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Brazil Fresh Squeeze Cafe
Category: Restaurants Brazilian Brazilian [Edit]
2161 University Ave(between Shattuck Ave & Walnut St)
Berkeley, CA 94704
Neighborhoods: UC Campus Area, Downtown Berkeley
(510) 845-8011
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 8:30 pm
Sun 11 am - 7 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Brian D. said: "Stopped in on Thursday January 26th, 2012 - around 9:30 AM after walking down Mission looking for a fairly crowded restaurant and this was it. Decided to go with the Greek Scramble for $9.50 - it was overflowing with potatoes,…" read more »
486 reviews for Brazil Fresh Squeeze Cafe
Review Highlights
"Anyway, the tri tip sandwich was sooo good."
(in 168 reviews)
"I love love LOVE the cilantro garlic sauce."
(in 53 reviews)
"I love the little "shack" that this place is."
(in 33 reviews)
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486 reviews in English
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Review from Megan L.
Pleasanton, CA
1/30/2012
The only two things I ever get are the tri-tip sandwich and the tri-tip plate, though I usually opt for the plate as I can't manage to eat the sandwich very gracefully (plop!).
The tri-tip plate is pretty much what's in the sandwich, deconstructed, and in scoopable face-stuffing form. The cilantro garlic sauce is amazeballs. But what really makes the dish special is if you drizzle on some of that green hot sauce that you can find in small glass bottles on the outdoor seating tables. If you can handle your spice, definitely try it.
And If you don't care about garnering some serious hatred from your classmates, take your tri-tip to go and bring it to class to bask in the glory of your garlicky meaty aromatic goodness. -
Review from t l.
Berkeley, CA
2/3/2012
so i went there last week and i heard so much good stuff about this place and yes , i loved the middle of the street food kiosk and the atmoshpere was nice
the tri tip was delicious and the mango drink was good also
but i think its a bit too pricy for what i got and the after taste of the meat + the sauce was really bad
i didnt had a place to seat for the first 10 minutes and it was kinda cold
so i may comeback but its not my favorite place ! -
Review from Mina K.
2/3/2012
For oh so long, I've been hearing raves about the tri-tip sandwich at this place. Determined I had the best tri-tip sandwich of my life in Cal Poly, my curiosity stirred and I knew I had to try Brazil Cafe. I finally had the opportunity to try it today.
My friend and I were rushing to catch a movie screening at 7:00 pm in Berkeley. Driving from Oakland, I called in to place a phone order. "One tri-tip sandwich and a tri-tip plate, please."
"Okay, it'll be ready in 10 minutes," the worker informed me.
It took us 20 minutes to get to Brazil Cafe, and the order was still not ready. I waited maybe 5 more minutes, and I was handed my warm, freshly made food. I couldn't help it; I may have drooled a little upon inhaling the aroma. I hastily ran back to the car, and we sped off, hoping to catch our movie screening.
Luckily, I was able to bring the treasured tri-tip into the movie theatre without any objections. (Good thing, because if they told me I had to throw it out, I would have chosen the tri tip over the movie.)
In the darkness of the movie theatre, i ripped apart my paper bag, eager to consume its delightful contents. First bite: OH. MY. GOODNESS. The garlic sauce, the tender slices of tri-tip, such flavor! I paid no attention to the movie plot as I scarfed down every nibble of my tri-tip sandwich. It was messy to eat, with food particles falling all over my lap, but I paid no heed. THIS SH*T WAS DELICIOUS. Sadly, the adventure was over before I knew it and I reluctantly turned my attention back to the movie. I had no idea what was going on, since I was more engrossed in my sandwich than the movie itself.
I have found my piece of tri-tip heaven. It is served from a magical place called the Brazil Cafe.
Next time I will try the tri-tip plate, since it seems to be more bang for its buck. $8.78 (including tax) is quite a lot to pay for such a small sandwich, however delicious it may be! (Hence the -1 star.) -
Review from Kelly T.
1/23/2012
Evening munchies? Check
Delicious mango smoothies for you and your friends? Check
Good location? Check
I love these guys! Dropped by with some out of town friends after slow service at another little spot and our bellies were very happy for it.
Only two of us ordered mango smoothies, but the girl served all four of us one. Nice touch.
