One of Texas’ popular Brazilian steakhouses is busy preparing plans for a second location in the Houston area. Chama Gaúcha confirmed to Chron the restaurant chain is expanding to Katy sometime in the foreseeable future.
A rumor about Chama Gaúcha’s second location appeared Wednesday on the Katy/Fort Bend Foodies Facebook group. According to the post, the Brazilian steakhouse was taking over the old Doneraki Fuego y Mar Mexican Grill at 24205 Katy Fwy. Chama Gaúcha general manager Fernando Santibanez told Chron the post had it right.
“We are very excited about this new opportunity to continue serving the Houston Community,” Santibanez wrote.
Details about the upcoming Chama Gaúcha, including an opening date, were not disclosed. Coincidentally, I was just thinking about the restaurant at 5865 Westheimer Rd. My wife and I had our engagement party there. I had probably one too many caipirinhas and ran into her cousin’s fist while taking a photo (good times).
According to CultureMap San Antonio, João Carlos Ongaratto founded Chama Gaúcha in San Antonio following a 20-year stint with Fogo de Chao. The churrascaria follows a similar all-you-can-eat format of restaurants like Fogo and Churrascos. Diners get red and green cards for their meals, with the latter meaning “keep bringing those unlimited servings of meat served on skewers,” and the former meaning “please stop.” There’s also salads, side dishes like pão de queijo, and an assortment of desserts.
Chama Gaucha also has locations near the Houston Galleria, and in the Dallas, Chicago and San Antonio areas.
Longtime Houstonians may have remembered the old Doneraki’s that Chama Gaúcha is replacing. It was one of the old Tex-Mex chains that used to have locations around Houston. The last one, its original location in Gulfgate, closed in February 2025.