Fogo de Chão Is Now Open in Gilbert, Arizona: Here’s What to Know Before You Go

If you've driven around SanTan Village lately, you've probably noticed just how much is changing in this part of Gilbert. Add another restaurant to the list because Fogo de Chão is officially open in Gilbert, Arizona.

The Brazilian steakhouse opened its new Gilbert location on August 3 at 2134 S. SanTan Village Parkway, directly across from SanTan Village.

I've lived in the Gilbert/Chandler area for more than 20 years, and what interests me almost as much as the restaurant itself is what this opening says about this part of Gilbert. SanTan Village has been a major shopping destination for years, but the dining and entertainment options surrounding it continue to get better.

So if you've been wondering what Fogo de Chão actually is, where the new Gilbert restaurant is located, or whether you need to commit to an enormous steak dinner just to check it out, here's what I'd want to know before going.

Fogo de Chão Gilbert at a Glance

First things first: what exactly is Fogo de Chão?

If you've never been to a Brazilian steakhouse, Fogo is a little different from walking into a traditional steakhouse and ordering one ribeye.

The signature experience is Brazilian churrasco, where meats are fire-roasted and gaucho chefs bring different cuts through the dining room and carve them tableside.

There's also a Market Table and Feijoada Bar with salads, vegetables and other dishes. And this is something I think is worth pointing out: you don't necessarily have to do the full churrasco experience.

Fogo says guests can choose the Market Table by itself or pair it with a single fire-roasted cut. So if one person wants the full meat experience and someone else wants something lighter, there are options.

Where is the new Fogo de Chão in Gilbert?

The restaurant is at 2134 S. SanTan Village Parkway, right across from SanTan Village.

If you live in Gilbert, Chandler or the southeast Valley, that's probably the bigger story here.

Until now, the Arizona Fogo location most people in the Valley knew was up on Scottsdale Road. Having one at SanTan Village makes the concept a lot more convenient for East Valley residents who don't necessarily want to drive to Scottsdale for dinner.

And it isn't arriving in isolation. The SanTan Village area continues to build out as one of Gilbert's major dining, shopping and entertainment districts. For people considering moving to Gilbert, that's one of those lifestyle changes that's easy to overlook when you're only comparing houses on Zillow.

What are the hours at Fogo de Chão Gilbert?

As of opening, Fogo lists the Gilbert restaurant's regular dining hours as:

Hours can change, especially around holidays, so I'd check Fogo's Gilbert page before making the drive.

The all-day happy hour might be the sleeper here

This was actually one of the details that caught my attention.

Fogo currently advertises all-day happy hour, seven days a week at the Gilbert location. The posted Bar Fogo specials include $6 beers, $8 South American wines and $10 Brazilian-inspired cocktails.

That's another reason I wouldn't automatically think of Fogo as somewhere you only go when you're ready for a huge celebratory dinner. Stopping in for drinks and something smaller at the bar could be an entirely different way to try it.

The Gilbert restaurant is pretty substantial

This isn't a tiny restaurant squeezed into a shopping center.

Fogo's group-dining information lists 280 total seats at the Gilbert restaurant, along with two private event spaces. Those rooms can also be combined to accommodate groups of up to 100 people.

The restaurant itself includes an open churrasco grill where you can watch the gaucho chefs prepare meats over an open flame, along with large wine displays, dry-aged meat lockers and an indoor bar.

So I could see this becoming a pretty natural option for birthdays, business dinners, graduations and larger family celebrations in Gilbert.

Is Fogo de Chão Gilbert worth checking out?

That's the question everyone ultimately wants answered, and because the Gilbert location just opened, I'm not going to pretend I've already formed an opinion about this specific restaurant.

What I can tell you is that it's a different experience from a traditional steakhouse, the location makes a lot of sense for the East Valley, and there are enough ways to experience Fogo that you don't necessarily need to make your first visit an enormous dinner.

I'll be interested to see how the Gilbert location settles in once the opening rush wears off. And once I get over there myself, I'll update this guide with what I'd actually order, what I'd skip and whether I think it's worth the money.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Fogo de Chão open in Gilbert?

Yes. Fogo de Chão's official website now lists its Gilbert, Arizona restaurant as open.

Where is Fogo de Chão in Gilbert?

It's located at 2134 S. SanTan Village Parkway, Gilbert, AZ 85295, across from SanTan Village.

Does Fogo de Chão Gilbert serve lunch?

Yes. Weekday lunch is currently offered Monday through Friday from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM.

Does the Gilbert location have brunch?

Yes. Weekend brunch is currently offered Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM.

Do you have to order the full churrasco experience?

No. Fogo says guests can choose the Market Table only or add an individual fire-roasted cut if they want something lighter.

Does Fogo de Chão Gilbert have happy hour?

Yes. The Gilbert restaurant currently advertises all-day happy hour seven days a week.

Is parking available?

Yes. Fogo lists self-parking as available daily at the Gilbert location.

Restaurant information and hours were verified at the time of publication. Because restaurant hours, menus and promotions can change, confirm current details directly with Fogo de Chão before visiting.