Top Brazilian Food In Philadelphia

The Daily Meal Staff|Sept. 9, 2014 7:00 am EST

Folks in Brazil love festive music, samba dancing and food. Rotisserie-style picanha steak, tender pork, spicy chicken and grilled seafood are staples in this South American country. While you may think Rio has the market cornered on authentic Brazilian cuisine, check out Philadelphia for some of the best Brazilian food in the U.S. From food trucks to upscale eateries, here are the best places in Philly to feast on Brazilian cuisine.

BrazBQ
Mobile Food Truck
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 208-5755
www.brazbq.com

Sometimes you have to go the extra mile to find a special place that will keep you coming back for more. BrazBQ is just that place, but the Brazilian food truck changes locations, so you'll need to do some reconnaissance work to find it (check its Twitter page). The green step van with the big yellow diamond shape painted on its side can usually be found at Drexel's food truck row at 34th and Market or N. 33rd and Arch. The eatery offers a beef bonanza of rotisserie-style steak, Brazilian hamburgers and cheesesteaks and steak sandwiches, tacos and and wraps. Be sure to try the special pineapple. The sweet fruit is coated with sugar and cinnamon, then rotisserie grilled.

Casa Brazil Steak House
6222 Bustleton Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19149
(215) 744-6206
www.m.mainstreethub.com

For big bang for your buck, try Casa Brazil Steak House in Northeast Philadelphia. While it's not as classy and elegant as Fogo or Chima, this BYOB serves ample portions with minimal pain to your wallet. The all-you-can-eat buffet is awesome, but the meat fest definitely requires elastic waistbands. The sirloin, short ribs, sausage and garlic chicken can send you into a meat coma, but try to stretch that elastic for the flan and corn cream desserts.

Chima Brazilian Steakhouse
1901 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 525-3233
www.chima.cc

Warm and sophisticated, Chima is a hit with both the Center City lunchtime business crowd and fine dining aficionados. The elegant restaurant features a full Rodizio dinner, a choice of 15 different roasted meats including ribs, lamb, pork, chicken, sausage, fish, top sirloin and filet. Selections include filling up at the salad bar, and meats are served tableside by authentic gaucho chefs. If you are counting calories, skip the meat and simply go for the salad bar with its impressive selection of hot dishes, cheeses, cold cuts, salads and soups.

Picanha Brazilian Grill
6501 Castor Ave.
Philadelphia, PA 19149
(215) 743-4647
www.picanhagrill.com

If you're looking for a budget-friendly alternative to the more expensive Center City eateries, check out Picanha Brazilian Grill in Northeast Philly. Named after Brazil's signature cut of beef, Picanha has its staff slice juicy steak from large skewers right at your table. The buffet table is to die for, with more than 20 American and Brazilian dishes priced by the pound. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., this casual restaurant is the perfect place to refuel, but leave room for dessert. The truffles and Brazilian chocolate pave are heavenly.

Susan DeFeo has been a professional writer since 1997. She served as a community events columnist for New Jersey's "Cape May County Herald" for more than a decade. A writer for numerous online publications, Susan has covered health, fitness, beauty and travel, all subjects that are near and dear to her as a married mother of seven children. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.