Healthy food with a Brazilian soul in Pacific Beach

Customers may build their own bowls with plenty of options.

Brazilian Bowls in Pacific Beach isn’t just a restaurant. It’s a cultural experience. Walk into the eatery on Garnet Avenue any time to watch soccer, or take in the display of homegrown Brazilian products or the photo gallery.

Owned by husband-and-wife team Rafaela Goldman and Luis Yared, the couple pride themselves on the quality of their cuisine.

“We opened the restaurant because it was a dream for us to do something good for people, something that was organic – real food at an affordable price,” said Rafaela, noting they use only grass-fed beef and antibiotic-free chicken.

“It’s healthy food with a Brazilian soul,” said Rafaela. “We have a lot of acai bowls here also, and a lot of rice, beans and organic salads.”

Rafaela added Brazilian Bowls serves acai bowls the traditional way.

Rafaela likes to cook. Luis likes to manage. It works well.

Some of the fruit they use in their acai bowls is imported from the Amazon. Most of the ingredients in their cuisine is produced locally.

Luis previously worked for his family’s restaurants in Brazil. He said Brazilian Bowls is bringing something new to the marketplace.

“We couldn’t find a place around here that was fast, affordable and with a healthy style of food,” Luis said. “Our Brazilian food is healthier, with organic ingredients.”

Brazilian Bowls operates on a five-step process: Choose a bowl or wrap, a protein, and a base of either rice, beans or vegetables, then choose among salad ingredients and add toppings.

On how they wound up in Pacific Beach, Luis said, “We really like the United States. We fell in love with San Diego. The people here are very nice. They care about healthy and organic food.”

The restaurant’s menu is in plain view up on a chalkboard.

A Brazilian bowl with salad is $7.99. Smoothies are $5.79.

Vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free items are available.

“It’s something different,” concluded Luis about his ethnic cuisine. “It’s a different concept that’s hard to find in the U.S. You can find places with processed ingredients. But it’s hard to find a quick-service place that has healthy food.

“We thought this was something missing here, and we decided to do it in a Brazilian way. It’s in our souls. We couldn’t do it differently.”

Brazilian Bowls

Where: 1560 Garnet Ave.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Mondays

to Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Info: brbowls.com.

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