Jacinto brought the drinks and the vibes! He was welcoming and entertaining amd slayed the drinks! read more

Fogo de Chão - Steakhouses Near Me - Irvine, California

Had a reservation here and was seated promptly. They have dim ambiant lighting that was too dark at times, but it eventually leveled out. Nice level of chatter and music. Had an amazing birthday dinner experience here. Appetizers were tasty, but I liked the potatoes the most. Top cuts of meat would be the wagyu sirloin and picanha. I'd pass on the chicken and top sirloin, which were a little dry. Grilled pineapple is a must-try, super sweet and seasoned with cinnamon to pair with the savory meats. Their salad bar wasn't as large as I imagined, but I enjoyed the beets and street corn. The lobster tail that came with the indulgent menu was well cooked. Jacino was our bartender and he served up a big shot of tequila. Great guy, positive vibes. He was also knowledgeable about the drinks. All of the servers were also kind and attentive. While I did get full a bit quick, I'm glad I tried the indulgent menu. Would recommend trying Fogo de Chao at least once. read more

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Came here on a Friday night with a group of 3. The restaurant wasn't that busy for a Friday. Probably about 70% capacity. Usually this place has decent service, mind you I normally have only been here on Monday-Wednesday. Service was awful this visit. There were a couple staff that I was familiar with that always bring great energy but our server was horrendous. She seemed to have an attitude for any simple request. STAY AWAY from this place when it's even half busy. The service seriously lacks and it seems like profits are the main priority here. We came here for the premium cuts like ribeye, filet mignon, picanha etc. They took over an HOUR into our meal to bring us any of the premium cuts. Mind you they brung out all of the other meats on rotation 3 times before they decided to bring out any of the premium cuts. Another major L here was that almost 100% of the meats were either overcooked (well done, medium well) or very under cooked (blue rare) When I brought it up to the server her response was that they were busier than usual so there is nothing they can really do to alter the current rotation of meats. Server also forgot to bring out the drinks we had ordered. Guess if you come here on a weekend prepare to be absolutely ripped off. read more

In 20 years of rating restaurants on Yelp and in 50 years of eating out, this was by far the worst food, service, and experience I have ever had. I picked 2 x $100. gift cards at Costco, thinking I'd get a deal. I think if Costco has such cards, it may mean the restaurant is very pricey, has very bad service, and serves horrible food, as I experienced. Dr. Adams read more

Very good flavor for most of meats, with Picanha leading the way, followed by the Filet, then the lamb chops and lamb steak. Too bad no Ribeye. Salad bar isn't as good as their competitor. Service was abysmal. We literally had about 23 minutes without any meat coming by. Going there on Mother's Day wasn't a good idea, especially when you land smack between shifts. This is not the first time we've dined here and frankly may be our last. They really need to step up. Hope they pull it off. read more

Fogo de Chão - This plate empty of meat wasn't a good sign. - Steakhouses Near Me - Irvine, California

Fogo de Chão is a Brazilian steakhouse (churrascaria) chain with locations across the country. It's an all-you-can-eat (AYCE) restaurant that specializes in fire-roasted meats served table side. This location is at the Irvine Spectrum; when you first walk in it looks deceptively small but there's a much bigger space when you turn the corner. For the churrasco experience, they have a system where you flip your card green if you want more meat and red if you want to pause. There's also a salad bar with salads, cheese, veggies, and other cold foods. They also have all day happy hour which is what we came for. The lobster & shrimp tacos ($13.50) were on a Napa cabbage and not a flour/corn tortilla so beware of that; the tacos were big but there wasn't much lobster. The picanha burger ($10) was juicy and I liked the dipping sauce on it as well. The filet mignon board ($17.50) was tender and I liked the chimichurri. For drinks the passionate caipirinha ($10) and strawberry hibiscus caipirinha ($10) were refreshing and easy to drink. They also have complimentary pão de queijo (cheese bread) that was fluffy on the outside and cheesy and chewy on the inside. We loved this and we kept asking for more. The big issue was that the service was pretty lacking. It took a long time to get our food and drinks, about 40 minutes for our tacos and 60 minutes for our burger. When we did get our burger our server said that we would get the polenta fries separately because it was taking too long and then they eventually forgot until we asked for it. Even then, they only gave us a few pieces. I've been to other locations which were better than what I had here. Some of the dishes we had was better than others but the service was not great. read more

