Had a great experience at Fogo de Chão--the food was consistently excellent, especially the variety and quality of the meats. What really stood out, though, was our server Roy. He was attentive without being overbearing, kept everything running smoothly, and made the whole experience feel elevated. Definitely coming back. read more

Service was amazing, went there for my birthday dinner, crème brûlée cheesecake in particular was amazing, the server Alma was very nice and everyone else who helped was very polite, could've brought the meat skewers around more but overall10/10 experience read more

Very cool location in an old bank. We went for lunch on a Friday and our server, Roy, was very attentive and helpful. All the runners who came around with the meat were also very attentive and asked what specific items we wanted. The food, as always, is amazing. The picanha is the best! read more

Fogo de Chão in Pasadena is an absolute must! Felt nice but not over the top. The ambiance was very moody but not dark. Literally perfect. The gaucho chefs circulate with perfectly seasoned cuts all night, and the picanha alone is worth the trip also 10/10 recommend the grilled cheese! The salad bar is incredible and the sides take it over the top. The candied bacon was omg. Our server Andrea was amazing - attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely fun. We also had the pleasure of meeting Danielle, the district trainer, who clearly sets a high bar for the whole team. Great meal- will definitely be back! read more

We always have a blast at Fogo de Chão in Pasadena. We came to celebrate a graduation, and Marcell and Danielle made the meal feel extra special. They were both attentive, making sure the churrasco items we wanted came by our table and that our bread and drinks were always topped off. The staff overall was friendly and welcoming, and the environment is always lovely. It was a very enjoyable experience from start to finish. read more

Checked out Fogo de Chao for lunch in Pasadena as they have their market table and feijoada bar for $18. If you're coming here for lunch, the salad bar is easily the best move. There's a wide variety of fresh veggies, fruits, and prepared salads--some with protein like their chicken salad--so it's actually pretty filling on its own. The standout for me though was the bacon... seriously out of this world. It's crispy with a caramelized sweetness and just a hint of spice that makes it hard to stop going back for more. We also tried the meats (picanha, bottom sirloin, ribeye, and filet), and unfortunately most of them came out dry. The filet was the only one that wasn't as overcooked, but even then, I still preferred everything from the salad bar. Parking is located downstairs, but heads up--they don't validate. Overall, I'd come back and stick strictly to the salad bar next time. read more

Beautiful space overall, the interior is really well done. The market table stood out the most for me, especially the Brazilian sides that paired nicely with the meats. The ribeye was our favorite, flavorful and satisfying, and the lamb was also enjoyable, not gamey at all. That said, the meats were a bit inconsistent. A lot of the cuts came out more on the medium well to well done side, and a few pieces were overly seasoned, leaning too salty and a little tough. I would still come back for the market table and drinks, it is a great spot to enjoy the atmosphere and try a bit of everything. read more

See all

Stopped by on Thursday, 02/05/26 to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday! Additionally, it was LA Restaurant Week, and Fogo de Chao participated in this amazing event! We ordered: - 1 Strawberry Hibiscus Caipirinha = $10.00 - 1 Umberto Moscato D'Asti = $17.00 - 2 Restaurant Week Dinner ($55 per person) = $110 SUBTOTAL = $137.00 TAX = $14.39 TIP = $15 TOTAL = $166.39 I purchased a $100 gift card (2, $50 gift cards) from Costco for the price of $80; applied it towards this visit - I HIGHLY RECOMMEND! Food was amazing as always. I didn't eat as much as last time as I just got back from my Asia Vacation that week and was still stuffed. read more

