Discover 12 Latin American restaurants that stand out with regional dishes

The special The Best of São Paulo Gastronomy – Restaurants, Bars and Cuisine brings a selection of more than 900 places to eat and drink in the city, presented according to their specialty and with information about the neighborhoods in which they are located.

In addition to the selection, the project highlights winners chosen by the specialized jury and the opinion of the city’s residents through a Datafolha survey, which draws up a list of the best addresses in São Paulo according to São Paulo residents.

Discover 12 Latin American restaurants in São Paulo below.

ATZI

The taqueria is the sister restaurant of the Mexican restaurant Metzi, owned by chefs Luana Sabino and Eduardo Ortiz. The tacos, the house’s star dishes, come in seven flavors, starting at R$18. The al pastor is made with seasoned pork, while other fillings include beef, chicken, pork rinds and mushrooms. There is another type of dish called vampire, which has crispy tortillas and has the same flavors as the tacos (R$24). Drinks include passion fruit and hibiscus water, for R$14.
R. Mourato Coelho, 1,233, Pinheiros, west region, tel. (11) 94900-0044, @atzitaqueria

CHEVERE

This bar-like restaurant spreads out along the street with tables and always playing Latin music. The kitchen specializes in empanadas. There are 15 flavors, starting at R$14, ranging from chicken, beef, shimeji and jackfruit, as well as sweet versions like banana with dulce de leche. One country that appears on the menu is Mexico, with its tacos with typical fillings, such as shredded pork (R$30, two units). At lunch, dishes start at R$35, such as the majadito. Vegetarian, it features rice with turmeric sautéed in tomato sauce, served with peas, fried plantain and egg.
R. Sousa Lima, 321, Barra Funda, west region, @cheverecozinhaebar

THE PERUVIAN CEVICHERIA

Run by chef Marisabel Woodman, the restaurant is decorated with colorful fabrics, ceramics and artwork inspired by pre-Columbian culture. Start with the tiradito de la casa, made with sliced ​​fish in ají sauce (R$60). The ceviches (starting at R$71) come in six versions, which can include shrimp, scallops, octopus and tuna. At the casuelita del mar, the catch of the day is marinated with shrimp in tucupi and tiger’s milk (R$91).
Al. Campinas, 1,357, Jardim Paulistano, west region, tel. (11) 5990-0623, @laperuanabr

THE POPULAR

Opened in 2023 by Mexican Quique Calderón, it offers tacos, quesadillas and burritos that cost R$20. The tacos, the house specialty, are prepared with two tortillas in two flavors: pork and beef. Among the quesadillas, the highlight is the alambre, stuffed with sirloin and bacon. The same ingredients, with the addition of avocado and bean paste, are used in the burritos. Sides such as guacamole and chili beans (beans with ground beef) cost R$25.
R. Frei Caneca, 1,057, Consolação, central region, tel. (11) 98394-3326, @taqueria_lapopular

MACONDO COLOMBIAN ROOTS

Jair Rojas’s house, which started out selling typical food on the street, is a meeting point for Colombian cuisine in the capital. He serves recipes like patacones, a crispy plantain disk (R$41). But the arepas, a corn-based dough, are the star of the place. You can make your own or choose from different versions, like the choriarepa, which has cheese and sausage (R$26).
R. Card. Arcoverde, 1.361, Pinheiros, west region, tel. (11) 98616-4184, @macondo_raizes_colombianas

MIX

The recipes at this restaurant, located in Barra Funda, combine traditions from different Latin American countries, according to the vision of Bolivian chef Checho Gonzales. The ceviche is made with hake and is served with tomato juice, lemon and potato chips (R$40). The chef also serves baked pirarucu, accompanied by beans, vinaigrette and bacon (R$64). The pork ribs, served with black-eyed peas, plantains and cheese (R$57), are worth trying. In the dessert section, there is the Latin American classic tres leches cake (R$20).
R. Sousa Lima, 305, Barra Funda, west region, WhatsApp (11) 97392-3833, @mescla_restaurante

