Fornalha Copacabana: Our Favourite Coxinha in Rio
At Fornalha in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, we tried a large coxinha filled with chicken and creamy cheese. Among the coxinhas we ate on our Brazil trip, this was our favourite: substantial in the hand, generously filled and worth returning for.
A snack stop while exploring Copacabana
We were out shopping for Havaianas when we stopped at Fornalha. It was already on our radar: we had heard about its coxinha and wanted to try it. The nearby shopping simply gave us a convenient moment to do so.
You order from a display counter in a small shop that opens onto the street. During our visit there were red high tables, customers at the counter and rows of savoury snacks behind the glass. Think of a quick break between walks rather than a long restaurant meal.
The coxinha we would come back for
The pointed shape is familiar once you have seen a few coxinhas, but the size of this one made an impression. It sat in the palm of our hand with a noticeable weight. This was a filling snack rather than a single bite.
Inside, the chicken filling was generous, with soft, creamy cheese adding another texture. The combination of chicken strands and creamy filling reminded us of Circassian chicken back home in Turkey—a comparison of how it felt to eat, rather than a suggestion that the recipes are the same.
If you are new to the snack, our guide to coxinha explains the dough, filling and teardrop shape. Here, what convinced us was the generous filling and the way the chicken and cheese worked together.
What does “frango com requeijão” mean?
The official Fornalha menu lists coxinha de frango com requeijão: chicken coxinha with creamy cheese. Requeijão cremoso is a spreadable Brazilian cheese. Catupiry is a brand name you may hear in connection with this kind of filling; the menu wording here does not specify that brand.
There is also a chicken version without requeijão. If you want the one we enjoyed, use the full name when ordering rather than asking only for a chicken coxinha.
Beyond the coxinha counter
We also tried pão de queijo, the Brazilian cheese bread, although the coxinha was our clear favourite at this stop. There were other savoury snacks, cakes and Brazilian sweets in the display. We noticed brigadeiro too, but left that for another sweet stop rather than trying it here.
The sign’s 1976 date refers to the brand’s beginnings. In its official history, Fornalha describes starting as Fornalha Pão de Queijo, founded by people from Minas Gerais. It is not a verified opening date for this particular branch.
Watch our Fornalha visit
The Fornalha section of our Rio food episode begins at 03:25. The narration is in Turkish, and the footage shows the shop and our coxinha stop.
Watch the Fornalha section on YouTube ↗
Our recommendation
Start with one chicken-and-requeijão coxinha and decide on anything else afterwards. We also ate smaller coxinhas at Boa Praça in Ipanema, in a lively bar setting. Fornalha suited a different moment: a short counter stop with one substantial snack at its centre.
We would happily return. To build the rest of your trip around different kinds of meals, see our Rio de Janeiro food guide.
Where is Fornalha in Copacabana?
Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro – RJ, BrazilGet directions ↗ · Check the menu ↗
Check this branch’s opening hours and current menu before setting out. Our recommendation is based on the food we tried during our visit.
Questions before you go
Which coxinha did we prefer?
The chicken version with requeijão. The menu also lists chicken coxinha without the cheese, so specify the filling.
Is this a sit-down restaurant?
The branch we visited was a small counter-service snack shop. It suited a short break during a day in Copacabana.
Did we try the brigadeiro here?
No. We saw it in the display, but ate coxinha and pão de queijo at this stop.
Keep exploring Rio
What Is Coxinha?
Where to Eat in Rio de Janeiro
Boa Praça IpanemaEditor’s note
Adapted from our own Fornalha visit notes on Harbiyiyorum, with photographs and a frame from our visit video. The official menu and brand history were checked on 30 October 2026. This is our favourite among the coxinhas we tried on the trip, rather than a ranking of every coxinha in Rio.
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