Brasilia eats well. Settlers from across Brazil and around the world brought their cuisines, and the result is genuinely multicultural — French, Italian, Japanese, and traditional Brazilian all well represented. The hotel district in Asa Norte has upscale restaurants open to non-guests, while cheaper options cluster along Rua 405/406.
The essential Brasilia food experience is a churrascaria. For a fixed price, waiters bring cut after sizzling cut of grilled meat to your table until you surrender. Even vegetarians are well served — most churrascarias have extensive salad bars with everything from sushi to risottos, palm hearts, and stuffed olives. Brazilians also take their pizza seriously, often served rodizio-style too, and you should try a "dessert pizza" topped with chocolate, strawberry, or banana and cinnamon.
For eating on the go, look for juice bars on street corners selling fresh juices and vitaminas (fruit juice blended with milk), alongside pao de queijo — little cheese-and-yucca dough balls — and tapioca pancakes with fillings.