São Paulo has its own customs and favorite foods. For those who want to get to know the city’s local food, we have prepared a list of the foods that São Paulo residents love and that are very easy to find.
MEALS
FEIJOADA
As it is a dish with relatively no secrets to prepare, in addition to not using very expensive ingredients, Feijoada is one of the most well-known and popular typical dishes of Brazilian cuisine. Basically composed of black beans (originally from South America), various parts of the pig, sausage. These ingredients are cooked and immersed in a broth. As accompaniments there is always white rice, farofa (a type of cassava-based flour with seasonings), lightly cooked kale, fried banana and/or orange pieces.
Some would say it’s not a pretty dish, but those who try it approve.
For those who intend to try this dish, it is a good idea to plan ahead, as feijoada is traditionally served in restaurants on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
RICE AND BEANS
This combination of rice and beans is the basis of meals in many homes in the country. Add vegetables, salad and some meat or chicken and you have a simple, nutritious and very tasty dish.
SNACK
PASTEL
Pastel is the local food that people realy loves! It consists of a thin dough made from wheat flour, with various fillings such as meat, cheese, hearts of palm, etc. When fried in hot oil, the dough becomes very crispy.
It can be found at street markets or in pastelarias (a type of snack bar where pastel is the main food). There are bars and restaurants that also have portions of pastel as a starter.
COXINHA
Made with potato dough, the coxinha is traditionally stuffed with cooked and shredded chicken meat, which is why it is shaped like a teardrop to resemble a chicken thigh. The coxinha is finished with breadcrumbs on the outside and fried in hot oil. Is it possible to find coxinhas at cafeterias, bakeries and pastry shops. In small formats, they are served at parties and buffets.
PÃO DE QUEIJO
Pão de queijo (cheese balls) is a savory snack whose dough is generally made from egg, cheese and polvilho (cassava-based flour). The dough is divided into balls and placed to bake in the oven. The end result is a dough that is soft and elastic on the inside and crunchy on the outside.
In 2023, Pão de queijo was voted one of the best foods in the world by the website Taste Atlas, ranking third in the breakfast category.
DRINKS
GUARANA SODA
Guarana soda is the Brazilian soft drink with a unique and natural flavor. Guarana is a shrub that produces small red fruits, from which guarana soda is made. Commonly found in the northern and northeastern regions of the country, guarana is a native Brazilian plant, with Bahia and Amazonas being the states that stand out the most in fruit production. However, guarana soda can be found throughout the entire country.
CAIPIRINHA
Made with cachaça (alcoholic drink made from sugar cane), lemon and sugar, the caipirinha is a traditional Brazilian cocktail. Several flavor variations can be made that replace the lemon with other fruits such as strawberry, mango, kiwi, passion fruit. See more in our article about cachaça and caipirinha.
SWEET
BOLO DE CENOURA COM COBERTURA DE CHOCOLATE (Carrot Cake With Chocolate Icing)
Carrot cake is the local food that many people have learned to make or eat at home using a very familiar recipe. With the chocolate icing the carrot cake is complete. Very good to enjoy with coffee or tea.
AÇAÍ NA TIGELA (açaí in the bowl)
Very nutritious, the açaí fruit comes from a palm tree very present in the Amazon region (North of Brazil). The way of consuming açaí fruit in the North is different from how it is preferred in São Paulo and the region. There, the custom is to make a cream that accompanies meals with meat and fish. In São Paulo, açaí is sweet, served as a very cold cream, similar to ice cream and accompanied by a fruit like banana and granola. Banana can be replaced with strawberry or another fruits. In São Paulo there are specialized stores that sell açaí with different size and topping options.
