Restaurante Rei dos Leitões — Restaurant in Mealhada

My wife and I have been traveling through Spain and Portugal. This is our 3rd week and we elected Rei dos Leitões as the worst service by a mile. I can’t comment on the food as we didn’t stay to try it since after Half an hour , nothing came to our table, not even the customary entradas! We arrived early 11:30, before the opening and were the fifth or sixth group to walk in. We sat and after a long while comes a bland waiter giving no explanations or suggestions, looking annoyed just for being there. Everything fine so far we are used to breaking those “difficult” servers. I am Brazilian and my wife speaks Spanish, nothing that a little of good humor and politeness can’t resolve. After taking our order and more than 30 mins later I finally stood up and asked to a person resembling a manager: do you see any table around us without a drink and a couvert beside our table? And we are the 3rd or forth arrival here! He gave a blank stare and mumbled a small apology. When the waiter came he pretended nothing wrong was going on and did not acknowledge the situation. Needless to say we immediately left the restaurant and went to Pedro dos Leitões, 180 degrees opposite the experience. Michelin should revisit this restaurant...

if there’s any justice left in the culinary world, Rei dos Leitões should have a line out the door at all hours and a holy shrine made of crispy pig skin in the middle of the dining room. This place doesn’t just serve suckling pig — it worships it. The crackling is pure glass, the meat is juicy, smoky, and kissed with just enough acidic fire from a sauce that tastes like it was forged in some secret monastery.

And here’s the kicker: even if you didn’t like suckling pig (which would be a character flaw, frankly), you should still come. The confit cod? Silky and rich, like the ocean whispering sweet nothings. The maronesa beef? Bold, primal, the kind of dish that makes you grunt instead of speak. And the wine list? It’s not a menu — it’s a love letter to Bairrada, written by someone who truly gives a damn.

Service is sharp, unfussy, and genuine — the kind of people who know why you came, and are damn proud you did.

Rei dos Leitões isn’t a meal. It’s a pilgrimage. One of those rare places that makes you pick up the phone, call someone you love and say, “Cancel your plans. We’re going...

Funny story with this restaurant, went here with my boyfriend on our 3 day trip trough Portugal. We were going down south, and it’s was time for lunch, and we were almost passing Mealhada, which is the perfect place to have “Leitão”(Suckling Pig). We both had our own favorite restaurant in this area, and unfortunately it was not the same!!! So we couldn’t really decide, should we go to yours or to mine?! Hmmm, My boyfriend was looking through some websites, and they all said Rei dos Leitões was the best spot to go. We looked at each other and we said maybe we should start a new tradition and find a new favorite place.. and so we did! We went here and it was delicious!!! The starters were great!!! Tasty Quejio da Serra, and perfectly done Rissois de Leitão! And don’t forget the Leitão, with super crispy skin and moist meet!!! If you are on you’re way to Mealhada or passing by, be sure to stop here. The wait...