This is a post about Brazilian street food.
Brazil is the 5th largest country in the world, the largest one in South America. It’s divided into 5 regions and 26 states plus its capital Brasilia. Having experienced migration from most corners of the world, Brazil is also one of the most diverse countries there is.
Each region has its own peculiarities: accents, music, slangs and, of course, food. But some Brazilian staples are national treasures and I’m here to tell you what they are. Brazilian street food is vibrant, flavourful and an integral part of local culture. Wherever you go you’ll find vendors selling mouth-watering snacks perfect for a quick bite while exploring. Get ready for your next trip to Brazil with this complete list of Brazilian street food you should definitely try.
Fun fact: like Brazilians, most of these have been adapted from foreign cultures. Not appropriated! Our country is a true melting pot of cultures given its colonisation history as well as being a refuge for people fleeing wars. For instance, we’ve got the largest Japanese community in the world outside of Japan! It’s only natural all these cultures and cuisines helped enrich and influence ours.
Best Brazilian Street Food:
Pastel
Starting off with the king! Pastel is such an integral part of Brazilian culture! A crispy fried pastry filled with anything you want! Cheese, minced beef, chicken, palm hearts (my favourite!)… Often enjoyed at street markets or feiras, it’s best eaten fresh and hot usually accompanied by caldo de cana (sugarcane juice).
If you’re in London like me, you’ll find a pastel stall at Portobello Market or at certain Brazilian restaurants like Paraná Sabores in Morden or Cantinho do Goiás in Stockwell.
Read more: The Ultimate Guide to the Best London Food Markets
Caldo de Cana
Speaking of… Freshly pressed sugarcane juice caldo de cana is sweet, refreshing and pairs wonderfully with savoury snacks like pastel or coxinha. You’ll find stalls serving it at almost every street corner or market. You can actually find it here in London at Borough Market. It’s super expensive, obvs 🥲 (considering Brazilian prices).
Coxinha
Coxinha is the queeen! Brazil’s iconic street snack, it’s a savoury dough filled with shredded chicken shaped like a drumstick then deep-fried to crispy golden perfection. The best ones have chicken AND cream cheese inside. You’ll find these at any corner in Brazil… here in London you can also find a coxinha stall at Portobello Market. They have all kinds of different fillings, even the vegan-friendly jackfruit. Paired best with Guaraná, Brazil’s #1 soda.
Açaí
Originating from the Amazon, açaí is a delicious berry typically frozen and blended into a thick refreshing sorbet. Brazilians like to make everything extra so usually you’ll have plenty of toppings to choose from. The most common is granola and banana but you can find all kinds from different fruits to condensed milk and even powdered milk!! While açaí is known for being really good for your health, we like to make it indulgent…
Brigadeiro
These bite-sized chocolate truffles are made from condensed milk cocoa powder and butter rolled in chocolate sprinkles. A Brazilian favourite, brigadeiros are sold at bakeries, cafes, ALWAYS found at birthday parties and always irresistible. Like I said, we’re extra, so you’ll be able to find all kinds of variations of it like pistachio, salted caramel, coffee and the wonderful beijinho (little kiss) which is coconut.
Pão de Queijo
Cheesy chewy and gluten-free pão de queijo (cheese bread) is a popular snack found everywhere from cafés to street carts. Made from cassava flour and cheese these addictive bite-sized balls are served warm and fresh.
Aipim (Mandioca Frita)
Cassava (yuca) root is boiled then fried until crispy. The best kind is golden and crispy on the outside, soft in the middle. Salted and served hot, aipim is Brazil’s alternative to fries (although we have those too!) and pairs perfectly with an ice-cold beer. Perfect bar food too!
Tapioca
Tapioca is a beloved street snack from Northeast Brazil made from hydrated cassava flour cooked into a thin pancake. Usually filled with sweet or savoury toppings such as cheese, coconut, banana or condensed, milk tapioca is prepared fresh on hot griddles by street vendors. It’s naturally gluten-free, chewy and delicious. It’s also popular as a healthy breakfast.
Kibe
Kibe is a popular snack in Brazil but it’s actually Lebanese! It’s made from bulgur wheat and minced beef seasoned with onions, garlic, fresh mint and spices. Shaped into small oval croquettes and deep-fried until golden brown, kibes are crispy outside with a savoury, juicy interior. They’re commonly found at street stalls, snack bars and markets throughout Brazil. It’s a hearty snack perfect any time of the day. I don’t know if it’s a local thing in my region or a country-wide custom, but we tend to eat it with Worcestershire sauce!! I didn’t realise how mad this was until I was telling an artist I work with about it. She’s English-Irish-Lebanese. We were talking about Lebanese food and it dawned on me that Brazilian kibe is like her – a mix of Lebanon and England!
Fun fact: Worcestershire sauce in Brazil is called “molho inglês” which translates as “English sauce” 😂
Acarajé
Popular in Bahia acarajé is a crispy black-eyed pea fritter filled with a creamy paste, prawns and spicy sauces. Prepared fresh by street vendors dressed in traditional attire it’s a cultural and culinary delight. You can actually find it here in London, usually at Upmarket in Brick Lane.
Empada
Empadas are small savoury pies with fillings like chicken shrimp or cheese encased in buttery pastry crust. They’re a bit like British pies but bite-sized and not too saucy. Perfect as quick snacks, empadas can be found in bakeries, cafés, street stalls and even on the beach!
Bolinho de Aipim
You know the aipim we talked about earlier? This one takes a different turn… we boil the cassava and turn it into dough. This cassava croquette is filled typically with shredded beef or cheese then fried until golden and crisp. Served hot, it’s a satisfying snack found at many street vendors.
Cachorro Quente
Brazil’s version of a hot dog is very controversial not only with gringos but amongst Brazilians as well. While most of the world knows hot dogs as bun + hot dog + condiments, in Brazil it’s a whole meal! They’re generously loaded with toppings like sweetcorn, onions, peas, olives…maybe even mash potatoes if you’re from São Paulo! I’m from Rio though, so we’ll have our with shoestring fries instead. Popular late-night street food, it’s filling and oh-so-very indulgent.
Cocada
A traditional sweet made from grated coconut sugar and condensed milk, cocada is often sold freshly made from street carts in various flavours and textures. Sweet chewy and irresistible it’s a perfect snack or souvenir. Unless you’re diabetic, in which case, I’m sure you can find the sugar free version of it. Most desserts and sweets are available sugar free somewhere, even at cafes!
Read more: 10 Things You Should Know About Brazil Before Visiting
Have you tried any of these before? Or have you tried something you think should’ve made the list? Let me know in the comments!
This is a post about Brazilian street food.