When Brazil Comes to You
I never thought I’d have one of my most authentic Brazil experiences while wearing a winter coat in suburban Illinois. But that’s exactly what happened when I stumbled upon Texas de Brazil Orland Park last November during a weekend getaway from Chicago.
Look, I’ve been to the actual Brazil twice—once backpacking along the coast as a broke college student and again for a wedding in São Paulo five years ago—but sometimes the flavors of a place find you when you least expect it. And boy, did this place deliver a carnivorous slice of Brazilian culture right in the heart of Orland Park.
Texas de Brazil Orland Park isn’t just another steakhouse. It’s a full-on sensory experience that transports you straight to the southern regions of Brazil, where the churrasco tradition runs deep. When my friend Jamie suggested we try it (“It’s like meat paradise, you’ll die”), I was skeptical. Chain restaurants claiming authenticity usually make me roll my eyes. I was wrong. So deliciously wrong.
What Exactly is Texas de Brazil Orland Park?
Texas de Brazil Orland Park is an upscale Brazilian-American churrascaria (fancy talk for Brazilian steakhouse) located in Orland Park, about 30 minutes southwest of downtown Chicago. It’s part of a larger chain, sure, but don’t let that fool you—this place takes its meat very seriously.
The concept is simple but brilliant: you pay a fixed price, and an endless parade of meat comes to your table until you beg for mercy. It’s all served rodízio-style, which means servers (called gauchos) come around with massive skewers of various meats, slicing portions directly onto your plate.
The restaurant sits in the Orland Square shopping area, nestled between typical mall stores. From the outside, you might almost miss it, but once inside, the transformation is complete. The dimly lit interior, with its wine wall and sleek decor, makes you forget you’re basically at a mall in the Midwest.
Here’s the thing about Texas de Brazil—it’s not trying to be some hole-in-the-wall authentic joint. Instead, it’s bringing a specific high-end Brazilian dining tradition to the American suburbs with impressive fidelity. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you need when you can’t hop on a plane to Rio.
The Full Experience: Come Hungry, Leave in a Meat Coma
When we arrived for our 7 PM reservation (definitely make one, especially on weekends), the place was already buzzing with energy. Families celebrating birthdays, couples on date nights, and even what looked like a business dinner in the private room—the crowd was diverse but united in their enthusiasm for what was about to happen.
Our server, Mark, was the perfect mix of professional and personable. “First time?” he asked, noticing our slightly overwhelmed expressions as we took in the surroundings. When we nodded, he broke into a wide grin. “You’re in for a treat. Just pace yourselves—it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
Words I promptly ignored, to my later regret.
The experience at Texas de Brazil Orland Park works like this:
- You’re seated and offered drinks (their Caipirinha is pretty legit, though a touch sweeter than what I had in actual Brazil)
- You’re directed to the salad area—which is WAY more than just salad
- You flip a little card on your table: green means “bring me meat,” red means “I need a break”
- The meat parade begins, and your willpower ends
That salad area, though. It’s not your typical sad salad bar. It’s a massive island in the center of the restaurant with about 50-60 hot and cold items ranging from imported cheeses to lobster bisque to Brazilian black beans and rice. I made the rookie mistake of loading up my plate here, not realizing what was coming next.
Once we flipped our cards to green, it was ON. Within minutes, the first gaucho appeared tableside with a skewer of picanha—the house specialty, a cut of top sirloin with a fat cap that melts into the meat as it cooks. After that, it was a delicious blur:
- Filet mignon wrapped in bacon
- Lamb chops that would make you weep
- Parmesan-crusted pork loin
- Chicken drumettes (skip these, trust me—why waste valuable stomach space?)
- Linguica sausage
- Brazilian-style flank steak
And those are just the ones I remember. Each cut comes with its proper accompaniment—some with chimichurri, others with a sprinkle of salt or fresh herbs.
About 40 minutes in, Jamie and I flipped our cards to red, breathing heavily and questioning our life choices. “I think I need to unbutton my pants,” she whispered, and I couldn’t even judge her because I was considering the same desperate measure.
Mark passed by with a knowing smile. “Take your time. The meat isn’t going anywhere.”
Beyond the Meat: The Full Brazilian Experience
While the all-you-can-eat meat extravaganza is undoubtedly the star of the show at Texas de Brazil Orland Park, there’s more to the experience that makes it feel like a mini-vacation to South America.