Everything I have eaten here is very tasty, but the thing that gets me is I can never quite recover-- everything tastes like their food once I leave! It can be a bad thing or a good thing depending on who you are and how you look at it, but I don't hold it against them. -
Review from Ivan P.
San Ramon, CA
1/30/2012
First visit today - their food is amazing. I had their tri-tip. Grilled to perfection. Their cilantro garlic dressing is OMG. Theirs also a sweetness coming from the lettuce. Some sort of vinaigrette? Whatever it is, it blends in smoothly with the other sauce I mentioned here. Grilled onions, tomatoes..man I want another one RIGHT NOW. I'm hooked. Definitely worth the travel to this joint!
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Review from Ben M.
San Francisco, CA
1/27/2012
Such good sandwhiches.
Really nice basic smoothies for cheap.
Really really good. -
Review from Patricia S.
Berkeley, CA
2/1/2012
mmmmmm delicious !
i ordered the tri tip sendwich and love every bite
that sauce they have make the sandwich so ngood and tasteful
too bad there is not enough chairs to seat and i had to wait about 10 minutes until i could find a place to seat so
5 stars for the food 3 stars for the waiting time -
Review from Erin G.
Berkeley, CA
1/18/2012
What I ate: #88 Mediterranean plate
Visit date: January 12, 2012
First time? O no.
This place is known for their tri-tip, and though most people stop by and grab a tri-tip sandwich, I always get #88 -- the Mediterranean plate. It comes with the famous tri-tip and grilled onions over rice (instead of on a roll), and it's served with a small salad (not sure what the dressing is but it's delicious!), pita, hummus, and the magic green sauce (cilantro garlic sauce). Sometimes the tri-tip can be a wee bit salty, but what's nice about the plate is that you can balance it out with the salad, rice, bread or sauce; and if you have too much meat, you can just cook up some more rice or make your own sandwich later on. I'm not completely positive, but I think you get more sauce with this plate versus in a sandwich, and since I like the sauce much more than the meat (don't get me wrong, their tri-tip is pretty amazing), I am one happy camper. I didn't have it on this visit, but when you go, you should also get their mango smoothie no matter how cold it is. I've also had their açaí smoothie -- a little more pricey, but quite refreshing (and it makes me feel healthy!) -
Review from Catherine C.
Los Angeles, CA
11/9/2011 1 photo
When people describe their food as being orgasmic, I kind of laugh at that phrase, thinking people are being dramatic. But my friend and I stopped here, and we both ordered Tri tip with the works (cheese,grilled onions, pineapple, olives, jalepenos, lettuce, tomato, and cilantro garlic sauce). When we got our food, she took a bite first, and I watched her eyes roll back and heard her exclaim how good it was. It was mildly reminiscent of When Harry Met Sally and a little hilarious.
So of course, I took a bite of my sandwich, and it was seriously GOOD! I made a huge mess with all that dripping cilantro garlic sauce, but I just didn't want to put that thing down to clean up! The perfectly tender tri-tip with its delicious ingredients, sweet pineapples, and amazing sauce was so good that I finished the whole thing and still wanted more. But of course, I restrained myself. :) And also, because it was a tad salty, so I went on a search instead to quench my thirst.
If you get a chance, stop by this little shack and get the works!Listed in: Make me a sandwich!
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Review from jessica m.
Diamond Bar, CA
11/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've tried this place twice now, and I've got to say that I still don't understand what all the fuss is about.
I got the tri tip sandwich combo with the mango smoothie ($9) the first time. It was okay. Mango's not really my fruit, and it was kind of small. The sandwich was also small but was pretty filling. My taste buds weren't crazy over the cilantro garlic sauce, which is weird because garlic is my thing!
So I came back here again and got the tri tip plate this time. It wasn't a plate, more like a small bowl. And for $8 I thought it was pretty pricey. Which made it super hard to eat because it was so packed. I wanted to love the cilantro garlic sauce, but once again my taste buds just couldn't. The tri tip was well cooked and all, but it just didn't amaze me.
They say third time's a charm but I don't know if I want my taste buds to be disappointed again. For now, 3 stars is all I can spare. -
Review from Samuel C.
Berkeley, CA
12/15/2011
One of my mentors took me to this place after raving about how fantastic it was. I guess my expectations were pretty high.
Decor and Service: I'll skip these because there's not really any to speak of. It's pretty similar to a food truck except that it's always there.