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Chose Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse because it was my business partner's first time and he's really into fitness, so it fit his lifestyle. The three of us were celebrating a business win and expected top-notch service for this kind of dining experience. We went with the full churrasco experience, which worked out well for hitting our protein goals. I mostly stuck with leaner cuts like chicken and filet mignon, skipped the picanha since it's fattier, but the ribeye stood out--salted really well and super flavorful. It got busy for a Thursday afternoon, so coming early helped. Meats were coming around consistently at first, and we ended up showing our friend how everything works. Service though... was lacking. We kept having to look for our server and ask the gauchos to track them down. Not ideal for this type of restaurant. Shoutout to Ajay though--he was attentive and gave the best service. Desserts were mixed: * Key lime pie was the best--nice and tart * Tres leches was good, but I've had better * Papaya cream wasn't for me Overall, I'd say 3.5 stars, but rounding up to 4 for the food and experience. Just wish the service matched. read more

Fogo de Chão - Papaya cream - Steakhouses Near Me - Irvine, California

The Market Table Bar is a great way to enjoy a high quality selection of vegetables, salads, cured meats, cheese and soup. It's is a great option for $18 in a steakhouse dining environment without the pricey meats. Service is on par for the business and I had an enjoyable, healthy lunch. read more

Fogo de Chão - Salad bar - Steakhouses Near Me - Irvine, California

What a great deal for lunch at Fogo de Chao! The Market Table & Feijoada Bar offers variety of high quality ingredients, seasonal salads, charcuterie plus rice and soups. They also bring to the table some cheese rolls, yuca fries and banana foster style plantain. All for $18, all you can eat. The staff were attentive and friendly. The ambiance is classy, bright, airy, indicative of a dinning at a high-end restaurant. I love the vibe as well. Highly recommended when visiting the Irvine Spectrum! read more

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We had a gift card here from the holidays and stopped in on weekend. We sat at the bar and it was almost full at noon. The filet came out quickly on the hot plate. I always order their crabcakes at the bar. They are the best! No filler, just delicious, real crab meat. This dish took took 20 mins to come out, but the bartender was quick and got us some pao de queijo and wine. I think her name was Sheila and she was busy carrying crates of glasses, serving and pouring drinks. She handled the bar well solo! The white wine from Chile was okay. I would try another white next time. I really enjoy their bar menu as there are some great deals there, so I'll try to stop by again. read more

Fogo de Chão - Steakhouses Near Me - Irvine, California

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Management asked me to email them but it's been crickets. This place has awful customer service. read more

Fogo de Chão - I can't remember the cut of meat. This one was the only one that I liked though. - Steakhouses Near Me - Irvine, California

I'm not even going to bother to make this review funny or entertaining. This place is just horrible. Went for Mother's Day. They're completely lost here. Buffet station basically a mess, and empty. Selection is garbage. Nothing is replaced timely and quality of food is cafeteria level. Meat service will basically skip sections of the restaurant and you'll have to stand up and flag people down. Asked several staff to please send meats to our section of several tables. Never happened. They had the audacity to send a "customer service rep" around to our tables as ask how everything is going. Maybe by the looks of our bare plates you can tell no one was enjoying it. She had the genius idea to tell us to flip all 5 cards over to green instead of the two that were actually visible on the end of the table. Genius idea! Don't waste your money here. Every other Brazilian bbq is better than this place. read more

I love a good churrasco and I been craving some Picanha and a caipirinha for a while now and tonight those cravings were satisfied Yummy food! The place has a vibe located at the Irvine spectrum mall Our servers and waitresses were great and friendly and the meat was cooked to perfection The salad bar had some great options from stews to charcuterie and other salads Cheeseballs anyone? Yum I will say the 3s leches could have been a little softer but still I enjoyed my meal read more

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Came back tonight! Hostess are really good and attentive! Better this time food taste fresh w warm rice and beans that are always refilled!! Sausage took so long like an hour but other than that happy to support the business! Good quality of meat and amazing Bartenders and host! I highly recommend! Thank you to the General Manager such a great place you have established read more

