Mangai

Frommer's Review

The ideal place to get a look and taste of Nordestino food, the cuisine of Brazil's dry, cattle-raising Northeast. Mangai offers a self-serve buffet -- or better, a smorgasbord -- featuring over 40 different Nordestino dishes, some of them traditional favorites, other wonderful inventions made using traditional local ingredients such as carne-de-sol (sun-dried beef), macaxeira (sweet manioc root), farofa (ground, roasted manioc root), beans, and rice. The carne-de-sol na nata (butter-sautéed sun-dried beef) is a house specialty. Mangai is truly best for a long leisurely lunch. After you indulge (or overindulge), take advantage of the hammocks slung throughout the establishment and settle in for a snooze. Alcoholic beverages are not available, but there is an excellent array of fruit juices.

Tip: For a real Northeastern treat, try Mangai for breakfast. Dishes include tapioca catolé (fresh soft cheese with shaved coconut), toasted macaxeira (manioc) bread, pamonha (a sort of sweet corn bread served in a banana leaf), cuscuz de santa (cornmeal covered in sun-dried beef and warm cream), plus a wide variety of exotic fruit juices.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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