Food:
-I got the combo with the tri-tip sandwich and mango smoothie. The mango smoothie was actually pretty good. I could feel tiny bits of mango pulp inside of it that made it pretty enjoyable. I'm pretty sure the only ingredients to it were mango and ice, so I guess they kind of made it work.
-The tri-tip seemed to be the most popular thing on the menu, so I had to get that.. I expected to be absolutely wow-ed after all the reviews on yelp and my friend's recommendation, but I was not impressed. The smell coming from it was phenomenal and the colors were fantastic, but the texture of the steak in the sandwich was really tough. I had to chew pretty hard to get the meat into smaller pieces to swallow. I will laud their cilantro-garlic sauce, which is basically made from a puree of cilantro, oil, and garlic, but even that couldn't redeem the meat. The sandwich itself was also unevenly seasoned. The first few bites I had were bland and the rest of it was pretty salty.
Verdict: I'd probably come again if my friends wanted to, but I wouldn't go searching for it on my own. -
Review from Cindy K.
Oakland, CA
1/15/2012
Pedro's favorite is to die for, so good. The yummy sauce, tender tri-tip, soft bread, mm mm mmmmm. This location has very limited seating and is often in the hot sun, so watch out and eat elsewhere. I've actually heard that this location is by far, also the best, but I won't know that for sure since I haven't tried the one on bancroft and the other one on Shattuck yet. The mango smoothie is also very refreshing and sweet. The sandwich can get really messy, but it's so finger-lickin' good. One of the best sandwiches I've EVER had!
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Review from Claire J.
Daly City, CA
12/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Friends and I were trying to kill some time so my friend suggested to come here. She mentioned this was a spot that UCB students frequented.
It's a small shack but didn't bother me. I know good food usually come from small spots like this.
During that time, I was not eating red meat so I ordered their chicken dish while my husband ordered their tri tip. I loved enjoying the food under the sun and checking out the quirkiness of Berkeley.
Now I see why this is a popular spot. -
Review from Christopher i.
Arcadia, CA
11/22/2011
Whenever I'm up north, I love going to Berkeley to visit the vendors, the UC campus, and my favorite food spots! This is one of them.
The tri-tip sandwich is delicious. However, the bread in the sandwich disguises the amount of salt in the marinated meat. Over-salted, yep! Amazing nonetheless, yep! -
Review from Angeline L.
Burlingame, CA
11/6/2011
I almost feel wrong for rating this place contrary to the 4-5 star avg.
Maybe it was an off day and they didn't feel like being in a shack on a rainy day...
Sandwiches smelled delicious! The workers were really kind too. =)
The pork wasn't all that tender, I actually got tired of chewing by the last few bites. Inconsistent? A couple of us ordered the same thing, but some were lacking while others were overflowing (ie. onions, etc).
If I'm in the area, I'll give it another shot. -
Review from Jeanette Y.
Oakland, CA
10/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Mmm. Pedro's favorite is definitely a FAVORITE! The pineapples in it definitely gave it a good twist.
AND to top it off, Pedro gave us a coupon for free mango smoothies on our next purchase. YES! FREEEE! Free is always awesome!
Be warned though, this sandwich can be a bit messy. Be prepared to use all ten fingers and get sloppy! -
Review from Tiffany S.
Santa Cruz, CA
10/25/2011
TRI TIP SANDWICH + MANGO SMOOTHIE ; #8 STUDENT SPECIAL.
SO GOOD. IT DESERVES ALL CAPS.
Man, the combination of cilantro, pesto, and garlic smothered over the bread is absolutely delicious. the sauce will probably drip all over your plate, around your face, and all over your hands, but who cares. stop being dainty and use your hands like a mammal. SO DELICIOUS. -
Review from Katie R.
Berkeley, CA
11/16/2011
Easily some of the best food in Berkeley, and in a friendly little shack with fabulous quick service! Just try to stare at the menu for a minute without being offered a tri-tip sample by Pedro!
Their tri-tip is their specialty, but any sandwich or plate with that cilantro-garlic sauce is fabulous.
If you can remember to bring one of those little coupons they're always handing you, you get a small mango smoothie for free. I've started carrying one around in my wallet just in case :P
Drawbacks:
The servings are decent, but if you have a particularly "healthy" appetite the sandwiches may seem a bit small, and they probably aren't the best place to search for a vegetarian meal. -
Review from Hello K.