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I had no idea Fogo de Chão offered an all day happy hour at the bar and patio, and honestly that changes everything. I visited last year and have been meaning to write this up ever since... which tells you something about how much it stayed with me. The service was fantastic and the experience was relaxed from start to finish... exactly what you want when you actually want to enjoy your meal and the people you are with. The food was genuinely impressive. We ordered the queijo assado, saucy legs, a picanha burger, roasted bone marrow, and a filet mignon board... and everything was delicious and full of flavor. Each dish felt well crafted and satisfying without being overwhelming. We had the caipirinha and skinny caipirinha drinks, both of which were a perfect complement to the meal. The bar area is small and first come first serve, so it is better suited for a smaller group. There were three of us and it was just right... easy conversation, good energy, without feeling drowned out by noise. For a happy hour, this is a wonderful option. You are getting a real, elevated dining experience at a price point that feels like a treat. It is a great place to come with a friend or on your own when you just want something a little special without the full dinner commitment. Now that I spend part of my time in San Francisco I will definitely be checking out their location there too. read more

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I didn't remember Fogo being this expensive BUT it was still worth it. Spent $241 for two people which included food, cocktails, and tip. Service is always top notch and the food made me happy. The buffet has the best selection of cheeses, veggies, and other sides. The meat choices are varied enough to find something you like. My favorites were the picanha steak and the bacon wrapped chicken. Let's not forget about the cheese bread (pao de queijo). I could eat so much of it! Can't wait to go back. read more

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Thank you, Brad and the manager Eva hands down ‍‍‍for making our wedding anniversary dinner so special. We truly appreciate your hospitality and attentiveness throughout our visit. Food is great as always better than Texas de brazil. read more

Fogo de Chão - Chocolate Brigadeiro for our 3 years anniversary - Steakhouses Near Me - Irvine, California

We had a good holiday party at Fogo De Chao. We were outside on the patio with a table for about 20. The heaters were going so it wasn't too cold but you still needed a jacket. At first it took a while for the meat servers to come out to us regularly but after about 15-25 mins we had a regular flow of meats coming our way. The salad bar was great, lots of great options and the warm plates they give you were yummy too with the potatoes, plantains, and fried masa. The red meats and anything bacon wrapped was delicious, seriously so tender, juicy, and flavorful. It was hard to get drinks, we ordered our drinks about 20-30 mins after sitting down and it took about 20-30 mins to get them. We ordered 2 at a time because it took so long. We personally weren't paying, it was a company Christmas party so we were happy to sit back and have a super long leisurely time. However if I was personally paying and on a date or something the amount of time it took to get meats and drinks was rough. Overall for us it was a big party atmosphere we were happy to be experiencing such a fun time and delicious food. Thanks for hosting our big group for the holidays Fogo De Chao!! read more

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Food: - Salad bar 0/5, by far the worse one I've had. All the veggies were withered and not as competitive as their other locations. - meat itself was 3/5 - some meats were salty and some weren't Service: 0/5 stars poor customer service and no meat around 4pm - there were like 3 servers - 2-3 managers at the end - but only 1 meat cutting server, the whole time we were there it was only one lady cutting the meat. She expressed to us that it's only her and so if ifs slow because it's only her. It was so frustrating to see other employees standing around when she was the only one working and carrying the meat. She was frustrated so she kept mentioning to us, it's only me to other tables as well as us. I can't fault her for being upset. I was upset for her. She was trying the best she can by herself. I was like shame on the business employees for not helping out. Shame on the managers. Ambiance: - restaurant that's clean in a mall Parking is abundant Would I come back 0/5, not anymore. This location is by far the worse. The meat wasn't abundant for $75/ per person is not worth it at all. Attitude was a problem. The salad bar was so so bad and not enough meat selection that was fast enough. I was really disappointed by the service. read more

I would have never thought to come for lunch, but it's a game changer. The food at the market table is as fresh as the meat served. Everything is so tasty! The staff is friendly and very attentive. The bar area is very trendy and there is a private section should you want to reserve. They're updating their patios so can't wait to see those! read more

We enjoyed a beautiful dinner last night. Our table was in the back corner & we had lots of light. While our server wasn't the most attentive, we were grateful to have Haley come over & check on us multiple times. She had a smile on her face & treated us great. She brought everything we asked for & seemed happy to do so. Thanks Haley! read more

We celebrated a birthday and when the check came it wasn't correct it was over $500 short from what we should have been charged. We could have just left but brought it to their attention and paid the amount it should have been. Never received a thank you then wrote a note to management but no response at all. Very disappointed that management didn't acknowledge honest people. read more

