Whether you crave an all-you-can-eat feast of skewered meats, an elevated rodízio with private rooms, or a warm community spot with a generous salad bar, this list has you covered.

At Fogo de Minas, you’ll settle into a lively dining room and watch servers parade 16 different meats to your table, while the all-you-can-eat format keeps the good times (and the gauchos) rolling. Just down the street, Pampas Brazilian Steakhouse offers private dining options and 17 select cuts of churrasco, pairing mesquite-grilled beef with an elegant wine list. Over in Roseville, Flame & Fire has earned local raves (and bargain-friendly Costco gift packs) for its juicy picanha and fresh salad bar—an approachable entry point to rodízio culture. If you’re willing to venture a bit farther, Galpão Gaúcho in Roseville elevates the experience with 18 grilled selections—including its 24-karat Golden Steak™—alongside a 45-item gourmet market table. And in Elk Grove, Fogão Gaúcho has become a neighborhood staple, with its “pay-what-you-weigh” system and warm, casual dining room where every slice of picanha and swirl of garlic steak feels like a celebration.

Whether you’re planning a big birthday party, a date night out, or just a casual meal with friends, these five spots showcase why Sacramento’s Brazilian dining scene keeps growing—and why every visit feels like a mini-trip to Rio.

1. Fogo de Minas Brazilian Steakhouse

Fogo de Minas sits in midtown Sacramento, welcoming diners with the enticing aroma of mesquite-charcoal grills and a spacious dining room designed for communal feastin. Here, the rodízio format means unlimited passes of 16 different cuts—everything from top sirloin and bacon-wrapped steak to chicken hearts and glazed pineapple—for one flat price, making it easy to sample widely and eat heartily.

Alongside the meat parade, the salad bar is a star attraction: crisp veggies, fresh antipasti, Brazilian-style macaroni salad, and more give each visit a fun, buffet-style energy. Those who value presentation will appreciate that every cut is carved tableside, while families and large groups can relax in roomy booths or at long communal tables.

The restaurant’s vibe is upbeat and casual—think lively background music, attentive casual-dining service, and the constant movement of gauchos weaving through the floor. Prices hover in the $$–$$$ range, with dinner rodízio priced around $50 per person, making it a solid choice for both weekly treat-yourself nights and special-occasion dinners.

Why go? If you love variety and value, Fogo de Minas is hard to beat. The quality of the meats is consistently high, and the all-you-can-eat format turns dinner into a festive, uninterrupted experience—true to Brazil’s communal approach to dining.

2. Pampas Brazilian Steakhouse

A few blocks from Old Sacramento, Pampas Brazilian Steakhouse brings 17 select cuts of churrasco to an elegant setting, complete with private rooms for groups of up to 40—ideal for birthdays, rehearsal dinners, or corporate gatherings. The space balances warmth (dark wood, leather banquettes, and softly glowing sconces) with upscale touches, like polished stone accents and a curated wine cellar.

Chef de churrasco here includes classics such as picanha (Brazilian top sirloin), garlic steak, pork sausage, and lamb chops, all slow-roasted over hardwood mesquite before being expertly carved to order. Beyond the meat offerings, Pampas features a generous salad bar with Brazilian breads, fresh cheeses, and Côte d’Azur-style olives—plus a rotating selection of side dishes like cheese-baked hearts of palm and mandioca frita (fried cassava).

Service leans toward the formal side: expect white-gloved attendants, seamless dish clearing, and knowledgeable servers ready to pour caipirinhas or recommend Brazilian and New World wines. Rodízio pricing starts around $60 per person for dinner, though lunch specials offer a more wallet-friendly introduction to the format.

Why go? If you’re entertaining a crowd or craving a more refined rodízio vibe—private-room options, polished presentation, and an expansive wine list—Pampas delivers an experience that feels both celebratory and authentically Brazilian.