Fremont, CA
Updated - 9/8/2011 3 photos
Returned recently on a sunny day in Berkeley and had the chicken and tri tip combo plate....still DELICIOUS! Ate every bite!
I still love coming here-definitely need to try the mango smoothie next time.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/20/2009
Came here today for a nice outdoor lunch in sunny Berkeley!
Enjoyed a chicken plate with rice,… Read more »
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Review from Jasmine M.
Berkeley, CA
9/10/2011
I recently moved to Berkeley and this place is fast becoming one of my favorite lunch spots. I've had their delicious and tender tri-tip in both sandwich and rice bowl form and I have yet to decide on a favorite. You get more food in the rice bowl, which makes it more bang for the buck, but it all really depends on your mood. The cilantro garlic sauce is just so full of flavor that I dare you to resist licking your fingers! The mango smoothie that comes with the sandwich combo is like a sweet popsicle in drink form... I always want more than they give me!
If I had a complaint, it's that during the lunch rush it takes awhile for you to get your food... long enough where it's not one of those places that you can just stop and expect to rush off to your next appointment/class right away. I've been there at 11:30 when there was no line but still had to wait a good 30 minutes for my food. The food is worth it, but just be warned that it will take some time to get to you. Also, if you don't get there before noon, I doubt you'll be able to find a seat at one of the few picnic tables outside. -
Review from Matthew L.
9/24/2011
I'm not sure if this is the best place to eat at in 85 degree weather at 3PM in mid-september, as their awnings provide no shade, but the food is particularly garlicky, and therefore flavourful (yes, as a resident of Canada, I shall use Canadian spellings).
My vegetarian wife ordered one of their veggie sandwiches, which was (over)stuffed with olives, avocado, pineapple, and pretty much everything she would ever want in a sandwich. It was a little too difficult to eat, due to sogginess of the wheat bread it was on. I think a roll would have worked better for the sandwich.
And the tri-tip lived up to expectations set by previous reviewers - beef - grilled perfectly, garlic, cilantro.
And if you're a student, you can order a combination meal which includes a small mango smoothie.
And if you are or are not a student, you can order a can of highly caffeinated Guarana soda to help you burn the midnight (or shall I say afternoon) oil. -
Review from Maggie L.
Berkeley, CA
9/12/2011
The boy and I came here one day for lunch because we heard that it was supposed to be really good. As we were looking at the menu, another customer came up to order and told us to try the tri tip sandwiches because his girlfriend can never get enough of it, so that's what we ended up getting. #84 with mango smoothies.
When we finally got our food, (we had to wait quite a long time for it) the sandwiches were pretty good at first. Each bite was super savory and delicious. However, as we continued eating it, we realized that it was actually getting really salty and by the time we were down to the last couple bites, the flavor was so overpowering that we didn't really enjoy the sandwich anymore. The taste was just too strong and we were sick of eating it.
The mango smoothie on the other hand was delicious and we loved drinking it throughout our whole meal. :) -
Review from Chia L.
Berkeley, CA
9/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Their tri-tip sandwiches are just so amazing! Plus it comes with a side of free mango smoothie.
The tri-tip is well cooked, juicy, and tender. That, coupled with grilled onions and a cilantro-garlic sauce mashed between lettuce and bread, gives you one hell of a sandwich.
Honestly, it's delicious.
The shady shack might scare you away, but face your fears, and you shall be rewarded.Listed in: My favs!
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Review from Kara R.
7/14/2011
Well, this is embarrassing. It took me 5+ years post-graduation from Cal to try this Berkeley institution. Not to mention I grew up in the area even before going to college.
It was well worth the wait, but I cannot believe it took me so long to enjoy the tender, perfectly cooked tri-tip on Pedro's Special with pineapple, jalapenos and delicious sauce. Who cares if it falls apart halfway through consumption, it's worth it! And the mango smoothie is divine.
These sandwiches were the perfect thing to make D and me happy campers in the midst of a big move away from the Bay. I now just regret not starting my addiction to Brazil Cafe during college so I could experience this foodgasm on a regular basis. -
Review from Gelene V.
8/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
If you come here, you must get either the tri-tip sandwich or the tri-tip plate (which has a few slices of its deliciously soft bread) with a mango smoothie. I usually like getting the plate because I feel like the sandwich is too messy, but both are equally good.