My fiancé and I came here for a late lunch around 2:30pm specifically because we were interested in the lunch pricing. Lunch goes until 3pm, so we thought we were good. After we sat down, we noticed right away that the menus on our table were already set to the dinner pricing. When we asked our waitress about it, she looked at the menu and said it looked like dinner pricing was being offered. That didn't sit right with me since it was only about 2:40pm, so I pointed it out and asked if we could still get the lunch churrasco experience. She hesitated, said she'd check, and then came back saying it was fine and that someone must've accidentally placed the dinner menus early. Here's the issue for me, as a server I expect you to know something as basic as what pricing is being offered and when. Instead, it felt like if we hadn't said anything, we would've just been charged dinner pricing without question. That part honestly felt a little off and left a bad impression. To be fair, the rest of the service was normal and the food was great, no complaints there. We still tipped over 30% because it was slow and overall the experience wasn't terrible. But that initial interaction stuck with us and made it feel like we had to look out for ourselves instead of being guided properly. Because of that, it kind of hurt the trust factor, and we probably won't be coming back. read more

We are big fans of Fogo, but especially this location! I knew about Fogo before, but had never gone. I was sort of confused about its concept of the churrasco and how it worked as well as the pricing, so I hadn't made it by to try it. Over a year ago a few coworkers of mine asked me to meet up with them during Fogo's all day happy hour. I was quite shocked at the prices of the happy hour offerings, fifteen dollar lamb chops??? All day happy hour? But take note that the happy hour is only at the bar which consists of 10-12 seats. Then it got better. My coworkers informed me of the pretty much monthly Fogo events that they host. Some events consist of glasses/tastings of wine with bar bites and pieces of meats such as ribeye or wagyu for $49. They come by quite frequently with the bar bites too. You'd think you will leave hungry but we leave stuffed. They also sometimes have caipirinha events where you get the same foods and two caipirinhas for $29! The staff here is amazing, especially once you get to know them. My coworkers seem to know 90% of the employees! The service here is what kept them coming as very regular customers. Mario is the best manager who always comes by to say hi to everyone. The staff is really good about taking care of their customers. While there are multiple closer locations to me, we drive down here instead whether it is for an event or for happy hour, because the service alone stood out from experiences at other locations. read more

This was my fifth time dining at this restaurant, but unfortunately it was the worst service I have ever experienced here. We came to celebrate my husband's birthday. When the waiter first greeted us, he asked what the special occasion was. I told him it was my husband's birthday. He acknowledged it and said "okay," but throughout the entire dinner there was no birthday wish, no ice cream, and no gesture at all from the staff. It was obvious the restaurant was serving a large group nearby. Every few minutes, big amount of clients were walking back and forth and repeatedly bumping into our chairs. Each time it happened we instinctively had to turn around, which constantly interrupted us and made it very difficult to relax and enjoy our meal. We were seated by the head waiter, but after being seated it took about 20 minutes before our server even came to check on us. When he finally arrived, we asked for Coke and water. Then another 20 minutes passed before he finally came back to place the "all-you-can-eat" sticker on our table and asked whether we wanted regular or diet options. By that time, we had already been sitting there for 40 minutes. Only after the sticker was placed did the meat service finally begin, and even then it was inconsistent and slow. I tried several times to get our server's attention, but he never noticed me. We also still hadn't received our Coke. Eventually, I had to find someone who appeared to be a manager before a waiter was finally sent to bring it to us. At that point, we also realized that our bread and appetizers had never been served, even though every other table around us had already received theirs as usual. Later, a man who seemed to be a manager came by our table and asked if we needed anything else. I told him we still needed more meat and a refill Coke. He said, "Okay, no problem." However, another 25 minutes passed and neither the meat nor the Coke refill ever arrived. By this time, we had already been in the restaurant for about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Since no one was coming to our table, I eventually had to walk over and tap the waiter on the shoulder just to tell him that we wanted to pay the bill. After we paid, I explained everything that had happened and described our experience. His only response was simply "sorry." Honestly, at the very least I expected some small gesture--such as bringing the Coke refill we asked for or offering us the grilled meat we had been waiting for--but nothing was done. Later, a woman came to ask about the situation. I told her I would like to speak with a supervisor or manager. She explained that she was a customer service representative and asked me to briefly explain what happened. I went through all of the issues in detail. She listened attentively, apologized sincerely, and said she would go find the supervisor so they could speak with me. By this time, however, we had already been in the restaurant for over two hours, and I ended up waiting another 20 minutes without anyone coming to speak with me. We had other things we needed to do, so on my way out I told the woman that unfortunately we did not have time to wait any longer for the manager and had to leave. I thanked her for listening and for her sympathy. Overall, this turned out to be the worst birthday dinner experience we have ever had. read more

