Where to Find the Best Feijoada in Rio de Janeiro

Feijoada is arguably Brazil’s national dish, a lofty position for what is basically bean and pork stew. What’s important about having a good feijoada is less about the dish itself and more about everything that surrounds it. When you eat feijoada you are headed to a party. It’s a social occasion with lots of food and people to share it with (and you’ll need them). Oh, and as a bonus, the feijoada itself is really tasty.

We were introduced to the dish in Rio de Janeiro at the Casa da Feijoada. They have been preparing feijoada feasts for over 20 years in the Ipanema area of Rio, so we knew we were in good hands.

Can you really trust a guy that is always smiling? Today, yes you can…

Not long after we sat down, the food started arriving. We were given a cup of warm bean soup, some cheeses and slices of sausage and olives while we decided on our feijoada. Oh, and of course we opted to order caipirinhas (Brazil’s national drink) to go along with it.

Caipirinha

Next we were offered a variety of cuts of meat to add to our bean stew. Let’s see, shall we go for the tourist version (standard sausage) or go daring: pig tail, ears, tongue anyone? While I understand that these “parts” add a lot of flavor, we opted for the tourist version with “normal” cuts of meat. Maybe next time…

Feijoada, without the extra parts

After the still bubbling feijoada was set on the table, side dishes started to show up – and stack up. We had rice, fried yucca, slices of orange (which are supposed to help with digestion), sautéed greens, crispy pork rinds and fried cassava (a staple side dish in Brazil – think a sort of flavorful corn meal).

Side dishes piling up

Everything was REALLY good. We were informed that actually start cooking the beans at 8:00 p.m. the previous night, and add in the meats at midnight. It slow cooks until the next afternoon. Most typically feijoada is considered an afternoon feast, but they also serve it for dinner. I’m glad we opted for the late afternoon – feijoada isn’t a light meal.

Even the coffee they served us at the end was festive. I had never seen one of these table side coffee makers before.

table side coffee

And lastly, a sampling of local flavors like guava paste and cheese, to round it all out. Presented by the always smiling manager of the restaurant. I wondered if this guy ever has a bad day? And for the record, mine on this day was a very good one too.

Dessert and a smile from the Casa da Feijoada Manager

Related articles about things to do and foods to try in Rio de Janeiro

Caipirina Cocktail

Espirito Santa – A Bite of the Amazon in Rio de Janeiro

Getting the Best Sights of Rio by Bike

Pan Toasted Cheese and Guava Appetizer

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Brazilian Feijoada

Thank you to the Casa da Feijoada for hosting us for this lunch. Our opinions remain our own.