Insider Pages Reviews for Agora Churrascaria

4 Stars: Great Food but Pricey! (by Cathy B.)

Cathy B. — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 03:42:00 GMT

My boyfriend and I just had dinner from here. The atmosphere was great (a little on the "pho-fo " side) and the service was very friendly. I recommend you come nicely dressed. The waiters and waitresses were very attentive, but then again there were only 4 other tables to wait on. Meat was awesome! If your taste buds are sensitive to salt, this may not be a good idea for you. The buffet was okay. At $41 a person, you better be a hungry carnivore! This is definitely an experience you should do at least once.

5 Stars: Unique Restaurant for the OC - GREAT FOOD!!! (by foodfan1985)

foodfan1985 — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:00:00 GMT

I visited Agora with a group in December. It was a Tuesday and the service was wonderful, very friendly and prompt. The atmosphere is chic and elegant; a perfect place for a couple but also works well for group dining due to the unique style of serving. Not to mention the food was fantastic!!! I highly recommend.

5 Stars: Best Brazilian Taste In LA (by ironchefjeff)

ironchefjeff — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 01:00:00 GMT

One of my favorite spots for my brazilian food fixes. I eat here at least once a month and i don't think i will ever get tired of the food here.

5 Stars: Best Brazillian (by aznstarlette)

aznstarlette — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I absolutely loved every bit of my visit at this restaurant. The food was prompt and yummy...fresh and the atmosphere was just perfect.

3 Stars: Come hungry! (by Jaime V.)

Jaime V. — Wed, 28 May 2008 11:37:00 GMT

The selection of meat is average. I was expecting more exotic cuts. The food was on the salty side but the ambience and service was great. A little on the pricey side.

5 Stars: One of the top places for Meat Variety (by ertorres)

ertorres — Wed, 28 May 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I took my girl here on our 2 year anniv. I was lucky this place was good, not that she'd really care, but I didn't want dull food. This place was sooo good with their selection, and everything I tried was near perfect. It is kinda expensive (anticipate at least 60 per person), but worth it. I loved it, she loved it, and we can't wait to go back. they do need a little more variety in their side portions area, but customers truly only go there for the Brazillian style meat.

1 Stars: Way to pricey!!! (by adventureater)

adventureater — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:00:00 GMT

This place is okay, but way too pricey for what it is! My thought coming out of there was: "give me a freakin' break!!' Churrascarias are known for being pricier than the average dining experience, justified by 'all the food you're getting.' So even if expensive, I'd expect this place to have something else: an ambience, the service, the variety... But instead, everything was average, or less than. I thought it was nothing out of the ordinary, and the meat was not that great. There was not that much variety. I personally also like all the brazilian 'additives' to come w/ the meat: collard greens, pao de queijo, farofa,... there was nothing!!! Just some whitened salad at the bar (yuck!) There was, of course, a general 'snottiness' vibe coming from the waiters, because after all, "this is a 'schee-schee' place that it's too good for mortals." I think the churrascaria in Long Beach is WAY better (forgot the name!); and if you do want something fancy and 'schee-schee' to take guests, Fogo de Chao in LA is a much better choice b/c there, both the food and the ambience impresses. Agora needs to get over itself, or step up their game!!!

4 Stars: BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION (by AliciaK08)

AliciaK08 — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

Yummy food. Great Service. Romantic dining. Semi-casual. Price on the upper end but OK for celebrations. Save your appetite for this meal as there's a ton of meat to try and a good size buffet to keep you busy!

4 Stars: Great place for corporate event (by M K.)

M K. — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 20:12:00 GMT

I recently attended a corporate function that included 100 guests from around the globe. There were enough different food selections to satisfy everyone! The dining experience started at the buffet tables where a wide assortment side dishes and appetizers were available. Perfectly seasoned and grilled beef, lamb, pork and chicken cuts were carved at our table by sword-wielding Gauchos.
A fun experience for a large group; the food was delicious and the venue was most entertaining. Our local and international visitors alike were charmed.