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amazing experience here. First time at the spectrum location, walked in for their amazing all-day happy hour, and there was no availability at the bar :( which is where the deal applies, but the employee at the front went above and beyond and got us a table to sit at w/the same happy hour menu. instantly seated and frequent check ins with refills, letting us know when to expect our food etc. Given how busy they were I didn't expect such amazing service, but they proved me wrong for sure. Chao rolls 5/5: so fluffy and fresh, solid amount of cheese. delicious! Hibiscus Cocktail 5/5: surprisingly strong but has a great taste for a cocktail. cannot taste the alcohol too much (which is a good thing) Brazilian Lemonade 4/5: great non-alch verision. very fresh and yummy! could've leaned a bit more into the sweeter side Empanadas 4/5: good meat filling. very crispy! Picanha Burger 5/5: amazing deal for $10! w/ fries? omg. very good portions, fries were filling esp. with the cheese. cannot complain at all about this burger Filet mignon plate 5/5: meat was very tender, and not chewy at all. very solid choice as an app to share amongst the table. for a chain restaurant I was surprised with the food and service. would def recommend and come back here read more

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Our family of 4+ my father-in-law visited Fogo de Chão November 17, 2025. If you are familiar with this restaurant, there are several variations of meats that are being spit roasted and are sliced table side. There is also the market table which has sides such as Caprese salad, beet salad, corn, salad, smoked salmon, etc. There is an additional bar and with beans and rice and bread, which my kids liked. We ordered two full Churascos, and 2 Indulgent Churascos, so about my wife and kids could try the lobster. My wife had a dirty martini with blue cheese stuffed olives, which was really good. However, the second one had an odd flavor and we sent it back. I had a standard captain and Coke. It was not very strong. The various meats started to come to the table. I thought that the bacon steak was excellent, although my wife wasn't a fan. The bottom loin was the favorite of the table, followed by the top sirloin. The garlic steak was also good. The New York strip had a lot of good flavor, but it was over cooked both times it was brought to the table. The fillet was also good, but the skewer only came by our table one time during the entire meal. Unfortunate. The chicken was good, the sausage was also good. It's a Portuguese sausage that reminded me a lot of something you would find in Hawaii. The Market table was ok - I thought it would be a bit more fancy for the price. The Corn Salad was great. So were the couscous and the beet salad. The full Churasco is half-price for the kids, which was a nice surprise that we weren't expecting. The Lobster took a long time to come out and we had to ask for it several times Desserts took a long time as well. The kids favorite desserts were the Lava Cake. My favorite dessert was the vanilla ice cream with caramel. The Chocolate Brigadeiro was really good and super chocolatey, it was my wife's favorite. I dont think I would come back here - it was really expensive and didnt provide a good value. The kids weren't really fans of the food overall. read more

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I've visited multiple Fogo de Chão locations across Orange County, Los Angeles, and even the Bay Area, and while the food is consistently enjoyable, the service at the Spectrum location has been disappointing. I came in to celebrate a birthday, but the staff rarely checked in, drinks went unrefilled, and even after mentioning the occasion, no dessert was brought out. This is now my third visit to this location with similar service issues, which is frustrating given the price point. I'll continue going to Fogo because it's a regular place I go. I would highly recommend Brea location. read more

Why do we ever bother coming here during lunch time? This is the second time we have dined here during lunch hour. Came during a weekday hoping it wouldn't be crowded (it wasn't). I feel bad for the servers because it seems like they are short staffed? Our server was hustling and bustling between various tables. God forbid they stick you in one of the corner tables... no one will ever find you! We see you Fogo and I get it. You don't want to bring out the prime/primo meats out. Our favorite is the picanha, but we literally only saw it once presented. Then had to ask many times after for additional. But you bet your butt they will bring out the "filler" options like chicken, bacon wrapped items, and lower tier meats. Meanwhile, we just sit here and wait & fill up on the pao. The buffet was a bit underwhelming because you are also waiting for it to refill with fresh items? So yeah, for the amount you are paying it really isn't worth it. Such a shame, inside is spacious with nice seating. We have been here for dinner before. But our lunch experiences have left a bad taste & will no longer return. read more

