Lisbon Chicken Shop Becomes Viral Hit with Chinese Tourists

- The shop is officially named Churrasqueira da Tapada and is located at Travessa da Tapada, 5A, in Lisbon's Alcântara neighborhood. For decades, it was a local secret before its recent international fame. - The owner and sole operator is 66-year-old António Silva, who has been using the same chicken recipe since the 1980s. He marinates the chicken the day before, and the seasoning is a well-kept secret. - The restaurant's viral fame originated on the Chinese social media app Xiaohongshu, a platform for sharing travel and lifestyle tips. The trend grew organically through word-of-mouth on the app, where Silva is affectionately known as "the grandfather who grills chicken." - The establishment is a tiny, cash-only, takeaway-only spot with no sign on the door. Customers, some of whom arrive directly from the airport with their luggage, often eat their chicken on the street outside. - To cope with the influx of Chinese tourists, Silva has learned to count in Mandarin and keeps a handwritten phonetic guide to Chinese numbers next to his old-fashioned rotary phone. - Despite his newfound international fame, António Silva has no social media presence and does not use any food delivery apps. - The future of the viral eatery is uncertain, as António Silva has announced he plans to retire in May and his children will not be taking over the business.