If you’re looking for what to eat in Curitiba, this post offers a list of must-try dishes that every traveler should experience in the capital of Paraná. Even for those from other parts of Brazil, Curitiba’s food scene has its own special character.
Curitiba is a melting pot of cultures, and its cuisine reflects this diversity with unique dishes that you’ll only find here. In this guide, we’ll go beyond the obvious and dive into the typical dishes that tell the city’s story, from the legendary carne de onça to the delicious heritage of European immigration.
The literal names of some popular dishes in Curitiba can be misleading, as is the case with carne de onça, which is actually beef. For this reason, I’ll describe each dish and provide suggestions for bars and restaurants I’ve visited. Ukrainian and Polish dishes are also on the list due to the strong influence brought by immigrants who are part of daily life for many residents.
Carne de Onça
Perhaps the most iconic dish in Curitiba, carne de onça is prepared from raw, ground beef (usually sirloin or rump steak) and seasoned with finely chopped onion, chives, olive oil, sweet paprika, pepper, and salt. It’s typically served on slices of French bread.
Why the name carne de onça (Jaguar Meat)? There is no relation to jaguar meat itself, but rather to the “jaguar’s breath”—a Brazilian term for strong breath caused by the raw onion.
Where to try carne de onça:
- Mercearia Fantinato, where you can have the unique experience of having the dish prepared right at your table.
- Quermesse.
Pão com Bolinho and Bolinho de Carne
Traditional pub food in Curitiba, the bolinho de carne (meatball) and pão com bolinho (a meatball bun) are found in most of the city’s bars. While recipes vary, the most popular version is a cold ground meatball seasoned with cheese, fresh herbs, and mayonnaise.
Where to try bolinho de carne and pão com bolinho:
- Box do Eliseu (inside the Curitiba Municipal Market)
- Baroneza
- Mercearia Fantinato
- Barbaran
- Quermesse
- Bar Cana Benta
Rollmops
A popular appetizer in Curitiba’s bars that arrived with German immigration, a rollmop is a pickled fish fillet, usually sardine, rolled up with an onion. The pickled fish is submerged in vinegar, salt, pepper, and sugar. While pickled sardines might sound strange, a squeeze of lemon and a cold beer make it a perfect pairing.
The original rollmop is made from pickled herring, a fish native to the North Atlantic. In Brazil, the dish has gained local variations, adapted with sardines. You can buy a jar of rollmops at Armazém Zelma in the Curitiba Municipal Market.
Where to try rollmops:
- Quermesse
- Bar Cana Benta
- Silzeu’s Bar
Pinhão
Familiar to those from southern Brazil, pinhão (pine nut) is also a staple in Curitiba’s cuisine, as the Paraná pine tree is a symbol of the local landscape. The pine nut is enjoyed in various ways, whether boiled, as a sweet crushed pine nut candy (paçoca de pinhão), or even in a savory pastry (pastel de pinhão) that you can try at the Largo da Ordem Fair. A classic dish with pine nuts is Entrevero, which combines pine nuts with beef, chicken, pork, tomato, bacon, and other spices.
Where to try dishes with pinhão:
- Quermesse
- Pastelaria Curitiba (Curitiba Municipal Market)
- Feira do Largo da Ordem (Largo da Ordem Fair)
Barreado
Barreado is a traditional dish from the coast of Paraná, especially from the city of Morretes, but you can also find it in Curitiba. It’s prepared with beef cooked slowly for 14-16 hours inside a sealed clay pot with a seasoned broth. It is typically served with manioc flour and white rice.
Where to try barreado in Curitiba:
- Antonina 336
- A Caiçara
- Armazém Santo Antônio
- Quermesse
- Bar Jacobina
Ukrainian and Polish Food in Curitiba
Ukrainian and Polish dishes are a significant part of Curitiba’s food scene, maintained by descendants of immigrants who arrived from Eastern Europe in the late 19th century. For a deeper dive, check out our guide to Ukrainian Culture and Food in Curitiba.
Restaurants to try typical Ukrainian food:
- Ukra Bar
- Barbaran
Borscht
Borscht is a soup made from beetroot as its main ingredient, though it has countless varieties even within Ukraine. Borscht is often served with sour cream (smetana) and garlic bread rolls (pampushky).
Vareniki
Vareniki are filled dumplings made from dough of water, salt, and wheat. They are commonly stuffed with cream, mashed potatoes, meat, or any other ingredient to taste. They can also be served with sour cream and fried onions.
Holubtsi
Holubtsi are rolls made of buckwheat wrapped in cabbage leaves, similar to sarma, a popular dish in Eastern Europe.
Paska
Paska is a traditional Ukrainian Easter bread. In Curitiba, you can try it by the slice at Ukra Bar, served with horseradish (krin).
Kyiv Chicken
Kyiv Chicken is a juicy and crispy dish, similar to a schnitzel, that you can try at Ukra Bar. The chicken is rolled with butter mixed with herbs, typically garlic, dill, and fresh parsley.
Where to try Polish food in Curitiba:
- Tadeu Rei do Pierogi (King of Pierogi’s food cart)
- Pierogi da Cidade
Pierogi
Pierogi is a dumpling similar to ravioli, often filled with potato, ricotta, or even meat. In Poland, it’s typically served with bacon.
Bigos
Bigos is a Polish dish made with meat and sauerkraut. I tried it at Tadeu Rei do Pierogi’s food cart. I ordered the one with calabresa sausage, but a mushroom option is also available.
Pączki
Also at Tadeu Rei do Pierogi’s food cart, you can try the Pączki doughnut, which comes with three filling options: cream, doce de leite, or guava paste.
Capixinha and Capistel
Created during the pandemic, the capybara-shaped savory pastry (capistel) and its coxinha version (capixinha) have quickly become Curitiba icons for both locals and tourists.
Where to try capixinha and capistel:
- Pastéis Yamashiro
- Feira Livre Centro Cívico
- Feira Noturna da Água Verde
- Feirinha do Batel
- Feira da Praça da Ucrânia
“Vina” and Quirera com Suã
In Curitiba, the hot dog sausage is called “vina”, a term that came from the German Wienerwurst (referring to a Vienna sausage). Over time, “vina” became the common word for any sausage. It’s perfectly normal in Curitiba to order a hot dog (cachorro-quente) with vinas.
Quirera com suã is a stew made with crushed corn (quirera) and pork ribs (suã), seasoned with fresh herbs, garlic, onion, and other spices. A typical dish from rural areas, it’s also a traditional dish in Curitiba.
Where to try quirera com suã:
- Porcadeiro
- Nostra Casa
Curitiba is a destination that pleases both history buffs and food lovers. No matter if you have just one day or a whole week, be sure to make time to try the carne de onça and the pão com bolinho, as they are unique to this city. The rich blend of flavors, with its Slavic and European influences, promises an unforgettable experience.
Which of these dishes makes you most excited to visit Curitiba?
Originally posted 2025-08-24 20:40:42.
