Boteco

This was really authentic, everything was very fresh and was amazing. Definitely recommend this. The chimichurri sauce was amazing with a mayo twist the yuka fries were very delicious although more chimichurri sauce would’ve been terrific. Definitely try all the appetizers. The empanadas are $ 4 for one which is a little over priced compared to what it’s sold in other South American countries, but it’s definitely worth it for it here. Best empanadas I’ve had in the states so far.
THE OWNER IS VERY CHARISMATIC and is very enthusiastic about the food. He was engaging with the customers and very polite and was just terrific.
You pay last so if you aren’t satisfied with anything (which I doubt, cause everything was fried to the perfect crispness and the cheese was the perfect balance between melty and stretchy) you can decide to tell them and/​or order more before you pay.

You are probably wondering how a food truck can still be at 5 stars with 80+ reviews. It really is just that damn good. Owner is super friendly, this is probably my favorite food truck out of the several I have been to.

As far as ATX food trucks go, Boteco is as good as it gets — I hold it in the same regard as East Side King and Vera Cruz. We’ve tried the coxinha, yuca fries, cheese empanada, and the steak bowl. Honestly, everything is incredible.
However, where Boteco really knocks the other food trucks out of the park is when it comes to customer service. Fernando, the owner, is one of the most genuinely friendly people I have encountered. He comes over and chats with each table about what they’re ordering, how they like it, and really makes you feel good about yourself and the food you are eating.
I can’t wait to come back and try more from Boteco.

WOAOW
I don’t really write Unilocal reviews, but Boteco is so good I feel compelled to. I’ve been to this cheery lemon-​yellow truck twice now, and have left both times with a full belly and a smile on my face. There are only a handful of things on the menu, but all of them are done quite gracefully.
Like the other reviewers raved about, the picanha is succulent and hearty, with these delicious little red biquinho peppers (they taste more like cherry tomatoes than spicy peppers). I had the coxinha last night, and they are fried to perfection — majorly crispy, but somehow not at all oily. This goes for the yuca fries as well, which come with a creamy chimichurri sauce. The chimichurri is really the stuff of dreams… I basically use the yuca fries as a vehicle for sauce…
However, owner Fernando is what really makes this place; I mentioned I liked the biquinho peppers, and he brought out jars of different peppers from Brazil for me to try. I’ve come here twice with friends, and both times Fernando has given us these gooey Brigadeiro truffles and thanked us for taking the time to converse over a real meal like they do in Brazil. Honestly, the combination of great food, service, atmosphere (Fernando plays some bumpin jams + sets up twinkly lights when it gets dark) makes it impossible to leave unhappy. I’ll be back!

So tasty and friendly. And the owner has come out each time and chatted with us about the new things we tried. Love the lead on Brazilian tea ceremonies from the southern part. Their food is from the northern.
Even the finicky 11 yr old loved everything we ordered. i can’t stress how unusual that is…

In the world of Unilocal,there are two types of 5-​star ratings: there’s the type that’s like «you know, this was a nice place and I plan on coming here again (if I haven’t already been here before)», and then there’s the type that says «WOW asdfghjk words can’t adequately capture my experience. I’m gonna bring my friends here and I want to be its number one fan!!!»
As you are reading this, [hopefully] you will have inferred that this review is of the latter type. Since this review falls under the «zealous fanboy» category, I ask that you bear with me and the limitations of language.
Onto the actual review: there’s this level of authenticity and human interaction that you can only find at a food truck in America. Fernando, the owner, masterfully brings these components into a delicious bowl of picanha grelhada to create a most memorable meal. He kindly explained and recommended the different items on his menu, checked up with my friend Sarah H. and me on our meals, and even let us try some extra biquinho peppers and chimichurri aioli when we noted how delicious they were (speaking of which, the peppers come straight from Brasilia)! How often does that happen? This guy loves food, and he makes sure that his customers will love them too!
I tried the picanha bowl and the yucca fries tonight, and they had me at the first bite.
+ Yuca fries: Crispy on the outside but chewy on the inside. They’re like the best fries you’ve ever had, except even better because they’re served with chimichurri aioli! I’m not quite sure how to describe the taste of chimichurri aioli other than «I want more».
+ Picanha bowl: steak cooked medium rare — an excellent eight ounces of fresh, juicy goodness. Beans and rice were solid, and the ground yucca pieces are of noteworthy mention. They too are imported from Brazil, and add a soft yet satisfyingly crunchy texture to the meal.
As I’m writing this final paragraph, I realize that this review has taken me longer to write than a normal one, and it’s probably taken you longer than usual to read if you’re still here. First, thanks for your continued interest, and second, thank you, Fernando, for showing us what goes into a phenomenal meal. I am grateful for having experienced the intersection of culinary expertise and genuine passion today, and I will most definitely be back.