4 Stars: Nice place and great food (by Debbie V.)

Debbie V. — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:17:00 GMT

this is one of the best restaurant in OC. it's a little bit pricey, but definitely worth to eat there. the salad bar alone would fill you up, and if you dont want the meat, the price is less.
good food, great service.

5 Stars: The Best Meal in Months! (by Phinster1)

Phinster1 — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

What a great dining experience! Agora is the best Brazialian Restaurant that I have ever been to. The selection is better than most and they change it all tthe time. It is only a place to go to when you really are hungry. They have a buffet area with side dishes and salads. The meats are served table side on skewers and they are right off the grill.

This is a great place to take friends to. Go hungry!

5 Stars: Best Brazilian Steak House (by sdticks)

sdticks — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

I think Agora is the best Churrascaria in Southern California. The service is good, the decor is nice, blah ,blah. The bottom line is this place has the best tasting food out of all the Brazilian steak houses I've been to.

1 Stars: A DINING EXPERIENCE SO TERRIBLE, THAT WE WROTE THIS LETTER TO THE OWNER: (by xeater)

xeater — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 01:00:00 GMT

My wife and I visited the restaurant on 1/11/08; the service from the waiter was good. However, after seating for 20 minutes and having followed the advice of Citysearch website, a site with customer's reviews of fine dining establishment, we visited the salad bar and ate lettuce and tomato only. Leaving plenty of room for the meat, that was never to be.

After seating there for 15+ minutes with our green tag facing up, not one serving of meat came by our table. Our waiter came by to see how we were doing and before he could finish his own sentence, he said "...you still have not been served? I'll be right back" he dashed to the kitchen and even after his intervention, the salmon cart came by. I refused the salmon; my wife took a sliver of the salmon and said to me, ?be glad you didn?t try it.? I said hey this is churrascaria, not a seafood restaurant, just wait for the meat.
Five more minutes passed and no meat! At that point, we asked for our bill and we were told that we would only be charged for two vegetarian plates.

When the waiter brought the bill, I simply handed him my credit card and he took it and came back for my signature. I was shocked to see that the bill was over $80.00. So two drinks and two servings of lettuce and tomato cost us over $80.00. I do not mind paying for quality, but I feel that the service and goods provided were below any acceptable standard of a fine dining experience. We respectfully request that you refund the cost of the two salads. Keep the amount charged for the two drinks and the gratuity for the waiter.

5 Stars: wonderful, wonderful, wonderful restaurant! Best Brazillian Steak House I've ever been to. It deserves Good 5 stars. (by nilirihan)

nilirihan — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I have been to several Brazilian steak house but this one is awsome, fantastic restaurant. I would definately recommend this restaurant to treat your date or your family or any business associate in a royal atmostphere.

3 Stars: Value for the price not as good (by out_eater)

out_eater — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I've been to several churrascarias. The restaurant is nicely designed, but comparing price to value against the other all-you-can-eat Brazilian places, I would rate this one the worst. For a weekend dinner visit, it was missing a few meat servings that other locations served. Another big downside is the small size of their drink glasses. When service is slow, you'd better be taking small sips. And if you order non-refillable drinks like orange juice, be ready to fork out the money as a 6 year old ended drinking $12 dollars of juice (of course, they didn't bother asking an adult before bringing over the 2 extra juice glasses). Also, charging $21 for a 4 year who just had some rice and bread is definitely not worth the money. Two other churrascarias did not charge for the 4 year old kid.

