Awesome stuff to do in Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
This is a heavily opinionated list of places to go while in Porto Alegre. Pull request are welcome.
Porto Alegre is one of the barbecue capitals of the world. The now classic churrascaria model was born here and exported to countless places.
- ⭐ Costela no Roletche ($$$): Not a traditional churrascaria, both in meat selection (this place focuses exclusively on ribs) as well as in brabecuing technique (the skewers of Southern Brazilan barbecue tradition are not used), but still a must go for meat lovers.
- Na Brasa ($$$$$)
- Galpão Crioulo ($$$$): go for the experience. At this churrascaria, you will get the whole shebang: all kinds of barbecued meat, plus a local folklore show (at night) and lessons on how to brew mate.
- Barranco ($$$$): 43 years of history this churrascaria offers excelent quality meat à la carte. Another great differential is the opening hours. Aching for a 1-pound stake at 3 PM? Sure, no problem, just drop by Barranco to satisfy your meaty needs.
- Grelhattu's ($$$)
- Parrilla del Sur ($$$$)
The word xis (literally the name of the letter 'X' in Portuguese) is a phonetical translation of "cheese" and was used to describe cheese burgers. In the same way the word was switched over time, so was the approach to preparing these. If you are looking for traditional American burgers, check the next section. This section is about xis. And you should absolutely try them.
- ⭐ Speed Lanches ($$) the quick. the dirty. the best. If you want to take an Orcish friend somewhere in Porto Alegre, this is the place to go. Suggestion is to aim for non-traditional varieties (in other words, try the xis salada elsewhere), such as xis calabresa (sausage), xis coração (chicken heart, don't make that face until you try it) or the bauru varieties (for Brazilians coming from other states, this has nothing to do with the traditional bauru).
- Tia Zefa ($$)
- Cavanhas ($$) home of more sophistacated xis varieties (but still loyal to its core values), such as the xis português (bell pepper, olives, onions, besides the omnipresent meat) and the xis 373 (all sorts of cheese in it). Recommended for the variety, especially if you are aiming for a 'tour du xis'.
- Papa Léguas ($$) serious contender for the roughest xis out there, their specialty xis (creatively named 'xis papa léguas') can be summarized as "contains everything we could find in our way". If your arteries aren't clogging by just reading this section, they will soon be.
- Bauru do Trianon ($$) home of one of the most respectable baurus in town. Now, your Southern Brazilian bauru has little resemblance to the snack you get by the similar name on other parts of the country. These beasts are usually enough to satisfy a good appetite and are very similar to a xis (differences being on the bread that is used and the fact that chopped meat, instead of a minced burger is used). If you want the canonical Porto Alegre bauru (and one of the cleanest places on the list), this is your spot.
- Gelson Lanches ($$): home of the (in)famous 'xis calota' that was featured on 9gag post Anyone can eat it? is another classic of Porto Alegre's night. If you can eat two whole X you don't have to pay, that said one x is enough for four people. If you want to try a piece of heaven (hell?) ask for half X Filé Mignon 5 Queijos with fries it is the size of a lasagna and can feed two!
- B Burger ($$$)
- Ocidente ($$$)
- Prato Verde ($$)
- Govinda ($$)
- Casa Oriental ($): pretty good oriental food!
- Atelier de Massas ($$$)
- Peppo Cucina ($$$$)
- Rock's ($$$)
- Pizza Jack ($$): gluten free pizzas! all you can eat at noon and a la carte at night!
- Don Vitto ($$$): all you can eat pizza place, pretty wide variety of classic and sweet pizzas.
- Lancheria do Parque ($$): ask for a "suco misto" and you will get a jug of fresh juice, prepared with whatever fruits are at hand. And you will be glad you did. Good for both full meals (the Brazilian classic Prato Feito -- steak, rice, salad, beans, etc., on a dish) as well as burgers and hot dogs. And while you eat, marvel at how the crew manages to work flawlessly amidst one of the most chaotic ordering processes in the world.
- Del Barbieri ($$$)
- Lola, Bar de Tapas ($$$)
- Tudo pelo Social ($$): Bring friends, lots of them -- portions are big. And tasty. And pretty decent in price.
- Grelhados Rossi ($$): focus is on meat (noticing a trend here? It's not me, it's this carnivorous city!), at a pretty decent price you can get a great steak, with fries and/or salad as a side.
- Koh Pee Pee ($$$$$)
- Hashi ($$$$$)
- Floriano Spiess ($$$$$)
- ⭐ Lagom Brewpub ($$$)
- Bier Markt ($$$)
- Malt Store ($$$)
- Mulligan ($$$)
- Dirty Old Man ($$$)
- Champanharia Ovelha Negra ($$$)
I'm a nerd with two small kids. Any advice here would be outdated, so PRs are more than welcome.