Sao Paulo Barbecue Restaurants

The fame of Brazilian barbecue, or churrasco, has spread across the globe. The brand names of upscale churrascaria-style steakhouses, like Fogo de Chão, now register with people who have never set foot in Brazil.

São Paulo distinguishes itself from the pack with authenticity, after all Fogo first opened here, and abundance (or variety, as some may prefer to say). Every neighborhood has its own haunt, and generally more than one, as churrascarias tend to cater to the character of their surroundings. Areas with high concentrations of office buildings, such as Vila Olimpia, Brooklin and Itaim, are likely to have more expensive (and more elaborate) steakhouses, which make a good chunk of their weekday revenues from business lunches and dinners. Working class neighborhoods, like Pinheiros, Lapa and Zona Leste, on the other hand, often have cozier and more moderately priced options. The neighborhoods around Guarulhos and Cogonhas airports also feature dense populations of churrascarias. 

This Brazilian tradition was brought to São Paulo by gauchos (people from the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul) immigrating to the big city, and popularized here for countrywide (and global) consumption. Most churrascarias are all-you-eat style with waiters, or garcoms dressed in gaucho attire, walking around and slicing various cuts of meat. Some places allow customers to pay by the kilo, or even make their own to-go plates. Contrary to popular belief, even vegetarians can find food to their liking (although they might be disgusted by the very thought of setting foot in a churrascaria). Access to these steakhouses' well-stocked salad bars—which boast everything from sushi and baked salmon to grilled zucchini and mushroom risotto—is generally included in the price. Many churrascarias even allow guests to pay less for a meatless menu.

Like Philadelphians with cheesesteaks or Parisians with wines, most Paulistanos are fairly passionate about their favorite steakhouse. So with this NileGuide top 10, let the debate begin.