The life of a vegetarian (or vegan) isn’t always simple. When you’ve cut meat out of your diet, you have to carefully control what you eat to avoid it, and the ways you do that can vary depending on both where you’re eating and why you’re vegetarian.
So, if your friends have invited you out to an important celebration, but that celebration is taking place at a Brazilian steakhouse (also known as a churrascaria), you have a choice to make. Do you attend or not? Well, if you’ve decided to attend, you’re likely expecting to have a hard time. After all, it’s a steakhouse where meat is the star of the show.
Well, we have good news and we have bad news. The good news is, when you go to a Brazilian steakhouse like Texas de Brazil, while meat is definitely a core part of our menu, we have some selection of vegetarian options. The bad news is, some of it may be a little more limited than you might like. So, let’s talk about it!
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Vegetarian, Vegan, Pescatarian, and Variations
Instead of getting right to menu items, let’s talk about some of the variations on vegetarianism and what they might mean for your experience at a Brazilian steakhouse.
A lot of it comes down to why you’re vegetarian. This is tricky for outsiders to navigate because there often isn’t a good way to describe yourself as a vegetarian who avoids meat because of the social, ethical, and environmental impacts of factory farming, versus someone who avoids meat due to religious reasons, versus someone who avoids meat because of simple distaste for flavors, textures, and more. Some people are even allergic to meats or certain proteins.
Add to this the variations on what it means to not eat meat, and you have a complex environment to navigate. Vegans are much stricter, though it’s generally rare for a vegan to even want to visit a steakhouse in the first place. Pescatarians are common, as a spin on vegetarians who are able to eat seafood, either due to religious exemption or due to a more liberal definition of vegetarianism.
Effectively, you simply need to know your boundaries and don’t be afraid to ask questions. In our case, our managers are deeply knowledgeable about what goes into every dish and can both give you a tour and help you find options that suit your dietary limitations.
In general, the less restrictive your diet, the more options will be available to you. If you eat fish (and are thus a pescatarian rather than a true vegetarian), you can enjoy several of our sides and secondary meals, while if you’re vegan, you’ll end up a lot more limited. But then, you likely know that from experiences throughout your life.
The Salad Area
Before digging too deep into the menu items you might expect at a Brazilian churrascaria, here are a couple of disclaimers.
The first is that we’re primarily talking from our own experience here. The menu options and items listed below are what we have on offer at Texas de Brazil. Other steakhouses and churrascarias may have their own menus and variations, so what you can get might not be the same.
The second disclaimer is that the majority of our salad area items are available year-round; however, on rare occasions, a certain item might be out-of-stock, so please call ahead if you are interested in a particular dish.
So, what is in the salad area? With over 50 items, you’re sure to find something you’re interested in!
First up are the salad ingredients.
- Sliced tomatoes. Greenhouse tomatoes during the off-season, and fresh tomatoes when they’re available, mean these can be some very flavorful veggies to enjoy.
- Artichoke hearts. Marinated for extra flavor, artichokes are a delectable addition to any salad or meal.
- Peppadew peppers. Traditionally found in a tangy brine, peppadews have a mild heat that adds more flavor than you might expect from their small size.
- Cherry tomatoes. All of the ripe tomato flavor in a small, tasty package.
- Malagueta peppers. One of the traditional hot chilis is used in many Brazilian dishes.
- Grana Padano cheese. A hard cheese with a crumbly texture and a rich, nutty taste, this is quite similar to a Parmesan cheese, both in flavor and in use.
- Romaine lettuce. An all-around solid base for any salad dish you might want to make. It’s lettuce! It’s not the most exciting ingredient, but it’s plenty tasty.
- Roasted garlic. Who doesn’t love a good clove of roasted garlic, or two, to round out a meal?
- Hearts of Palm. One of the less common salad ingredients we offer, hearts of palm are a subtle flavor similar to white asparagus or water chestnuts, with a tender but slightly crunchy texture that adds a great substance to a salad composition.
- Cornichons. Also known as baby pickles, these are small pickled cucumbers you’re likely familiar with.
- Black and Kalamata olives. While we might not have a full olive bar the way your local Greek restaurant might, the two most common options are available to load up on tangy, salty goodness.
- Roasted red/yellow peppers. Roasting a bell pepper brings out depth and complexity in the flavors that you don’t get otherwise, and it’s a great addition to your meal.
- Manchego cheese. A softer and smoother kind of white cheese, Manchego is a Spanish sheep milk cheese aged somewhere between 60 days and two years. It’s buttery smooth and delicious.
- Mozzarella balls. Everybody knows what mozzarella is, and fresh mozzarella is always a tasty treat whether it’s added to a dish, used for a bruschetta, or just enjoyed as a snack.
- Capers. Another source of tangy and unique flavors, capers can round out any good vegetarian dish.
- Sun-dried tomatoes. Specifically, our sun-dried tomatoes are cherry tomatoes, meaning you have a tasty bite-sized bit of dried tomato at your command.
