I have visited Churrascaria Espetus in San Francisco since its inauguration. The quality of their meats is outstanding, the salad bar is spectacular, the service is white glove and I have brought many friends there along the years. I look forward to visit again on my next visit - my birthday week. I cant wait. read more

Food: 3.5/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 3.5/5 Portion to Price: 2/5 Overall: One of a few all you can eat joints in the city I come to once a year to celebrate my other half's bday. The extended review... Food: 3.5/5 - Like I said it's a good variety. The meat can either be tough and dry or moist and tender depending on how long it's been out on the floor. There's also a good amount at the salad bar. And don't forget the grilled pineapple! Service: 4/5 - Constant friendly attention. However, it seems like sometimes the servers don't go to all the tables especially when it's the good meat. Ambiance: 3.5/5 - A nice indoor and outdoor setting. Portion to Price: 2/5 - A little pricy but it is all you can eat. read more

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Espetus is THE place to go to for a fancy dinner out. With AYCE high-quality salad bar and fresh meats offered every minute, Espetus blew my expectations out of the water. The salad bar is stocked with plenty of fresh greens (butter lettuce, mixed greens, caprese salad), carbs (potatoes, pasta, rice), and even a couple options of meat (seafood paella, salmon). From 5PM to 7PM, not a single thing ran out. The meats are on another level. I especially loved the Top Sirloin Steak for its great salty crust and tender texture. The Chicken Hearts are a must-try; I usually never try the more exotic cuts of meat, but this really surprised me! Service was perfect with very friendly and attentive staff that always knew when to give us water, refill our cheese-breads, and take away our dirty plates. read more

Espetus Churrascaria - Salad Bar - Steakhouses Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Recently tried a Brazilian steal house for the first time! The hospitality is super nice, they brought out the meat selections super fast and were even encouraging us to keep going when we strated to reach food coma level haha. I thought everything was cooked pretty well with nothing being dry. A unique option if you like sweet and savory is their wings with guava sauce. The lemonade was the perfect refresher with all the food. Although a game plan would probably be to stick to the meats, they have a nice little variety at the salad bar too! The overall setting was clean with a cozy atmosphere. read more

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A friend treated me to my birthday here 11/17/25 and we got a premium experience. You're greeted with white tablecloths, chandeliers, dark wood and hot CHEESY BREAD (pão de quejio). There are floor-to-ceiling windows in the main dining room, revealing a slice of life on Market St. in the City, with the antique F Trains, modern Muni buses and people making their way in this cozy city. Beautiful buffet. I was literally eating like a king, so I took my time and appreciated each bite. The buffet dishes are enough to get full on, so I always restrict myself here, just getting some butter lettuce to do wraps, some preemo guac, some brocc, the bean soup is great, I'll get 2 french fries and 1 yucca and 4 caramelized plantains. There's so much more. You've got a whole mess of delicious greens to keep your meal balanced. I typically don't eat any meat from the buffet, I prefer my salmon to be a little more undercooked. Did I already say cheesy bread, because I will have another refill, thanks! When you're ready for the meats, you turn the little wheel on your table to green, the staff comes over with some steaming goodness and you ready your tongs to catch a fresh slice of meat (thank you, glorious cows), then turn that wheel to red when you have the portion you need. My friend and I practiced some spirituality and had to say a respectful "no" when the chicken and such came around. We came here for the meats! Tonight, the customer favorite meat was favorite-ing, that's the top sirloin. Not dry! The beef ribs they rolled out on the cart were a welcome spectacle and the fall-off-the-bone meat was melty and succulent. While I love the Peanut Butter Thing for dessert, we decided to listen to our bodies and throw in the towel. That was until the staff came out with a scoop of prime vanilla ice cream and a birthday candle and a song in Portuguese. Staff were super attentive, responsive, warm and generous. I recommend it for a special event or for a meal treat. read more

Solid experience. Amazing service. Shrimp, Top Sirloin Steak, Chicken hearts, pineapple, and pão de queijo was really good! Great for a date but they are also really accomendating to large partries. I didnt really think the salad bar was amazing and there was a couple of small flies around (didnt bug me but i can see it bugging others). read more

Fire, the food was delicious, and I loved the open food bar. They had so many options that tasted exceptional.

