Brazilians call their cuisine “food for the heart.” They use native ingredients, and recipes include heavy European and African influences — a mix that traces to colonial times.
Nowadays, Brazilian cuisine has gained popularity outside of its homeland, especially in South Florida. Whether you want a home-cooked meal or a refined dining experience, this list will guide you to some of the best restaurantes Brasileiros in Miami.
Samba Brazil
7438 Collins Ave, Miami Beach
754-354-3243
Samba has been open for only four months and already has regulars. The restaurant prides itself on having a fully Brazilian staff so guests have an authentic experience. The food has a home-cooked style much like that served in most of the restaurants in Brazil. From noon to 4 p.m. weekdays, the place offers a popular lunch special for $15. According to the employees, the picanha for two ($39.90) is a favorite main dish among regulars during the week. On weekends, the popular choice is the traditional feijoada ($23 for one, $39 for two). From 7 to 11 p.m. every Friday, guests are invited to enjoy live music that includes Samba sung by Brazilian singer Natasha Nappo.
Half chicken and catupiry, half sausage. Sweet sfihas. (Photo courtesy of Sfihas Brazil)
Sfihas Brazil
North Miami, delivery or take-out only.
305-926-4471
The original sfiha from the Middle East is a flatbread with meat toppings. The Brazilian twist offers chicken with catupiry, smoked sausage, nutella, churros and more. It might surprise you but this also happens with pizza toppings like guava, dulce de leche, eggs and tuna. Prices range from $2.10 to $3.80 for sfihas and $21 to $28 for pizzas. On “Sfihas Wednesdays” the unit costs $1.89 and on “Pizza Party Sunday” pizzas cost $14.80. The restaurant also offers pastel (Brazilian empanadas) and salgadinhos (finger food). Although Sfihas Brazil does not have a brick-and-mortar location, the business is becoming well-known among Brazilians in Miami.
Boteco
916 NE 79th Street, Miami
786-353-2555
Boteco is the place to be for samba nights and Brazilian soccer matches. It gets busy on weekends for the traditional feijoada buffet from 1 to 5 p.m. ($24.95 per person). Drink specials include a caipirinha Pitcher ($40). The most popular dishes include the picanha fatiada na chapa (grilled top sirloin steak) and appetizers such as the bolinho de bacalhau (fried codfish croquette) and the coxinha de frango (chicken croquettes with catupiry cheese). The restaurant was recognized as the “Best Brazilian Restaurant in 2022” by Miami New Times.
Camila’s
129 SE 1st Ave, Miami
305-375-0992
Camila’s is one of the oldest Brazilian restaurants in South Florida. It opened in 1989 and has become a place Brazilians know to visit in Miami and Orlando. It’s a traditional all-you-can-eat buffet, where the meats are prepared throughout the day. Guests can make their plates for a fixed price of $17.95. If you can’t stay but still want to take home some of the buffet choices, you can make a plate for $9.95 per pound. The restaurant is usually full on Wednesdays and Sundays when feijoada is included in the buffet.
Fogo De Chão
836 First St., Miami Beach
305-672-0011
2801 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Coral Gables
786-297-8788
The first Fogo De Chão opened in Porto Alegre in 1979 and since then it has expanded all over the world. Fogo is ideal for a formal churrascaria experience, where the gauchos serve various cuts of churrasco. The main dining area features a market table where guests serve themselves. All traditional cuts of meat, the feijoada and market table are included in the dining experience ($38.95 during lunch and $59.95 during dinner). Bar Fogo has its own menu including a picanha burguer ($8) and small plates ranging from $5 to $16.
