Nestled at the top of St Mary Street in Cardiff, Wales, Viva Brazil is a vibrant Brazilian steakhouse, also known as a churrascaria.
If you’re a meat enthusiast, you’re in for a treat! Even if you’re not, Viva Brazil has you covered with delicious vegan and vegetarian options. We’ve heard rave reviews from friends and family, and now we’ve finally had the chance to experience it ourselves. Let us guide you through how it all works, so you can make the most of your visit and enjoy every moment of this culinary adventure.
The restaurant offers a distinctive dining experience inspired by the traditional Brazilian method of serving grilled meats. Diners enjoy a continuous service style where various meats are brought to the table on skewers and carved directly onto their plates, a service known as “rodizio.”
Sounds wild, doesn’t it? But trust us, it works incredibly well! Plus, the staff are absolutely delightful and ready to help with any questions you might have. Alex was fantastic and guided us newcomers through the process.
During lunch, guests can enjoy an unlimited supply of up to 8 cuts of meat, and during dinner, up to 14 cuts of meat (starting from 4pm). All meats are cooked on an authentic Brazilian BBQ and served with garlic bread, cinnamon pineapple, and access to an unlimited salad island.
There are rules, but none that limit your food supply. Here’s how it works…
Each table is given a card that operates like a traffic light system. Flip it to green when you’re ready for more meat and red when you need a break. Servers continuously rotate, bringing a variety of meats directly to your table, explaining each cut with generous portions. In fact, we often had to say “that’s plenty” because they kept offering more! They also mark off what you’ve tried on the menu, making it easy to keep track. This way, you can say, “Hey Alex, we loved the garlic steak, can we have more?” and he’ll make sure it comes around again.
The food
At Viva Brazil Cardiff, guests can enjoy a wide selection of meats, including beef, pork, chicken, and lamb, all seasoned and grilled to perfection. The meats are accompanied by a well-stocked salad island offering a variety of fresh vegetables, salads, and side dishes to complement the main course. The restaurant also offers a selection of Brazilian and international beverages, including cocktails, wines, and beers.
The ambiance at Viva Brazil is lively and vibrant, aiming to capture the spirit of Brazilian culture. The restaurant is popular for both casual dining and special occasions, providing a unique and interactive culinary experience.
It’s worth checking for the latest updates on the restaurant’s offerings, as they may change seasonally or for special events. If you’re planning a visit, it’s also a good idea to make a reservation, especially during peak dining hours.
Here’s where you might be a bit disappointed with us: out of the 14 meats, we managed to try 10. We decided to pass on the chicken hearts (which actually didn’t look too bad) because we were absolutely stuffed. However, now that we know the ropes, we’ll have a better game plan for next time!
The salad bar
The unique twist on traditional salads includes the vibrant Salada de Garo de Bico com Atum – a tantalizing mix of chickpeas, tuna, onion, coriander, garlic, lemon, and mayonnaise. Indulge in the colourful beetroot salad or the ‘Salada de Batata com Jalapeño‘, a zesty potato salad with soft cheese, mayonnaise, jalapeños, bacon, mozzarella, and spring onion. Don’t miss the ‘Salada de Cenoura Desfiada‘, a sweet and tangy combination of shredded carrots, mayonnaise, cinnamon, pineapple, and sultanas. The salad offerings change daily, so each visit brings a new surprise!
For those craving something warm, the hot dishes cater to vegetarians, vegans, and the adventurous eater. Savour the crispy delight of Banana Milanesa, the sweet richness of roasted plantain, or dive into the hearty ‘Carne com Batata‘, a traditional Brazilian beef stew. We tried the ‘Cogumelos Cremosos’—creamy mushrooms with a medley of tomatoes, onions, sweetcorn, green peas, mustard, herbs, and spices. And don’t forget to sample some of the best new potatoes you’ll ever taste.
With a variety of hot and cold dishes, plus a selection of condiments and tortilla chips, you can even create your own perfect plate of nachos.
This is what we had…
The meats
Here are the delectable meats we had the pleasure of tasting:
- Chilli Chicken
- Brazilian Sausage
- Parmesan Pork
- Lamb
- Picanha
- Garlic Steak
- Rump Steak
- Baby Back Pork Ribs
- Striplin Steak
- Tri-tip with Cheese
The meats with parmesan and garlic were particularly flavourful, making them standout choices. While we didn’t enjoy the Brazilian sausage as much as anticipated, the beauty of sampling a variety is discovering your personal favourites. The rump steak was expertly cooked and incredibly tender, and the tri-tip also emerged as a top pick for us. The baby back pork ribs had less meat than expected, so we recommend asking for extra if you choose this option.
We also tried the Cinnamon Pineapple, Alex told us how some people book just for this. We can fully understand why too. What a delicious sweet treat, with the cinnamon almost crystallising on the pineapple it adds a subtle crunch.
There is also a small selection of desserts and coffees on offer. We opted to try the homemade crisp churros, coated in cinnamon and sugar served with toffee and chocolate dip. They were pipping hot, sweet and exactly what we needed after all the delicious meats we tried.
The cost
The cost is very much dependent on the menu you choose, the time and day you visit will also impact the cost.
Breakfast
Breakfast is currently only available at the Cardiff restaurant – which we see as a win. It’s a weekend (Saturday and Sunday) only deal, 9am – 11am I’m sure it’ll be a big hit.
The food is unlimited, available from the breakfast buffet bar. With a great combination of sweet, savoury and continental there’s something for everyone’s taste buds.
Viva Big Breakfast – £13.95
Viva Kids Breakfast (suitable for kids 14 and under) – £7.95
Once again young children (under 5) get to eat free with each paying adult.
Full Rodizio (this is what we attempted)
Lunch (12pm – 4pm)
Monday to Friday – £24.95
Saturday and Sunday- £27.95
Dinner (from 4pm)
Every day is the same cost of £38.95.
Rodizio Especial
Not feeling up to trying 8 or 14 meats, why not try the Rodizio Especial. This includes a single serving of 4 or 7 meats, this still includes the accompaniments of garlic bread, cinnamon pineapple and the unlimited salad island.
Lunch (12pm – 4pm)
Monday to Friday – £16.95
Dinner (from 4pm)
Monday to Thursday – £28.95
Kids Rodizio
Kids U8 eat a kids rodizio for free with each full paying adult. Kids rodizio includes 4 meats, unlimited salad island & a dessert. Extra kids / 8-14 years old £12.95.
The menu online provides further details of what is included with each option. It’s great for all budgets especially with the added option of children under 8 eating free with a full paying adult.
Overall experience
Where else can you sample 14 different meats for just £38.95? That’s the question we’ve been pondering. Naturally, there might be a few cuts that aren’t your favourite, but that’s part of the adventure. Give each one a try, discover what you love, and indulge in more of your favourites.
We totally underestimated the salad bar area. While we added a few sides to our plates, we missed out on the full spread. It’s self-serve, so take your time exploring. We made the rookie mistake of loading up too quickly, which filled us up faster.
In the end, we got creative and asked Alex to carve various meats onto a shared plate for us. This allowed my partner and me to take our time savouring each cut. It was a brilliant idea, and we highly recommend couples give it a try. But, of course, everyone should find their own perfect way to enjoy the experience.
To ensure you don’t miss out on this incredible experience, we highly recommend booking in advance. You can browse the full menu and reserve your table online here. Don’t miss out!
Located: Top of St Mary Street, Cardiff CF10 1GD.