- Spring mix. If you were lamenting that your only option for a salad base was romaine, we’ve got you covered.
- Roasted jalapenos. This is for those who want a spicier kick and are familiar with the jalapeno rather than the less common malagueta peppers.
- Green beans. Always a solid option when you want another veggie to round out a dish.
Beyond the DIY salad options, there are also prepared items, both hot and cold.
- Couscous salad. A traditional couscous salad is, of course, centered around the couscous, but includes additional ingredients like tomatoes, onions, cucumber, chickpeas, artichoke hearts, Kalamata olives, and herbs.
- Cucumber salad. A simple cucumber-based salad with onion, lemon pepper, and a bit of olive oil.
- Goat cheese terrine. Goat cheese is very tasty but can be overwhelming on its own, which is why a terrine adds other ingredients. Ours can vary, so ask your gaucho what’s included! You can be assured it’s meat-free, though, regardless of the recipe.
- Cabbage salad. A basic cabbage salad rounds out any prepared salad menu, and ours is no different.
- Farofa. This is a traditional Brazilian meal made from toasted cassava root and is often mixed with a wide range of ingredients. Make sure to double-check what’s in ours today!
- Tabbouleh. A levantine salad made primarily with fresh herbs, tomato, and onion, this bright and flavorful salad mixes well with other ingredients, tops bread, and generally goes great with all sorts of other food items.
- Onion ceviche. Much like several other salads on this list, a ceviche can be made in a bunch of different ways. Some even include fish and shellfish, so use your best judgment.
- Potato salad. Who doesn’t love a good potato salad?
For bread options, you also have:
- Ciabatta bread. Whether you want to make a sandwich or just enjoy some buttered bread, ciabatta is the way to go.
- Homemade crostini. Perfect for a bruschetta or base for any toppings you might want to put on it.
Leave room on your plate, though, because there’s more on the menu.
The Hot Prepared Items Table
Once you’ve made your way through the salad area, you can check out some of the prepared hot items that are available to enjoy.
One thing to note here is that you may want to ask your server about the feijoada. While feijoada is a traditional Brazilian black bean stew, it’s also frequently made using a beef base, so it’s not completely meat-free, depending on your personal limitations. Similarly, other items like sauteed mushrooms may use a meat base, so ask ahead of time if that’s a concern for you. Double-check the recipes before you enjoy them!
The easiest item on the hot table is jasmine rice, which is a simple, basic rice you can use as the base for anything else you like. We also have potatoes in three forms: garlic mashed potatoes, potatoes au gratin, and French fries, so they suit your needs.
The two stars of the show, though, are the fried bananas, which are caramelized to perfection and drizzled with cinnamon and sugar, and the Brazilian cheese bread. The cheese bread is out of this world, and it’s one of the simplest and most traditional Brazilian food items you’ll find outside of the meat menu.
Finish Strong with Delectable Desserts
Quite possibly, one of the best things to enjoy on the menu is our selection of incredible desserts.
There’s something for everyone here:
- Carrot cake.
- Key lime pie.
- Coconut chess pie.
- Crème brulee.
- Brazilian papaya cream.
- Chocolate mousse cake.
- Pecan pie.
- Passion fruit mousse.
- Brazilian cheesecake.
- Bananas foster pie.
Unfortunately, not all of these are available all the time; you’ll need to ask your friendly manager what’s available, depending on location and season. Still, at least with the dessert menu, you don’t have to worry about meat slipping in somehow. Enjoy with confidence!
Tips for Enjoying a Brazilian Steakhouse as a Vegetarian
Let’s wrap things up with a few tips that can help you navigate your time in a Brazilian steakhouse, and lead you to a fun experience even if you aren’t taking part in the core offering on the menu.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Our friendly managers are more than happy to give you a tour of your vegetarian options, and even offer suggestions for pairings and ways you can accentuate your meal with the ingredients we have in our salad area.
Have that second helping. Texas de Brazil’s mission is to make sure you leave satisfied. The churrascaria experience means meat on skewers is brought around to your table constantly throughout your meal, so your meat-enjoying friends will have plenty; so don’t feel bad about heading back to the salad area for another round, or two. It’s there for you, after all!
Ask about the salad-only dinner option. Meat may be the star of the show, but that doesn’t mean we’re going to charge you for it if you don’t want to partake. Ask our manager about the vegetarian meal option, and the lower price point that comes with it.
Enjoy the experience! At the end of the day, Texas de Brazil is a fusion of Brazilian churrascaria and American steakhouse, and it’s a unique and incredible experience. It’s no wonder why we’re a top choice for everything from anniversaries to retirement parties to corporate catering and events. You’re here to have a good time, enjoy good food and good people, and we’d love to make it the best experience you can have.
So, whether you want to reserve a table at your nearest location, head over to our catering page and book catering, or join our eclub for exclusive deals and offers, we look forward to seeing you!
