Fogo de Chão

The story

Fogo de Chão New York City – Brazilian Steakhouse with Wine Spectator Accolades

A Flagship Born of Tradition

Fogo de Chão’s New York City location is no ordinary outpost. Opened just before Christmas 2013, this three-story, 16,000-square-foot flagship on West 53rd Street was designed to honor the brand’s roots in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The restaurant’s entrance is marked by a seventeen-foot bas-relief sculpture of O Laçador, the iconic gaucho monument from Porto Alegre — a deliberate nod to the founders’ heritage.

The story begins on a family farm in the mountainous Serra Gaucha, where the founding brothers learned the slow-fire techniques of churrasco. After formal training in Rio and São Paulo, they opened their first wood-structured restaurant in Porto Alegre in 1979. Word spread among politicians and celebrities, and by the time American guests began requesting a stateside presence, the concept was ready to travel. Dallas saw the first U.S. location in 1997; New York’s flagship followed sixteen years later.

The Churrasco Experience

Here, the culinary art of churrasco is center stage. Gaucho chefs carve fire-roasted meats tableside — from the signature Picanha (prime top sirloin) to Fraldinha (bottom sirloin), Lamb Picanha, and Wagyu New York Strip. The menu also features a Market Table of fresh, seasonal items and authentic Brazilian sides. For a limited time, a four-course option bundles the most popular cuts, Market Table, sides, and a dessert.

The restaurant’s wine program earned a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2014, a recognition that speaks to its carefully curated list. Fogo even offers its own Founders Tribute Wine Collection, with four reds from Argentina, Chile, and California, each paired to specific cuts. The 2021 VIK Red Blend, a 100-point vintage, has been featured in special chef-curated wine dinners.

Atmosphere and Legacy

The New York dining room is designed to feel both grand and welcoming — a space where the energy of the open fire meets the polish of fine dining. Private dining rooms and catering are available, and Bar Fogo offers Brazilian-inspired small plates and cocktails. The restaurant also runs a loyalty program, Fogo Rewards, with perks like a birthday churrasco and $1 Caipirinha Tuesdays.

Since 1979, Fogo de Chão has kept the flames of churrasco burning. In New York, that tradition is alive and well — a Brazilian steakhouse that respects its past while serving a global city.