Fogo de Chao

the most popular cut at Fogo de Chao is the Picanha, juicy surloin seasoned only with sea salt and garlic

click here to visit Fogo de Chao's website

Steak is the American food and Fogo de Chao has some of the widest varieties of cuts of meats ready to serve. Located on the corner of 13th and Chestnut, it is a short SEPTA ride away.

Right near City Hall and the heart of Philadelphia, Fogo de Chao is located in a pristine part of Center City. Once you walk in, you are immediately welcomed by a friendly host. As a Brazilian Steakhouse, Fogo de Chao has a unique experience. There is an elaborate salad bar for starters and a little place card on the table for you to begin your carnivorous adventure. Once you flip over the place card from red to green, the waiters come over and bring you whatever steak you fancy.

In a sense, Fogo de Chao is much like a buffet, except the food is brought to you. Their selection of fire-roasted meats is plentiful. From chicken to beef and everything in between, Fogo de Chao has it all. Waiters will bring you sirloin, ribs of any kind, filet mignon, chicken legs, lamb chops, sausages, and everything I tried was cooked to perfection.

At first the sheer variety of cuts may be overwhelming, so slow down and try a little bit of each meat. Don’t be shy to kindly pass off a cut you don’t want and flip over your place card if you want to take a rest from eating; this helps notify the waiters. The salad bar helps you in between because the meats are dense. But be sure to try their most esteemed cut, called the Picanha.

Fogo de Chao offers lunch Mondays through Fridays and is open for dinner every day. The price is fixed like a buffet, albeit a little more expensive (around $30 for lunch and $50 for dinner). Still, the Fogo de Chao experience is one you won’t want to miss out on.