Coxinha and Picanha. It was really awesome will definitely come back worth the stop.

SUCH great food, true Brazilian cuisine. Everyone who works there is also Brazilian. Highly recommend!

My husband and I went to this food truck last night looking for something different and we weren’t disappointed. The yuca fries were really good, as well as the empanadas and the albondigas. The guys who worked here are really friendly, and the service was fantastic, we even brought our dog and they were asking if we needed water for him. I definitely recommend this place, food was really good, really good taste and the service was really friendly and nice. If you are looking for some good brazilian food, you will get a great option here.

Went here because the Unilocal reviews were so high and it did not let me down one bit. Even the staff/​owner let me sample my to go order before I left to make sure it was just right.
I got the Brazilian specialty and it was so yummy. The meat the egg the rice everything was cooked perfectly! Definitely going back to get the same dish and to try more!

Austin doesn’t have too many Brazilian restaurants, but what it lacks in quantity it more than makes up in quality. Boteco is a truly Austin style place with a authentic Brazilian flare. They won an award for having the best Coxinha in all of the U.S. Plus, the owner is super friendly and cares about his customers. Everything is hand made and most ingredients are imported from Brazil.

Fernando is the man. Real hospitality from a food truck. Austin needed some Brazilian food and they nailed it. Coxinas are awesome– try it! Their steak plate is a ton of food for $ 14. Easily feeds a very hungry man.

Went to Boteco for the first time. Talked to the owner about the menu and he explained everything to me thoroughly. I expressed to him how I could not eat anything with pork and he was very helpful and told me what was cooked with Lard and what was not. He let me substitute some items and replace it for the pork items.
Now for the most important part, the food was delicious! I had the Yuca fries, coxinhas, and the Picanha Grelhada plate. The steak was great. My whole family enjoyed it. Will definitely come back again.

Completely awesome, great service and even better food. Thanks for a good Austin experience.

I’m only sorry that it took me so long to visit Brazil via Boteco! The owner cares about making sure that you feel welcome and understand the care and family history behind the food. Go with a group and try everything, even desert! It is all delicious and craveable!

amazing food, great ambiance and the owner was such a pleasure to meet and clearly works hard. the food is genuinely made with precision and expertise. I am truly impressed!

As soon as you arrive at Boteco, you will know how much love, passion and effort the owners put in their business. Fernando and Lauren serve the best Brazilian food in town and they also provide the most friendly and attentive service that you could ask for.
I love everything on their menu but I must highlight their coxinhas and feijoada!
I’m from Brazil and I really love coxinhas. I’ll not be exaggerating if I say that their coxinha is one of the best I’ve ever had.
The feijoada is also so good! It is food with soul!
I really wish they were closer to where I live, so I could have their food everyday!
Guys, thank you for bringing legit and delicious Brazilian food to Austin!
You rock!!!

I try to write my reviews chronologically and I have some from recent trips I have yet to finish. I wanted to pause any others so I can sing Boteco’s praises after my first visit yesterday.
I love these guys! Fernando and Lauren are a husband and wife team that breath life, passion, and deliciousness into what they do. They bring the soul of Brazil to Austin. This is the first time at a food truck where I felt I was not only being served as if I was at a restaurant, but I also felt I was at a good friend’s home. Their warmth and welcoming is apparent from the moment you engage with them. They have that perfect combination of talent and heart. This is the type of place and people you want to give business to!
And the food… I don’t even know where to begin. They do it so right; I’m instantly addicted. Yucca fries — done perfectly. Steak (cooked exactly medium rare) — juicy, tender, flavorful, and with a fantastic outer crisp. Feijoada — I can’t get enough! Love that they included Farofa and their in-​house marinated mini cherry tomato looking like peppers are little bursts of flavor. Their Malagueta and Cumari peppers (request these) — fantastic! Like Fernando said, Brazilian peppers, do not just bring heat, but loads of flavor too! I could not agree more.
All of this and more can be enjoyed in a relaxed food truck park with wonderful Brazilian music being played in the background. A big obrigado to you guys, keep doing what you’re doing and looking forward to my next visit!

