Brazil #3: How to Eat Cheap in Brazil
Hellooo travelers! In this post I want to give ideas on how to eat cheap in Brazil for broken backpackers.
Image source: CC0 Creative Commons on Pixabay.com
If you are a broken traveler that, like me, don't like to buy all those junk foods with no nutritious value or maybe you'd like to jump on the local lifestyle, this is the post for you.
I've heard from many of my foreign friends that Brazil is an expensive place to visit, when in reality what happens is that they are getting into touristic traps. That's why I've elaborated this local secrets to save you a lot of money and also provide you good nutritious food.
Brazilian coisine is rich, tasty and diversified. Every region has it's own typical plates, prepared following traditions that are transfered from generation to generation. Here is where many tourists fall on the traps on touristic cities. If you really wish to taste traditional food, and you must try them all, try to make local friends and I'm sure they be super happy to show you everything, brazilians are in general friendly and open to help.
So my aim is to give you options that everyday brazilians opt, that are cheap, nutritions and super tasty.
Obs.: Today's dollar price for convertion is 1 USD = 3,3 Reais.
1. Restaurante "Buffet" por Quilo (Buffet per Kilo)
Image source: Leandro Ribeiro on Flickr
This is the number two choice for most everyday brazilian workers. In a "quilo" restaurant you'll find a variety of foods that you can choose as you wish in a self-service table. This restaurants have a fixed price per gram and the meal weight is measured after you've made your choices. Beverages are paid apart and normally desserts are courtesy of the restaurant.
Where to find: They are common around commercial areas, city centers and neighborhoods. Avoid at all costs touristic places, they'll be more expensive.
Price Range: 30 - 60 Reais/Kg
Food Variety: Rice, Beans (Feijoada), different types of meat, greens, pasta, lasanha. The more complex and expensive the restaurat the more variety you'll have.
2. Restaurante "Buffet" Livre (Free Self-Service Buffet)
Calm down! They are not free food. Free self-service restaurants offer the same type of service as the kilo restaurants but here the price is fixed and you can eat until you blow up. It's very common for them to limit the amount of meat you can have (usually 1 or 2 pieces), if you don't eat meat you can ask for a discount.
Where to find: They are common around commercial areas, city centers and neighborhoods. Avoid at all costs touristic places, they'll be more expensive.
Price Range: 10 - 30 Reais
Food Variety: Rice, Beans (Feijoada), different types of meat, greens, pasta, lasanha. The more complex and expensive the restaurat the more variety you'll have. Actually many kilo restaurants offer the option to be free serf-service.
3. "À la minuta" (No translation for that)
Image source: Topsul notícias
This is the favourite plate for brazilians that are in a rush. It consists of a plate prepared with rice, beans, meat (chicken chest or red meat), french fries and fried egg. The good thing about this plate is that it's ready within minutes (hence the name à la minuta), it's usually super cheap and can be found everywhere.
Where to find: Normally you'll find in small restaurants or cafés/diners/central bus stations. They are common around commercial areas, city centers and neighborhoods. Avoid at all costs touristic places, they'll be more expensive.
Price Range: (10 - 15 Reais)
Food Variety: It consists of rice, beans (Feijoada), red meat or chicken chest, french fries and fried egg, greens are optional.
4. Buying on a Supermarket and Cooking
If you are a backpacker you're probably familiar with this option. Most of us stay in a guest house, hostel and even have a camping stove, making this the best option.
My tip here though, avoid buying your food on grocery stores/gas stations/small mini markets since most of them are generally more expensive than a big brand supermarket.
Where to find: Well, it's easy to spot a big ol' supermarket, they are everywhere.
Price Range: 20 Reais, with this amount and creativity you can make a full meal for two.
Food Variety: Creativity is your limite.
OBSERVATIONS
It all depends on your budget and how much of a Lion you are.
- If you eat a lot a Free Self-Service restaurant is the best option if you can find a cheap one.
- If you don't eat that much but have the means to cook, definetely go for a Supermarket.
- If you don't have the means to cook and don't eat much a Kilo Restaurant will do well.
- If you are in a rush an "À la Minuta" is a nice option.
- If you are a hardcore broken backpacker go to any restaurant after 3 PM and ask for food, they usually give away what they didn't sell.
TIPS
- Get away from the touristic places, most of the times you'll walk some blocks inside a neighborhood and you'll find local restaurants that are a bargain, specially near the beach.
- Ask any workers on the street where to find good and cheap food, they always have good tips.
- If you make some brazilian friends they'll be glad to pay you a beer and invite you for a barbecue just to hear your story, just go out there and talk to people.
This is it guys, Brazil has a lot of options for all tastes and pockets, I just wanted to give my opinion on what is viable for those short on money that wish to have a delicious meal. There are always fast food restaurants and local diners serving incredible burgers called "Baurus", but those usually cost the same of a full meal.
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Obs.: All images were generated using free sources and edited by @mrprofessor
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Valeu! Aqui em São Paulo o A la minuta é conhecido como PF (Prato Feito) :-) Uma dica, se for postar em português o pessoal do @camoes e @lusofonia recomenda usar a tag #pt. Sucesso, boa sorte e boa passagem de ano mais uma vez!!
Grande!! Valeu pela contrubuição e resteem @wagnertamanaha. Bacana essa diferença entre os estados, o Brasil é realmente muito grande!
Ótimo final de ano por aí!