The sides that accompany your meaty feast are traditional Brazilian staples. The warm cheese bread (pão de queijo) is dangerously addictive—little puffs of gluten-free heaven that somehow keep appearing at your table just when you think you couldn’t possibly eat anymore. The fried bananas sprinkled with cinnamon are a perfect sweet counterpoint to all that savory protein.
I struck up a conversation with one of the gauchos, Paulo, as he expertly sliced me some medium-rare ribeye. Turned out he was actually from Porto Alegre in southern Brazil, the birthplace of the churrasco tradition.
“Is this how you eat in Brazil all the time?” I asked him, half-joking.
He laughed. “No, no. This is special occasion food even back home. But the style of cooking and serving—this is very authentic.”
That conversation gave me a new appreciation for what Texas de Brazil Orland Park is doing. They’re not just selling meat; they’re preserving and sharing a cultural tradition that dates back generations in southern Brazil, where cattle-ranching gauchos would gather around open flames to celebrate with abundant food after a successful harvest or hunt.
The wine list also deserves special mention, heavily featuring South American selections. We splurged on a bottle of Brazilian Miolo Cuvée Giuseppe Merlot/Cabernet—not cheap at $68, but a perfect complement to the parade of proteins. If you’re not up for a full bottle, they offer a decent selection by the glass too.
The Ambiance: Upscale Without Being Stuffy
What surprised me most about Texas de Brazil Orland Park was the vibe. Based on the concept (and price point—dinner runs about $52.99 per person, plus drinks, tax, and tip), I expected something ultra-formal and maybe a bit pretentious. Instead, the atmosphere manages to be upscale while remaining festive and comfortable.
The dining room balances elegance with accessibility—white tablecloths and polished wood against warm lighting and the theatrical flair of the gaucho service. The sound level is lively without being deafening, allowing for actual conversation (a rarity in many restaurants these days).
One slight disappointment was our table location near the kitchen entrance. There was a fair amount of staff traffic, which occasionally felt distracting. If you’re making a reservation, request a table along the outer edge of the dining room for a more intimate experience.
Around 8:30, someone at a nearby table was celebrating a birthday, and several gauchos gathered to sing—not your typical restaurant birthday song, but something in Portuguese that had actual harmony and didn’t make everyone in the vicinity cringe. These little touches of authenticity make Texas de Brazil Orland Park feel special.
Is It Worth the Price Tag?
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room—Texas de Brazil Orland Park isn’t cheap. Dinner runs $52.99 per person, and that’s before you add drinks, dessert, tax, and gratuity. You can easily spend $75-100 per person for the full experience.
Is it worth it? That depends on a few factors:
How much meat can you realistically consume? If you’re a light eater, this might not be the best value proposition.
Are you looking for a meal or an experience? This isn’t just dinner; it’s entertainment and cultural immersion rolled into one.
How do you value variety? Where else can you try 15+ different cuts of meat in one sitting?
For me, it was absolutely worth it as an occasional splurge. The quality of the meat was exceptional—certified Angus beef and premium pork and lamb, all cooked to perfection. The variety allowed me to try cuts I’d never order as a full entrée elsewhere.
Pro tip: There are ways to maximize the value. Lunch prices are lower ($36.99), and they occasionally run specials. When we visited, they had a promotion where buying a gift card earned you bonus dollars—perfect if you know you’ll return or want to give someone a truly memorable gift.
If you’re staying at hotels in the area, some offer package deals that include dining vouchers for local restaurants, including Texas de Brazil. Worth asking about when you book your accommodations!
From Orland Park to Brazil: Making Connections
What I found most unexpected about my evening at Texas de Brazil Orland Park was how it rekindled memories of my actual trips to Brazil. As I sat there, working my way through my fourth (or was it fifth?) serving of picanha, I was transported back to a beachside churrascaria in Florianópolis where I’d spent an unforgettable evening with local friends years ago.
The similarities were striking—the ceremonial approach to cooking and serving meat, the communal dining experience, the unhurried pace of the meal stretching over hours. Even some of the background music (a mix of bossa nova and contemporary Brazilian pop) felt like a perfect soundtrack to those memories.
