Brazilian Food & Drink
Brazilian Food and Specialties
While there are some Brazilian staples that you will find across the country, each region has it’s culinary specialties. Below is a list of Brazilian specialties and where you can try them:
Prato Freito
A set plate of food usually containing a meat, rice, salad, beans, and other items. See Eating Cheap In Brazil for more details.
Where to eat it:
Across the country!
Moqueca
Fish or shrimp curry made with coconut milk, tomato and onion.
Where to eat it:
Bahia, Espírito Santo
Churrasco
BBQ cooked over an open fire – usually consisting of linguisa (pork sausage) and salted beef steak, but can include chicken or vegetables.
Where to eat it:
Can be purchased in restaurants, however it’s best to experience home-made and with a group of friends. If you’re invited to a churrasco, go!
Tapioca
Like a crepe, made from tapioca flour, filled with salty or sweet fillings.
Where to eat it:
Bahia, can be found in other locations
Pastel
A deep-fried pastry filled with cheese, chicken, or ground beef.
Where to eat it:
Buy in any padaria
Coxinha
Teardrop shaped ball of shredded chicken, covered in mashed potato (or mandioca in the north-eastern region), and deepfried.
Where to eat it:
Buy in any padaria
Empada
Resembling a small pot pie, filled with chicken, vegetables, cheese or palm heart.
Where to eat it:
Buy in any padaria
Açaí
A frozen desert like gelato made from açaí berries, topped with fruit, nuts, granola, chocolate, or syrups. Buy as a snack on the beach, or at an açaí buffet where you can choose from a wide range of toppings.
Where to eat it:
Can be found anywhere in Brazil, but flavors vary by region.
Feijoada
Black bean stew, cooked with pork, beef and/or sausage
Where to eat it:
Originally from Rio, but available everywhere
Farofa
A toasted cassava flour, sometimes containing meat, egg or banana. Commonly served as a side dish, or sprinkled on top of feijoada.
Where to eat it:
Comes with meals across the country, through varieties vary by region
Pão de queijo
Cheesy bread roll made from tapioca flour
Where to eat it:
Originally from Minais Gerais, where you'll find the best, but widely available from padarias
Acarajé
A deep-fried ball of mashed black eyed peas. Typically filled with vatapá (a thick paste made from bread, shrimp, nuts, coconut milk and palm oil), dried shrimp and a spicy vinaigrette.
Where to eat it:
Bahia, and the beaches of Maceio
Quibe
Deep-fried ball of bulgur wheat, ground beef and onion.
Where to eat it:
Buy in any padaria
Brigadeiros
Small balls usually made from cocoa, condensed milk, butter and covered in sprinkles.
Where to eat it:
Buy in any padaria, though can also be sold on the street at tourist attractions or beaches
Classic Brazilian drinks
Have you really been to Brazil if you haven't tried a caipirinha?
Cachaça
Cachaça is a spirit distilled from sugar cane, and can be drunk straight or mixed in a cocktail. There are many different brands and flavors.
Cachaça distilleries often have tours where you can learn how it's made and sample different flavors - if this is on your to do list, don't miss Paraty.
Caipirinha
The classic Brazillian cocktail,
Made with cachaça, limes and sugar. Many places have Caipirinha making classes so you can keep making your own once you get home.
Caipifruita
Made with cachaça, sugar, and a fruit of your choice. Available fruits vary by region, but typically include maracuja (passionfruit), morango (strawberry) and abacaxi (pineapple). In Bahia, caipifruitas can be made in the shell of a cacao fruit – try it, it's delicious!
How to eat cheap in Brazil
Prato Freito
The cheapest way to eat well is to find a “Prato Freito” or PF – a kind of “plate of the day” that is commonly served at restaurants throughout the country. A typical PF will come with rice, beans (type varies by region), salad, farofa, and a meat of your choice.
Understanding the menu can be hard without a little Portuguese. Some common PF meat options include:
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Peixe Grelhado – Grilled fish
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Peixe Frito – Fried fish, sometimes with a batter
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Frango o molho – Pieces of chicken in a sauce, usually with bones
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Frango Frito – Fried chicken fillet
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Frango milanesa – Fried battered chicken fillet
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Liguisa – Fried pork sausage
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Bife a cebola – Beef filet with onions
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Omlette - exactly what it sounds like!
Buffets
Another option is to visit a local self-service buffet. Buffets are common can be found anywhere in Brazil, and the food options are similar to what you would find on a PF, plus usually a desert. Your meal usually comes with free water and coffee.
If you're looking for a cheap meal these can be a great way to eat well - but always check the price first as they can vary significantly.
There are two payment types:
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“Por kilo”, meaning your plate will be weighed and you will pay for how much you take
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“Sem balanca”, meaning there is a fixed price for as much food as you can fit on one plate. Note that sometimes you will be charged a fine if you take more than you can eat!