Came in for an anniversary for my cousin. Everyone was so incredibly nice. One person in our party was late but we were ok with it as we had just started our salad bar. The carvers came around pretty often but then stopped all together. At one point I had to go up and tell an employee that one person in our party was not being served and he was later than the rest of us. They did apologize and say they were short staffed. However they weren't short staffed coming around to us. I don't know why the carvers weren't coming around to him. All in all the good quality was really good and I would come back but that was unfortunate to stop With one in our party read more

Back again to our go-to birthday celebration restaurant: Espetus! They know their protein here: chicken, beef, lamb, shrimp and pork served on a spit for you to choose from until you just can't eat anymore! Highly recommend the collard greens, fried bananas and mango salad at the buffet counter. Service is friendly and professional in a fun atmosphere. read more

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I'm planning the go July 21st for my bday again love this place service excellent choice of meats excellent ambiance nice but overall 10 10 10 or 5stars for sure looking so forward to enjoy there great food n service read more

Fantastic currascaria at a great price. Don't miss the sirloin specialties and the guava-sauce chicken wings. I have a vegan friend who loves this place because the salad bar is top notch and you can pay a lower price for just the salad bar. read more

It's been about 5 years or so since I last been here. The side dishes have changed but the steaks have not. The service remains the same. Very hospitable. read more

Came here the other day for my birthday. Overall, it was a very solid experience and left feeling very full. I'd say it is comparable to other Brazilian BBQs like Fogo De Chau. The service was very attentive and the vibe was nice but not overly stuffy or fancy. Definitely recommend if you love the meat. read more

So here's the joke, a bunch of meat eating friends took me to a Brazilian steakhouse and I don't eat meat or dairy. I expected to have a bunch of green with them olive oil, but I was pleasantly surprised. While there wasn't a large amount of options there was enough for me to eat a meal. This is not common in steakhouses, and I would rather pleased. So while I wouldn't select this place, there was enough for me. read more

This is a really over priced steakhouse. Their food was mid & the servers took forever to come around with the meats. The restaurant itself was pretty but I wouldn't go again. read more

I went here yesterday for my aunt's birthday and made reservations through open table--our reservation was at 6, but my party was running late, and they were able to accomodate us and take us in without issue. The restaurant was well-lit. I requested a passionfruit alcohol cocktail, and it was strong. As we settled in, we went to the salad bar, which offered a variety of side dishes, including salmon and yucca fries (my favorite). As we sat at our table and changed the sign to bring meat, the service was quick and pleasant, with each item described precisely and was full of flavor and grilled to perfection. It was my first time to Espetus, and I greatly enjoyed it. read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE! Very well worth the price. I had my birthday dinner with a bunch of friends here and everyone was so friendly and attentive! Left with my jeans unbuttoned haha read more

I got there around 6 with a couple of friends on a Thursday night. We were seated near the food bar and kitchen so everything that was cooked came to us first. I loved the flavors of all the meat. The cuts were juicy and tender, everything exceeded my expectations. I also loved the ambiance of the restaurant! read more

We had a nice lunch here during the week. The salad bar was great and had a great mix of hot and cold foods. The cheese selection was great! The selection of meats for a weekday service was exceptional. We were def full to the brim and enjoyed our interactions with all the staff! read more

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Gotta be honest I never thought Espetus would become one of our go-to restaurants or rather-- that it'd fall into our circuit. But here we are. We prefer this over fogo any day of the week. The quality of meat, the flavor, and the unlimited sides bar just is always fresh. The service is exceptional, the food is pure deliciousness. We come here at least twice a month to get our meat fix (pause). And we've never had a bad experience read more

Came here a weekday evening for dinner! My partner has been here quite a number of times in the past and was craving it recently. We made a reservation on Yelp, though on that particular night, we probably didn't to since it was pretty slow. Onto the review! Vibes: on the smaller side, but honestly kinda prefer that because it seems more intimate. The lighting was perfect and sound levels were good Service: LOVED all the servers! Everyone was super pleasant to talk to, especially the older gentleman with white hair and glasses. Food: Unfortunately, this is what drags the rating down. We tried all the meat options to just get a taste of everything and honestly the only thing I liked was the picanha. Some notable things that I didn't enjoy: many of the meats were extremely dry (bacon wrapped chicken, bacon wrapped filet mignon, red wine steak, parmesan chicken, etc.) or they were too salty (pork belly, garlic sirloin, etc). The beef rib was pretty tough and (too) rich. The food highlights include the cheese bread, the Brazilian mashed potatoes, fried banana, fried yucca! Honestly probably would have been happier just eating the hot foods / salad bar options. Overall, it was still a fun experience, but the food (specifically the meat) fell a bit short of expectations. read more