Of course, there were differences too. In Brazil, churrasco is often more casual, sometimes just grilled meats served on skewers at beach kiosks or family gatherings. The Texas de Brazil experience is a more polished, upscale interpretation of the tradition. But the heart and soul of it—the celebration of abundant food shared with others—remains authentic.
If you’re planning an actual trip to Brazil, I’d argue that visiting Texas de Brazil Orland Park beforehand could be a delicious primer on an important aspect of Brazilian culture. It might seem counterintuitive to visit a chain restaurant as preparation for international travel, but the culinary traditions they showcase are genuinely representative of southern Brazilian cuisine.
And if a trip to Brazil isn’t in your immediate future, Texas de Brazil Orland Park offers a pretty convincing culinary vacation without the airfare.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Visit
After multiple rounds of meat sweats and a deep conversation with our server, I gathered some insider tips for getting the most out of your Texas de Brazil Orland Park experience:
Make a reservation, especially for weekend evenings. The place fills up quickly, and you don’t want to be standing around hungry watching others feast.
Eat strategically. Go light on the salad bar (despite its temptations) and pace yourself with the meats. The gauchos will keep coming until you flip your card to red, so there’s no rush.
Be specific about your meat preferences. The gauchos are happy to bring you extra-rare or well-done cuts if you ask. Don’t be shy about expressing preferences.
Try everything once, but then focus on your favorites. Some cuts (like picanha and ribeye) are worth saving room for seconds or thirds.
Come hungry but not starving. You want to enjoy the experience without feeling rushed to fill an empty stomach or too full to appreciate the variety.
Consider a weekday lunch for a lighter crowd and lower prices. The selection is nearly identical to dinner.
Skip the dessert unless you have a separate dessert stomach. After all that meat, the flourless chocolate cake seemed like cruel and unusual punishment. We split one anyway. Regrets were had.
The Verdict: A Brazilian Vacation in Suburban Chicago
As Jamie and I waddled back to our car, uncomfortably full but deeply satisfied, she asked, “So, was it as good as the real thing in Brazil?”
That’s a complicated question. Was Texas de Brazil Orland Park an exact replica of dining in Rio or São Paulo? No. Was it a faithful, high-quality representation of a specific Brazilian culinary tradition, executed with skill and respect for its origins? Absolutely.
Sometimes authenticity isn’t about perfect replication but about capturing the spirit of a place. Texas de Brazil Orland Park may be thousands of miles from the beaches of Ipanema, but for a few hours, it transported me back to Brazil through my taste buds.
Would I go back? In a heartbeat—though my arteries might need a few months to recover first. If you find yourself in the Chicago suburbs with a carnivorous appetite and a taste for something beyond the usual steakhouse experience, Texas de Brazil Orland Park offers a delicious escape to another culture, no passport required.
Just remember to wear your stretchy pants. You’ve been warned.
FAQ About Texas de Brazil Orland Park
Q: Is Texas de Brazil Orland Park good for vegetarians?
A: While primarily a meat-centric restaurant, vegetarians can enjoy the extensive salad area with over 50 items including cheeses, roasted vegetables, and Brazilian sides. There’s a reduced price for the salad area only ($29.99 dinner/$24.99 lunch).
Q: Do I need a reservation at Texas de Brazil Orland Park?
A: Highly recommended, especially for weekends and holidays. You can make reservations via their website or by calling directly.
Q: How long does a typical meal take at Texas de Brazil Orland Park?
A: Plan for 1.5-2 hours to fully enjoy the experience. This is a leisurely dining concept, not a quick meal.
Q: Is Texas de Brazil Orland Park kid-friendly?
A: Yes! Children 2 and under eat free, while kids 3-5 are $5, and children 6-12 dine for half price. They even provide suggestions for child-friendly meat options.
Q: What if I have dietary restrictions or allergies?
A: The staff at Texas de Brazil Orland Park is generally knowledgeable about allergens and can guide you through safe options. Most cuts of meat are naturally gluten-free, and they can accommodate many dietary needs if you inform them in advance.
Q: How does pricing work at Texas de Brazil Orland Park?
A: It’s a fixed-price model: $52.99 for dinner and $36.99 for lunch (complete experience including meat service and salad area). Beverages, desserts, and alcohol are additional. Prices may change seasonally, so check their website for current rates.