Fortaleza Restaurant Tips by CactusJim Top 5 Page for this destination

50 Sabors: The best Ice Cream south of the Equator

This is hands down the best ice cream in town and perhaps Brazil. They have 50 different flavors, many tropical fruits, and they have all kinds of topping that you can have as much as you want of. I personally like to taste the ice cream, my wife tries to drown hers in creams and syrups.

The ice cream is made fresh there at the shop and the guy is always coming out with a fresh batch of something yummy when they start getting low.

The going rate is R$4.00 for two scopes. I do not know what they get for one scope, what is the point?

The new sign reads in English and Portuguese and they recently remodeled the whole place.

Favorite Dish: My favorite is Tapioca ice cream, it is excellent! The sign says that you can taste as many flavors as you want before ordering, so at least give it a try. My second choice is always the hard one... I usually experiment with a few before deciding. I think next time I will just get two scopes of Tapioca!

Address: Beira Mar

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Beira Mar

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 5

Theme: Ice Cream

Montmarttre: Best Sandwich in Fortaleza

This one took a little longer to discover, but once I found it I was hooked! They have the best sandwich in town. They have all kinds of tasty breads and cakes but they make a killer hot beef sandwich. The area is very nice, probably the nicest area of the city and there are a lot a beautiful shops close by. The restaurant is always very clean, the staff friendly, and the experience good.

Favorite Dish: The hot beef sandwich, unfortunately it is a little expensive, and the sandwich is pretty small. That being said, it is the best sandwich in town. Oh yeah, the clowns from Veja voted it the best sandwich in town... what are these guys following me around?

Address: Rua Professor Dias da Rocha

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: Aldeota

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 5

Theme: Bakery

Delicias do Mar: Best seafood restaurant in Fortaleza

This is the best seafood restaurant in Fortaleza. My in-laws have been taking me there for years. Recently it was confirmed, voted Best Seafood Restaurant in Fortaleza by Veja Magazine. Veja is a national weekly much like Time in the U.S. Anyway the food there is really good. It is run out of the guy?s house he has the seating up front and the kitchen in the back and he lives upstairs with his family. The food is great buy the service sucks, you will have to wait awhile for your food. Of course it is hot and there is no air conditioning, he did spring for a few fans a few about a year ago.

Favorite Dish: We always get one fish with the cheese sauce and one fish with coco-nut sauce and split it between 6 people. One dish is big enough to feed 2 people easily with rice and potatoes.

Comparison: about average

Directions: Varjota near Aldeota

Price: less than US$10

Rating: 4

Theme: Seafood

Algumas: Fejoada do Dona Goretti

This is the typical North Eastern dish that has become popular throughout Brazil in recent years. That being said, the best place to get this dish is still in the North East. Some restaurants have it on the menu. You will just have to ask and keep your eyes open. This dish was prepared by mea Sogra Dona Goretti. It is in the top 5 foods that you need to have while your in Fortaleza. It consists of beef, sausage, beans, and rice. It is slow cooked or cooked in a pressure cooker and served piping hot. I like to spice mine up with a little hot sauce. Ummmmm!

Favorite Dish: Fejoada do Dona Goretti

Address: Keep your eyes open for Fejoada on the menu.

Directions: 70 % of all the restaurants here in Fortaleza have Fejoada especially on Saturdays.

Rating: 5

Theme: Local

Terra do sol: Crab at the beach is a must.

This is a "barraca do praia" it is a typical restaurant on the beach here in Cear?. This one is good, located at Praia do Futuro beach just off Santos Dumont Avenue. You can eat your crab or your fish in the restaurant or under the shade of a palm covered table right on the beach. The waiters will get to you no matter where you sit. Agua de Coco is a must and is the best deal too (R$1.00) The Crab (Carengaju) is a must try for a first time visitor. For a good dinner they serve a very good Fried fish with all the fixin?s. This Barraca does have it?s own security, but like everywhere in Brazil leave your valuables at home and keep your money and camera out of sight. Like Seinfeld said the wallet in the shoe bit is not impenetrable to a beach wise thief.

Favorite Dish: The crab is good, but it is sooooooo much work for the amount of meat that you get. Of course one of my all time favorite foods is King Crab from the North Atlantic, there is a world of difference in the tastle and the size of these crabs in Cear?. The shrimp pastel is great for an entrada. The Fried fish dinner is great for an entree.

Address: On Praia do Futuro

Comparison: about average

Directions: Take Ave. Santos Dumont to the beach take a right it is four or five barracas down. Take a cab, and like everyone else on VT has mentioned leave your expensive stuff at home. It´s packed on Thursday night and Sunday morning.

Price: US$11-20

Rating: 4

Theme: Seafood