I don't know what it is that makes Brazil Cafe so yummy!! The cilantro sauce they use is just perfection!!
They have outdoor seating next to the little hut where you order, but since Berkeley weather is cold 70% of the time, go down a couple of blocks to Shattuck and they serve the same thing, only indoors!! :)
Oh, the owner is SUPER friendly as well, and there's always music near the hut to give it that Brazilian vibe :) -
Review from Jeff L.
Sacramento, CA
9/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
TRI TIP SANDWICH HOLY CRAP
aka "The works"
The sauce in this thing is so amazing, i think its cilantro and garlic with mayo?AND MAGIC?!?
Has olives, peppers, pineapples, tri tip, magical elixir sauce between two slices of yummy bread!
I usually don't like fruit in my food, or fruit in general -_-
But the pineapple was a great touch and gave it a small sweetness that went really well with the magic sauce.
I think the sandwich was a bit small for $8 but i'm not sure if it was because i was starving and ate it in like 4 bites. Or because im broke. Probably both :(
They also have a actual sitdown store on shattuck, across from McDonalds but it's much funner to eat here. Grab some friends and sit outside the shack with their music! -
Review from Jimmy H.
Contra Costa, CA
7/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had a friend visiting in Berkeley visiting for a convention and I had been meaning to try this place for a while from the great reviews. I had tried to come here once but it didn't work out. Finally, last Friday, I got to check this place out.
This place is literally a shack in the middle of a parking lot. It's such a small building you wonder how they can make any sort of decent food out of that place. There is no indoor seating and it didn't help that it was fairly cold last week.
While I sat around waiting for my dinner guest to arrive, I took a look around and saw the wall of pictures of Pedro and many other people, I imagine, in Brazil. Pedro looks like a real fun guy to hang out with and party!
I ordered the "Pedro's Favorite" the Tri tip sandwich with the works. And my dinner guest ordered the Tri tip and chicken combo plate. We both had a mango smoothie to go down with it.
The Tri-tip was all right. I'd probably give it a 3 star as a sandwich. It was edible and had good flavor, the texture of the meat was not one of my favorites. I did like the balance of sweet, salty and spicy and loved the habanero sauce on the table. I love things with an extra kick.
the best part of the meal was the mango smoothie. It tasted of fresh mangoes! Just pureed. It was delicious and a nice sweet note to wash down the spicy Habanero sauce with.
I can see why this place does well in Berkeley. It's a fairly cheap place and it's perfect for the college setting. I'd recommend a try for people if you happen to be there but I'm not too sure about a special trip to go there. I'll have to see if I'd like to go back. -
Review from Stel Y.
San Mateo, CA
6/23/2011
Really a 3.5
This was a cute little outdoor place on the most amazing sun-shining day! I had #84 (which it is known for): the tri-tip sandwich with the works (cheese, grilled onion, pineapple, olive, jalapenos, lettuce, tomato, and cilantro garlic sauce) and shared it with a friend. I was probably hungry enough for whole sandwich but at least the meat was overflowing out of the bread! The cilantro sauce was incredible!! I couldn't stop talking about it even after I ate my sandwich and left.
Though the sandwich was pretty full, it did lack jalapenos, pineapples and tomatoes. I only gotten a few tastes of them because they were not apparent throughout the sandwich which really made me sad. The tri-tip was also really chewy and not tender like what everyone else experienced.
The sauce is really what made it! If only i had eaten it with a smoothie... -
Review from Jonathan K.
Saint Louis, MO
8/2/2011
Amazing cheap Brazilian food from a permanent shack in a parking lot right next to campus.
The Tri-tip plate was great; the cilantro garlic sauce was so good and the meat tasted great, all for only 9 bucks. There is some outdoor seating, which is perfect for the summer but must be cold in the winter. If I was a student here I would come all the time. -
Review from Moniza M.
Danville, CA
9/9/2011 3 photos
A back door of the shack opened, and an aproned man came out with my drink. I sipped on my delicious mango smoothie, the perfect refreshment for the 80 degree, April, Berkeley weather. My thirst was quenched, but my hunger remained. Thankfully, my food arrived within a few minutes.