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Been wanting to come here for the past year and we came on one of the night specials for dinner at 6pm for February (special thru 02/05/25-02/13/25). Great experience with all the different cuts of meats. Great variety on buffet foods. Service was awesome, they always came and check up on you and filled your water, they like to come and ask if there is a special meat you would like to request to come back out or try which is great ! Beautiful dine in area and a great amount of servers coming out with different cuts. Although the meat did get a little rougher towards the end but still everything was a great experience, totally recommend trying especially if you're a meat lover ! read more

Espetus Churrascaria - Receipt for 2(dinner special) - Steakhouses Near Me - San Francisco, California

First time at a Brazilian Steakhouse and my experience was pleasant! Most cuts of meat were cooked well and very juicy + seasoned just right so as not to outshine the meat itself. I especially liked the red wine steak! Very flavorful and tender. The guacamole from the salad bar was so delicious and paired well with all the meat. Salad bar selection was vast, wish I got to try more of it but I didn't want to be too full for the meat. Although the meat was delicious, it wasn't the best I've ever had. The price is also very steep & it's difficult to get your money's worth! Service was excellent. So attentive & serve food efficiently and quickly. The place isn't too big but it was super cozy on a rainy day. Overall, It was a good experience but I probably wouldn't pay for it again anytime soon. read more

Espetus Churrascaria - Meat Cuts - Steakhouses Near Me - San Francisco, California

What a joyous place to eat, relax and celebrate with family and friends for any occasion. We always call for reservations and are always greeted quickly, professionally and timely. #thankyou We recently made a mistake of trying a place on the other side of the bridge that was sun-par, truly terrible food and service--NOT HERE! The place is clean, amply stocked with fresh foods, the cocktails are amazing and the service is so much more than we even ask for. If I can give more than 5 stars I will, this place is that good! read more

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solid brazilian steakhouse experience! i also love that they serve grilled shrimp hehe-- it's definitely comparable to other branches like f.d.c (iykyk) the meat intervals were frequent and the buffet spread was wayyyyy better. had more hot food choices and i love that because im not a huge fan of cold stuff. my favorite meat cuts were probably the chicken, filet mignon, and pork belly. staff is attentive and serves you just what you need, with the speared meat and all! read more

I've been to Espetus many times but it was my fiancé's first visit. There are 17 items on the skewer according to the website. We only got to taste 9: sirloin, pineapple, chicken hearts, picanha, shrimp, sausage, filet mignon, beef ribs and chicken wing. I'm not sure if it's because it was early in the night, we arrived at 1730. I had to ask for the chicken hearts and pineapples. The buffet portion was full of scrumptious dishes. The beef stew was so good that I had to go for seconds. The cheese bread and the plantains were delicious as usual. Ordered flan for dessert and it was the best flan I've ever tasted. It wasn't overly sweet or overly eggy. It had the perfect balance of richness and sweetness. It was absolutely amazing. We left feeling overly stuffed. read more

The service was excellent. The food was almost always praiseworthy. The chicken was truly 10/10. Fantastically tender and spiced. The beef products were generally good, but hit and miss, with some nearly as good as the chicken and others just passably enjoyable. Everything pork was terribly overcooked and dry, to the point of being inedible. The sides from the bar were all amazing and wonderfully made. I had to really practice self-control with the carbs to save room for the meat. Vegetables, fresh and cooked, were fantastic. The initial disappointment was that, other than the preparation misses, the meat was sparsely offered; each coming around only once during one and half hours. I know, I probably could have asked, but for these prices and how much you get per cut, I shouldn't have my intake controlled by being required to beg for more. Which leads to the grand disappointment: the price. Espetus is grossly overpriced. Of course, I knew the cost going in, but I expected more for it. Paying solidly over $400 for a dinner for four, with two glasses of wine, two fruit drinks, and two desserts, should've earned us a far fuller main dinning experience. I have been elsewhere in San Francisco for less than half the price and had a perfect meal. This is not what I got at Espetus. In the final analysys, despite often fantastic food, Espetus is unfortunately not worth it. Most likely, I will not be dining there again. read more

Always amazing. Great food! Great ambience lovely service. I definitely recommend for any occasions.