See all

I have been to a handful of Fogo de Chão locations (Austin, Seattle, and Downtown LA), but this was my first time at the Pasadena location, and it was truly outstanding. The building is historic, originally the Pacific Southwest Trust & Savings Bank, and still preserves it's grandeur, especially in the main dining area. We arrived right when they opened, so there isn't a wait. We were promptly seated and greeted by a fabulous server, Kelsey. She explained the menu and made a few recommendations. She gave us a few moments to get settled and returned to take our drink offer. I ordered the Cucumber Mint Smash (very refreshing), my husband ordered the Strawberry Hibiscus Caipirinha (sweet and floral), and we both decided on the Full Churrasco Experience. The central "market table" was beautifully abundant and full of various salads, veggie dishes, smoked meats, cheese, and sauces. I love the smoked salmon, capers, beet & arugula salad, cheeses, and fresh fruit & sliced tomatoes to balance the rich and savory meats. The gauchos kept coming over with hot and delicious meats. I particularly enjoyed the garlic picanha, bone in ribeye, and the cinnamon coated pineapple. Our server surprised is with a delicious honey-drizzled cheese. It was an exceptional dining experience from start to finish. We will definitely be back soon! read more

We did not, indeed, enjoy all you can eat. While our server, Marcel, was excellent (thank you for your wonderful service), the whole dining experience was very slow. It took a long time for each meat to come, and the first three rounds were garlic picanha. We were pretty frustrated waiting for each meat that we eventually gave up. Thankfully, our server Marcel was wonderful. We came to celebrate my parents' 50th anniversary, and he heightened our celebration with delicious desserts. The tres leche and crème brûlée are heavenly. Not sure if we came on an off day, or they are always this slow. This is the first time I ever left a brazilian churrascaria not full. The meats we did get to taste were tasty, and the restaurant beautiful. read more

See all

By the time we found parking in Old Town, I could already tell Saturday night in Pasadena was going to be a full house. We celebrated our wedding anniversary at Fogo de Chão - Pasadena, opting for the $75 full experience so we wouldn't have to think too hard about ordering. As expected, the place was packed, and the energy in the dining room matched that. The parade of meats kept coming, sliced fresh at the table and served hot. There's no denying the abundance -- you definitely get your money's worth in variety and volume. The salad bar was also nicely stocked, with plenty of greens, cheeses, and cold sides to balance things out. Our only real issue with the food was the salt level. After a few rounds, the seasoning started to feel heavy, especially on some of the beef cuts. It wasn't inedible, just noticeably salty by the end of the meal. Service felt stretched. Our servers were polite, but with how busy Saturday night was, we had long stretches without check-ins. Drink refills didn't happen unless we flagged someone down, which broke up the rhythm of dinner a bit. Nothing rude or dismissive -- just clearly a team trying to keep up with a packed house. Overall, it was still a nice anniversary dinner with plenty of food and a lively atmosphere. If you're going on a weekend, expect it to be busy and speak up early if you need refills. And maybe pace yourself at the salad bar so you can really sample the meats without feeling rushed. read more

Fogo de Chão - Inside - Brazilian Near Me - Pasadena, California

This is the greatest Brazilian barbecue I've ever had. I bookmarked this forever ago and I should have come here earlier. Because last year the prices for the all you can eat lunch was cheaper. Everything was delicious, except for the bacon wrapped beef. That one was tough and chewy. When I do come back, I won't eat anything from the salad bar. Should just focus on the meats. read more

See all

Not sure if my tastes have changed, or this place has truly degraded but from this point on, there is only one real place in LA that offers great BBBQ. I had a craving for Brazilian BBQ and of course top of anyone's mind for BBBQ is Fogo. So the wife and I made reservations and off we went on the day of the reservation. We went in and there was a line, like how I always remembered. But since we made a reservation, we went right in and felt slightly VIP lol. We were seated near the back. The last time we were here was a few years back and we remember it being good, where the picanha was the take away meat to eat. When we sat down, we got up and took a look at the cold bar. Got the grilled garlic, pickled cherry chilis, and various grilled vegetables. All good, but we all come here for the meats! We got the: Sausage - a bit dry this time around, but flavorful. 6/10 Pork Loin - The pork was very juicy complementing the parm very well. I will definitely get again if it comes by again 8/10 Bacon wrapped Steak - this was good. steak was tender as expected and the bacon was meaty and tasty. The steak was a bit dry. This was not my thing 5/10 Top Sirloin - Yum nothing special. Good and juicy 7/10 Picanha - This wonderful cut was good! I remember it being better, so not sure if my memory just betrayed me or what. But I have had better at another BBBQ place 8/10 After writing all this, maybe it was the service that was mediocre. Some of the meat servers were very nice, friendly and even funny. While some are just to the point and direct. Our waitress rarely came and so my drink was left empty twice, quite a disappointment. For the price point, there is one other place I have in mind that's probably second in mind when it comes to BBBQ that has better value and better service. This place just felt more like a corporate restaurant than a friendly service restaurant, if that makes sense. read more

