Best barbecue in Brazil
🥩 Velha Napolitana: Brazil’s Hidden Grill Gem That Leaves Fogo de Chão in the Dust 🌟 Why This Churrascaria Has Brazilians Drooling 📍 Address: Av. Rui Barbosa, 8371 - Centro, São José dos Pinhais - PR, 83040-550 (Minutes from Curitiba Airport—plan your layover here! ✈️) The Big Claim: Fogo de Chão? Please. This spot serves steak so tender, you’ll finish a feast feeling light as a feather—not stuffed like a Thanksgiving turkey. Got it! Here's the full English version as requested, picking up from the earlier cut-off: 🥩 Meat Magic: How They Outshine the Rest Tenderness That Defies Physics Grass-fed Brazilian beef, prime cuts like Picanha grilled to perfection. Fat melts like butter, meat falls apart with a fork. 💥 "They cook steak with scientific precision," says my Brazilian friend. No rubbery texture here—just melt-in-your-mouth goodness. The "No Food Coma" Wonder Secret? Traditional South American charcoal grilling. It crisps the outside while keeping meat juicy, so you avoid that heavy, bloated feeling. 🤯 Pair with farofa (toasted manioc flour) and tangy bean sauce—genius palate cleansers. Curitiba: The Underrated Churrasco Capital Thought Rio or São Paulo had all the good steakhouses? Wrong! Curitiba’s altitude and climate give beef a richer flavor. The city hides 50 + (heritage grills), and Velha Napolitana is locals’ top secret. 💡 Pro Tips for Carnivore Heaven Order Like a Pro: Picanha Prime: The holy grail—top sirloin with perfect marbling. Get the bone-in version for extra flavor. Alcatra: Marinated rump steak with herbs—ideal for bold taste buds. Hack the Menu: Wrap steak in lettuce with fried banana and cheese—Brazil’s answer to "meat sushi," and it’s life-changing. Skip the Basic Set: Splurge R$20 more for Prime cuts. Worth. Every. Penny. 📍 Practical Deets & Flex Moves Price: R$80–120/person (half the cost of Fogo de Chão—steal alert!) Hours: 11:30–23:00 (Weekends: arrive 1hr early. Locals bring the whole fam.) Dress Code: Avoid white! Charcoal grills are table-side—oil splatters are a hazard (trust me). 🌶️ Brazilian Friend’s Burn "Fogo de Chão is for tourists now—their steak tastes like tire rubber. We take VIPs to Velha Napolitana… just check the Lambos parked out front. Owners come for the meat!" 🚗💨 #BrazilianBBQ #CuritibaEats #LocalSecret #SteakGoals