Brazilian restaurant Fogo de Chão taking over former Kona Grill location in Short Pump

Fogo de Chão, the internationally-known restaurant from Brazil, announced it has signed a lease agreement to open its first location in Richmond. The new restaurant is slated to open by the end of the year at West Broad Village at 11221 W Broad Street, taking over the former Kona Grill restaurant building, which has sat dormant for several years.

“Following the success of the Reston location, we were eager to bring another location to Virginia. We are thrilled to open our first Richmond restaurant at West Broad Village and introduce the culinary art of churrasco to the local community,” said Barry McGowan, Chief Executive Officer of Fogo de Chão. “We look forward to welcoming guests in Richmond soon to give them culinary discoveries you can’t find at any other restaurant.”

The restaurant will feature an expansive dining room centered around an open churrasco grill, offering guests a view of gaucho chefs butchering, hand carving, and grilling high-quality cuts of protein over an open flame. A white Carrera marble Market Table will be anchored at the front of the grill, featuring seasonal salads, fresh superfoods, cured meats, antipasti, and more.

In the new restaurant, engaging social gathering spaces will be layered throughout Bar Fogo and the dining room to further enhance the guest experience and ambiance by providing inviting, conversational areas to linger and enjoy bar bites and craft cocktails. Dry-aged meat lockers for in-house aging will display indulgent cuts such as a 32 oz. Long-Bone Tomahawk Ribeye, aged for a minimum of 42 days for rich flavor.

The restaurant will offer weekday lunch, Brazilian Brunch on the weekends, a butcher shop, and catering, which includes on-site cooking with portable churrasco grills, gaucho chefs, and a curated dining experience.