HOUSTON, TX – Chama Gaucha on Westhiemer near the Galleria is the ultimate all you can eat buffet.
“What we are is an authentic Southern Brazilian Steakhouse. The concept consists of a salad bar, which is in the middle of the dining room floor,” explained Mauricio Gil, Chama Gaucha Assistant Manager.
After that you never have to leave your seat.
“There’s a coaster on the table that has a green and red color to it; to indicate that you are ready for meat service you flip the coaster from red to green,” he added.
Once you get started, it’s hard to stop.
“Once on green, our meat servers, known as gauchos, start serving you 15 cuts of meat. The cuts are from beef, lamb, chicken, pork and sausage. It’s unlimited as much as you like,” he said.
They serve about 1,000 pounds of meat a day.
“You better come hungry,” suggested Keith Boxx, who said he eats there once a month.
Chew on this!
These Brazilian Cowboys, or gauchos, have a deep rooted passion for their culture and tradition.
“Everything that we do here is very traditional,” said Gil. “All the meat servers have maybe anywhere from 5 to 18 years of experience. Most of their grandparents still do that in Brazil.”
It’s a tradition that’s been around for centuries.
“Back in the 1800s any major celebrations, any birthdays, anniversaries or whatever brings people together, all these meat servers would gather around, they would dig a big hole and just throw a lot of mesquite wood and cook the meats on an open flame fire.
All the meat would be pierced in a wooden skewer and would slowly rotate to cook to all the families’ likings,” Gil detailed.
It’s like visiting that grandmother who never lets you leave her home hungry.