Obligatory semi-​amusing intro:
«Do you speak Portuguese?»
«No.»
“Do you know anything about Brazilian food?”
«No.»
“Can we eat at Fogo de Chao for less than a hundred bucks?”
«No.»
“For a hot-​shit Unilocaler, you don’t know much.”
«Well, I know this trailer…»
Three thoughts:
1. I’m mildly curious what Chef Fernando could do working out of a real kitchen, like the ones around the corner at LaV and Qui.
2. As I was taking pics of my food, a very nice couple walked up & said, «That looks great.» Then they asked Chef Fernando if he could do something vegetarian for them, and get it to go. He said sure. Twelve minutes later, he hands them a carefully wrapped & bagged package, holding it flat at the bottom. I kind of wanted to take pics of whatever the heck was inside.
3. My Picanha was superb. So was the Coxinha. And the yuca/​yucca fries. Even the very simple egg over rice was sublime. There was something else in a side bowl, but I had no idea what it was. And on Sundays, you can get Feijoada. Boteco ATX is one of those places you want to come with a bunch of people, on a spectacular day, and run the entire menu, maybe twice. And then discover everything you need to know about Caipirinha. Chef Fernando supplies the music.

this place is fabulous!!!
The food is delicious and i especially loved the steak and yucca fries
The owner and chef is soooo nice and pleasant as he cooks up brazilian delights!
A must try and repeat!

After tasting their creations, I can see why all Brazilians on Austin go here. Everything is made authentically, from scratch, cooked to perfection.

Indeed, this is as good as it gets. Boteco has it all: great food, environment and customer service. Given it’s a bit pricey, it seems to be worth it since all the food was of such high quality.
They do tend to be closed on rainy days, but the day we came it was a bit wet and cold, so i was surprised to see them opened. They help you through the menu and they do not expect you to have a beautiful Portuguese accent when pronouncing the menu items. The food comes out fresh yet fast and it always a good time chit chatting with the lovely people who run the show.
It always smart to check their instagram page before making the trip!
It’s great to see a good truck that has lived up to the hype and when in doubt, order the Yuca fries!

***Boteco is an Austin food truck delivering a small menu of excellent Brazilian food; it might be the best food truck I have ever been to***
I am not a huge fan of food trucks. They are not as mobile as you would think and you often have to drive just as much as you would to get to a food truck that you would to get to a brick and mortar establishment. And while food truck menus often sound great, the results often fail to live up to the social media hype that many food truck dishes garner.
Boteco in Austin is different. It is a Brazilian food truck, but it seems to be firmly planted /​parked in its location just outside of Downtown Austin. It is a great spot though with plenty of picnic tables to sit down and have a meal. Boteco’s menu is small, but there is a great mix of easy-​to-​eat-​on-​the-​street finger foods like yucca fries and empanadas and sit-​down restaurant type entrees like Brazilian grilled sirloin with rice and beans.
I tried several of their snacks and the best was easily the queso empanada. The empanada had a great fried crispy exterior that was nicely light. The center was pretty hollow but the interior was lined with excellent, stretchy and creamy cheese. The yucca fries were also crispy but too salty. They did come with a good dip of cream and chimichurri.
The chicken and cream cheese croquettes were not that good. They were too dry. Unfortunately, there was an abundance of dry shredded chicken and not much cheese so the croquettes were not as creamy and moist as I would have preferred.
For my entrée, I had their grilled sirloin, which was very good. I was amazed at how great of a sear the chef was able to achieve with the steak and even though I wish the steak was more medium rare, the steak was very juicy and tender, which is definitely a testament to the quality of the beef Boteco is using.
The steak was garnished with a fresh topping of onions and herbs. There was also nicely cooked and free flowing rice as well as great richness from a sunny side up egg. There was also a delicious side of black beans cooked with pork to deliver a savory and meaty experience.
Service was very good and friendly. The Brazilian crowd drawn to this food truck was fun too.
Prices were reasonable where you can get a high quality meal for around $ 10.
Boteco is not only a great food truck but a great way to try authentic Brazilian cuisine. It is also very representative of the Austin food scene, where you can have great food made from local ingredients in a fun, casual and unique atmosphere.
This food truck has an attached grassy area where you can park for free though open spaces are limited.

