Brazilian Food

Hot drinks and soft drinks in Brazil

Coffee is the great national drink, served strong, hot and sweet in small cups and drunk quickly. However, coffee is often a great disappointment in Brazil: most of the good stuff is exported, and what’s available often comes so stiff with sugar that it’s almost undrinkable. By far the best coffee is found in São Paulo and points south.

Vegetarian foods in Brazil

Being a vegetarian – or at least a strict one – is no easy matter in Brazil. Many Brazilians are unwilling vegetarians, of course, surviving on the staple diet of rice, beans and farinha – and there’s wonderful fruit everywhere – but this is not food that you’ll find in restaurants, except as side dishes.

Alcoholic drinks in Brazil

Beer is mainly of the lager type. Brazilians drink it ice-cold and it comes mostly in 600 ml bottles: ask for a cerveja. Many places only serve beer on draught – called chopp. The best nationally available beers are Skol and Brahma. Antártica is similar and more widely available, Kaiser is a little watery. There are many more local beers, some expensive and some cheap.

Restaurants in Brazil

Restaurants – restaurantes – are ubiquitous, portions are very large and prices are extremely reasonable. A prato comercial is around R$8, while a good full meal can usually be had for about R$30, even in expensive-looking restaurants.

Snacks and street food in Brazil

On every street corner in Brazil you will find a lanchonete, a mixture of cafe and bar that sells beer and rum, snacks, cigarettes, soft drinks, coffee and sometimes small meals.