Rio de Janeiro's metropolitan menu is largely a product of the important role that the city played in the history of Brazil, attracting and uniting cultures from the whole country and from the rest of the world.

Rio de Janeiro has been the official capital of the empire and of the republic for centuries, and it has been the de-facto economic and cultural capital of Brazil for most of its existence. As such, the city hosted politicians, diplomats, and royalties each bringing along different tastes and gastronomic desires, influencing the local cuisine.

Similarly, a result of trade in Rio has welcomed a constant inflow of merchants, immigrants, politicians, and voyagers from everywhere in the world - today, gastronomy in Rio is the result of their respective contributions.