3. Flame & Fire Brazilian Steakhouse

Though its address is technically in Roseville, Flame & Fire claims a passionate following among Sacramento locals for its honest-to-goodness churrasco and surprisingly friendly prices. Part of its appeal is the availability of bargain gift-card deals through Costco—perfect for first-timers dipping a toe into the rodízio scene or groups looking to stretch a dollar.

Inside, the décor favors an industrial-chic meets tropical aesthetic: exposed brick walls, potted palms, and rustic wood tables under Edison-bulb strands. The meat lineup includes flame-kissed cuts of sirloin, beef ribs, chicken thigh, pork loin, and glazed pineapple—each one delivering the smoky, savory notes you expect from Brazilian-style grilling.

A solid cold bar and hot sides station rounds out the meal: piping-hot feijão tropeiro (Brazilian bean stew), fresh caprese salad, and seasonal vegetable preparations that keep each round from feeling repetitive. Cocktails skew classic (caipirinhas, caipiroskas) while the beer list mixes Brazilian imports with local craft options.

Why go? Flame & Fire is a go-to when you want a relaxed, no-frills rodízio at a fair price—and if you time your visit around a Costco deal, you can make a serious feast into a surprisingly affordable outing.

4. Galpão Gaúcho Brazilian Steakhouse

Venture into Roseville for Galpão Gaúcho, a destination for both its grand Sala de Gauchos (main dining hall) and the theatricality of its rodízio service. With an expansive buffet of 45 gourmet salad-bar items—think smoked salmon carpaccio, assorted bruschettas, and ceviche shots—plus 18 rotating grilled cuts, Galpão feels like the ultimate Brazilian buffet-meets-fine-dining hybrid.

The “24-karat Golden Steak™” is the house spectacle: a picanha cap coated in edible gold leaf, plated tableside for both visual flair and luxurious flavor. Beyond that showstopper, expect traditional favorites—garlic-buttered sirloin, bacon-wrapped chicken, lamb chops, and more—all slow-roasted and carved with precision.

Ambiance ranges from the warmth of Brazilian café bossa nova melodies to a more modern lounge area for pre- or post-meal cocktails. Prices trend upscale (around $70 per person for full rodízio), but the breadth of offerings—from fresh sushi bites at the raw bar to indulgent dessert stations—makes it worth the splurge.

Why go? If you want an over-the-top celebration—complete with golden steak, endless sides, and a party-like atmosphere—Galpão Gaúcho delivers on every front.

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5. Fogão Gaúcho Brazilian Steakhouse (Elk Grove)

Just south of Sacramento’s city limits, Fogão Gaúcho Elk Grove brings a neighborhood sensibility to the churrasco tradition, complete with a “pay-what-you-weigh” model that’s both novel and crowd-pleasing. Located on Elk Grove Boulevard, the restaurant welcomes guests into a casual, warmly lit space where gauchos rotate with skewers of picanha, chicken hearts, and garlic-topped ribs.

Instead of a fixed price, diners are weighed before and after the meal, and the difference determines the bill—an approach that encourages sampling without fear of overordering Complementing the meats is a well-stocked market table featuring Brazilian-style side dishes—farofa (toasted manioc), mandioca frita, black beans, and seasonal salads—plus a modest dessert case with passionfruit mousse and brigadeiros.

Service is friendly and unhurried, with gauchos explaining each cut and recommending pairing suggestions (try a caipirinha with your next round). Overall pricing averages $50–$60 per person, though lighter eaters can come away under $40 thanks to the weighing model.

Why go? Fogão Gaúcho’s “pay-what-you-weigh” concept takes the guesswork out of a rodízio visit, making it a fun, interactive choice—especially for groups who like to graze and try a bit of everything.

Sacramento’s Brazilian restaurant scene has matured well beyond a handful of steakhouses. From midtown’s classic all-you-can-eat rodízios to upscale private-room churrascos and inventive pricing models, these five restaurants each bring a slice of Brazil’s communal, meat-centric dining tradition to our capital city’s table. Next time you’re craving smoky picanha, fresh caipirinhas, and that unmistakable buzz of gauchos circulating through your dining room, you know exactly where to head. Enjoy—and bom apetite!