If there’s one thing São Paulo residents are proud of, it’s living in the capital of one of the country’s best-known snacks. Whether it’s the traditional shredded chicken or the vegan versions with jackfruit “meat”, coxinha is on the menu of practically every bar, pub and restaurant in São Paulo. In other words, you could say it’s the most São Paulo food we have around! So, find out a little more about the history of the dish, as well as some of the best coxinhas to try in SP.
After all, where does coxinha come from?
It’s not certain that the coxinha originated in Brazil, although the most famous story claims that it did. In her book “Histórias e Receitas” (Stories and Recipes), author Nadir Cavazin claims that the coxinha originated on the Morro Azul farm in Limeira (SP). There lived the son of Princess Isabel and Count D’Eu, who loved chicken thighs – the real ones.
One day, however, there were none for lunch. To avoid the child’s tantrum, the cook decided to shred pieces of chicken, creating the coxinha without meaning to. In the end, he liked it so much that he wanted to taste it more often, and the story spread!
There are no documents to prove this, so we don’t know if it’s true or not. Most likely, the Brazilian coxinha was based on French and Italian recipes until it became the delicacy we know today. There’s nothing more Brazilian than an ethnic, cultural and gastronomic mix, is there?
Best coxinhas in SP: discover our Top 3!
Ofner
First of all, we can’t fail to mention Ofner’s famous coxinhas. The confectionery offers gourmet coxinhas, especially the traditional flavors of shredded chicken or chicken with catupiry.
In fact, Ofner’s coxinhas are so popular with São Paulo residents that every year the house holds its long-awaited Coxinhas Festival, with exclusive flavors. In the last edition, there was even a coxinha made with caipira sausage!
📍 Check out your nearest address here
Frangó
The most traditional boteco in Freguesia do Ó also serves one of the best coxinhas in SP. Its famous chicken coxinha has been delighting customers since 1987, and to accompany it, the house offers a large menu of drinks, beers and non-alcoholic options.
📍Largo da Matriz de Nossa Senhora do Ó, 168 – Freguesia do Ó
Veloso Bar
When it comes to the best coxinhas in São Paulo, Veloso ‘s could not be missed. Vila Mariana’s favorite bar has as its flagship its chicken coxinhas with catupiry, which is a reference in the capital. To go with them, try the bar’s traditional caipirinha, with twenty different flavors available!
📍 Rua Conceição Veloso, 54 – Vila Mariana