Rice-and-beans plates at T1 instead of another sad burger
In Recife’s T1, Giraffas is one of the few fast-food spots doing full Brazilian prato-feito plates alongside the standard burgers and fries. It sits airside in the main passenger terminal, so you’re fine staying past security once you commit. Figure mid-range pricing ($$): more than a city Giraffas, roughly in line with other sit-down-ish options in the airport.
Menu hits: PF-style combos with rice, beans, a grilled meat, and salad, plus burgers, fries, and soft drinks. A typical plate with rice, beans and beef runs more than you’d pay downtown, but still less than a full-service restaurant in REC. If you just want protein and carbs before a late-night flight out of T1, this is one of the few counters that covers that brief without making you hunt outside the secure area.
Quality lands around its 4.0 rating: fine, but nobody’s writing home. Reviews flag “ok but nothing memorable” food, and some complain about bland seasoning and lukewarm sides during busy bank times. Regulars stick to the simpler grilled-meat PF combos and skip anything that looks like it’s been holding too long under heat lamps.
Service is the pain point. Multiple Google Maps reviews mention long waits even with only two or three people in front of them, especially at peak check-in waves for domestic departures. That means a plate and drink can easily turn into a 20–30 minute stop if you hit it at the wrong time. If your boarding pass says REC T1 and your connection is under an hour, this is a risky choice.
Tip: If you want rice and beans, order the most basic PF plate, skip customizations, and pay as soon as you decide; then grab a nearby seat where you can still see your gate screens.