Came here for a birthday celebration. The restaurant is located on the Main Street and in a previously bank building. The height vaulted ceiling and the big heavy entrance door made this a very nice venue for all occasions. Now to the Churascos. They have several variations of churasco ranging from the normal to high end meat selections. The premium churascos has the lobster tails and rack of lamb. The price was pretty steep even for the middle selection. We picked the middle tier and the meat was okay. Nothing to rant about. Some cut is tender and some are not. The salad bar, however, is the main attraction. All sorts of salad concoctions that you can think of. Cheese varieties are fantastic. Don't forget to leave some room for the meats. Service was decent. There are paid underground parking as well as off street parking. They do not validate parking. read more

See all

We were very excited to try this place. The place looks great, really clean and classy. We were sat down and the waiter took a while to get to us. I don't know if on that day they were short on waiters but we got so/so service. We weren't asked for refills very often. The meat service again was ok, seemed like we were passed up the whole evening on certain meat cuts.there were many times that we were just sitting there watching other tables get meat. The buffet they had didn't come with many choices either. The bread they brought to the table was cold and not very tasty. The meat was ok, for 80$ per person I expected better than ok. I don't think I would be going back, maybe in the future try another location and compare. Thought we would have a great experience there for my mother's birthday, unfortunately it wasn't. read more

Fogo de Chão - Inside - Brazilian Near Me - Pasadena, California

Have come here multiple times for both happy hour and full dinner. It is the best Brazilian bbq in the area in my opinion but also on the pricey side. read more

Fogo de Chão - Buffet table - Brazilian Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

Steak,Chicken,Pork chops, and everything else was amazing!!!! Definitely a must try the food is amazing and tasty and alot of flavor. The service is amazing they keep coming and keeping u full. The place is awesome big and spacious and clean. FOGO FOGO FOGO........ you have to go.... read more

See all

My friends and I came to Fogo de Chão for the wine and Wagyu event.. for $49 you get two different kinds of featured cuts and 3 very generous pours of a number of different wines. I like that there's also a mocktail option and plenty of bar bites that keep coming out. We actually considered ordering a steak at first but we decided to see how it would go first and thankfully we didn't order more.. food was plentiful!! We had Jonathan as our server and he was great! We were checked on throughout the night and had such a fun and tasty time!! read more

Fogo de Chão - Brazilian Near Me - Pasadena, California

Marcel did an outstanding job...on my Birthday . I can't wait to come back. So many quality options with the cuts and salad bar. Henry read more

I recently visited Fogo de Chão in Pasadena and had a great overall experience. The salad bar was absolutely delicious--fresh, flavorful, and with plenty of options to choose from. The staff Marcell, Isai, Alma were amazing as well, very attentive and welcoming, which really made the visit enjoyable. The only downside was the wait time for the meats. It took longer than expected for them to come around, which was a bit inconvenient and took away from the flow of the experience. After bringing it up to our server it seem he spoke to someone and they started coming around but that was my only down side. Overall, it's still a great spot with high-quality food and excellent service--I'd definitely come back. read more