This is one of restaurants that'll have you asking, "Who do I have to blow to get some service here?" I'm not sure how this place has so many good reviews, maybe they're all vegetarians? Okay, it's Saturday night and there are fourteen of us packed elbow to elbow like a can of sardines; I was eating with both my hands close together in front of me like a woodland creature. It took forever to place our orders once we were seated, but that's not even the best part..... The meats took forever to come out and they were always in a hurry to leave -- like they're running from an earthquake. And there's never enough meat so they always have to make a second trip. Waiting for that second trip is like waiting for Halley's Comet to come by. We got our plantains and mashed potatoes forty minutes into our meal. It took a little longer to get our first water refill. The meats are good but you mostly either get raw or well done; I settled for raw since it's the only edible choice. The restaurant looks very nice but the music is extremely loud which cheapens the atmosphere -- maybe it's just me, I don't like eating at night clubs. The drinks are good, I highly recommend the $10 caipirinha should you fall victim to this place. I'm giving it 2 stars because the manager did his best to make things right, but it still doesn't change the fact that my appetite timed out from waiting too long in between meat servings so I only ate half my usual portion before I felt grossed out. Even when the manager upgraded us to include some fancier meats, it didn't help. The server came to our table with four tiny pieces of filet mignon and walked away after four of us got some. I thought she was coming back with more, but no, that was it for the filet mignon. I certainly did not enjoy my meal and am very reluctant to come back. I appreciate that the manager was very good at addressing our concerns but an unenjoyable experience is an unenjoyable experience -- two hours of waiting and filling up on ham and cheese just doesn't cut it. Here are some improvements I'd like to see: 1. The salad bar seems to always be out of the cut fruits. Please don't wait until it's completely out to refill; this is a very busy restaurant with a lot of people. 2. Get more servers. You have the reservations, you know how many guests to expect. I understand that more servers means more meat being served which increases the costs along with the payroll costs, but trust me, if people don't have an enjoyable experience, you'll have much bigger problems. I do hope that you give this place a try and I wish you all the luck. read more

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I've enjoyed the various menus that Fogo has offered, so I gave the wagyu and wine tasting event a try. For $49 per person, I was able to sample three glasses of wine, two slices of wagyu ribeye, two slices of ribeye, and various bar bites. The portions of the wagyu ribeye were pretty small, and the quality didn't even taste like wagyu. While it was tender, there was very little fat and it was quite dry. It was also almost cooked to well done, which was disappointing. The normal ribeye was much better. The bar bites were standard fogo items such as the beef empanadas, bacon wrapped steak, and bacon wrapped chicken, and queijo assado. I filled up mostly on those items. We also tried the creme brulee, which slightly disappointing. I am used to the top having a hard crust that you can break with a spoon, but this one was soft. My overall thoughts - if you like wine, this event is worth it, but if you're looking to eat high quality meat, you're better off doing the normal churrasco experience. read more

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Salad bar variety - excellent and very diverse. I especially appreciate tall the fruits as it offers a great balance diet. Various meat - mostly good. House special steak and flank steak are my favorite. Some of the meat is overly chewy. Service - they work as a team, some more attentive than others. I reminded the waitress that we're here for a birthday and she mentioned a complimentary dessert will be given at the end. It was forgotten and I wanted to leave as it was getting busy. Understand she has a lot on her plate, but would be nice if she remember the occasion/details. read more

