The Brazilian rodízio is a style of restaurant where for a fixed price waiters will bring a constant stream of food to your table so you can sup until your heart is content. Think of it as an all-you- can-eat where you don’t really need to leave your table! The most common rodízio is the steakhouse or churrascaria. These restaurants are like a pageant of meats, as waiters file out from the kitchen carrying huge skewers of mouthwatering cuts of prime beef, pork and even some more exotic meats. The majority also offer a comprehensive buffet of salads, other hot dishes and even Japanese cuisine, all included within the price. But remember; don’t waste your appetite on the admittedly delicious appetizers. Make sure to leave room for the stars of the show. And just a final tip: to get the most for your money, take the odd break here and there between dishes to extend the longevity of your appetite.
This award-winning chain has two iterations in Rio, Botafogo (R$126) and Barra (R$115), as well as dozens of others spread across Brazil and even as far as the U.S. The most commonly ordered steaks are the Brazilian favorites picanha and fraldinha, bife de ancho and the shoulder steak. To get the biggest return on your investment be sure to request the waiters bring you the best quality prime cuts. At Fogo de Chão the churrasco is enjoyed just as it is in the south of Brazil; unadulterated. So don’t expect too many extra frills like seafood; here meat takes center-stage.
With the best cost-benefit ratio in the city, prices ranging from R$71, you can sink your teeth in to a variety of steaks, seafood, salads, antipasti and Japanese cuisine. In the restaurant waiters are constantly on hand wielding skewers with classic cuts. But in order to taste the more special fare, available only on request, you have to ask the maître d’. The exquisite French rack, the skewered prime picanha and the baby beef in garlic are just some of the mouthwatering specials. At weekends the queue at the door is filled with cariocas and tourists alike. The locale is an Ipanema institution and a great shout for a post-beach dinner.
Founded in the 1950s it is one of Copacabana’s most traditional restaurants. The stars of this culinary show are the beef rib, beef chorizo and the butterfly picanha, a cut created by the house in the 80s and remains a flagship dish to this day. From time to time the restaurant hosts gastronomic festivals featuring fish and other seafood. The rodízio costs R$113.35, which includes an extensive buffet consisting of salad and Japanese tidbits. Be sure to visit their site to get a coupon for 10% off.
Another well-known carioca eatery, this restaurant opened in São Conrado back in 1979. Here, within minutes of being seated, the restaurant’s culinary delights will start to arrive at your table such as the simply irresistible cream cheese mini pastel. The waiters file out of the kitchen with 25 different cuts of meat all of them prepared in the traditional gaúcho style: over hot coals. There is also an abundant selection of salads, fish, seafood and cheeses all included in the price (R$115).
Open since 2000, Rio Brasa offers one of the most varied buffets around, with salads, seafood, and a host of international cuisine including Arab, Jewish, and Japanese, and this isn’t for lack of good steak. There is a wide variety of cuts, one of them being the chef’s picanha which arrives at the table sizzling on its slate dish. It is also a good idea to save some space for the premium ribs and the lamb smorgasbord, both of which simply melt in the mouth. The restaurant itself is huge, like just about everything else in Barra da Tijuca, and even has a play area with monitors for the kids. The price is the same every day: R$110.90.
