• About
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Write for us
  • Contact
  • Terms of service
Thursday, June 30, 2022
The Millennial Source
TMS
Home Lifestyle

The best places to eat Brazilian food in SoCal

byPhoebe Woofterand Edited byChristine Dulion
June 14, 2021
in Lifestyle
grilled meat on charcoal grill

Photo by Gonzalo Guzman on Pexels.com

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linkedin

From feijoada and pão de queijo to açaí and caipirinhas, the best places to eat Brazilian food in SoCal are cooking up these favorites in Los Angeles and San Diego lanchonetes, churracarias, açaí cafés and more. If you’ve ever enjoyed a complete Brazilian meal, you’ll know that manioc (or cassava) serves as a staple for Brazil’s dining culture.

Whether toasted to make farofa or served raw, manioc seasons stews and often accompanies meat-heavy dishes. While servers will present ketchup or shakers filled with salt and pepper at most American restaurants, Brazilian eateries always provide a side of farofa. In its country of origin, farofa arrives in generous portions.

If you’ve lived in or visited SoCal, you’ll know that the açaí berry of the Amazon has a trendy image on the West Coast. In Brazil, açaí na tigela takes center stage in the food community. We know it as a sweet but healthy treat topped with fresh fruit and granola, but Brazilian açaí is also served with manioc, among many other unexpected toppings.

More often than not, when you eat an açaí bowl blended in America, the açaí disappears underneath excess sugar and fruits. Authentic açaí has a bland taste with a hint of natural sweetness. Some may mistake the taste for blueberry. 

Beyond the food itself, Brazilian dining has a distinct culture. A meal is a communal event for family and friends, not a rushed source of fuel for the rest of your day. The eateries on this list embody that culture and serve delicious dishes. Read on for our picks of the best places to eat Brazilian food in SoCal.

The Brazilian Taste – Los Angeles

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Brazilian Taste (@the_brazilian_taste)

Brazilian street food tops most other forms of the cuisine. The rich flavors of Rio’s savory snacks inspired Mineiros Bruno and Vanessa Oliveira to dish out pasteís, pão de queijo and coxinhas. They even have lesser known snacks like efihas, which are flat pastries topped in cheese, herbs and sometimes shredded meat. 

Unsure what to try? Definitely go for the pão de queijo, or Brazilian cheese bread, often made with tapioca flour. These bite-sized snacks will ensnare you with their warmth and hint of sharp and milky cheese. The Brazilian Taste also offers hand pies crammed with flavorful fillings and seasoning. 

Brazilian BBQ – Los Angeles

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brazilian BBQ (@bbq.brazilian)

When Americans think of barbecue, summer evenings with sticky fingers and family and friends often come to mind. Brazilian barbecue isn’t far off, featuring churrasco on the beach, in familial backyards or from churrasqueiras (street grills). Most attendees have a skewer of grilled meat in their hands. 

Check out Brazilian BBQ in West Los Angeles for a taste of barbecued picanha, chicken plates swaddled in bacon or a myriad beef-based sides. Sorry, vegans and vegetarians. Stay at home for this one. 

Açaí Republic – Los Angeles

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Acai Republic (@acairepublic)

Based on the açaí shops littered throughout Brazil, this chain has spread like a weed – a very tasty weed. Jiu jitsu teacher Adriano Nasal founded Açaí Republic, and it has become the neighborhood hangout he imagined. 

The café serves açai na tigela, tropical juices and Brazilian pastries. You can choose from a selection of several blends, including guaraná, mango and pitaya. Of course, Los Angeles foodies swarmed the scene, hoping to chow down on some soothing superfoods inspired by São Paulo shops. The açaí berry contains a multitude of healthy properties, including antioxidants, vitamins and fiber. 

Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse – San Diego

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Fogo de Chao (@fogo)

Brazilian steakhouses may be the most familiar of the cuisine when it comes to the American food scene. Fogo de Chão has graced the US, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the Middle East and Brazil with its long history of serving churrasco (grilled meat). 

The founders grew up on a farm in the south of Brazil where they learned traditional methods of cooking churrasco. After undergoing formal training, the founders created the first Fogo de Chão in the rural area of Porto Alegre in 1979. Less than a decade later they expanded to São Paulo after garnering quite the reputation among Brazilian urbanites. They then expanded to America and have continued to grow each year. Come here to taste the history of Brazilian grill.

Brazilian Bowls – San Diego

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brazilian Bowls (@brazilianbowls)

Serving a variety of sweet and savory bowls out of a little shop in Pacific Beach, this San Diego eatery provides plenty of vegan and gluten-free options. From bowls based on famous stews, like a black bean dish often topped with farofa called feijoada, and faux meat books to açaí bowls and smoothies packed with nutrients, Brazilian Bowls has a simple menu for anyone looking for an introduction to Brazilian cuisine.
 
Even better, you can take a bowl or smoothie to go and nibble on your meal outside while you stroll on the beach or the boardwalk. Try a classic guarana soda or the strawberry refresher for a cold drink on summer day.

Is your business doing something cool that you want to show off? Get in touch at [email protected]

Like TMS? Subscribe to our free daily newsletter

Related

Tags: CaliforniaLifestyletravel
ShareTweetShare

Latest Posts

Red Hare Analytics

Red Hare Analytics CEO Anson Kwok says it’s time to prepare to enter the NFT market

June 26, 2022
Blue Lotus Gallery

How Hong Kong’s Blue Lotus Gallery is exploring the city’s cultural identity

June 25, 2022
Kayla Wong

Entrepreneur, activist and creator Kayla Wong on the LGBTQ+ scene in Hong Kong

June 18, 2022

Everything you need to know about kakeibo, a Japanese method of saving money

June 17, 2022

Just say “no” to shark fin soup, says Hong Kong Shark Foundation

June 12, 2022

How Hong Kong’s archiREEF is restoring our ocean’s coral reefs with technology

June 11, 2022

7 of the best investment apps in Hong Kong

May 29, 2022

Cheers to Breer – the social enterprise inspiring us to upcycle our food scraps

May 28, 2022

Get to know visual podcast channel Fav: On Air

May 26, 2022

SUBSCRIBE TO THE TMS NEWSLETTER

By providing your email, you agree to our Privacy Policy

The Millennial Source Ltd. 2021

No Result
View All Result
  • Your daily briefing
  • About us
  • Explore
    • Startups
    • Climate change
    • Tech giants
    • Crypto
    • The future of work
    • Banking giants
    • Economy
  • Lifestyle
  • Human stories
  • TMS archives
  • Write for us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy & Terms

2022 The Millennial Source Ltd.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

string(24) "jsonld single post debug"
The Millennial Source
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.