Fogo de Chao is one of my favorite restaurants in WA, but this one in CA was a total fail. I made a reservation for two to celebrate my friend's birthday. We arrived on time and checked in. Waited a few minutes and then the hostess told us to follow her to our table. She walked us to a table by the window and then told us our seats were taken. Not sure how that happened. She walked back to the front and we just stood there surrounded by people eating. Awkward. There weren't many people so we were seated at another table in the back. The server came around and we ordered water and a Diet Coke. We went to the buffet and ummmm.. no. When the cold cuts of meat are wet, it's time for someone to switch them out. I barely ate anything from the buffet section. I picked up some cheese, cold cuts, and 2 slices of bread. I was excited for the meat and the grilled pineapples, but this is where the failure comes in. The meat was dry and tasted bland. I asked for the garlic picante and was told they don't have it. We were offered chicken and sausage like 10 times. Where is the steak?? Bring the steak!! Even the grilled pineapples weren't the same. They sprinkled cinnamon on it but it wasn't grilled. I was actually embarrassed because it was my friend's first time here and I raved about prior experiences. We waited so long for water and flagged down 3 different people to ask for water. When the server finally came back, he said it took him so long because he couldn't find the napkins. We were there for about an hour, still hungry, and annoyed. I didn't even feel like tipping because the service was that terrible. This is the only Fogo de Chao that I've been to that was this bad. It didn't even seem like anyone cared. Almost $80 per person and that was the service? We didn't even eat what we came for. Never will I ever come back to this location. It's literally the worst. I want my money back. Terrible birthday dinner. read more

Fogo de Chão - Steakhouses Near Me - Irvine, California

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Amazing food, service, and ambiance. I really liked the salad bar too. The location at the Spectrum is great, about a 3 minute walk from the parking lot structure! read more

First time here for our anniversary. We were seated and greeted promptly. The selection in the buffet was good as was the quality. Unfortunately the meat was horrible. Garlic steak was seasoned well but dry and overcooked. Lamb had no flavor whatsoever. Another cut was so chewy I had to spit it into my napkin. It runs about $100/person without alcohol. I expected far more. The hot sides arrived mostly cold. Except the plantains which never arrived. To cap things off both of us had meat juice dumped on our outfits with a vague sorry before the server walked away. read more

I left Fogo De Chao (Irvine) full and satisfied. This expensive dining experience felt clunky; however, its strengths outshine its flaws. I celebrated my birthday at Fogo De Chao (Irvine) on Sunday (3:30pm reservation). My group was seated quickly; however, after waiting over 15 minutes, a server never appeared. We had to eventually wave down a staff member to help us. The staff member that helped us (Jenna) was a delight. Jenna quickly memorized and repeated our orders. Also, she was helpful and efficient. Jenna later placed bread on our table, and this bread came freshly made. It contained a firm outer layer with a spongey, warm, bouncy interior. It's fresh and delish! I ordered the Full Churrasco Experience ($72), Brazilian Lemonade ($5.75) and the Wagyu Ancho Ribeye ($175). Also, I had the Chocolate Brigadeiro Cake (receipt labeled it as complimentary dessert). The Full Churrasco Experience ($72) includes unlimited Brazillian protein cuts and the Market Table (aka: salad bar). There's a small circle that you flip "green" to signal the Gauchos that you're interested in proteins. Personally, I do not recommend the Full Churrasco Experience since its proteins resembled above-average buffet quality. Here's what I ate: [From Market Table] The Smoked Salmon is tasty; it's not too salty. Rather, it's soft and smokey. The Roasted Asparagus is fresh and tasty. The Marinated Mushroom is not salty; instead, it's plump and fresh. The Smoked Provolone is good quality and not too salty. The Manchego Cheese slices are also comforting and gentle. Also, the Brazilian Potato salad is fresh and hearty. Unfortunately, the Roasted Zucchini had a horrific, soggy texture; its flavor was good, but it tasted old. Also, the Tomato Soup had nice chunky bits but it unfortunately tasted way too salty. (Quick Note: The Gauchos at this location rotated fairly quickly - about every three to four minutes or so.) [From Table Service Gauchos] The Bacon Wrapped Chicken is very salty, and I could barely taste the dry chicken. The Bacon Wrapped Steak was less salty, and the steak was tender. The Lamb was the winner!! Oh my goodness. The slice of Lamb was extremely juicy, tender, thick, and buttery. The Sausage was gross; it was burnt and bitter. The Parmesan Pork had tender pork and savory, quality cheese. The Flank Steak was hit-or-miss. Some pieces came very tender while other parts were rubbery and chewy. Some parts were very juicy and/or salty. The Garlic Steak was tender, but its meat was a little dry. Its garlic juices were what kept it somewhat moist. However, the real winner at Fogo De Chao (Irvine) is the Wagyu Ancho Ribeye ($175). It's huge!! It easily feeds four people. And its absurdly delicious. The Wagyu Ancho Ribeye ($175) is brought to the table cooking & sizzling on a scalding salt block. Its presentation is gorgeous, and its flavors are phenomenal. It's sliced beautifully. It's so tender that it falls apart in your mouth. The Wagyu Ancho Ribeye caused me to gasp in joy. This juicy, memorable dish is the real reason why I'd ever return to Fogo De Chao (Irvine). Next, the Chocolate Brigadeiro Cake is one of the best desserts that I've ever tasted. It's perfection. The Chocolate Brigadeiro Cake is rich and silky. Its adorning strawberries are fresh and juicy. Its whipped cream is thick and fresh. And the flavor of rich chocolate pummels you with each bite despite only offering a gentle, pleasant aftertaste. The Brazilian Lemonade ($5.75) tasted very tart but refreshing. It reminded me of a sour creamsicle. It's an above average drink. Regarding ambiance, Fogo De Chao (Irvine) is a mixed bag. The lights, decorations, and colors are upscale and attractive. Unfortunately, Fogo De Chao (Irvine) also appears somewhat dated. First, the menus are splotchy and worn-down. Although the menus are clean, they look poorly maintained. Next, several tablecloths and curtains had old worn-down stains. Also, some portions of carpet looked a little dirty with tiny bits of trash stuck to the floor. There was even one brief moment where I needed to wave away a tiny fly that had appeared at my table. Thankfully, the fly never returned. Overall, I enjoyed my experience at Fogo De Chao (Irvine). If going, I wholeheartedly recommend ordering the Wagyu Ancho Ribeye ($175) and the Chocolate Brigadeiro Cake. In the end, I will cherish my fond memories at Fogo De Chao (Irvine). 4.5 out of 5 read more

