There are several popular options for Brazilian BBQ, most notably chain restaurant establishments such as Fogo de Chao and Texas de Brazil. The average cost is typically around $50-60 per person, so you really have to eat your money's worth of meat. A salad bar is also included in the price, which consists of an assortment of vegetable dishes, white rice, black beans, etc.
Located in Orange County, CA, Silva's recently opened as a churrascaria with a lower price point. $24.95 for lunch on weekdays, $29.95 for dinner and on weekends. The lower price comes with a caveat -- there is a limited selection of meats, and there are no waiters that come around directly to your table to slice the meat of your choice.
I tried all of the meats, and my favorite would have to be the picanha (pictured above), the sirloin cap which is the signature cut of meat for any and every Brazilian BBQ steakhouse. When cooked correctly, the outside crust should be perfectly salted and seasoned, while the inside meat is tender and juicy, cooked to a perfect medium rare. Silva's serves a good picanha.
However, the one carving station is a hindrance. The person at the helm is forced to walk back and forth from the oven to the cutting board, bringing different cuts of meat each time. If the customer wanted to try every single meat item on the board, that is a lot of time spent going back and forth. One can only imagine what it would be like if there was a long line of hungry patrons waiting for their turn -- especially when you know that this is an all-you-can-eat establishment.
Silva's Fresh Eatery & Churrascaria
3672 S Bristol StSanta Ana, CA 92704
https://www.silvasfresheatery.com
