Napa Valley’s Best Brazilian Steakhouse Expands to Huge New Restaurant in Irvine – Eater LA

The city of Irvine is now home to Southern California’s very own gaucho district with the newest branch of Galpão Gaucho, the eighth location of the Northern California-based chain of Brazilian churrascarias. Founded in Napa in 2016, Galpão Gaucho joins global giants Texas de Brazil and Fogo de Chão in the planned Orange County city, hoping to take some of the grilling competition. The inspiration for this new Brazilian steakhouse comes from founder and COO Jovani Gava’s hometown of São Miguel do Oeste in the state of Santa Catarina, which is located near the Argentine-Brazilian border. The restaurant’s design stems from the beating heart of gaucho country, cultivated in courtyards and corrugated iron buildings, where the galpão (shed) serves as a gathering place for music, family and churrasco (grilled meats).

Gava’s passion for this history and tradition of southern Brazil is nurtured in the birthplace of the sublime rodizio, or rotisserie, the Brazilian steakhouse popular around the world for its parade of grilled meat skewers topped with prime cuts. Armed with a love of churrascaria, Gava began his professional career at Jardineira Grill in São Paulo at the age of 17, where he learned hospitality in the highly competitive churrascaria scene in the Brazilian capital. Blending Southern country charm with big-city sophistication has guided the fast-growing franchise since it opened eight years ago.

Galpão Gaucho’s dimly lit elegance combines circular stone walls with wooden beams above white tablecloths, where diners can sample the restaurant’s 18 choice cuts—including the gleaming 24-carat gold steak—all carved with a facón (gaucho knife) by uniformed servers. Churrascaria lovers can make a special request for grilled chicken hearts, one of the trademark specialties served at the best Brazilian barbecues. A full dining experience (meats, salad bar and sides) costs $75 per person for dinner and weekends. Weekday lunch is available for $55 per person. Those looking to eat lighter can enjoy a salad bar and hot items like feijoada for just $36.

Once seated, a warm, fluffy pão de queijo (cheese bread) arrives at the table. Salad bar items to order include vinaigrette (tomato salad), mayo (potato salad), beans, farofa (toasted cassava flour), and rice. Those who want a kick can ask for molho de pimenta malagueta (hot sauce). Also, don’t miss the garlic bread or the queijo assado (grilled cheese with honey).

In addition to Brazilian cocktails and a tequila cart roaming the restaurant floor, there is a wine list that favors Napa Valley reds and Argentine Malbecs, all paired with Galpão Gaúcho’s three specific preparations of picanha (fillet top cap ). Like all Brazilian barbecues, simply flip the churrascaria cards to the green to start the action.

Galpao Gaucho is located at 1830 Main Street, Irvine, CA, 92614. (949) 529-5296. Lunch is served Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Dinner is served Monday through Thursday, 5:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday to 10:00 p.m.; Open Saturday 12:00 to 22:00, Sunday 12:00 to 21:00