15 Traditional Brazilian Dishes You Must Try!

You’re not in Brazil until you’ve had feijoada bubbling next to rice, or feel the soft, cheesy center of pão de queijo fresh out of the oven. But what else should you eat? There’s no way Brazilian cuisine stops at these two things, right?

Don’t worry. I spent 3 months hunting down 40 traditional Brazilian dishes, and I’ve curated a list of the top 15 must-tries, ranging from savory meals to street food and desserts.

If you’re a foodie who’s not up for ordering only the famous dishes, this Brazilian food list is your guide to eating what locals actually enjoy.

Ready to stuff your face around Brazil? Let’s dig in! (This guide first, food later. 🤣)

My 3-Month Culinary Mission

One of Brazil’s charms is its diversity. The Brazilian cuisine is no exception. In all dishes, you will recognize influences from different cultures worldwide, from Indigenous, African, Portuguese, and more.

Which was why… I arrived in Brazil with a list of almost 40 dishes in my notes app.

And after 3 months of hunting down every item on the list, I found only 29 of them. To make your life easier than mine, I’ve curated a bite-sized list of the best of them!

The Two Staples of Brazilian Cuisine

For most traditional Brazilian dishes you order, few will come to you without these.

Rice, Beans, and Cassava

The 3 main ingredients of Brazilian cuisine are rice, beans, and cassava. The rice and beans came from African influences, while cassava, or Aipim in Portuguese, came from Indigenous heritage.

Farofa

Accompanying the dishes, you’ll notice a small bowl or a cup of cream-colored flour.

This is Farofa, cassava flour toasted with butter, garlic, and bacon. It’s a popular side dish that works with everything from Churrasco to Feijoada. Add it to every bite for extra texture and aroma.

While I’m obsessed Farofa, some of my friends have said it tastes like sand in their mouths. You have to try and decide for yourself which team you’re on!

1. Feijoada à Brasileira (Brazil’s National Dish)

Let’s start with the most famous one.

With origins in Portugal, Feijoada à Brasileira uses black beans, stewed with pork or beef meat until tender, and served with rice, Farofa, sautéed kale, and oranges.

The dish is usually considered a weekend lunch for the locals, but I’ve had it on other days of the week, too. Just don’t have it for dinner because it’s much too heavy.

Oh, and have I mentioned? This is considered Brazil’s National Dish! 😄

2. Moqueca (Northeastern Fish Stew)

A popular Brazilian dish typical of the Northeastern states of Bahia and Espírito Santo, this delicious stew is typically made of fish, although other variations also exist.

The ingredients are slow-cooked in a clay pot and served with rice, Farofa, and Pirão, which is a thick porridge made of cassava flour and fish broth.

Moqueca has influences from Portugal (Remontaria à Peixada), Africa (seasonings), and the Indigenous (Pirão) rolled into one delicious meal.

3. Churrasco (Brazilian Meat Barbecue)

This Southern delicacy is another dish you can’t leave Brazil without trying.

The “Brazilian Barbecue” grills different cuts of meat over open flames, typically on large skewers. Popular cuts are Picanha, linguiça (Portuguese sausage), and chicken hearts. My tip: Skip anything else BUT Picanha.

The best place to try Churrasco is at a Churrasqueria, sometimes also called “Rodízio,” referring to an all-you-can-eat buffet. You usually pay one price to enter, and servers bring skewers of freshly grilled meat and cut them right at your table.

Of course, you’ll also find a Churrasco counter in real Rodízio restaurants at a much lower price. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a fancy Churrasqueria.

4. Vatapá (Savory Cream from the Northeast)

Vatapá is a thick, yellow cream with shrimp, usually served inside Acarajé but also eaten with rice and Farofa with other side dishes.

It is a Northeastern dish of African influences, made with breadcrumbs or cornmeal, ginger, cloves, skim milk, olive oil, onion, and garlic.

Although most popular in Bahia, you’ll find Vatapá in every part of Brazil.

5. Estrogonoffe (Brazilian Comfort Food)

Estrogonoffe, as the name suggests, has a Russian origin. It was originally a dish popular among aristocrats, many of whom emigrated to escape the revolution in the early 19th Century.

It became very popular in Brazil during the 1960s-1970s, mostly cooked to receive guests at home.

It’s a creamy sauce with a base of tomato sauce and heavy cream, served with rice, sautéed potatoes, and Farofa.

The most popular option is cooked with chicken. I love it with beef and palm hearts.

6. Tacacá (Amazonian Shrimp Soup)

Look hard for this Amazonian delicacy for a more adventurous option for your taste buds.

Tacacá is a Tucupi-based soup thickened with cassava flour, filled with herbs and shrimp.

The “herb” is the exciting part. The plant is called Jambu, native to the Amazon. It tastes a little fizzy, and it numbs your tongue!

Overall, the flavor profile leans toward sour. It goes amazingly with other flavorful Northern and Northeastern dishes, like Vatapá, for example.

7. Pastel (Crispy Hand Pie)

Want to hear a funny story?

During World War II, Brazil was an ally. Japan, as we all know, however, was an Axis Power. Just like the US, Japanese Brazilians and Japanese immigrants in Brazil were in serious danger during the war.

To stay safe, they started creating their own variations of Spring Rolls and Jiaozis to try to pass as Chinese. The adapted version is a square-shaped puff pastry with savory or sweet fillings.

From Santos, São Paulo, the recipe spread quickly all over the country because of how delicious it is. I, along with my Brazilian friends, attest to that.