Fogo de Chão - Brazilian Near Me - Pasadena, California

Came back to Fogo de Chão for their All You Can Eat Best of Brazil. ::Experience:: We had a reservation for 8:15 PM but still ended up waiting about 25-30 minutes to be seated, which was disappointing. ::Food:: The Best of Brazil includes a variety of meats like Picanha and Fraldinha, along with access to their Market Table and seasonal offerings. The concept is fun, servers bringing skewers of grilled meats to your table. The meats didn't quite deliver. Most were chewy, dry, overcooked, and not as tender. The only one I truly enjoyed was seasoned with garlic, but I couldn't catch the name of it. The Market Table had some fresh options, but overall, the food didn't meet my expectations. ::Customer Service:: The highlight of the night was the exceptional service. The staff checked in frequently to ensure everything was going well. Everyone was polite, friendly, and attentive, making the experience feel welcoming and enjoyable despite the underwhelming food and reservation delay. ::M's Notes:: - Parking: Garage and street options - Indoor seating read more

See all

We dined here as a party of two on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at the Pasadena location. We had a reservation, and we were actually the first party in the restaurant on this day. What a great visit. This was our first time back at Fogo in several years, and the first time we have visited the Pasadena location, since it was no longer a BJ's (even though that has been a while) We arrived a bit early, so it just took us a little bit to be seated, as they were still prepping for the day; however, that only took about 5 minutes. The place is an awesome building, as it always has been. The amazing "salad+++ bar" in the middle is elegant, well cared for and has everything you may want and need on there. Our server, her name was Kelsey, and she was wonderful. She checked in on us frequently and was very kind, pleasant and just the right amount of interaction. The rest of the entire team, including all the meat servers, assistant servers, and everyone else was also wonderful. All of the food we had was excellent. We had a few rotations through most of the meats and even a few little surprises including grilled pineapple, pork belly, and some kind of delicious cheese with honey. All in all, an excellent meal at Fogo. I would most definitely return again in the future. read more

Overall good food but the service was very slow and far between in terms of staff availability. Meat cuts were great and market table had flavorful options. It felt quite understaffed, as we could not get a hold of servers for multiple things throughout the night such as water refills and even getting the dessert and paying the check. Even the dishes at one point in the night ran out, so a few of us had to wait for the clean dishes to arrive. While the food redeems the 4 stars and the service was very nice when we did get attention, I do hope that the restaurant relooks at checking in on customers more often. Also what was very weird was that the gift card redemption required us to write down the bar code. I'm surprised there wasn't a way to scan the code for redemption, so our party was writing down long codes on the back of the receipt for the gift cards. read more

See all

whatever the first two pieces of beef I had were honestly fine and should've gotten more of that and stopped because everything after went downhill. The lamb was mid. The chicken was absurdly salty. The other beef pieces I got were so red I couldn't get past one bite‍ the cheese bread is interesting but not my taste. The cheese and other sides were also mid. My main issue was everything being SO salty, like why that much. Best thing I got here was the passion fruit mimosa lmao read more

Fogo de Chão - Food - Brazilian Near Me - Pasadena, California

Fogo de chao in old town Pasadena is located in a beautiful historic bank building at The Paseo. Parking is valet only, or you can park at The Paseo but they don't validate. I tried the Best of Brasil experience (a limited churrasco menu) for $55 that they offer during the holidays. Lots of great meat choices, my favorites were the picanha and the sausage! The Market Table is huge and worth exploring: salads, rice, beans, soups, exotic fruits and a bunch of tasty appetizers. They also have an extensive cocktail and wine list to pair with the meal. Service was generally great -- our waitress was friendly and helpful -- but she went on break and nobody checked in on us for a while, which was annoying. They comped dessert to make up for it, though we were too stuffed to accept. Also been to the bar for the all-day happy hour, the picanha burger with polenta fries for $10 is unreal. happy hour beers/cocktails are $10 and under. Might be one of the best burgers I've had, definitely the best $10 burger anywhere. The cocktails are great! Great spot for a churrasco experience with the family or for an amazing burger and a cocktail at the bar. read more

