Fogo de Chão

The founders of Fogo de Chão, Arri and Jair Coser, grew up on a traditional Southern Brazilian farm in the Serra Gaúcha. It is here that they learned to cook in the churrasco grilling tradition. Jorge and Aleixo Ongaratto, co-founders of the restaurant, also hailed from the mountainous countryside of Rio Grande do Sul, where they grew up on neighboring ranches. They learned the art of churrasco grilling early in life and later worked as busboys and waiters in various churrascarias in Rio de Janeiro, refining their expertise in traditional Brazilian barbecue. Their combined experience and vision, alongside the Coser brothers, led to the establishment of the first restaurant, a wood structure in the countryside of Porto Alegre, was followed by a second restaurant in São Paulo. As Arri Coser told São Paulo-based writer Rafael Tonon, tourists who came to the São Paulo restaurant encouraged him to open a churrascaria style restaurant abroad.

In 1997, the Cosers opened their first US branch in Addison, Texas. Between 1997 and 2020, the restaurant continued its expansion globally, with 57 restaurants across the US, Brazil, Mexico, and the Middle East. The company announced plans for further growth around the world.