Brazilian Steakhouses – Edmonton All You Can Eat Gluttony Guide
Visiting an Edmonton Brazilian Steakhouse for all-you-can-eat meat is about as gluttonous as you can get. The key is to know what’s good, gorge on that and walk away from the rest.
Edmonton sports a couple of Brazilian Steakhouses. There’s Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse that is part of a chain with two locations in Edmonton. Then there is Fumaca Brazilian Steakhouse with just one Edmonton location in the river valley.
I’ve repeatedly had the meat sweats and had some great meals with friends while dining at all spots. This is part 2 in my Edmonton All You Can Eat Gluttony series, and this one is all about the meat.
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Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse and Fumaca Brazilian Steakhouse Offer Similar Menus
Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse and Fumaca Brazilian Steakhouse are different restaurants, but I’m putting them together because they have nearly identical offerings.
Pampa restaurant has been my favourite spot for all-you-can-eat meat for years. There used to be a downtown location that I frequented for lunch, but that closed, so the west end location has become my go-to.
My son wanted a Brazilian Steakhouse experience for his birthday so I immediately suggested Pampa. We were expecting 12 people to show up, and when he called Pampa, they required a $25 per person deposit for the reservation. That would have been $300! Fumaca, on the other hand, was happy to have us.
Dinner at Fumaca restaurant turned out to be fantastic and less expensive than dinner at Pampa. Fumaca made 12 new fans that day.
How does all-you-can-eat work at Pampa and Fumaca?
The way both Brazilian steakhouses work is that you are served BBQ meat and pineapple from vertical skewers brought to the table by knife-wielding waiters. This concept is modelled after the way Churrasco (Brazilian BBQ) works in Brazil, and the all-you-can-eat style is called Rodizio.
When you are first seated, you order your drinks, then get up to go to the salad bar, where you will also get your plate for dinner. There is a hot chafing section that changes but usually offers soups, mashed potatoes, and rice or pasta buffet-style. The buffet also has your sauce selection.
My trifecta of sauces:
- Horseradish
- Papaya dressing
- Chimichurri
When you return to your table with your plate, there will be a two-sided circular card the size of a puck in front of you. One side is green, and that means keep the meat coming. The other side is red, which means you tap out.
There will be silver tongs with your cutlery. When the server comes by with the vertical skewers, they will make thin slices, and you will use the tongs to grab the meat and transport it to your plate. Some cuts just get scraped directly onto your plate without the need for tongs, such as chicken drumsticks or squares of parmesan pork.
I like to ask my server for a side of rock salt for the steak pieces and then just dip and eat. The pineapple will be served sliced as well, and you will use your tongs to grab it.
The skewers will just keep coming as long as your puck is set to green. When you have had enough, switch to the red side to make them stop.
How much is Rodizio at Pampa restaurants in Edmonton and Fumaca restaurant in Edmonton?
Pampa’s offers lunch for $42.95 per person and includes 7 skewers in rotation. Fumaca does not offer lunch.
Dinner at Pampa’s is around $68 per person and includes 13 skewers in rotation.
Dinner at Fumaca is significantly cheaper at $49.99 per person and includes 12 skewers in rotation.
As this is limitless meat, I recommend going for lunch at Pampa’s or Dinner at Fumaca. Both restaurants offer mostly the same cuts of meat.
What skewers to eat at Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse for Lunch
- Beef Garlic Steak – marinated and tender squares of beef
- Tri Tip – flavourful carved beef with a crunchy bark
- Pampa Picanha – carved lamb sirloin and Pampa’s signature cut of meat
- Chicken Drumstick – juicy marinated chicken
- Top Sirloin – Carved tender beef steak
- Caramelized Pineapple – Sugar-glazed carved pineapple
What skewers to eat at Fumaca Brazilian Steakhouse
- Beef Garlic Steak – tender squares of marinated beef
- Bacon-wrapped Beef Tenderloin – Filet mignon wrapped in bacon!
- Top Sirloin – Tender carved beef steak
- Leg of Lamb – Honey mustard glazed rich cut of lamb
- Chicken Drumstick – Marinated juicy chicken
- Picanha – Fumaca’s signature cut of beef steak
- Caramelized Pineapple – Sugared and grilled pineapple
You can expect professional service from both Edmonton Brazilian Steakhouses. Decanted wine, poured by your attentive server. A visit to your table from a manager to check on whether you are enjoying yourself. You can request your meat skewers to be done to your liking.
I’m particularly fond of the servers at Pampa West who remember every detail from my allergies to my requested rock salt the moment I walk in.
Edmonton Brazilian steakhouses are a fun dining experience for a date or a group setting. Reservations are highly recommended, especially for dinner service or if you are a large group.
Get the entire menu and updated prices from Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse here
There are two locations in Edmonton
Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse West
17020 100 Ave NW (780) 761-4400
Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse Ellerslie
9626 Ellerslie Rd SW (780) 249-2000
Get the entire menu and updated prices from Fumaca Brazilian Steakhouse here
Located in the River Valley of Edmonton
Fumaca Brazilian Steakhouse
10143 Saskatchewan Dr NW (780) 249-8995
Pampa Brazilian Steakhouse has spread throughout Alberta and also has a location in Red Deer and Calgary, so you can go for a road trip and still experience Brazilian BBQ meat.
10 Tips for Edmonton Brazilian Steakhouses
- Go hungry!
- Don’t get too full on salad and carbs
- You can turn down cuts of meat if they are not your favourite
- Ask your server to slow down if the meat is coming too fast
- If the meat is not rare enough or too rare, let your server know your preference
- Try different sauces with different meats
- Try the pineapple
- Tell your server your allergies at the start of the meal
- Make a reservation
- The salad bars are cheese heavy, and the cheese buns are excellent. Bring lactose pills if you are intolerant
Thanks for reading my guide to Pampa and Fumaca Brazilian Steakhouses in Edmonton. Brazilian Steakhouses are one of the exceptional dining experiences available in our city. I hope you can have that experience too. Have a fantastic day and Live Self Happy!