See all

Meeting friends for a birthday dinner. I like to get an idea before everyone arrives. I approached the hostess, confirmed the reservation and said I would be at the bar. She let me know there was no room, I let her know that was a drag and she said there were plenty of bars on Colorado Bl. That being true maybe I should have left. That was my first impression. Ugh From that point on Service was amazing, 2 or 3 servers at a time, drinks came quickly, then they took our orders. We were a party of 4, each of ordered the single platter 3 ribeye and one lamb. I had the lamb, each plater comes with sides and the salad bar. The salad bar was no joke, asparagus tips, beets, tuna, wedge salad, artichokes,, tomatoes, pineapple, soups, just a lot of choices. The meats melted in your mouth, dripping in their own juices, and the servers came by multiple times. The side dishes were mashed potatoes, plantains, small corn buttered muffins. They brought out a Chocolate melted cake for a friend's birthday that was shared. Like the rest of the food that evening it was Fantastic! The building was built in 1929 , lots of detail, and beautiful. The dining area is an open concept, it does get busy and can be loud. It's a great place to meet friends and family. And a nod to our server Daniella who was very accommodating and helped make experience memorable. There is parking on the street , also valet parking and subterranean ($10.50). read more

See all

Cuzzo reserved a room to celebrate a milestone birthday. Hubbers and I came through early so we got to see this place before the crowd rolled in. Typical of most Fogo spots, decor was nice, high ceilings were a plus, and all the tables looked well-spaced out. It really gave a pristine vibe. The room wasn't quite ready (like I said, we were early) so Hubbers and I decided to start our day with a Bloody Mary's. Bartender was nice and accommodating and served us with a smile. We got started not too long after some for in line to get bigger stuff. A much better spread vs the Brea location (more on that later) but didn't want to fill up from goodies here: we came here for the meats! It didn't take long for the skewered grubs to come through. I really liked that we didn't have to wait for rotations to come around. I got to try plenty in a short span of time. Loved everything I got, but the pichanas are always top of my list here. FOOD: 4. SERVICE: 4. It was a pretty big party, and staff hustled as best as they did to accommodate. Kudos! There wasn't a lot of wait in between skewers either, so yay! VALUE: 4. PARKING: Parking structure (entrance is immediately to the left of their main entrance) or valet. Street is also available, but limited to an hour. OVERALL: 4. A better experience than my recent run at the El Segundo and Brea locations. (Long story short: both those locations were VERY stingy about dispersing the skewered goodies.) Cuzzo was happy. His guests were happy. It was a fun event. He picked a great place to celebrate this very special occasion. A bit of a drive from home, but willing to come through again given the opp. read more

See all

My husband and I chose to celebrate Valentine's day this year at This Fogo De Chao Pasadena. We have been to the one in San Diego,Las Vegas and this time was our first time for the one in Pasadena. Food : We did all you can eat $55/Person and I can says it was worth every pennies.My husband favorite was filet and my all time favorite for Fogo De Chao is Pork Belly,Which this branch was not disappointed.Salad Bar was great! Many selection to chose from. Service : We made a reservation at 1 pm and when we got there it was already a lot of people outside! After checked in we waited about 10-15 minutes then seated.They were very busy specially day like Valentines,So I would recommended make a reservation ahead of time.Server was good.It was very busy but our server were doing her best and came quite often. Vibe : This place is very big,Open,Bright and felt cozy.I like it. Parking : We used valet parking which cost $20 and it was so worth it specially on a busy day like this. If you are meat lover like us.They have everything you would like.Give Fogo De Chao Pasadena a try.I hope you'll like it like we do. read more

November 2023 - They do not validate parking. Paid $12 for about 4.5 hrs. Food/Pricing - Yellow drink was gross, plastic taste. Strawberry Hibiscus was great. Service/Ambiance - 45 minutes delay from reservation time. Checked in with them 3 times, each time was 'a few minutes longer'. No apologies and nothing comped to make up for it. read more