OSAKA NIKKEI

The chain operates in Latin American countries and the United States and specializes in Nikkei food, the name given to the cuisine of the Japanese community that has been fused with Peruvian traditions. Among the ceviches is the kunsei (R$62), made with tuna or smoked salmon with ponzu, a sauce made with soy sauce and yuzu. Among the hot dishes, the mochero duck (R$89), prepared in a wok, is served with beef, rice, shiitake mushrooms and a touch of acerola with passion fruit. The mochi (R$21), among the sweet dishes, is filled with green tea, mango, passion fruit and chocolate.
R. Amauri, 234, Itaim Bibi, west region, tel. (11) 3073-0234, @osakasaopaulo

PERUVIAN RINCONCITO

This year, the restaurant celebrates its 20th anniversary, with ten locations in the capital of São Paulo. Under the command of Peruvian chef Edgard Villar, the restaurant prepares very typical dishes, such as anticuchos, beef heart skewers (R$36.90 for three units). One of the most popular dishes is the octopus parrillero, served with crispy potatoes (R$139.99). Grilled on the grill, the octopus is served with anticuchero sauce, made with beer, ají panca (a Peruvian pepper), garlic and oregano. But the main attraction is the ceviches, which can be made with salmon, shrimp, mixed and even vegetarian (starting at R$56.90 for an individual portion).
R. Aurora, 443, Centro, tel. (11) 3361-2400, @rinconcitoperuano

SURI

The restaurant serves nine types of ceviche starting at R$70. The recipes vary in sauces, fish or seafood used, such as squid, shrimp, salmon and tuna. Among the main dishes, the Galápagos is made with grilled sea bass in a mango and biquinho pepper vinaigrette (R$82). More Brazilian, the piancó features chicken in a risotto with red rice from Paraíba (R$69). It comes with vegetables and ají amarillo sauce. The coffee and chocolate pie with whipped cream, for R$37, is a great way to end the meal.
R. Mateus Grou, 488, Pinheiros, west region, tel. (11) 3034-1763, @suricevichebar

TAQUERIA LA SABROSA

In 2023, the Mexican food restaurant left Rua Augusta and moved to a new location in Pinheiros. The menu remained the same. The tacos, with two tortillas, come in versions with pork, shrimp and beef, as well as vegetarian versions, which combine mushrooms, zucchini, potatoes and sautéed corn (starting at R$17). On Tuesdays, two portions are sold for the price of one. The burritos are more substantial, such as the chicken one made with beans, cheese, guacamole and caramelized onions (R$40). In the alcoholic section, there is a frozen margarita (R$30).
R. Francisco Leitão, 246. Pinheiros, west region, tel. (11) 2925-6189, @taquerialasabrosa

TARAZ

With a menu led by chef Felipe Bronze, this South American restaurant is located inside the luxurious Rosewood hotel. The menu offers fresh flavors, such as ceviches, but mainly grilled dishes designed to be shared. The picanha, served with roasted onion, garlic, chimichurri and cassava farofa, costs R$95. The short ribs are grilled with heart of palm and lemon confit (R$240). Desserts are also meant to be shared, such as the cassava cake with coconut, vanilla ice cream and dulce de leche (R$55).
R. Itapeva, 435, Bela Vista, central region, tel. (11) 3797-0500, @taraz.saopaulo

WASKA LATIN RESTOBAR

The restaurant owned by Peruvian couple Natalia Marrache and Luis Ramirez opened in late 2023 in Pinheiros and is dedicated to cuisine from several Latin American countries, such as Venezuela, Colombia and Argentina. There, they offer four types of ceviche, which cost from R$52, as well as tacos and patacones —made from plantain and served with guacamole or meat. Natalia is in charge of the cocktail bar and creates drinks such as the saoco papi, made with pisco, strawberry, Campari, lemon and tonic, priced at R$35.
R. Pe. Carvalho, 46, Pinheiros, west region, @waska.restobarlatino