5 Stars: I love the salad bar (by preeettty)

preeettty — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Even though I don't really enjoy meat in general I still go there because of the salad bar and the cheese ball (don't know how you call it exactly) those little bread... sooooooooooo goooooooooood
very clean, modern interior, great desert, good service.... I've been there already 10 times but I want to go back soon, I miss the cheese ball... so much~

5 Stars: WOW! What a great Dining experience! (by kpsky13)

kpsky13 — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 02:00:00 GMT

My family and I recently visited Agora Churrascaria and was pleasantly suprised by the quality of the dishes and who can forget the plethora of MEAT! I have been to By Brazil, Fogo De Chao, M grill, Gaucho Village and countless other "Brazilian Churrascarias" but Agora was by far the most authentic and met every standard I have in a "Rodizio" type of restaurant. The most important part of any customer related business is service and Agora was top notch in this category. Another great aspect of Agora was their Wine Menu and Cocktail Menu. There wine menu was very impressive. Being a "Wine Expert" ( I am an editor for Wine Spectator) I was able to agree with the choice that complimented the various types of meat and fish. A specialty drink called "Capirina" was the highlight of the night for my wife. This Brazilian Cocktail tastes like a Mojito but much stronger and complex. I would recommend Agora to any Carnivore that would enjoy great service, great wine and not to mention great price.

5 Stars: Best Brazilian Steak House in Socal!!! (by joastra)

joastra — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Paradise!!
I've been to Agora several times and as always food and service were excellent:
The salads and hot entries were delicious as well as their meat selection skirt steak ans picania are my favorites.
all wait staff were very friendly and extremely dedicated to please us. The only thing I do not like, it is that the valet takes all the closer parking spots so you have to walk a little if you do not want to valet park your car.
I definitely recommend this to all my friends.

oh! I almost forgot, these people complaining about the price, have no Idea of how much a single plate with fillet mignon or top sirloin cost in a regular steak house!

2 Stars: Never Name Your Restaurant Something That My Wife Can't Pronounce (by ignacious_crumb)

ignacious_crumb — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I didn't see the kid standing there, I swear. If I did, do you honestly think I'd have done what I done? Either way, it's not so much the BBQ at this place that bothers me as much as the nihilism. It's as if World War IV never happened. It's JUST like they told me, "Gobt Dero! Gobt Dero! Zinf dsi dsi dsi zinf dsi dso!!"

Park around the corner at the Gigfer Palace Motel, tis a noteworthy companion to the brothel next door.

Tell Frinsh you like his evening jacket and you won't be disappointed.

1 Stars: Tough, overcooked meat (by kraftmj)

kraftmj — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Almost all the meat was really overcooked and tought. The filet and sirloin were good, but getting them to your table was ridiculously hard. Fogo De Choa is MUCH better- better service, food, etc. I'm sure if you have never been to this style of restaurant before, you might enjoy (hence the high rating)...save your money and drive up to LA...

5 Stars: Excellent meat menu (by mashan)

mashan — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 02:00:00 GMT

We visited this place in March, mid-week, for a dinner. The food was delicious, they have a large salad and side dish bar, and the waiters walk around serving the meat. Try to avoid stuffing yourself with the salad bar food, and wait for the meat. If requested, they will special prepare the chicken hearts.
The best meet cuts were lamb, different Brazilian steak cuts (skirt steak). Good service and overpriced drinks.
I would highly recommend it - it is a unique place, not a chain. The service is a bit relaxed, so pace yourself with the food, in order to taste what you came for - on the night of our dinner, they had 13 different skewered meats.

5 Stars: best churrascaria EVER (by tigereyez)

tigereyez — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 02:00:00 GMT

WENT WITH A PARTY OF ABOUT 15. YOU'LL GENERALLY PAY ABOUT $50 AT MANY CHURRASCARIAS BUT THIS IS WELL WORTH IT. THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR DECOR IS CASUAL YET ELEGANT AND VERY FIT FOR THE SUBURBS. THE SERVICE IS FAST AND POLITE, MEAT IS TENDER AND PERFECTLY SEASONED. THE SIDE DISHES AND SALAD BAR ARE HARD TO STAY AWAY FROM. JUST TRY NOT TO GET FULL OF THOSE- CONCENTRATE ON THE MEAT! THE DESSERTS ARE NICE AFTER A CARNIVEROUS MEAL. THE RESTAURANT EVEN STAYED OPEN LATE FOR US AND WEREN'T BITTER ABOUT IT. I'VE ALREADY RECOMMENDED IT TO MY FRIENDS AND PLAN ON GOING BACK