Got the churrasco for our Valentine's Day celebration. They kept the meats coming at a good pace. The market table options were great as usual. I wish they validated parking at paseo tho. read more

See all

Had such a delicious dinner and amazing service thanks to Roy! We have been to several FDC but this location was a unanimous favorite! We celebrated publishing my book today and Roy just made everything that much more special!! Amazing ambiance and just a totally great evening! read more

My kid asked if we could go here (our 3rd time) to celebrate her first day at her college program. Well, it's the perfect place to celebrate, so I said yes. One of the reasons it's a great place to celebrate is that whether you are a part of 2 or a party of 10, there is space for you. It's quiet enough to converse, also. Well, we were there for an early dinner so it wasn't crowded - it might not be as quiet later. As soon as you are seated, they bring you pão de queijo and it is so deliciously light and scrumptious one might be tempted to eat more than one. But don't! They also bring out caramelized bananas and crispy polenta. One might be tempted to eat more than one (of each). But don't! We both ordered the full churrasco. It starts off with the Market Table. One can have whatever one wants and can visit the Market Table as many times as one wants. There are all sorts of salads, as well as mouth-watering antipasti with both roasted and marinated vegetables, and charcuterie with cured meats and wonderful cheeses.. the table is full of fruit and veg that are both lovely to look at and delicious to eat. One can also enjoy feijoada (lovely, but filling). In fact, if you don't want meat you can get just the Market Table (though they also have main dishes that are vegetarian) and leave feeling full and satisfied. Although obviously the highlight of this restaurant is the meat, there is plenty for a vegetarian or pescatarian to enjoy. So in case you aren't aware, the way the meat is served is by men who go table to table with large skewers of meat that they slice to your liking at the table. We had picanha, filet mignon, ancho (hands down my favorite cut!). We tried the fraldinha (which was a little too strong for my liking). My second favorite is the alcatra. But there's more than beef coming by the table. The linguiça (pork) is phenomenal. The chicken is lovely. The kid also had medalhões com bacon which made her eyes roll up into her head she loved it so much. There are a few cuts of lamb as well. One can have the tiniest sliver or a big slice of whatever comes out, so if one doesn't fill up on everything else, it's possible to sample every meat. Well, maybe. I haven't been able to save the Market Table for after the meat, so I don't try everything. Daniella was the server (for everything but the meats). She is so attentive, and so friendly that when she teamed up with the kid to convince me that I wasn't too full for dessert, I was forced to agree. So crème brûlée it was. (We split it). Sorry I don't have any pictures. I was there just to enjoy the vibe and the food - not to document it. I suggest you go take a look - and taste! - for yourself. Oh - huge bonus: you can park in the Paseo (cheap!) or in the lot across the street (also cheap). You can valet, but it's not cheap. read more

I visited Fogo de Chão on Saturday, April 11, 2026, and unfortunately this experience was very disappointing compared to my previous visits, which had always been pleasant. From the beginning, the service felt off. We were seated at the only table without a table light in a very dimly lit area. When we asked for one, the waitress said they're sometimes not charged. She did bring one eventually, but it set the tone for the rest of the night. Unlike my past experiences, she didn't offer any side dishes or sauces. I had to ask about pão de queijo, and she told us the oven was down but that she would keep checking. She never followed up. Later, I saw the same waitress offering pão de queijo to other tables without hesitation. I ended up asking another waiter, who immediately brought everything without any issue or excuse. The food service was also inconsistent. We waited over 20 minutes for the first round of meats. After that, meats would either take a long time to arrive or come all at once, which caused them to get cold on the plate. We even requested a specific cut from our waitress, but she ignored the request. At that point, we stopped asking her for anything because she was not attentive and seemed disengaged throughout the entire evening. What's most frustrating is that during previous lunch visits, we received better service, more variety of meats, and more attentive care overall. It's hard to understand why dinner--at a higher price point--came with worse service, fewer offerings, and a disappointing overall experience. read more

back here again!!! amazing as ever, very busy Saturday evening yet the service was impeccable and staff was on top of everything. Veronica and Mark you guys were amazing we came for our good friends birthday to celebrate and we love this place. very good quality meats, and the cheese bread is possibly a new addiction of mine. parking is great, there is a lot right next to fogo, or you can valet. love this location :) read more

