Where to eat for cheap in Rio de Janeiro

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 hotdog stands.

What are the best, in our humble opinion? Read on to find out.

First, here is a Google Map of the places where you’ll find incredible bargains—amazing food for cheap. 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 were 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

Incredible 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 vinaigrete

Map to it all

Nema Padaria

trendy bakery with decent prices. now a chain, so look up their other addresses

Vero

Rios best icecream, with decent 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, sereals, 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 feijao (black bean soup) wins awards every year

La Veronese | Culinária Italiana

Try their pizza, eat it there (don’t take 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 Delícias Árabes

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 they are new to us… great draft 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 served all the time

Café Gaúcho

Try ANY of their sandwiches, but their hotdog 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