5 Stars: Amazing food but you definitely pay for it (by djnick33)

djnick33 — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 01:00:00 GMT

Agora is my favorite brazilian bbq place in OC. Very nice location, nice ambiance, valet parking etc. Like other brazilian bbqs it has a buffet along with the servings of meat. The buffet was a bit lacking i think compared to the other brazilian bbqs, they only had half as many food items and even best ones you had to request to your table (cheese rolls, friend banana) instead of being able to grab it from the buffet. The meats however are amazing and top notch. Very juicy, perfectly seasoned, and large portions. However i was told recently they do not cook the meats as salty as they used to because people complained, although little do they know that is traditional brazilian style. Nonetheless the flavor was excellent and i was very satisfied overall. However i think the price is a tad bit high on average compared to other brazilian restaurants in the area that offer almost the same. However make no mistake you will not walk out this place hungry or dissatisfied.

2 Stars: Bad the 2nd time around (by darktjc01)

darktjc01 — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 01:00:00 GMT

I've been to Agora twice and this past weekend a girlfriend and I had plans to eat there on Saturday night. Little did I know that she surprised me by inviting out my closest friends so there were a total of 17 of us there. I had to ask several times for them to bring the house cut to our table. The table right next to us was served it but it never reached me. So again I had to ask. It took about 30 minutes for them to make it to our table. They charged us a 20% gratuity fee and I expected better service for the amount of tip I was forced to pay. This place is terrible for larger parties. The meat was salty and over cooked for some cuts of meat. The first time I went it was nice. Great service, with good food this time was the total opposite. Total tip paid was close to $170.

5 Stars: THE BEST BRAZIALIAN BAR B Q (by ashtabula)

ashtabula — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

You'll love this place. The quality is excellant, the atmosphere is real nice, and the food flows all night. Don't waist too much time at the salad bar.

5 Stars: Some of the best steak you will ever eat ... (by zbigboy)

zbigboy — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

This place is an absolute must visit.

They keep bringing out food in the typical Brazilian style, but the quality is incredible. I have been to varoius Brazilian Churrascaria type places, including Foga de Choa in Beverly Hills, and this one is the best, by far.

The environment is wonderful, as is the service. Prices are also very reasonable.

4 Stars: excellent food, decent service (by dmenkes)

dmenkes — Sat, 04 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Our party was slighted by the staff on occasion, but attentive the rest of the time. The meat selections were varied but weren't brought around very often. The salad bar is really so much more; you could stuff yourself on the varieties of sides and alternatives to the main course. I left completely full and without much desire to eat meat again for a while. My favorite was the bacon-wrapped beef. A tad greasy but amazingly good.

5 Stars: Best churrascaria around (by threatcon13)

threatcon13 — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 02:00:00 GMT

First off, let me say to the person who posted earlier who was lamenting about ribs not being available, lay off the c pipe! If you want ribs, go to an american BBQ place, not a Brazilian one. Anyways, I first had churrascaria here at Agora. I came here for lunch several times w/ coworkers. The meat was brought around frequently, and what splendid meat it was! Filet mignon, top sirloin, sausage, skirt steak, etc. all were offered in medium rare to well done, which was awesome. The filet mignon and top sirloin were to die for. For 20 dollars a head, this place could simply not be beat! I took at a gamble afterwards and tried two places closer to my house, Amazon in Fullerton and Green Field in Long Beach. Went to lunch at both places, both places were TERRIBLE. Meats were all cooked well done, and offered mediocre cuts at best. It seemed like the servers only came out every 10-20 mins, with the same nasty meats each time. Trust me, Agora is definitely worth the drive. You will not be dissapointed.

5 Stars: listen to me! (by jawnly211)

jawnly211 — Sat, 17 Jun 2006 02:00:00 GMT

a MUST experience. excellent service and food. great for large/energetic gatherings. spacious and clean.

