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Brazilian restaurants, cafés and catering in San Diego

Curious about Brazilian food? Think flame-grilled picanha carved right at your table, crispy golden coxinhas, warm and chewy pão de queijo, and thick, ice-cold açaí bowls. Here is where to find Brazilian restaurants, steakhouses (churrascarias), cafés, sweets and catering in San Diego, plus restaurants of other cuisines with Brazilian owners. Every spot below is part of the Portal Brazil USA directory, so every visit supports a local Brazilian business.

What to try: a quick guide to Brazilian food

  1. Picanha (pee-KAHN-yah): the top sirloin cap, Brazil’s favorite cut, grilled on a skewer with its fat cap and a little coarse salt. Try it at Brazil by The Bay or at a churrascaria.
  2. Coxinha (koh-SHEEN-yah): a teardrop-shaped croquette filled with shredded chicken, breaded and fried. Brazil’s most famous snack. Find it at Brazil by The Bay, Brazuca Bites and Roses Catering.
  3. Pão de queijo (pown jee KAY-zho): cheese bread from Minas Gerais, made with cassava starch, so it is naturally gluten-free. Crispy outside, chewy inside. Brazuca Bites makes it.
  4. Açaí (ah-sah-EE): a berry from the Amazon. In Brazil it is blended thick and frozen, served in a bowl with granola and banana. Try it at Açaí Carioca, Ocean Cafe, Val’s Coffee Corner or Bom Dia Café.
  5. Pastel (pahs-TEL): a thin, crispy fried pastry with savory fillings, a Brazilian street-market classic. Brazil by The Bay and Fattoush serve it.
  6. Brigadeiro (bree-gah-DAY-roh) and pudim (poo-JEEN): the chocolate truffle no Brazilian birthday party is complete without, and Brazil’s creamy condensed-milk flan. Look for It’s Pudim and Sweet Cravings.
  7. Feijoada (fay-ZHWAH-dah): black bean stew with pork, served with rice, collard greens, farofa (toasted cassava flour) and orange slices. Traditionally a Wednesday or Saturday dish.

Restaurants and Brazilian steakhouses

Brazil by The Bay

Brazilian restaurant · Point Loma · San Diego

Picanha, coxinhas, kibes, pastéis and a Tri-Tip dinner, with TVs showing sports and Brazilian television and an outdoor patio with live Brazilian music. 3676 Kurtz St, San Diego, 92110. (619) 692-1410

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Fogo de Chão

Brazilian steakhouse (churrascaria) · Downtown · San Diego

668 6th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101. (619) 338-0500

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Texas de Brazil

Brazilian steakhouse (churrascaria) · San Diego County

A churrascaria inspired by the barbecue of Rio Grande do Sul: cuts of beef, lamb, pork, chicken and sausage roasted over an open flame, plus a gourmet salad area with more than 50 items.

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Cafés, açaí and snacks

Açaí Carioca San Diego

Açaí · Point Loma and Pacific Beach

Natural, handmade açaí in gourmet cups with superfoods. Point Loma: 10 am to 6 pm. Pacific Beach: 9 am to 4 pm.

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Ocean Cafe

Café and açaí · Pacific Beach · San Diego

Juice and coffee shop with açaí bowls made from an authentic Brazilian recipe, with no additives. 4426 Ingraham St, San Diego 92109. (858) 900-2126

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Val’s Coffee Corner

Café · Ocean Beach · San Diego

Organic coffee, espresso, smoothies, a traditional Brazilian açaí bowl, pastries and snacks. 2244 Bacon Street, Ocean Beach. (619) 920-3130

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Bom Dia Café

Café · UTC · San Diego

Since 2012: hot, iced and blended Brazilian coffee, quick breakfast and lunch, tapiocas, açaí bowls and smoothies. 4660 La Jolla Village Drive (P1). (619) 400-7862

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Crepe on a Stick

Crepe on a stick · Pacific Beach · San Diego

Swiss-style crepes on a stick, savory and sweet, with a Brazilian touch. 1345 Felspar St, San Diego 92109. (857) 258-5842

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Brazilian sweets

It’s Pudim

Sweets · San Diego County

Pudim, the much-loved Brazilian flan. (858) 405-5897

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Sweet Cravings

Cakes and party sweets · San Diego County

Cakes and Brazilian party sweets (docinhos). (619) 451-2385

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Savory snacks, catering and chefs

Brazuca Bites

Savory snacks · San Diego County

Coxinhas, pão de queijo (gluten-free and oil-free) and filled mini churros. (619) 638-0898

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Roses Catering

Snacks and catering · San Diego County

Brazilian party snacks (salgadinhos) for every occasion: coxinhas, risoles, esfihas, cheese balls, and traditional dishes. (201) 388-7337

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Rio Catering

Event catering · San Diego County

Food solutions for your event. (760) 917-3395

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Chef Lucas Vita

Personal chef · San Diego County

Personal chef, custom events and orders. (407) 242-0067

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Stick ‘n’ Bite

Barbecue skewers · San Diego County

Marinated skewers for a Brazilian-style barbecue with family and friends. (619) 793-7006

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Brazilian-owned restaurants in San Diego (other cuisines)

Restaurants of other cuisines run by Brazilian owners: a delicious way to support the community.

Fattoush Mediterranean Fine Cuisine

Mediterranean · Brazilian owner · San Diego

A Mediterranean restaurant with a Brazilian owner, and it also serves Brazilian pastel. 6686 El Cajon Blvd Ste A, San Diego, CA 92115. (619) 460-6162

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See all Brazilian food in the directory

Own a Brazilian business in California? Join the directory for free and get found by Brazilians and locals in San Diego.

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Frequently asked questions

Where can I eat Brazilian food in San Diego?

Portal Brazil USA lists Brazilian restaurants, steakhouses, cafés and snack makers in San Diego, such as Brazil by The Bay (Point Loma), Fogo de Chão (Downtown) and Texas de Brazil, plus açaí cafés, Brazilian sweets and catering. It also lists restaurants of other cuisines with Brazilian owners, like Fattoush Mediterranean Fine Cuisine.

Where can I find coxinha and pão de queijo in San Diego?

In the directory you can find coxinhas at Brazil by The Bay and Brazuca Bites, which also makes gluten-free pão de queijo, and at Roses Catering, which makes Brazilian party snacks to order.

Where can I get a real Brazilian açaí bowl in San Diego?

Açaí Carioca (Point Loma and Pacific Beach), Ocean Cafe (Pacific Beach), Val’s Coffee Corner (Ocean Beach) and Bom Dia Café (UTC) all serve açaí bowls.

What is a Brazilian steakhouse and how does rodízio work?

At a churrascaria with rodízio service, servers bring skewers of different meats to your table, such as picanha, and carve them for you, while you help yourself at the salad and side dish bar, all for a fixed price. In San Diego, look for Fogo de Chão (Downtown) and Texas de Brazil.

Can I order Brazilian snacks and sweets for a party?

Yes. The directory includes businesses that make Brazilian party snacks, brigadeiros, cakes, pudim and event catering. Check each profile and contact the business to order.

Which restaurants in San Diego have Brazilian owners?

Besides Brazilian restaurants, the directory highlights restaurants of other cuisines run by Brazilians, such as Fattoush Mediterranean Fine Cuisine on El Cajon Blvd, which also serves Brazilian pastel.

How do I add my restaurant to Portal Brazil USA?

Sign up for free at portalbrazilusa.org/cadastrar-diretorio. After review, your profile appears in the Brazilian Food category of the directory.

Do you run a Brazilian restaurant or food business?

Own a Brazilian business in California? Join the directory for free.

Join the directory for free

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