as their favorite. With flavours that taste as though they were straight out of the kitchens of Goan grandmothers, the restaurant delivers a powerful punch. With generous portions of their fish thali and excellent service, this restaurant is perfect for a pleasant family meal.
Price for two: 800 INR (without alcohol)
Timings: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Closed On: Open all days of the week
Zomato Rating: 4.6
Surboos
The opulent thali lunch served at Surboos Restaurant in the heart of St Inez, Panaji City has already become a locals' favorite. The fresh catch of the day, combined with servings of regional vegetables and shellfish, make up the majority of the delectable fish thali. Also, inquire about their daily specialties, which will always include a mouthwatering Goan curry from the area.
Price for two: 800 INR (without alcohol)
Timings: 12:00PM - 1:00AM
Closed On: Tuesday
Zomato Rating: 3.9
City Pride, Patto
City Pride is a modest, no-frills neighborhood eatery that offers traditional Goan home-style fish curries. You may select from a large variety of local catch here and indulge in the tastiest fish fries in the area. Their mackerel rechado and fish thali are both quite tasty.
Price for two: 700 INR (without alcohol)
Timings: 12:00PM - 3:30PM, 6:30PM – 10:30PM
Closed On: Open all days of the week
Zomato Rating: No reviews on Zomato
Masak by Tato's
The fresh catch of the day is generally served in the delicious fish thali, which also includes servings of fresh vegetables and calms from the area. Additionally, you can inquire about their daily specialties, which will always include a mouthwatering Goan curry.
Price for two: 850 INR (without alcohol)
Timings: 12:00PM - 3:30PM, 7:00PM – 11:00PM
Closed On: Open all days of the week
Zomato Rating: 3.9
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