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What an amazing experience at this Brazilian steakhouse. Which is also called a churrascaria.we have never been to experience where there is continuous tableside service where gaucho chef bring skewers of fire roasted meat right to your table and slice them off for you. There also was this great market table with soups and salads. We had a wonderful time. We ordered the full. Churrasco. Which had ribeye, lamb chops, fillet, top sirloin, and a chicken wrapped in bacon. Incredible side dish of roasted bone marrow because it is my favorite item on any menu. The problem was I think they forgot to put in the order and it didn't come till we were almost done with the entire meal....which takes over 2 hours. If it wasn't for Eva, who handled the situation perfectly, we would've been disappointed. I believe she's one of the managers gauchos and she was just lovely. The other thing you have to realize is that you do not have one waiter at this restaurant because everybody's helping everybody but we had Miguel most of the time and he was incredible. I would definitely recommend this location and restaurant, but there is one thing you have to do. COME HUNGRY. read more

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Have come to this location various times and have tried many different menu items. Staff is always friendly hand helpful, very attentive even when busy. One of our favorite things is the all day happy hour at the bar. They offer many different things to choose from and everything has been fantastic. Me and my partner spent about $35 and left full and satisfied. The one choice of meat and salad bar is also a great option, especially for someone like me who can not eat red meat. It can be quite noisy during dinner, but makes sense, since it tends to get busy. Parking can be a bit of a pain, but we'll worth it. read more

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We stopped by for a dinner. Service was good and the place was clean. Will stop by again when we want Brazilian steak.

Solid Christmas lunch with a few hiccups We had Christmas lunch at Fogo de Chão today. The experience started off a bit rocky - when we walked in, about four hosts had their backs to everyone while chatting and looking at their computer. No greeting while we stood in line for a bit before someone finally noticed us and asked about our reservation. The phone system had put a different first name, so it took some extra time to track it down. Once seated though, things picked up. We went with the full Churrasco Experience at $73/person and I'm glad we did. The Brazilian cheese bread and fried plantains were excellent, and the mashed potatoes hit the spot. The market table had a nice variety - salads, charcuterie, lentil soup, sweet potato casserole. I was pleasantly surprised they had fresh papaya. For the meats, the Picanha and ribeye were standouts. Pro tip: eat them right when they bring them to your table while they're still sizzling hot. We also splurged on the lobster mac and cheese side, but honestly the lobster flavor was so strong it kind of overpowered everything else. Service was attentive once we got going. Would I come back? Yeah, probably. Just hope the host stand runs a little smoother next time.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

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