Saturday lunch in Rio is feijoada day. Restaurants set out clay pots of glossy black beans, bowls of white rice, buttery toasted cassava flour, shredded collard greens and slices of orange. Families settle in for a long, slow afternoon meal.
Feijoada is Brazil’s national dish: black beans slow-cooked with smoked and salted meats, served with rice, farofa (toasted cassava flour), sautéed collard greens and orange slices. In Rio it is traditionally eaten on Saturdays, and some restaurants also serve it on Wednesdays. In 2026 a feijoada meal costs roughly R$40–120 per person. The traditional recipe is built on pork (sausage, ribs, bacon, ears and trotters), so it is not halal; beef-only and vegetarian feijoadas exist and can be made at home with halal meat.
This guide covers what is in feijoada, how it is served, when and where to eat it, halal alternatives, prices and Portuguese phrases.
What is in the pot
| Ingredient | Halal check |
|---|---|
| Black beans | Fine |
| Carne seca (salted, dried beef) | Beef; not halal-slaughtered at ordinary restaurants |
| Linguiça and paio (sausages) | Usually pork: not halal |
| Pork ribs, bacon, pork loin | Pork: not halal |
| Pig’s ears, feet and tail (in the “complete” version) | Pork: not halal |
| Onion, garlic, bay leaves | Fine |
How it is served
- Rice – plain white rice.
- Farofa – cassava flour toasted in butter, sometimes with bacon (ask).
- Couve – thinly shredded collard greens sautéed with garlic.
- Orange slices – to cut the richness.
- Torresmo – crispy pork crackling (not halal).
- Hot pepper sauce.
Meats are often served on a separate platter, so you can choose.
Halal note: traditional feijoada is made with several pork cuts and is not halal; even the beans absorb the pork. Look for feijoada vegetariana or a beef-only version, and ask whether the beans were cooked with pork (o feijão foi cozido com porco?). For a halal feijoada, cook black beans with halal beef, smoked halal sausage and dried beef from a halal butcher; São Paulo has halal shops and restaurants. See our halal food travel guide.
When and where to eat it in Rio
- Saturdays – the classic feijoada day; many restaurants serve it at lunch only.
- Wednesdays – some Rio restaurants serve it midweek too.
- Botecos – simple neighbourhood bars and restaurants; many are drink-led, so choose family restaurants.
- Hotels and buffet restaurants – often have a feijoada buffet on Saturdays.
- Samba schools – some hold feijoada afternoons with music.
Where does it come from?
A popular story says feijoada was created by enslaved people from leftover cuts of pork. Many historians question this, noting similar bean-and-meat stews in Portugal. What is certain is that it became a symbol of Brazilian identity in the 20th century.
Make a halal feijoada at home
- Soak 500 g black beans overnight.
- Brown halal smoked beef sausage, diced halal beef brisket and a little dried beef, soaked to remove salt.
- Fry onion, garlic and bay leaves; add the beans and water.
- Add the meats and simmer 2–3 hours until thick and creamy.
- Serve with rice, farofa made with butter, garlic greens and orange slices.
What it costs (2026)
| Order | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Feijoada for one at a restaurant | About R$40–90 |
| Saturday feijoada buffet | About R$70–150 |
| Vegetarian feijoada | About R$35–70 |
Plan with the Brazil food budget calculator.
Portuguese phrases
| Say | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Tem feijoada vegetariana? | Do you have vegetarian feijoada? |
| O feijão foi cozido com porco? | Were the beans cooked with pork? |
| Sem porco, por favor | Without pork, please |
| A farofa tem bacon? | Does the farofa have bacon? |
| É halal? | Is it halal? |
Frequently asked questions
What is feijoada?
Brazil’s national dish: black beans slow-cooked with smoked and salted meats, served with rice, farofa, greens and orange.
Is feijoada halal?
Traditional feijoada is not: it contains pork. Vegetarian and beef-only versions exist, and you can make a halal version at home.
What day is feijoada served in Rio?
Mainly Saturdays, and sometimes Wednesdays.
How much is feijoada in Rio?
About R$40–150 per person in 2026.
More from Brazil: churrasco and rodízio and brigadeiros. See all Brazil food guides.
Sources
- Visit Brasil – official tourism site.
- Feijoada.
