Rice, beans and steak on a tray at T2
In Terminal 2 at GIG, Giraffas is one of the few fast-food counters where you can get a full Brazilian "prato feito" plate instead of just a burger. Think rice, black beans, a grilled meat, a bit of salad and fries, all for typical airport-level prices in the R$40–R$60 range. It sits landside/airside depending on configuration, but always within T2, so check your boarding pass before committing to walk over.
Hours flex with flight banks, but reviews mention it open from early morning into late evening, roughly 06:00–22:00. The menu covers burgers, chicken, kids’ combos and desserts, but the PF-style plates are what people call out as actually filling. One Google review says the portion was “more filling than a sandwich,” even if the bill stings a bit more than at a city Giraffas.
Order the basic steak or grilled chicken PF plate if you want that "comida de verdade" feel: rice, beans and meat come standard, and domestic regulars say they ask for extra beans or salad to stretch it. The rating hovers around 3/5, which matches the vibe: fine for a 45‑minute sit-down, not a meal you’ll remember next week. Vegetarian mains are thin; you’re mostly piecing together sides like rice, salad and fries.
Watch out for lukewarm food at rush times between 12:00–14:00 and 19:00–21:00; several reviews complain plates hit the table only mildly hot when the queue snakes into the corridor. Prices also run noticeably higher than Giraffas branches in Rio proper, with some locals grumbling in Portuguese about “preço de aeroporto.” If you care about temperature and don’t like lines, aim for before 12:00 for lunch or around 18:00 for dinner.
One last tip: if you have over an hour before boarding from T2, eat here first, then move to your gate; walking back from distant gates in GIG can easily cost you 10–15 minutes.