A few months ago, I decided to take on the challenge of cooking Brazilian BBQ at home.
Armed with skewers and a YouTube tutorial that promised to turn me into a churrasco master in no time, I confidently fired up the grill. Unfortunately, I ended up with a smoke-filled kitchen and charred meat that resembled more of a science experiment.
Needless to say, I realized I’m not cut out for the art of grilling.
After that fiasco, I rallied up the rest of the Best Calgary to accompany me in trying out various restaurants. From traditional rodízio to modern twists, these are the spots we found that truly capture the essence of Brazilian BBQ.
How much does it cost to eat Brazilian BBQ in Calgary?
It costs at least 30 CAD per person to eat Brazilian BBQ in Calgary. The cost varies depending on whether it’s all-you-can-eat, a la carte, or other options.
Table of Contents
1. Bolero
Address: 6920 Macleod Trail S
Contact details: +1 (403) 259-3119
Operating hours:
- Monday through Thursday – 5 PM to 9 PM
- Friday – 5 PM to 10 PM
- Saturday – 4 PM to 10 PM
- Sunday – 4 PM to 9 PM
Bolero presents itself as an all-you-can-eat haven, with an inviting and mysterious ambiance.
When we went for dinner, the lively staff brought a sense of excitement to the table as they presented skewers in style.
Their unique table service lets you control your dining pace with a simple cue system. Turn your card green to signal the gaucho chefs for more, yellow to take a breather, or red to pause the meat parade.
Among the highlights of our meal was the alcatra—a traditional Brazilian cut of top sirloin—seasoned with sea salt and pepper. This cut was juicy and undeniably satisfying.
From their gourmet fresco bar, we particularly enjoyed the watermelon salad, which was refreshing with a hint of jalapeño heat.
As we approached the end of our meal, their famed Tres Leches cake had that perfect balance of sweetness. It even left us craving for just one more bite!
The one thing that didn’t quite hit the mark for us was their baby back ribs; they were drowned a bit too much in sauce and lost their tender texture.
Customer Reviews
The food is consistently delicious
“This restaurant is well worth the price. The food is consistently delicious and the service is exceptional. There is a great range of sides in the hot and cold bar plus the at the table all you can eat meat is always cooked to perfection. A great place to celebrate any special occasion or just as a special treat.”
— Roseanne, Google Reviews
Every bite is a taste sensation
“Bolero’s Brazilian BBQ is a culinary gem that never disappoints. The service is exceptional, with a consistently friendly and welcoming staff. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, creating the perfect setting for a memorable dining experience. And let’s not forget about the food – it’s absolutely divine. From the tender, succulent meats to the rich and flavorful Brazilian dishes, every bite is a taste sensation. While dining at Bolero’s may be a bit of a splurge, the quality and experience make it worth every penny.”
— Ursula M, Google Reviews
2. Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse
Address: 521 10 Ave SW
Contact details: +1 (587) 354-3441
Operating hours:
- Lunch: Monday to Sunday – 11 AM to 2 PM
- Dinner: Sunday to Thursday – 4:30 PM to 8 PM
- Dinner: Friday and Saturday – 4 PM to 9 PM
During our team dinner, we decided to try the Pampa Experience. This unique dining option includes 13 cuts of Alberta beef along with various other meats.
To enhance the meal, it’s complemented by a limitless salad bar, shrimp, and grilled pineapple.
As we began our feast, we were impressed by the beef. It was melt-in-your-mouth tender. Meanwhile, the lamb paired beautifully with the chimichurri sauce.
To balance the hearty meats, the salad bar had plenty of fresh vegetables and a variety of dressings. And we can’t forget about the shrimp—buttery and delicious.
To wash it all down, we chose the Caipirinha, Brazil’s national cocktail, which added a refreshing and zesty touch to our meal.
And of course, we didn’t forget the dessert! We indulged in the bite-sized Pampa cake and the caramel cheesecake, both of which were delicious.
With free parking available, Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse is a convenient choice for those craving Brazilian BBQ in a classy, relaxed atmosphere.
However, we did experience a wait of about 30 minutes before our food started arriving. Additionally, our server’s demeanour felt a bit rude.
