Madureira is like a Rio-inspired healthy version of a diner. I honestly don't know how I haven't…read morereviewed this place yet. It's my go to hunger killer any time of the day.
For breakfast enjoy delicious Açai bowls (a must try for all foreign visitors), a little bowl of scrambled eggs with a side of fruit salad or their version of French toast in which an egg is fried to your liking within the hole cutout of a piece of toast and then topped with requeijão, an extra creamy Brazilian creme cheese. Also worth trying is the crazy monkey sandwich made of banana, cinnamon and a special "healthy" cheese (as though cheese could be diet, ha!). Super health nuts will appreciate the mashed bananas with oats and honey.
For lunch they have a lot of great sandwiches including a tasty veggie burger. You won't be tempted to get that side of fries, since they don't sell anything fried. They do however sell non greasy empanadas which make a great afternoon snack. My favorite is the carne picante.
The juices are not to be missed as part of any meal but especially refreshing at mid day is a chilled coconut cut open on request. Foreigners should note the menu separation of Vitaminas (smoothies), which are quite thick and often include Açai or sorbet, and sucos (juices) which are usually filtered to a quite thin consistency.
For dinner the platters are nutritious and filling. I think the baked white fish with salad is the most popular version for the post-gym crowd, but I am also a fan of the sweet potatoes or the veggie burger patties (comes without the bun).
Basically this place is a vegetarian, gluten free and gym addict haven.
But beware those desserts! I can say from personal experience that tasting that cheesecake should be done at your own personal risk. I think it's on the list of foods that I would request for my last meal. The bolo de banana integral while not as crave-worthy is also pretty good and meets the criteria of desserts that I actually believe are healthy. The only dessert, and actually menu item come to think of it, that I didn't love (after two years of quite devoted patronage) was the recently introduced gluten free cake, unfortunately really dry and flavorless.
Beyond selling great value for money healthy food, the service here is super fast, theyre open pretty late, they deliver and they have an English menu (not that I need it anymore but great for visitors).
And for extra super duper bonus points Madureira regularly gives away the pão de queijo that gets too hard from sitting in the front case for too long to the local homeless people. How can you not love them!?!?
