10 Best Local Dishes from Brazil

Churrasco is Brazil’s most recognisable cuisine. A churrascaria is an establishment that serves meat like steak, pork, sausage or chicken, churrasco style, which is essentially barbecued. You may have experienced churrasco meat at rodizio-style Brazilian steakhouses outside of Brazil where waiters will cut the meat from a large skewer directly onto your plate.

When visiting Brazil, you’ll find churrascarias fit for all walks of life, from upscale steakhouses to kitschy-themed restaurants to hole-in-the-wall shops. Any way you dine, churrascarias are a meat-lover's paradise.

The caipirinha cocktail is a national favourite in Brazil, allegedly originating in Sao Paulo. Recently, the caipirinha craze has spread beyond its origin country, and if you’re visiting Brazil, you’ll want to imbibe at least once.

The drink is fairly simple but has one ingredient that is specific to Brazil: cachaca. The distilled sugarcane liquor is served shaken with muddled lime, sugar and ice. You may also see variations made with other fruits like strawberry, mango or pineapple. Order one at a bar or restaurant, or from a drink cart that local mixologists push up and down the beaches.

Pão de queijo will win you over in one bite. Brazilian cheese bread has a pillowy, chewy texture with an unmistakable cheese flavour. Although it’s called a bread, it’s actually made from tapioca starch, resulting in a naturally gluten-free treat. The type of cheese used in pão de queijo varies, but canastra, mozzarella and parmesan are the most common.

You can find pão de queijo widespread in Brazil, served as small, almost bite-sized rolls. Locals will tell you the best time to eat cheese bread is for breakfast while enjoying a cup of coffee, but it also makes a great bar snack with your late-night cocktails.

Like a lot of today’s Brazilian culture, the popular dish called feijoada can be traced back to the country’s Portuguese colonisation. The soup, however, does have its own Brazilian flare as in Portugal it is often made with red or white beans, compared to Brazil’s black bean version.

While you may come across variations on your travels, the most common way it’s made is with black beans, pork and beef. It’s a hearty stew, eaten most often at lunchtime served with rice, farofa and orange slices. If you’re feeling brave and want to immerse yourself in the culture, find a restaurant that serves it the old traditional way with the tail and ears of the animal included in the soup.

Coxinhas are a popular fried chicken dumpling, known for their savoury and succulent flavour. The dough is a mixture of flour and chicken broth and is filled with shredded chicken, cheese and a variety of spices. Coxinhas, which translates to “little thigh”, are made in a teardrop shape meant to resemble drumsticks.

So, where can you get these delectable little chicken bites? Coxinhas are traditionally sold in padarias, or bakeries, but you can also find them at plenty of restaurants across Brazil. You’ll likely also come across different variations of the dish, with some chefs using maize instead of flour or adding in additional ingredients to the filling like tomato sauce or corn.

When visiting Brazil and its over 8,000 km of Atlantic Ocean coast, make it a priority to try the country’s fresh seafood dishes, for example, the popular local dish Moqueca. This fish stew is often made with firm white fish and served with a side of plantain stew, white rice and pirão, which is a cassava rootstock.

Moqueca features a rich mix of Portuguese and African flavours and blends Brazilian culture beautifully. It’s served in a signature ceramic pan that retains the soup’s heat for longer. Vegetarians take note: it is possible to find this dish made with tofu or plantain instead of seafood. Research the region you’re visiting before your trip to ensure success.

Bolinho de bacalhau can be found widely in Brazil. The salt cod croquettes have their place as appetisers at a chic restaurant as well as finger food snacks at a street fair. They are made with cod, potatoes and parsley and deep-fried to preserve a creamy texture on the inside while giving the outside a nice crunch.

Try your order of bolinho de bacalhau with a splash of lime juice drizzled over the top or dipped in a spicy Portuguese piri-piri sauce.

When visiting Brazil, slip into a bakery to try a brigadeiro, a beloved bonbon-like confection. The chocolate fudge delight is traditionally served in a cupcake tin and coated in chocolate sprinkles, though it’s become more common to see new flavour variations in recent years.

Brigadeiro are popular around holidays and celebrations. The origin of the treat can be traced to a marketing campaign for presidential candidate Brigadier Eduardo Gomes. Though he didn’t win the election, the brigadeiro treats that arose from his campaign won the hearts of Brazilians across generations.

You won’t want to leave Brazil without stopping by a street fair and trying a sweet or savoury pastel. These hand pies are the quintessential street food in Brazil. Pastels feature a wide range of fillings like chicken, cod, ground beef, mozzarella, hearts of palm or sweet guava paste and chocolate.

You can easily find pastels to try by searching for pastelarias, fast food restaurants that specialise in the treat. Many of the restaurants offer tens of different pastel variations.

Guaraná Antarctica is a fruit-flavoured carbonated soft drink with Brazilian roots. Guarana is an Amazonian fruit that is naturally caffeinated, making it a common ingredient in energy drinks. The soft drink makes a refreshing beverage on a hot Brazilian afternoon thanks to its sweet apple-like flavour.

Where can you buy a Guaraná Antarctica while visiting Brazil? As the number 1-selling soft drink in the country, you can expect to find it just about anywhere: restaurants, corner shops, markets, you name it. Try it in a cocktail like the Brazilian Sunrise, a bourbon and Campari drink that benefits from the sweet flavour of Guaraná Antarctica.