Summary of local eating habits
Okay, so you want to know what people here in Rio eat every day? Think of it like this: we have three main meals, but lunch is usually the biggest deal.
Breakfast, or café da manhã, is usually pretty light and quick. People often have just coffee (strong!) with milk, some bread with butter, or maybe cheese or ham. Sometimes a piece of fruit. It’s not common to have a big, cooked meal first thing.
Lunch (almoço) is the king of meals. This is when you’ll find people eating a proper hot meal. Even if they’re working, many will go to a restaurant that serves prato feito (a set plate) or eat at their workplace’s canteen. If they’re home, it’s definitely the main event.
Dinner (jantar) is usually lighter than lunch. Sometimes it’s leftovers from lunch, a soup, a sandwich, or something simple like tapioca or scrambled eggs. Eating a heavy meal late at night isn’t the typical routine for most.
Common home-cooked meals vs. street food
In a big city like Rio de Janeiro, where over 6.7 million people live, life can be busy. So, you see a mix.
At home, the absolute foundation of most meals, especially lunch, is rice and beans. White rice and feijão (usually black beans here in Rio). On top of that, you add a protein – maybe grilled chicken, a piece of beef, fish, or sausages. And there’s usually a simple salad, maybe just lettuce and tomato, and sometimes some cooked greens, like collard greens (couve). This rice, beans, protein, and salad combo is the classic, everyday home-cooked meal.
Street food is all about convenience and snacks, not usually a full meal replacement unless you grab a big pastel. Things you’ll see everywhere include pão de queijo (cheese bread, especially good hot), coxinhas (chicken croquettes), pastéis (fried pastries with various fillings), and empadas (small savory pies). These are more for when you’re on the go or want a quick bite between meals.
Local ingredients or spices people use
Our cooking uses fresh, simple ingredients. Rice, beans, and different meats (chicken, beef, pork). Fish is popular too, especially near the coast.
For vegetables, besides lettuce and tomato for salads, you’ll find okra (quiabo), collard greens (couve), pumpkin (abóbora), and various root vegetables like cassava (mandioca or aipim) and potatoes.
Fruits are a big part of the diet, eaten fresh or as juices. Mango, passion fruit (maracujá), cashew fruit (caju), guava (goiaba), papaya, bananas – the list is long!
Spices are usually quite simple compared to some other cuisines. Garlic and onion are the base for almost everything. Salt, black pepper, and maybe bay leaves for beans are common. Parsley and green onions (cheiro verde) are used a lot for finishing dishes. Malagueta pepper is popular if you like things spicy, but not everyone uses it daily.
Traditional dishes eaten during festivals or weekends
The absolute king of weekend meals, especially Saturday lunch, is Feijoada. This is a hearty stew of black beans with various cuts of pork and sometimes beef. It’s served with rice, collard greens, farofa (toasted cassava flour mixture), sliced oranges, and pork crackling (torresmo). It’s a social meal, often eaten with family or friends. It’s heavy, so people usually take it easy afterward!
Other dishes might show up for special occasions or holidays, but Feijoada is the defining weekend ritual meal here.
Popular snacks or drinks
Besides the street foods mentioned (pão de queijo, coxinha, pastel), another huge one, especially in Rio with its beach culture, is Açaí. It’s a purple berry from the Amazon blended into a frozen pulp, often served in a bowl with granola, banana, or other fruits. It’s become super popular as a snack or even a meal replacement, especially after sports.
Juices are also everywhere – fresh fruit juices of all kinds. Coconut water straight from the coconut is a beach favorite. For soft drinks, Guaraná (made from the guarana berry) is a very popular Brazilian soda. And, of course, coffee is drunk throughout the day.
Cultural food taboos or unique rituals
One common belief, not exactly a taboo but more of a widespread habit/belief, is that you shouldn’t drink water during your meal, especially lunch. People usually drink water before or after eating. It’s a common piece of advice given, though not everyone strictly follows it.
There aren’t many strict food taboos in the general sense, though some people might avoid certain foods if they feel unwell or believe they are ‘heavy’. Eating Feijoada is definitely seen as something you do when you have time to digest and relax afterward. There are also practices related to specific religious beliefs (like Candomblé or Umbanda) where certain foods are prepared or avoided on specific days or for deities, but this isn’t a general food taboo for the whole population.
Overall, eating in Rio is about enjoying fresh ingredients, having lunch as the main event, and finding simple, tasty comfort in dishes like rice and beans. And always having good coffee ready!