The first item I tried was the Crunchy Tuna Sandwich. It was not what I expected, but I was pleasantly impressed with what I got. The sandwich is served on fluffy whole grain bread and is packed with tons of tuna salad, tomato, lettuce, and with Brazil Cafe's infamous cilantro-garlic sauce. I expected the crunchy texture of the tuna to come from something deep fried, but Brazil Cafe amazed me with adding carrots to the tuna salad to give it that crunch. I pretended to feel healthy while eating it, even if I lied to myself about the amount of mayo in the sandwich. Overall, the sandwich was delicious and I highly recommend it.
The next item I tried was the Veggie Rice Bowl. I'll be blunt - it was not nearly as good as the sandwich and I was not a fan. The bowl was packed with grilled veggies, rice, cilantro-garlic sauce, and a slice of bread. It was topped with some sort of white sauce and grilled onions. The mixture of veggies was a little strange for me. The bowl incluced broccoli, pineapple, corn, jalapenos, tomatoes, and grilled onions all on a bed of white rice. It was all a bit exotic of a mix for me, and I would not order this dish again.
Brazil Cafe is an adorable restaurant. As someone who only eats halal/zabihah meat, I was limited to vegetable dishes and did not experience this place to its fullest potential. I was simply not THAT impressed with the food. -
Review from Bonnie Z.
6/25/2011
Maybe it was the festive music that lured me in. Or the promise of outdoor seating on a wonderfully sunny June afternoon in Berkeley. But I was walking past and was tempted to give Brazil Cafe another try.
Food: Ordered #8 special (tri-tip sandwich w/ grilled onions, lettuce, & tomato + mango smoothie). Yes, this is a messy sandwich. But the tri-tip was tender and juicy. I still felt the garlic-cilantro sauce was too salty, however the mango smoothie washed it down nicely. Maybe next time I will try a rice plate.
Service: I wasn't in a hurry so I didn't mind waiting ~10-15 mins for the food to come out. Pedro was there himself giving out free samples and coupons for your next visit. :)
I'll use that coupon to try out their new Bancroft/Telegraph location next! -
Review from Monica D.
5/11/2011
This place is so good that even my little brothers and I run into our other friends randomly while dining here. What more can I say other than EAT HERE! NOW!!!
For Brazil Cafe virgins, please get the tri-tip sandwich or platter, and smother that ish with their homemade cilantro sauce. Uh-may-zing. The mango smoothies may look overly thick and filling, but they are simply tangy, cool, sweet, fruity goodness. GET ONE.
On Guz's (and the kind cashier's) recommendation, I opted for the Ipanema chicken sandwich (the one with pineapple), and it was also DELICIOUS. Just the proper sweetness as one expects from a fresh, ripe pineapple marries well with the tangy crunch of the mayo-based chicken salad. And for what, less than $10 a sandwich? A sandwich that is so freaking big that it'll feed a normal person for two meals? Done.
Sure it's "cozy seating outside only" (the entire place is basically a food truck without wheels, so the tables are located in a makeshift parking lot), and it may take slightly longer than most would like. But seriously, make time for Brazil Cafe. It's so worth it :) Definitely lil brother and godmother approved! -
Review from Learnee L.
Emeryville, CA
7/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is one of those places where hubby and I have driven by and thought of trying hundred times before we actually took the time to check out.
Glad we finally did.
Came here on a nice warm Friday afternoon for early dinner.
The staff were friendly, the ambiance is great and the seating are clean.
The good music playing definitely set the mood right.
Hubby ordered the beef plate and I got spicy tuna sandwich with mango smoothie.
Beef was awesome. the cilantro sauce was great.
Tuna sandwich wasn't spicy but the jalapeno/olives in it was a good addition.
Hubby said he'll have to sneak in one of these days to get more beef sammy. -
Review from Winston W.
Elk Grove, CA
6/12/2011
3.5 Stars
I know Tri-Tip (I'm holding up one in my pic) That's my baby!
My daughter treated me to a Tri-Tip sandwich. It came with a Mango Smoothie. Here's the confusing part. If you are a CAL student, they're free.If not, you get charged.. I think it's not a hard and fast rule. Since my daughter ordered and paid(YAY!) the cashier must of figured that she was ordering for a couple of students and didn't charge for the drinks. The drinks are excellent. Full flavored. I don't think that cut it at all...just straight up pureed? mango & maybe ice blended in but that's it.