My friends & I had never tried a Brazilian steakhouse before, and honestly this was the perfect place to have our first experience. All of the meats were top notch quality, and when people say they constantly bring you meat until you tell them not to, they aren't kidding. Your plate will never be empty and you will never not be eating. The service here is unmatched, and the ambiance is right in the middle of casual and fancy, so you can come here for really any occasion. There is a side bar with plenty of other options, like salads, pastas, potatoes, & fish. My one regret is probably getting too many things at the side bar that filled me up, but I was still able to try all the meats I wanted to. Anyone in the area or visiting should for sure give them a try, you won't be disappointed! read more

Espetus Churrascaria - Peanut Butter Thing - Steakhouses Near Me - San Francisco, California

First off, let me start by saying I was a first-time customer here on New Year's Day. Perfect way to start my New Year's out. This is a place where you can dress nice. They have wonderful meat options. They come around the table and offer you all kinds of meats. They usually have different parts of the beef that are cooked to your liking. The salad bar is amazing. They have some pasta rolls that look like cinnamon rolls with a white cream sauce and spinach, and they are so good. Their service is very good. The waiters are very nice. I will definitely be back. read more

This place is absolutely a hidden gem. Best bang for your buck,especially during lunchtime,,, service is on point and very attentive,,, and it's right on the corner so the ambiance is great. Fuego de chao ain't got nothing on this place read more

came to celebrate my birthday on Wednesday and we had made reservations since we've never been here before, but it wasn't needed since they weren't busy inside. The inside has low lighting and big glass windows to look outside which was nice during a rainy night. When we sat down we were greeted immediately, got waters, and our waiter explained how ordering meats worked. There was a little sign that you flip to green when you're ready for meat, then to red when you need a break. The people carrying the meat were always walking around with meats and would ask how you preferred the temperature on the red meats. When it came to the salad bar, there were a lot of different options to choose from to pair with your meats. However, some of the sides I'd pick were on the cold side so I was a little let down there. Towards the end of our meal, we ordered a double shot of henny and a double shot of Jameson and when we got our bill the shots were $38 each. In my opinion, a double shot shouldn't be the same price of an entire bottle, so that's something to avoid if that matters to you! Overall, it was a good experience for the first time. From the host, to the server, and all the people walking around with meats, everyone was super kind. Next time I'm in the yay area, I'll definitely be back read more

Espetus Churrascaria - Beans, rice, broccoli, corn, and meat - Steakhouses Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Espetus is my favorite Brazilian steakhouse. It has become a place that I like to take friends for their birthdays, when I can. The restaurant is cleanly decorated with white linen tablecloths and adequate lighting in the dining and service areas. Servers come around with swords full of different offerings ranging from beef ribs to chicken hearts and so much more. The selection and service are really what sets Espetus apart from other steakhouses of this type. Don't sleep on that grilled pineapple. I feel like it helps with the meat digestion. Their drinks are delicious too! If you have never been there, make sure to check out the sides available at the salad bar, but be careful not to fill up. You'll want to leave room for all the meats, seafood, and delicious tapioca bread they have available. read more

I've gone to a few Brazilian Steakhouses. I love the idea of a good buffet and being able to try a variety of roasted meats. This location is a lot bigger than it looks. While we were there, many birthdays were being celebrated and Christmas parties were going on. That didn't affect the service or food! Our host greeted us and sat us right away since we made reservations. We had excellent service by our waiter. The buffet had several sides including a bean and pork soup that I wish I could eat by the gallon. So good during this cold weather. The meats came around regularly. I had the filet mignon, picanha, pork belly and something I've never seen at a Brazilian steak house: beef ribs on a rolling butcher cart. Such an experience. They have a dessert menu but I wanted the grilled pineapple. Great flavors. Delicious food. We'll be back. read more

Espetus Churrascaria - Beef ribs on a rolling block. - Steakhouses Near Me - San Francisco, California

If you're looking for the ultimate Brazilian BBQ experience, this is it. I've been to Fogo de Chão many times, but this place honestly takes it to the next level. The variety and quality of the meats are incredible--everything was seasoned to perfection and served exactly how we liked it. The standout, hands down, was the Picanha. It was melt-in-your-mouth tender with the perfect salt crust. read more