1 Stars: Understand the difference.... (by cidadededeus)

cidadededeus — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 01:00:00 GMT

People need to understand that a bunch of meat doesn't translate to a good Brazlian BBQ. First of all, what kind of brazlian bbq don't carry RIBS. I mean not pork ribs, but ribs....People need to understand, if you really want to go somewhere and eat a good brazlian bbq place, go to FOGO DE CHAO, little pricey but the best....

5 Stars: Great steaks and service (by ammykomes)

ammykomes — Sat, 18 Mar 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Not knowing what to expect, I went to this restaurant solely because of the high-rating on Citysearch. I found out that it was an all-you-can-eat buffet-type restaurant. They had an enormous variety of steak types. Their salad bar, rice and mashed potatoes were great as well. When I tasted the filet mignon, it made me not want to try anything else because it was so delicious. I was so full but still had to try the dessert, which was awesome as well. However, the dessert wasn't included in the buffet price. I went back to this restaurant during their lunch hours since it was cheaper, but sadly found out that they didn't serve the filet mignon during lunch. So first-timers should definitely try out their dinner menu.

5 Stars: A must try!!! (by kathy1771)

kathy1771 — Fri, 03 Feb 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Absolutely FABULOUS food & service! The eggplant from the salad bar is especially delicious. This is the only restaurant you can gracefully enjoy an "all you can eat" meal. The layout of the restaurant makes it equally appropriate to bring a date or a large group.

4 Stars: Brasilians on Agora... (by alsterling)

alsterling — Sat, 31 Dec 2005 01:00:00 GMT

Our family is Brasilian ("s" in brasil, not "z"). Yes, Agora is a typical churrascaria with traditional rodizio (rotisseri bbq). However, it's not the only one in SoCal. Compared to the others, I'd say, for quality of meat, which is critical, it's in the upper 90%. For its salad bar with entree items, the high 70's to low 80%. In Brasil, the salad bar includes many hot entrees. Our group of Brasilian friends, about 12 of us, hit them just after opening. The servers, many Brasilians, did quite well. The quality of lamb was exceptional. The beef items were also very good. I asked for and got "mal pasado", or very rare. Overall, if you want to do the Brasilian BBQ experience, this is a good "high end" starting point. Drinks and desserts will push the bill up quickly, which is typical in any US based churrascaria.

5 Stars: YUMMY!! (by courtneyallyson)

courtneyallyson — Fri, 04 Nov 2005 01:00:00 GMT

I vistied Agora for the first time last night, and it was great!! (service was a little lax: our waiter took our dessert order and disappeared returning after someone else had taken the plates away only to offer us dessert again.) All the meats served were great. even the bar was fantastic. There's also enough space for large parties, although it could get a little expensive. dinner/drinks/deserts for 4 = $200. i highly reccomend.

4 Stars: User review by prinseslhjennie (by prinseslhjennie)

prinseslhjennie — Thu, 27 Oct 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I had never ate at a brazilian steakhouse before....the service was excellent, very creative, if you eat here, you should go in on an empty stomach, because you get what you pay for and then some. The meat was excellent, the filet and and top sirloin was my favorite. I would recommend this restaurant for a date or party or if you just want to grab some dinner with a couple friends, its very versatile.....

5 Stars: awesome (by h5intheoc)

h5intheoc — Fri, 21 Oct 2005 02:00:00 GMT

excellent food and service. the meats were incredible. room can get a little loud so might be a tough date place but great food

5 Stars: Authentic Brazilian in the OC (by bum621)

bum621 — Wed, 10 Aug 2005 02:00:00 GMT

What can I say ... it was a meat lovers paradise. The food was supurb! From the heafty fresh salad bar (you get more than your usual greens) to the main meat course, to the spectacular bar & wine list, to the desert!

When you 1st step in, it feels like a very posh Hollywood restaurant. I was initially very worried about the cost and portions ... to make it short, you get what you pay for and more. Service is excellent! Food is excellent! It's romantic too! If you like to wine and dine, this is the place. It's an experience all together!

