{"id":304001,"date":"2026-07-23T19:18:45","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T19:18:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/304001\/"},"modified":"2026-07-23T19:18:45","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T19:18:45","slug":"astoria-remains-brazilian-hub-from-restaurant-to-religion-qns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/304001\/","title":{"rendered":"Astoria remains Brazilian hub from restaurant to religion \u2013 QNS"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Brazil played against Morocco in the World Cup, Nike came to Astoria<\/a>, setting up big television sets at Rio Market, also known as Rio Bonito<\/a>, a Brazilian supermarket and restaurant at 33rd Street and 36th Avenue.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey decided to do the event where you have the most Brazilians,\u201d said Ricardo Bastos, founder and owner of Rio Bonito Market (and Grill) at 32-15 36th Ave. \u201cThey put up big televisions and showed the game.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Rio Market in Astoria. Photo courtesy of Rio Market<\/p>\n

The score in the Brazil versus Morocco game may have reflected a little less dominance on the field. But crowds filled the grill, providing a win for the restaurant and those looking to watch the game.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Many Astoria residents watched the Brazil-Morocco World Cup match at the Rio Market. Photo courtesy of Rio Market<\/p>\n

Although the presence of Brazilians in Astoria is less than it once was, thousands who identify as Brazilian still live in Astoria, which remains home to some of the city\u2019s better-known Brazilian businesses.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Photo courtesy of Rio Market<\/p>\n

Just as Manhattan\u2019s Little Brazil, on 46th Street, shrank, Astoria\u2019s Brazilian population has dwindled, while remaining a force, from restaurants to religion, and an attraction due to reputation and ongoing reality.<\/p>\n

Rio Bonito, with an occasional Brazilian flag inside (every product is like a banner for Brazil), continues to specialize in bringing items from Brazil to Brazilians living in the United States.
\n\"\"<\/a>Photo courtesy of Rio Market\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe bring products that people are used to having since they were young, since they were little kids,\u201d Bastos, who grew up in Rio De Janeiro, said. \u201cIt brings back memories. We only sell Brazilian products.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Rio Market has various items popular in Brazil. Photo courtesy of Rio Market
\n\"\"<\/a>Photo courtesy of Rio Market<\/p>\n

When Rio Bonito opened in Astoria in 1994, Bastos said, Astoria had the highest concentration of Brazilians and Brazilian businesses in the city.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow it\u2019s not as many. Now it\u2019s all over the place,\u201d he said. \u201cRent in Astoria is very expensive. It\u2019s close to the city.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

He said, \u201cThere\u2019s a large community, but not like before,\u201d as rent has taken its toll, creating new Brazilian hubs as well.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were a lot of Brazilians. With the rent increasing, a lot of people moved to Jackson Heights, Long Island and New Jersey,\u201d Bastos added. \u201cBut there\u2019s still a lot of Brazilians living in Astoria.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bastos said there are a handful of Brazilian restaurants in Astoria today, although there used to be more.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a restaurant inside the supermarket,\u201d Bastos added. \u201cEveryone comes for the food. Brazilians, Americans, every ethnic group likes our food.\u201d
\n\"\"<\/a>Rio Market features a popular restaurant inside the store. Photo courtesy of Rio Market
\n\"\"<\/a>Photo courtesy of Rio Market\n<\/p>\n

Restaurant row<\/p>\n

Astoria\u2019s menu of restaurants includes places like New York P\u00e3o de Queijo<\/a>, at 31-90 30th St., offering signature Brazilian foods such as P\u00e3o de Queijo, as well as salads, aca\u00ed bowls and burgers.<\/p>\n

The Copacabana Grill<\/a>, which calls itself \u201cthe pioneer of Brazilian BBQ in town,\u201d opened locations in Astoria and Jackson Heights.\n<\/p>\n

Founded by Jose Bezerra in 2003, according to the restaurant, he chose the name Copacabana \u201cto honor one of the most beautiful and well-known beaches of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

\u201cAll that come to Copacabana Grill will get a taste of what it is like to be in Brazil,\u201d their website says. \u201cServing the best of Brazilian cuisine along with perfectly grilled Brazilian cuts of BBQ at an affordable price.\u201d<\/p>\n

They offer more than 15 types of prime Brazilian cuts of meat along with fresh salads, soups and a hot Brazilian buffet.\n<\/p>\n

Religious institutions<\/p>\n

While restaurants keep the Brazilian flavor current, religious institutions also continue to serve Brazilians in Astoria.\n<\/p>\n

The Brazilian Missionary Church<\/a>, at 39-22 30th St., as well as Igreja Assembleia de Deus \u2013 Astoria<\/a>, serve the Brazilian faithful, along with other churches nearby.<\/p>\n

The still relatively new Lagoinha New York Church in Astoria provides services that are part church, but also possibly part concert.\n<\/p>\n

With electric guitars and a drum set that would make a rock drummer envious, as well as a pastor who studied music, it stands out as a church and culture.\n<\/p>\n

Lagoinha New York (Instagram: lagoinhanewyork<\/a>) was launched a few years ago by Silas Neto in Astoria. It has grown to a congregation of around 250 with a dove as its symbol. While Astoria\u2019s Greek roots reach and run deep, the Brazilian community remains very much at home here as well.<\/p>\n

By the Numbers<\/p>\n

The numbers tell part of the story. Astoria was home to 2,250 people who identified as Brazilian, according to the 2000 Census, or 1.4% of the neighborhood and part of the 15,464 or 0.2% citywide.<\/p>\n

That was already less than the 5,977, or 3.7% in Astoria who identified as Puerto Rican, out of 595,627, or 6.8% citywide. Meanwhile, 3,735, or 2.3%, identified as Dominican lived in Astoria, out of 702,330, or 8%, in New York City.<\/p>\n

Another 4,339, or 2.7%, in Astoria identified as Colombian out of 107,126, or 1.2% citywide, while 5,226 Ecuadorians, or 3.3%, were in Astoria out of 190,926, or 2.2% citywide.\n<\/p>\n

Some companies are turning to the web to market beyond Astoria. Bastos, for instance, also launched riobonitodelivery.com<\/a>, one of the first websites dedicated to selling Brazilian products nationwide.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of people buy to receive at home,\u201d Bastos said of food delivery. \u201cThe buffet restaurant attracts a lot of people. We have a buffet by the pound. That brings everyone to the store.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

In addition to food, Rio sells some clothing, such as Brazilian bikinis, beach clothing and Brazilian perfume. \u201cA lot of sandals,\u201d Bastos said. \u201cFlip flops sell a lot.\u201d\n<\/p>\n

As Astoria\u2019s Brazilian population waned, Bastos in 2020 opened the first Brazilian supermarket in Jacksonville, Florida, complete with a Brazilian-style barbecue.\n<\/p>\n

Back in Astoria, the recent FIFA World Cup, even after Brazil was eliminated, attracted a surge of customers to Bastos\u2019 restaurant, which has a television.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cThey bring the memories from the teams they used to have,\u201d Bastos said of the current team Brazil. \u201cEvery time there\u2019s a World Cup, Brazil\u2019s considered one of the favorites. A lot of people root for Brazil.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bastos believes rooting for Brazil in New York, for many, is part of the legacy of Pel\u00e9, the soccer star who went on to play for the New York Cosmos.
\n\"\"<\/a>Photo courtesy of Rio Market\n<\/p>\n

\u201cPel\u00e9 was a complete athlete,\u201d Bastos said. \u201cPeople want to know more about the Brazilian culture and buy Brazilian jerseys and wear the Brazilian jersey. They\u2019re proud to wear something like that.\u201d<\/p>\n