Excellent service, tasty meats, and a bangin' salad bar that should absolutely NOT be skipped! This was my first time dining at Espetus and it was actually really enjoyable. My friend and I decided to spend a day in the city, and we made reservations for lunch. When we arrived, it was surprisingly pretty slow. I guess during certain seasons of the year and during lunch it tends to be slower which worked in our favor. This is probably the smallest Brazilian steakhouse that I've ever been to space-wise, but it gives a more intimate vibe which is pleasant. Also, we know how condensed the city is, so large spaces are few and far between (and also super expensive). Interior setup isn't super fancy but still comfortable. I love the rustic feel with the wooden ceiling and floors. Lots of nice natural light from the large windows. The colorful wall art is also a nice touch. I tend to not pay too much attention to the salad bar when I go to Brazilian steakhouses as I like to save room for the meats. BUT... Espetus has one of the best salad bars that I've seen in terms of variety. With items like Feijoada, paella, and Brazilian shrimp and cheese mashed potatoes, this one is definitely a no-skip. I would actually come back here just for the salad bar alone and that's rare when you think about Brazilian Steakhouses since the meat is their crown jewel. But, let's not count out the meat. Their meats are solid here as well and they've got some nice variety. I love that they include grilled garlic shrimp and that lovable grilled pineapple (score!). This was my first time ever seeing chicken hearts on a list. Though I'm generally not a fan of chicken hearts, I found these to be extremely juicy and well seasoned. For the most part, the meats were lean and tender. Filet usually tends to be my favorite cut, but my favorites here were their top sirloin, Picanha and ironically the chicken hearts. I found these cuts to be the juiciest and the top sirloin had the most flavor. Unfortunately, the pork loin and most of the chicken items that I tried were on the drier side. Flavorful, but not as tender and juicy as I've had at other Brazilian steakhouses. Also, the beef ribs were too fatty for my liking, but I'm a pork ribs kind of gal anyways and only tried them since they were there. Service was excellent! Even though it was slower, we didn't feel bombarded by the crew who were bringing the meats. They were all super pleasant and a few of them were laughing at my friend's jokes (she loves socializing with the staff). They brought us extra cheese bread and plantains which were both delicious. We stayed here for a few hours and literally stuffed our faces. I don't visit these types of establishments too often these days (maybe once or rarely twice a year), so pigging out is necessary. We were stuffed, satisfied, and ready for a nap afterward. I would definitely come back here again. It doesn't beat my absolute favorite Brazilian steakhouse, but it's still a solid option for some delicious meats (especially if you're in the city). read more

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Went to Espetus with my best friend for her birthday, and it reminded me why I love this place so much. It had been a while since my last visit, but everything was just as good if not better than I remembered. From the moment we walked in, the service was welcoming and smooth. The gauchos were super attentive and constantly coming around with a great variety of meats. Everything from the picanha to the lamb and sausages was perfectly seasoned and juicy. The salad bar was also fresh and well-stocked, with some great Brazilian sides and cheeses to balance out the meal. I've been to Fogo de Chão recently too, and honestly? Espetus wins for me. The quality of the meats, the seasoning, the service. it just felt more authentic and satisfying overall. Pro tip: Come hungry and pace yourself. The meats come fast, and it's easy to overdo it early on. Also, the birthday experience was great. They were kind, attentive, and made sure my friend felt celebrated. Definitely one of my favorite spots when I'm in the mood for a Brazilian steakhouse experience. Can't wait to come back. read more

I loved dining here on the corner of Gough and Market. The service was top notch. The ambiance was spot on. And the food, of course, was scrumptious. Unfortunately, I loved the salad bar so much that I didn't have room for much beef. They had lots to choose from including chicken hearts and wings. The wings were outstanding. The beef selections were outstanding. Regrettably, I did not get to the lamb. Prepare to spend a lot of time here and eat in moderation read more

Absolutely ridiculous pricing for the salad bar ($65) that we weren't told up front!! My boyfriend likes meat, but I didn't have the appetite for it that night, but we went anyway since there's a salad bar. I ate maybe a few dollars worth; just some broccoli, hummus, and salami. For reference, fogo de chao (same style of restaurant) has a $30 salad bar. read more

Espetus Churrascaria - At least the bathroom sign has humor - Steakhouses Near Me - San Francisco, California

The ambiance here is the perfect setting for a sit-down meal with friends--a beautiful blend of cozy and upscale. The service was spectacular; we never had to wait more than three minutes for the meats, and the carvers were incredibly friendly. Every cut of meat literally melted in our mouth, and the salad bar features a fantastic selection that pairs perfectly with everything. Our waiter, Marcio, was excellent--his cocktail recommendations were spot-on and truly elevated our lunch experience. read more