Lemí

This is the country’s first fully vegan Middle Eastern spot, a brilliant idea by entrepreneur Thiago Vascon. After a year of operating solely as a delivery service, he opened a physical location in Ipanema: a cozy restaurant with an open kitchen and sidewalk seating. You have to start with the colorful esfihas (R$10 each). The pink one is filled with caramelized onions, the green one with carrots and garlic sauce, and the yellow one with vegan sausage and cheese. For mains, the Mjadra Lemí (R$36) is a popular choice, featuring rice with lentils, fried onions, hummus, fattoush or tabbouleh, and a kafta. The menu also includes mushroom, pumpkin, and chickpea kibbeh (R$10 each). With so many great options, it’s worth investing in one of the well-served combos for two (R$90).