Fogo de Chão - Brazilian Near Me - Pasadena, California

This is just a follow up to my last review. I'll keep it simple. Their associate responded to my review and told me to email Feedback@fogo.com so they are aware of the situation. I emailed them the day after with a link to my review and explanation of why I have a bad review. Did I hear back from them? Nope! They obviously don't care. I would never support a business that is this disengaged from their customers. Avoid fogo at all costs in my opinion. There are much better restaurant in LA that have the same type of food. You would just get better service, and cleaner restrooms. read more

The service and the presentation was EXCELLENT. Most of the meats are so so. The BEST is the filet, lamb chop, and the picanha. The filet is full of flavor and very tender. The best! The service was really good on this last visit. They created a new position call, customer service rep." They come around to your table several times throughout your visit insuring that you are enjoying your meal and you do not need anything else. Fernanda was amazing! So nice and hospitable. The salad bar looked so delicious. The mushrooms, sugared bacon, caprese, papaya, and persimmons were some of my favorites. The price is quite steep, but for the service and selections it could be worth the spend on special occasions. HAPPY CHEESE BREADING! read more

See all

Fogo de Chão in Pasadena has always been a place I wanted to love because I am a huge fan of the churrasco experience. There is something endlessly entertaining about skewers of meat making their way through the dining room, and that novelty still hasn't worn off for me. Unfortunately, service on my most recent visit felt noticeably off, and not just compared to this location but to other Fogo de Chão restaurants as well. It was difficult to get help without flagging someone down for refills or basic questions, and there were long gaps between table visits while groups of staff chatted behind the bar. Watching that happen while waiting was frustrating and took away from the experience. Each visit leaves me a little less convinced that the value matches the price, which is disappointing because I really want this place to feel special again. read more

Fogo de Chão - Brazilian Near Me - Pasadena, California

See all

My first visit to Fogo De Chao was delicious!! Boyfriend made reservations a few days before for Valentine's Day, we ubered and checked in, waited about 20 minutes and were seated in a comfy booth setting near the salad bar. The servers were very attentive, friendly, answered all our questions and kept our drinks cold and full! The inside was open and busy but not crowded, there was another side area we saw after that looked more spacious but I think it was for larger groups. I recommend this location too everyone! read more

