South American Barbecue, also called churrasco or asado, has reached worldwide popularity in recent years. This traditional barbecue comes from about five centuries of cattle raising in Brazil, and at least two centuries as the regular cooking style of South American cowboys from Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. Originally cooked in earthen pits by men with hats, modern restaurants use varying methods for barbecuing their beef, pork, sausage and chicken, and take the meat-laden skewer from table to table to carve off a fresh piece. They have kept the hats too.
Latin Grill, with its two centrally located restaurants, is seen by many as the place to go for good Brazilian barbecue and for Latin food in general. Its large eating spaces fill up quickly, especially at dinner time, and the buffet style attracts many comers for its more than seventy choices. Having eaten here on two occasions, I can confirm with confidence that the churrasco is truly fantastic. Thinking through all the restaurants I've tried in the city, I can't think of one where the meat was equally good. Not one. The buffet quality varies, as buffets tend to do. After wandering through several rooms full of hot and cold dishes, salads and deserts, you could flip a coin as to whether it will hit the spot. Their buffet dishes include notables from Latin, Chinese and other international cuisines.
Getting there: Line 1 or 3, Tiyu Xilu Station, Exit D. Walk up to Tianhe Lu, turn right and at the end of the next block is Grandview Mall on your right.