5 Stars: Citysearch was right again! (by krb72063)

krb72063 — Fri, 29 Jul 2005 02:00:00 GMT

My fiance chose this restaurant based on the City search reviews and we weren't disappointed. For $35 pp we were stuffed to the gills with various types of high quality meats and a array of sides and veggies from the salad bar. If you haven't been to a brazilian style steakhouse before it's a unique dining experience. I personally loved the pork loin and tri tip - YUM. We had the Merlot sorbet for dessert and for wine lovers you will dig this. I wouldn't say the ambiance is romantic but it's nice and service was great! ENJOY

5 Stars: Great Food (by cyndiwright)

cyndiwright — Sat, 16 Jul 2005 02:00:00 GMT

Everything at Agora was excellent! This is a great place to go for a romantic dinner as well as celebrate with a group of friends. I can't wait to go back! It's more of an "evening out" than a "grab a bite and run" type restaurant.

5 Stars: This place rocks!! (by jessicaa720)

jessicaa720 — Fri, 15 Jul 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I really loved this place!! the quality of their meat is way over the top. This was the best steakhouse I have ever been to. they serve variety of meat and it's all you can eat! I was very pleased with their serivce too. Ever since my first visit, I already went back twice!

5 Stars: Luscious steak in sophisticated ambiance (by vanillalatte)

vanillalatte — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 02:00:00 GMT

This is my new favorite restaurant! As a steak and wine lover, I attest that the delicious wines compliment greatly the succulent steaks at Agora. Even though the place is really upscale, the servers are very personable. The "gaucho" meat carvers really make the dinner authentic. The "picanha" is the juiciest and most tender ever...Ah..the salad bar is great too.

5 Stars: LOVED IT (by areza)

areza — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I have been to other Brazil Steakhouses and nothing can compare to the experience i had at Agora Churrascaria in Irvine. I felt the service was above average and the food was off the charts. I highly recommend this to all you meat lovers out there. I think the price is fare for what you are to going to receive. This is the kind of place you tell friends, family and co-workers.

3 Stars: Very Expensive Dinner (by jaycedece)

jaycedece — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I spent some time in Brasil during grad school, and was fortunate enough to experience many Rodizio's/Brasilian Steakhouse. The drawback to this place is the expense ($35 per person, child $19). A family of four will run about $150, just drinking sodas. The food is good, but not that good. Definitely was not this expensive in S. Paulo.. Wasn't that crowded, could it be the price? This is new restaurant, and they will hopefully re-evaluate their pricing.

5 Stars: The perfect atmosphere for fine dinning! (by samri)

samri — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 02:00:00 GMT

This is the place you bring somebody to impress the hell out of them. There is absolutly nothing like it whatsoever. The lighting is georgous and it puts you in a calm and relaxed trance. Then when they bring out the meats your excitment level shoots through the roof. I would write about the taste of ALL the delicious food but you must experience it yourself. I highly recomend this place to anybody who loves going out and trying something new.....you will not be dissapointed!

5 Stars: meat lovers! (by batzmaroo)

batzmaroo — Sun, 26 Jun 2005 02:00:00 GMT

the PERFECT place to be when you are craving meat! Great meat selection with a huge salad bar~ the combination of their salsa and their steak is just amazing~

5 Stars: FOUND IT!! (by robbohaglund)

robbohaglund — Fri, 24 Jun 2005 02:00:00 GMT

After living in Brazil for a year I became very interested in the culture, people, and food. Since returning I have visited 7 Brazilian restaurants in the US (3 in California) and have even visited a churrascaria in Prague, CZ. Agora has excellent service, an amazing salad bar, and a perfect selection of meats. The picana (a Brazilian cut of meat) has incredible flavor.

5 Stars: it was worth the drive (by bchai24)

bchai24 — Fri, 24 Jun 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I am a huge meat lover! I have been to many "churrascaria" restaurants before and this one ranks up there with the best of them. The meat quality was great! the service was great too. Don't eat too much from the salad bar...you have to save room for the MEAT!!!