Don’t believe me? Have some with a cup of sugar cane juice!

8. Acarajé (Black-Eyed Pea Fritters)

Made from frying balls of black-eyed pea flour in dendê oil and usually stuffed with Vatapá or Caruru, Acarajé is one of the more flavorful street foods you’ll find. And it’s my favorite thing.

If you can’t handle spicy, tell the vendor not to add “Pimentas” or chilis!

9. Queijo Coalho (Grilled Cheese on a Stick)

This little street snack is way too delicious for how simple it is. It’s a block of curd cheese, originating in the Northeast region, on a stick, and grilled with honey and oregano.

You can find them at street fairs, including the weekly Pedra do Sal samba nights.

If you’re lucky enough, you might find vendors walking along the beaches selling them, too. Queijo Coalho is one of the few things I don’t advise against trying on the beach, as the vendors grill them fresh on the spot for you.

10. Pão de Queijo (Gluten-Free Cheese Bread)

Before I tell you what it is, let me lead with this: It ranks second as the best breakfast food in the world in 2024, according to Taste Atlas.

Originally baked cassava flour, made and shared among slaves, cheese was added in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil’s dairy capital, after emancipation.

Nowadays, this “cheese bread” is very popular nationwide. You’ll find it in any bakery in any city you visit. In fact, it’s so easy to find, I just realized as I’m writing this post that I had never taken any photo of it 💀

Check this out… It’s also naturally gluten-free. Thank you, cassava.

11. Coxinha (Chicken Croquette)

You can think of it as a teardrop-shaped chicken croquette, but I say Coxinhas are superior.

It’s made of wheat flour and chicken broth, stuffed with shredded chicken, cream cheese, or both. Other savory variations also exist.

It originated in the state of São Paulo during its first boom in the 19th Century, to be sold as a cheaper variation of Coxas de Galinha. Today, you’ll find it in most bakeries.

12. Brigadeiro (Brazilian Chocolate Truffle)

Originating in the state of São Paulo, this Brazilian chocolate truffle was a party dessert made of sweetened condensed milk with butter and cocoa powder.

“Brigadeiro” is the Portuguese word for the military rank of Brigadier. The name pays homage to Air Marshal Eduardo Gomes, who ran for president in 1945.

The women in his campaign created easy-to-make truffle balls to serve people who showed up for his fundraiser. Soon, people started calling them Docinho do Brigadeiro, which means “the brigadier’s dessert.”

Caution: Foreigners usually find Brigadeiros a little too sweet. I don’t know about other cities, but if you’re visiting Rio de Janeiro, get one from Baked Padaria in Ipanema. It’s perfect!

13. Bolo de Cenoura (Carrot Cake, Brazilian Style)

It comes in the shape of Angel Food Cake, round with a hole in the middle, but no offense to anyone, I think it’s way better. This Brazilian version of carrot cake is usually covered with chocolate sauce on top.

You can find it at most bakeries, sold in round plastic boxes.

14. Quindim (Coconut Egg Yolk Dessert)

This might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but as someone used to a similarly sweet dessert in Thailand, I loved it. It’s a small, circular pudding with a hole in the middle, made of egg yolk, sugar, and shredded coconut.

The coconut only exists in the Brazilian variation, unlike the Portuguese Brisas do Lis, which uses almonds.

There’s also a bigger-sized variation of Quindim, but without a hole, called Quindão.

15. Canjica (Sweet Winter Corn Dessert)

This is easily my favorite Brazilian dessert! Unfortunately, it’s a bit hard to come by outside of winter (June through August), but if you’re there for the season, LOOK FOR IT.

Canjica, Munguzá in the Northeast, is made of whole white corn kernels cooked in milk with sugar and cinnamon. Some people cook it in coconut milk, and some people use regular milk, but it’s delicious either way.

The dessert is served warm with cinnamon and paçoca on top. It reminds me a bit of Arroz con Leche.

Bonus: Try Açaí the Brazilian Way

I can’t end a post on the Brazilian yummy things without mentioning açaí, can’t I?

Pour On Sweetened Condensed Milk!

I know that the norm in other countries is to treat it like a healthy breakfast bowl, with fruits and granola and whatnot.

But have you tried it with sweetened condensed milk?

I’m not saying you need to cut the fruits. By all means, keep the bananas, but try dripping some sweetened condensed milk and maybe even cocoa powder on top, too. Thank me later.

Recommended Foodie Experiences

There are a handful of guided experiences around Brazil that let you try some of the menus mentioned in this list.

In Rio, this walking food tour with a local lets you try most of the street delicacies like pastel, pão de queijo. This Copacabana food tour is more about full dishes like bobó de camarão and feijoada.

You could also join this guided churrasco dinner with drinks pairing if you want to experience a real at-your-table meat-cutting service!

As for São Paulo, I recommend this foodie tour around Liberdade, where the city’s Japanese heritage is most prominent.

If you’re going to Rio, check out my recommended places to eat, and browse more ideas on my Brazil Cultural Travel page!

Helpful Travel Tips for Brazil

I hate how “famously dangerous” Brazil is when I never felt that terrible throughout three months of my stay there. Was the danger real? Yes. But you just have to know how things work.

Learn what to do to navigate the risks and stay safe before you go, and for extra bonus with the locals, read up on some of their cultural points.

• Make sure you protect your trip with a travel insurance.
• Get this eSIM for local data without giving up your number.
• Must-have Apps: Google Maps, Uber, WhatsApp

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