Loved the food. It’s authentic and simply delicious. Picanha, rice, beans, eggs e farofa is just the perfect combo. Brazilian food at its prime! Yucca fries are soooo good!!! Make sure to also get some Brigadeiro that is the a type of Brazilian chocolate caramel candy!

Great food, great environment and costumer service. Fernando and Lauren are nice and on top of their games. The food is delicious, I would give a extra recommendation to the fried yuca
Let’s keep Austin Brazilian
Keep up with the good work guys.

Found this little food truck on Unilocal and had to try it. I am a huge fan of Brazilian Steakhouses so this was right up my alley. The actual truck is a little hard to find since it’s in a little alley way so just look for the picnic tables.
Service was excellent, the owner was very friendly and took his time explaining everything and sitting at our table getting to know us.
Food was amazing, the picanha was just as good if not better than a Brazilian Steakhouse that cost 3x more, rice was excellent as well as the beans.
Definitely one of my favorite places in Austin now, will be back frequently

I’m brazilian and I worked with food companies and restaurants many years in Brazil and I have a lot of wonderful things to say about BOTECO! At least once a week I’m there! FOOD is completely amazing. I’ve tried all the menu… of course! Haha! COXINHA is awesome, tasty and crisp and even comes with cream cheese inside! OMG I love it!
PASTEL (meal or cheese) are delicious! About YUCA FRIES… what a taste! It is one of my favorite food in Brazil and even comes with a very tasty garlic sauce!!! I’ve tried PICANHA NA CHAPA one time and it was great, sooo yummy!
And even I’ve been eating Coxinha, Pastel e Yuca Fries everytime that I’m going there, I told the chef and the owners that FEIJOADA is the best dish that they have in my opinion. They have Feijoada (black beans with meal, rice, etc) on Sundays and I’ve tryed it a couple times and THIS IS THE BEST FEIJOADA THAT I’VE TRYED IN MY WHOLE LIFE… I really like that seasoning and whole grains (black beans)!!! I talked many times with the owners because they really care about customers and even they are so busy everytime they are always coming out to talk with everybody, so friendly people and I like the way that they do that! Always knowing their customers, talking, having feedbacks on time! That’s awesome! I told them I feel there like my backyard!
Atmosphere is like you’re are at home, listening some brazilian music and hanging with friends! Oh yeah they have an awesome nostalgic playlist. As a brazilian I love brazilian music but if you’re not brazilian, don’t worry because I’m sure you will also love it!
You can park your car near the place on the street easily.
I usually spend around $ 10 or $ 12 dollars eating very well there but you can find options from $ 4 to $ 13 at their menu!
I highly recommend it for brazilians, americans and everyone!