See all

Summary: 4 stars for good food and great service. Some issues with consistency for the grilled meats, but the stand outs were delicious. Service was excellent until we hit the dinner rush - unsurprising given the sheer volume of diners and interactive serving model. I wish the desserts were less sweet. *** My bf and I visited on a Saturday evening. We enjoyed the Dine LA special, which was $44 per person at the time. The menu was the same as their Best of Brazil special. We had to specifically mention the special prior to ordering to get the deal. After trying the full churrasco experience in the Thousand Oaks location, I thought the full experience was better than the Best of Brazil offerings. I'd return to Pasadena to try the full churrasco. PARKING We used the parking structure next door and paid $20 on a Saturday for 3+ hours. Unfortunately, Fogo de Chao doesn't validate. AMBIENCE AND SERVICE The interior of the Pasadena location was beautiful. I heard another customer saying that the building used to be a bank. We got a booth tucked away in a corner at the front of the restaurant. This dampened the loud noise as the restaurant filled out. Our servers Dominique and Saeed were fantastic. They juggled the mayhem of Dine LA and even a wedding party. We arrived at 5:15 pm, and service from all staff managed to stay attentive until 7 pm. Once dinner rush was in full swing, service became incredibly slow since the restaurant was packed. The interactive experience of using our personal tongs to grab the meat sliced as it's from the skewers was fun, but soon became impractical. The meat ran out before making its way to our table. I convinced my bf to wait another hour for the three remaining items that I ordered. He even had time to go outside and walk around the block twice! By the time we left, the line went out the door and wrapped around the block. DRINKS ORDERED Happy hour was all day on the weekend. They offered $5 beers, $8 South American Wines, and $10 cocktails. I enjoyed a glass of rosé while my bf got a red blend. MARKET TABLE & FEIJOADA BAR The buffet style bar offered a variety of side dishes. There were cheeses and cured meats, leafy salads, bean salads, corn salads, roasted vegetables, fruits, and soups. The feijoada (black bean stew with sausage) was alright. SIDES The sides that you can get with the churrasco were great. My favorite was the pao de queijo cheese balls, which were fluffy, crispy, cheesy, and buttery. The mashed potatoes were also very buttery. My least favorite side was the crispy fried polenta, which had better texture than flavor. The grilled pineapple topped with cinnamon wasn't on our menu, but it was offered to us anyway. It was just okay because the pineapple wasn't ripe. The fried banana was better in that regard. BBQ MEATS - Picanha (prime top sirloin cap). On the skewer, it looked like a U-shaped hunk of meat with a fat cap. The salt picanha was tender and delicious! I liked it better than the garlic one. - Alcatra (top sirloin). This cut was just okay since the meat was drier than the picanha. - Bisteca de Porco (pork chop). The pork had a great sear. It was juicy and perfectly seasoned. - Fraldhina (bottom sirloin). The steak tasted beefy which was great, but sadly it was too salty. - Madalhoes Com Bacon (bacon wrapped steak and chicken). The smoky bacon was much saltier on the steak than on the chicken, but the steak was softer and juicer. This dish was better at the Thousand Oaks location. - Cordeiro (lamb picanha aka rump cap). My bf enjoyed the medium rare lamb. I gave the edge a nibble - it was tender and soft and less gamey than anticipated. - Lombo (Parmesan-encrusted pork). The meat wasn't juicy. It had a sort of firm, gelatinous texture that I didn't like. - Queijo Assado (fire grilled Brazillian cheese). The cheese was stringy and almost meaty in texture. Drizzled with honey, it was a good sweet and salty bite. The honey was supposed to be infused with malagueta pepper, but I didn't taste that at all. - Torresmo (pork belly). The pork belly was better at the Thousand Oaks location. Here, the meat wasn't as tender and the seasoning was uneven. The second half of my pork was too salty. They also forgot to add honey. - Linguica (spicy pork sausage). Juicy and very fatty. The flavor was just okay for me. DESSET ORDERED Dessert was included in the Dine LA special. I asked our server for the less sweet option between the tres leches and chocolate brigadeiro; she recommended the former. The tres leches was still sweet, but it was more palatable than the key lime pie. I couldn't finish the pie at the Thousand Oaks location due to the sugar overload. The tres leches tasted mostly like one leche: evaporated milk. I prefer more whole milk for a fresher taste. At least the sponge cake was sturdy, and I liked the char on the meringue. read more

See all

Back for another visit at one of my favorite steakhouses Fogo de Chao. Tonight celebrating a special occasion. This time really here to enjoy the atmosphere and good food. Service here superb every time. Easy reservations and little to no wait. Shoutout to Josh our fantastic server for our table tonight. Tonight we tried a duet of caipirinhas lime & passionfruit. Table side service by the amazing Diego, born and raised in Brazil. Excellent drinks paired with with delicious meat. Everyone here is so helpful and courteous. Huge selections are the salad bar as well, stocked very frequently. Highly recommend this Fogo de Chao location here in Pasadena. read more

See all