Customer Reviews
Everything about this restaurant is fantastic
“Everything about this restaurant is fantastic! Salvador took great care of us and recommended the perfect sauce pairings for our meal, making it even more delicious. Highly recommended! We’ll definitely back before our trip to Calgary ends.”
— Haniyeh Mamdooh, Google Reviews
The food was amazing
“Great selection of meat, we had a server named Daniel who recommended us multiple delicious cocktails all night. The food was amazing as well as the service. Can’t say no to a good time like this .”
— Andrew Le, Google Reviews
3. Minas Brazilian Steakhouse
Address: 136 2 St SW
Contact details: +1 (403) 454-2550
Operating hours:
- Tuesday to Thursday – 11:30 AM to 9 PM
- Friday – 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM
- Saturday – 8 AM to 9:30 PM
- Sunday – 8 AM to 9 PM
Minas Brazilian Steakhouse offers a rich array of traditional dishes. The entire place is decorated with Brazil in mind, featuring traditional wooden accents and handcrafted artefacts that add a warm and rustic charm.
What really caught our eye was the enticing Mistão na Tábua, a lavish mix-barbecue plank perfect for sharing. We loved the alcatra (prime beef hips) which was perfectly seasoned and melted in our mouths with each bite.
We also liked the frango com bacon (juicy chicken wrapped in crispy bacon), as it was neither too salty nor overcharred.
That said, we did hear from others who opted for the all-you-can-eat rodízio that the experience was somewhat constrained. With a time limit of an hour and a half, they found the meal rushed.
There were also complaints about staff closely monitoring portion sizes. While we didn’t encounter this issue, our server did overlook our table for the first 15 minutes we were there.
Customer Reviews
Everything tasted fresh, appetizing and delicious
“We have been to Minas Brazilian Steakhouse for lunch and dinner. Simply love the food… the meats, the sides, the salads and desserts. Everything tasted fresh, appetizing and delicious. There were lots of options for you to fill up your plates. Some of my favourites were Spicy Chorizo Sausages, Carolina Salad, Barbecued Pineapple, Crispy Pork Belly, Kale Salad, Brazilian Rice & Beans and lots more. Staffs are friendly too (would appreciate if the servers that bring the meats around could approach the tables more often). A nice cozy place to enjoy a delicious meal with my family!”
— Alice Woo, Google Reviews
All the food taste like from Brazil
“My wife is Brazilian she said this reminds her of home, all the food taste like from Brazil.
The steak fell apart in your mouth, so delicious!
They have a fantastic buffet that my wife was saying to try this try that. 10/10 overall They played some Brazilian song and all the staff were from Brazil.
We arrived at 11:30 when they opened, they had food ready and the meat took about 5mins to come.”
— gymBro, Google Reviews
4. Gaucho Brazilian Barbecue
Address: 9823 Macleod Trail SW
Contact details: +1 (403) 454-9119
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday – 12 PM to 10 PM
- Friday and Saturday – 12 PM to 11 PM
Gaucho Brazilian Barbecue embraces the traditional rodízio style; the meat doesn’t stop coming until you turn over your table card to display its red side.
During our visit, the first cut to hit our plates was the picanha, and we tasted their signature Brazilian seasoning in every bite.
We also enjoyed their herbed chicken wings, which were tender and made for a refreshing contrast to the beef-heavy offerings.
However, we weren’t fans of the chimichurri bottom sirloin, as it was a bit too chewy for our liking.
Plus, we had hoped the pineapple would serve as a great palate cleanser, but it disappointed us. It tasted canned rather than fresh and grilled.
On another note, while the restaurant’s interior appears classy, we found the chairs to be uncomfortable.
Customer Reviews
Favorite Brazilian restaurant I’ve been to
“Favorite Brazilian restaurant I’ve been to. Service is excellent. The value you get is incredibly good. The lamb was my personal favourite. The selection in their sides were excellent as well. They do a great job of offering a traditional Brazilian feel and taste. Will be back again.”
— Xander, Google Reviews
The meats were all excellent
“We had an exceptional dinner at Gaucho tonight. Service was exceptional. A special thanks to Rob for this. The meats were all excellent and there is a great selection of sides. The resteraunt has a nice ambience and there is plenty of free parking. A nice place to celebrate a special occasion.”
— James Waurynchuk, Google Reviews
