Souza Lobo

Dishing up the most delicious and spicy coastal seafood, Souza Lobo is a Goa institution and a favourite with both locals and tourists. The interiors are slightly tacky—with plastic chairs, a shacky vibe, brightly painted windows and a loud din that could be likened to that of a local dhaba—but one bite in, and you couldn’t care less about your surroundings. Amongst all the restaurants in Goa, this one probably has the longest list of loyal customers, so be prepared to stand in line, especially during peak season. Having opened business back in 1932, Souza Lobo shows no signs of slowing down—and they’ve even expanded with outside of the state (although the one in Delhi really isn’t a patch on the original). Must-eat dishes include the prawn curry with rice, fried fish, papad stuffed with seafood and crab xacuti (a Konkan speciality), although you shouldn’t hesitate to experiment with the menu which rambles on for more than a few pages and serves a long list of traditional Goan dishes cooked with absolute authenticity and the freshest produce. The cocktail menu is worth checking out, and they even have live music playing certain days of the week.