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Discover where to eat for cheap in Rio de Janeiro with our guide. Explore budget-friendly eateries offering delicious, authentic Brazilian cuisine that won’t break the bank. Experience Rio’s culinary delights affordably! Rio, a huge city, has over 26 thousand places to eat, from fine dining to hot dog stands. What are the best, in our humble opinion? Read on to find out.
Most items cost well under $4 and are worth trying. Some are staples like pizza and sandwiches, but I wouldn’t have added them if they weren’t worth your time.
Our list of “best bang-for-buck” food spots in Rio:
Polis Sucos
Ask for any juice (they are great at all of them), smoothie, or their egg sandwiches “sanduiche com ovo e presunto”.
Ferro e Farinha – Leblon
Incredibly long-fermented dough pizza with unique fresh flavors at under USD 8.. they have other locations, so check them out in Ipanema and around town.
Barraca do Uruguay 80
Best steak sandwich in latin america (they are Uruguaian), served on the beach (they are the only ones allowed to serve food on the beaches of Rio, just because they rock)… try any flavor. Ask for a Caipirinha from Marcelo.
Restaurante e Bar Garota de Ipanema
not the cheapest steak, but prolly the best Picanha you’ll ever have when you ask for the Picanha Brasileira (serves 3), comes with fries, rice, farofa and vinaigrette.
Nema Padaria
Trendy bakery with decent prices. Now a chain, so look up their other addresses.
Vero
Rio’s best ice cream, with reasonable prices.
Supermercado Zona Sul
The flagship store for the Zona Sul brand of grocery stores. This one has lots of eat-in dining options like pizza, pasta, sushi, and more.
Casas Pedro
Grains, cereals, nuts, and the like all sold by weight, not prepackaged… nice place to by tons of Brazil nuts and cashew nuts.
Boteco Belmonte
The best shrimp pastel (pasty) in the world… they are a chain so look them up at their other address around town.
Galitos Grill Ipanema
Great place for chicken lunch: ask for their lunch specials, all around R$35 with spring chicken and several sides.
Zig Zag
Total dive bar with only locals, but their Caldinho de feijão (black bean soup) wins awards every year.
La Veronese | Culinária Italiana
Try their pizza, eat it there (don’t take it away). Their lasagna is top, and their Palmiers are probably the best in the World.
Restaurante Faraj
Try any of their Esfihas. their draft beer is great too. everything they serve is top-notch
T.T. Burger Arpoador
A damn good, solid burger. The envy of other burger joints.
Bar Bunda de Fora
Incredible pasties de carne (beef turnovers) served after 3 pm.
Baalbeck
Esfihas, open or closed (aberta ou fechada), any flavor.
Bar Pavão Azul
Local street side bar with the best patanisca in Rio (codfish cake)… packs every day, so get there before 6 pm.
Adega Pérola – (Copacabana)
Traditional Portuguese bar food is so old that they are new to us… Great craft beer.
Galeto Sat’s
Spring chicken (galeto) served with Brazilian sides (farofa, rice, potato chip, and vinaigrette).
Rotisseria Sírio Libaneza Ltda
Another place to eat Arabic food! Come for lunch and just eat their daily special.
Bar do Mineiro
Great feijoada is served all the time
Café Gaúcho
Try ANY of their sandwiches, but their hot dog and pork Sammy are the best. Great beer too! Show up early as they close at 8 pm or so. Ideal for happy hour
Opus
Huge pork chop Sammy, great beers
Casa Paladino
Try their pastrami or boloni sandwiches. Great beer too.
Bar Ocidental (Beco das Sardinhas)
How about eating a pile of crispy fried sardines! Roughly R$4 each. Great with beer or caipi. Great nook in Rio for people-watching.
Cook With Us
Rio de Janeiro proves that eating well does not have to cost much. From street vendors serving savory snacks to small family-run restaurants offering traditional plates, the city is full of spots where flavor and value go hand in hand. These places show that some of Rio’s best food is also the most accessible.
But if you want to go beyond cheap eats and truly understand the city’s food culture, our Rio de Janeiro food tours are the way to do it. With local hosts guiding you through markets, kitchens, and street food stalls, you will discover authentic flavors and stories that no single restaurant can offer. Book today and taste Rio like a true local.