I gotta admit, I’m not the biggest fan of Brazilian food. There is only so much churrasco I can take. The exception would probably be Bahian food and of course any kind of «salgadinhos» (savory snack foods). But do you realize how hard it is to even find this type of Brazilian food in the United States? And I hate to say it, but most Brazilian restaurants I’ve been to in the U.S. have been downright awful — and this is everywhere from L.A. to San Francisco to Ft. Lauderdale/​Miami.
So when I heard about Boteco, I decided to keep my expectations low considering all the negative Brazilian food experiences I’ve had elsewhere. Well, let’s just say I was quite pleasantly surprised!
Okay, let’s start off with atmosphere and service before we get to food. Atmosphere and service was WONDERFUL! A very welcoming environment. Lots of tables to choose from, and unlike most food trucks, there is even table service. The owners Fernando and Lauren were extremely friendly and attentive. You can tell they are extremely hands on and are putting a lot of love and dedication into their business.
Today, I happened to come on a day when they had live music — a very talented Brazilian musician by the name of Guilherme Lamas. His music really made the experience even more relaxing and enjoyable. Before that they were playing some classic Brazilian music on an outdoor stereo system, which was also nice. It was also kinda neat to see so many Brazilians there and to hear Portuguese flying around all around you. Not something you typically see in Austin :-).
Now, on to the food…
I like the fact that they keep a pretty simple menu. I’m convinced that when food establishments have menus that are way too big, it’s a sign of lack of quality and freshness. Whereas, if the menu is small, it is a strong indicator that the restaurant makes most of its food fresh and from scratch. It was also reflected by the fact that my food didn’t come out instantly within a minute or two of placing my order. Instead, someone probably cooked my food fresh instead of reheating it in the microwave (the way many places unfortunately still do)!
Mmmmmm… and once the food came, let me tell you! Instant joy! We ordered the pastel de queijo (fried savory pastry with cheese inside), the coxinha (croquettes filled with chicken and cream cheese), and the yuca fries. Let’s start with the yuca fries. Simply delicious! Like a really hearty french fry with just the right amount of saltiness on the outside. The coxinhas were just the right portion (there are three in one order). Crisp on the outside and so moist and delicious on the inside. The chicken was spiced perfectly too, which was nice because sometimes coxinha can be quite bland tasting. The pastel was also wonderful! So great, in fact, that my son ended up ordering a second one.
You know, what’s interesting is that despite all these fried foods, the paper that the basket was lined with was not drenched in oil. I applaud Fernando and Lauren for having mastered the art of frying foods and still keeping it light, much like how a well trained Japanese chef is able to fry tempura so it’s crispy but not overly greasy. This is actually very difficult to do!
Finally, as if that weren’t enough food for my two kids and I to share, we also had today’s special: feijoada. It was delicious!
Now, if I had to nitpick on any of the small details, I’d say the only thing I could suggest an improvement on would be for the drinks to be served MUCH colder. We drank several Guaraná and also a bottle of water. It was almost 100 degrees today, so I would have really enjoyed it if the beverages were ICY cold! :D. That would have really hit the spot! Especially considering that many of the picnic tables were in direct sunlight, which already accelerates how fast a drink loses its coldness.
All in all though, a wonderful experience. One that I highly, highly recommend! Although I live on the other side of town, I do plan of making many more trips to Boteco! Truly an authentic Brazilian food experience, right here in the heart of Texas!

Came here as part of the Austin Passbook tour and so glad that we did! We had the steak plate and coxinhas. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare and went perfectly with the rice and beans. The yuca fries were also very yummy. The coxinhas were DELICIOUS. Little pockets of chicken and cheese heaven.
Plenty of shaded bench seating and they even offered a little water dish for our hot puppy.
Fernando is so nice! We will be back soon!

I’ve lived in Brazil for several years and missed the food one day so much, that I googled for Brazilian food places in Austin. I came across the «Boteco» food truck, and was first skeptical about the authenticity. Fortunately, my doubts were unsubstantiated, as the food is exactly what I remember from Brazil. Moreover, the whole atmosphere Fernando and Lauren create, is very authentic Brazilian as well. They pay attention to every customer and treat each of them in a amicable way. Impressively, even at very busy times, during bigger events, they are still able to keep up their attitude.
Since I went there for the first time two months ago, I frequently went back and I tried all of their vegetarian dishes. There is not a single thing that I did not like. Everything is made from scratch, everything is fresh and just delicious. Traditional Brazilian cuisine contains a lot of meat, and it can be challenging for vegetarians/​pescetarians sometimes. Lauren and Fernando are very flexible every time I eat there, and always have something to offer for me (lately, I had a delicious fish in a mango sauce with a coconut farofa). It is really hard for me to name a favorite dish, as they are all simply amazing, but if I had to name one, I would go for the «Yunka fries» (mandioca) with homemade herbal sauce.
Para os brasileiros: O casal cozinha melhor do que a sua mãe ;-) Sinceramente, venham e visitam o «Boteco» para matar as saudades um poucinho.

Que maravilha achar uma comidinha tão gostosa aqui em Austin. Pessoas maravilhosas e talentosas!!! Love the food and love the owners! The best coxinhas! Try the Brigadeiro for desser! Fried yucca! Everything is delicious!