THE TRES LECHES CAKE is a hit, too.

By John M. Borack
Orange County Tribune

As someone who loves to dine out and is also forever on the hunt for a good deal, there
seems to be fewer and fewer options lately. Sure, there are always coupons and app deals for fast food joints and some restaurants that offer decent specials for those who subscribe to their mailing list (hello, Black Angus), but a good quality meal at an affordable price is getting scarcer than hen’s teeth.

(For those who may be unfamiliar, the term “scarcer than hen’s teeth” is a rural American colloquialism that originated nearly 100 years ago. It plays on the biological fact that birds have no teeth, meaning that finding one is virtually impossible. Thanks, AI.)

Anyway, I believe I may have come across one of the best dining deals in recent
memory at—believe it or not—Fogo de Chão Brazilian steakhouse. Well-known by meat
mavens for their all you can eat experience that includes fire-roasted picanha (top sirloin), bone-in ribeye, lamb chops, and roasted chicken, it’s an indulgent behemoth of a meal that is not inexpensive. (It runs $55 per person for lunch and $74 a head for dinner.)

But here’s the deal: Fogo also has a dandy burger special that is served throughout the day. It’s their $10 Picanha Burger, part of what they call their All Day Happy Hour menu.

The burger is ground fresh in-house, and it’s topped with smoked provolone cheese,
romaine lettuce, tomato, onion, and a zesty chimichurri aioli, served on a brioche bun. It
also comes with a side of crispy polenta or french fries.

I visited the Fogo de Chão in Huntington Beach recently and ordered up the burger and
a side of polenta for lunch. Although Fogo’s menu mentions that the All Day Happy
Hour menu is available in the bar and patio only, I was seated in the main dining room
with no problem. Our waitress was friendly and attentive and even brought over some
tasty, complimentary cheese bread before the burger was served.

The burger itself? Absolutely delicious. The smoked provolone and the chimichurri aioli
added a unique flavor without overpowering the taste of the beef, and the patty was
ample and juicy. I wasn’t a huge fan of the polenta, though; it had an oddly bland flavor
and something of a cardboard-like texture. (My lunch companion let me sample their
french fries, which were topped with parmesan cheese; I’ll definitely order those next
time.)

Since we each had a coupon for a complimentary dessert, I ended my meal with the
Tres Leches Cake: a slice of vanilla sponge cake soaked in three types of milk, topped
with toasted meringue and mixed berries. Creamy, sweet, but not too heavy, it was a
perfect way to end the meal.

Fogo’s All Day Happy Hour menu also features reasonably priced items such as
Brazilian Empanadas and Spiced Chicken Sliders, but for my money, the burger special
is the star of the show. As one commenter mentioned on Reddit, “I don’t think you’re
going to find a better deal than this.” Agreed.

Fogo de Chão is located at 7901 Edinger Ave. (at Beach Blvd.) in Huntington Beach.
Their phone number is (657) 332-0333, and you can find them on the web at
fogodechao.com.