Getting back to the Tri-Tip sandwich. It's a good tasting sandwich. 6 inches long with a cilantro sauce spread on the bottom, some tomato slices, and romaine lettuce.
The Tri-Tip is served in chunks instead of slices. It makes it easy for chunks to fall out when you bite into the sandwich. It happened to me and others around me. Maybe they can switch to sliced.
The Tri-Tip was good...but I make it better.
It might be grilled, but with gas.
I used charcoal and wood chips. That's the secret.
If you can't do Tri-Tip yourself, then this is your best bet.
The place has a good vibe. Relaxing. Good ambiance music... and the owner was there to mingle with customers.
He's an excellent host.
Do not go to Brazil.
Go to Brazil Cafe. As good as the real thing. -
Review from Keilin H.
6/21/2011 1 photo
I was really excited to try this place, but ended up being kind of disappointed :(
My friend and I came here for lunch and we ordered the famous #84: the tri-tip sandwich with the works (cheese, grilled onion, pineapple, olive, jalapenos, lettuce, tomato, and cilantro garlic sauce). Maybe it was just an off day, but the meat was REALLY chewy and it seemed to be all gristle (?!) Other people's reviews said the tri-tip is so good and tender...what happened? :( There didn't seem to be any pineapples in the sandwich either.
However, the cilantro garlic sauce was AMAZING and DELICIOUS! I really liked it! If they sold this stuff in jars at the supermarket, I'd be all over it!
The lady working the register was nice and I love the set-up of the cafe! It's very festive and colorful! Definitely felt the Brazilian spirit!
I don't want to say that I will never go back here because it was my first time and there are so many raves about this place. Maybe I'll stop by next week, order something else, and see how that goes. I have yet to try the smoothies (mango and/or acai please)! -
Review from Cesie A.
6/15/2011
THIS PLACE IS DELICIOUS!
The food here is packed with flavor! My mouth is watering just thinking about it!
Definitely order the tri-tip sandwich if it's your first time and try the garlic sauce.
If you're really hungry or trying something new get the tri-tip plate. the sauces on the plate are delicious (the green garlic one and white cream). Mix it up with the rice and tri-tip for a full-flavored bite.
I've also ordered the pulled pork sandwich with pineapple which was good but I was sad I didn't get the tri tip.
Honestly everything is good. I just can't get myself to stop ordering the tri-tip.
Also the owner gives out free mango-smoothie cards if you're nice!Listed in: Cheap Berkeley Eats- for…
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Review from Rose W.
San Jose, CA
8/12/2011
I thought I'd be a little adventurous and try their Tri-tip Mediterranean plate (with the hummus and cilantro sauce), but boy was I wrong! Not that it was bad... but after tasting my friend's Tri-tip SANDWICH, I was just blown awaayyy.
Tri-tip Sandwich= 5/5. BUT, it's a bit small. I didn't expect that the little sandwich on a styrofoam plate would taste so good. The combination of flavors within the sandwich was amazing.
Tri-tip Mediterranean plate= 3.5/5. It also comes with rice and salad, thick pita bread, and as mentioned above: hummus and cilantro sauce.
The cilantro sauce is definitely something unique. They also add it onto Tri-tip sandwich. It's almost like a basil pesto sauce, except creamier, and more minty. If you like fresh, green, leafy flavors, then you will like this.
I LOVE the Brazilian music that they had, as well as their indigenous decor.
However, they served the food on ghetto styrofoam plates, with plastic forks/knives, and you're sitting on plastic chairs & tables. I get that it's a 'shack' and they focus on the food and not their amenities, but it's not reflected on their price. This is the ONLY reason why it's not a 4/5. -
Review from Nairobi X.
Los Angeles, CA
11/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
This was my first time eating here after hearing and reading positive reviews. Sorry did not experiance the same as others. The tri tip was dry and tough and the special Brazilian seasonings and sauce lack luster.I have had better tri tip sandwichs from the clerk in front of Albertsons grilling meat.
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Review from Jess C.
6/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Sandwiches here are rated highly because they are so unique. While I would recommend this little hole in the wall to a guest for the experience, I wasn't a huge fan of the sandwich taste and texture.
I loved the mango smoothie and chocolate chip cookie! -
Review from E A.
San Diego, CA
10/30/2011
Tri-tip sandwiches and tri-tip bowl! Meat was soooo tender and juicy! And the owner is was very friendly.
