Our Philosophy

Antonio Cerqueria

At Oporto, we do things The Portuguese Way.

Oporto is an attitude as much as it is a flavour.

It started in 1986, when our founder, Antonio Cerqueira, opened a small chicken shop in North Bondi. He brought with him the vibrant spirit of Portugal—where meals are generous, flavour comes first, and everything is done with heart.

That same spirit lives on today. We believe in doing things properly: we flame-grill our chicken—never fry it—basting it in our iconic sauces. We use 100% Australian RSPCA Certified chicken because when you care about every detail, you can taste the difference.

“The Portuguese Way” is about being bold, generous, and bringing a little unexpected joy to every experience. From the first bite to the last, it’s food made with passion and served with personality.

That’s what makes Oporto, Oporto.

How it started

The story of Oporto

1976

The Recipe That Started It All

Antonio arrives in Australia carrying the bold chilli flavours of his Portuguese childhood. He begins crafting what would become Oporto's legendary chilli sauce.

1986

The First Store Opens in Bondi

Oporto is born. North Bondi becomes the home of the original flame-grilled chicken. The legend begins.

1995

The Franchise Era Begins

The Bondi Burger takes Sydney by storm. Antonio opens his first franchise in Balmain and the iconic Oporto sun logo is born.

2022

Oporto Goes National

Queensland, Victoria, and New Zealand. 27 new stores open in a single year. Oporto is no longer just a Sydney secret.

2003

The 50th Store Milestone

A landmark moment. Behind the scenes, Antonio is still working through the night making 1000L of chilli sauce by hand just to keep up with demand.

2021

Oporto lands in Dubai

Flame-grilled chicken and the iconic Bondi Burger reach the other side of the world. Under the leadership of Ashraf Nadaf, Oporto opens its first store in the UAE — bringing Australia's most loved chilli chicken brand to the heart of Dubai. The journey continues.

Message By Founder

Antonio Cerqueira Said:

Oporto was never my place, It was and still is the people's. Its their table and their food we make. Oporto is your place, not our.

Antonio Cerqueira

Founder Of Oporto

Call : +971 4 347 4927