Vegan in Brazil: São Paulo, Rio, and beyond (2026 guide)
Brazil is one of the easiest countries to eat vegan. Naturally plant-based dishes, supermarket picks, and key Portuguese phrases.
May 29, 2026 · 5 min read · By VeggieOS Editorial
Brazil's national diet — rice, beans, farofa, and farm vegetables — is one of the most accidentally-vegan in the world. São Paulo also has the largest vegan restaurant scene in Latin America.
Naturally vegan Brazilian dishes
- Arroz e feijão — rice and beans, the daily staple
- Feijoada vegana — increasingly common in São Paulo and Rio
- Farofa (confirm sem manteiga, sem bacon)
- Açaí na tigela (request no honey, no condensed milk)
- Pão de queijo vegano — appearing in Belo Horizonte and SP padarias
- Moqueca de palmito — heart of palm in coconut milk
Supermarkets
- Pão de Açúcar: the widest plant-based range in mainstream supermarkets.
- Carrefour, Assaí: growing vegan sections.
- Mundo Verde, Empório Sattva: health-food chains with deep vegan focus.
- Domestic brands to know: Fazenda Futuro (Future Burger), The New, Behind the Beef.
Watch out for
- Lard (banha) and bacon in feijão and farofa at traditional restaurants.
- Leite condensado in desserts, brigadeiros, and many açaí bowls.
- Queijo coalho on grills — confirm before ordering.
- Mel (honey) commonly added to açaí — ask "sem mel".
Useful phrases
- Sou vegano/a — "I'm vegan"
- Sem carne, sem leite, sem ovo, sem mel, sem queijo
- Vocês têm pratos veganos? — "Do you have vegan dishes?"