A Brazilian burger in an Iowa college town sounds like the kind of food twist that makes you check the map twice. Then you take a bite, and suddenly the whole idea makes perfect sense.
This Ames cafe brings a little South American flavor to the Midwest without making a big production out of it. The burgers are bold, the sides go beyond the usual fry basket, and the menu has enough surprises to keep curious eaters happily distracted.
The room adds to the fun, too. International currency covers the walls, flags fill the space with color, and the whole place feels like it has collected stories along with its regulars.
Come for the burger, stay for the yucca fries, and leave wondering why more Iowa food stops do not have this much personality packed into one cozy corner.
The Story Behind This Brazilian Treasure in Ames
There is something wonderfully unexpected about finding a long-running Brazilian cafe right in the middle of a Midwestern college town.
Cafe Beaudelaire sits across from Iowa State University’s campus, right near the corner of Welch and Lincoln Way, and it brings a lot more personality than its cozy size might suggest.
The place has been around long enough that some visitors talk about returning after decades away, which says plenty about the hold it has on the Ames community.
It is not a huge restaurant, but that is part of the charm. The smaller space gives it a warm, familiar feeling that bigger dining rooms often try very hard to imitate.
The crowd tends to feel a little more mature than the usual campus-area rush, which keeps the atmosphere relaxed, social, and easy to settle into.
What makes the cafe stand out is how confidently it sticks to its own identity. It feels colorful, personal, and just quirky enough to make a regular meal feel like a small discovery.
For a restaurant with this much character and staying power, Cafe Beaudelaire deserves far more attention outside of Ames. You will find Cafe Beaudelaire at 2504 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50014.
The Brazilian Burger That Started All the Rumors
Let me be direct: the Brasilian burger at this cafe is the kind of thing people text their friends about while still sitting at the table eating it.
It is built with a house-made chorizo and Angus beef patty, mixed with onions, red bell peppers, and spices, then topped with chimichurri, avocado, tomatoes, mayo, and a fried egg.
Yes, it gets a little messy. That is entirely part of the experience, and nobody at the table will judge you for it.
The flavor leans bold without feeling chaotic, with the patty, egg, avocado, and chimichurri all doing their part without turning the whole thing into a fork-and-prayer situation.
The burger has also earned real recognition, since Cafe Beaudelaire was named Iowa’s Best Burger winner in 2018 for its Brazilian-style burger.
That kind of endorsement is not something a restaurant earns by accident.
This burger alone is worth the drive to Ames, full stop.
Yucca Fries and Brazilian Fries: A Side Dish Debate Worth Having
The fries conversation at Cafe Beaudelaire is genuinely its own topic, because there are two very different options and both have passionate supporters.
The Brazilian fries are twice-fried potato wedges served with mayo, which makes them feel heartier and more distinctive than the usual fry basket.
Then there are the yucca fries, which are a completely different experience. Yucca has a slightly denser, creamier texture than potato, and when fried well, it produces something that feels like a pleasant detour from everything you thought you knew about fried sides.
Multiple visitors have called the yucca fries a highlight of their entire meal, describing them as a nice change from ordinary fries.
One honest note: the portion sizes on the sides have drawn some comments over the years, with a few visitors wishing for a bit more on the plate.
That said, the quality of what you do get is consistently praised, and I think the focus on doing things well rather than doing things big is actually part of the cafe’s philosophy.
The Bauru Sandwich and Why It Belongs on Your Radar
The Bauru is one of Cafe Beaudelaire’s signature sandwiches, and this Ames version gives you a lot more than a basic bun-and-patty situation.
The sandwich features freshly baked wheat bread with mayo, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, peas, corn, fried egg, ham, mozzarella, and your choice of beef or chicken patty. It is the kind of loaded sandwich that makes napkins feel less like an option and more like a strategy.
One visitor described the bread as fresh and perfectly toasted, and the overall sandwich as a wonderful choice for a relaxing dinner. That tracks with my own impression of it.
The Bauru has been on the menu long enough that some visitors remember it fondly from decades ago, which speaks to how consistently it has been executed over the years.
For anyone unfamiliar with Brazilian-style sandwiches, this is an excellent place to start. It is approachable enough to not feel intimidating, but distinct enough to feel like you are actually trying something new.
Pair it with the fries on the side, as multiple visitors specifically recommend, and you have a very satisfying meal.
The Cuban Sandwich: A Menu Surprise That Earns Repeat Visits
Not everything on the menu at Cafe Beaudelaire is Brazilian-inspired, and the Cuban sandwich is one of the best examples of how the cafe blends global influences without losing focus.
The Cuban has developed a quietly devoted following among regulars, with at least one visitor calling it the best thing they tried on their first visit and returning specifically to have it again on a second trip.
What makes a Cuban sandwich work is the combination of pressed bread, layered fillings, and the right amount of heat from the press, and this version apparently gets all three right.
I find it interesting that a Brazilian cafe in Iowa has managed to make one of the most talked-about Cuban sandwiches in the area, but that is exactly the kind of unexpected excellence that keeps this place so compelling.
The menu at Cafe Beaudelaire rewards curiosity. You might walk in thinking you will order the burger, then find yourself completely won over by the Cuban instead.
Either way, you are going to leave happy, which is really the whole point of a good restaurant.
Weekend Brunch Is a Whole Separate Reason to Show Up
The weekend brunch at Cafe Beaudelaire has its own dedicated fan base, and once you look at what is on offer, it is easy to understand why.
The cafe opens at 10 AM on both Saturday and Sunday, which gives brunch visitors a comfortable window before the lunch crowd arrives.
The menu includes familiar options like classic breakfast with sausage, eggs, and hash browns, as well as heartier choices like steak and eggs.
One visitor was so taken with the breakfast that they made it the wallpaper on their phone, which is about as enthusiastic an endorsement as a meal can receive in the modern era.
The brunch menu is described by regulars as nothing overly fancy, but made with real care and consistency. That combination of simplicity and quality is actually quite rare and worth appreciating.
For anyone visiting Ames on a weekend, brunch at Cafe Beaudelaire is a genuinely enjoyable way to start the day before heading to campus or exploring the area.
The relaxed pace of the Saturday and Sunday morning service fits the cozy atmosphere of the space perfectly.
The Atmosphere: Currency, Flags, and a Ceiling That Tells a Story
The inside of Cafe Beaudelaire is one of those spaces that takes a moment to fully absorb, and I mean that in the best possible way.
The walls are covered in paper currency from countries all over the world, with some bills dating back at least as far as World War II. It is the kind of detail that makes you want to slow down and actually look around instead of just focusing on the menu.
Flags from dozens of nations hang throughout the dining room, and the ceiling features the colors of the Brazilian flag, which ties the whole visual theme together in a way that feels intentional and proud rather than kitschy.
The playlist adds another layer to the experience. Upbeat jazz plays in the background at a volume that allows conversation without effort, which is a detail that more restaurants should pay attention to.
The overall mood lighting is warm and relaxed, making the space feel welcoming at any time of day. It is a genuinely well-designed environment that clearly reflects years of thoughtful curation by people who care about the place.
Garlic Spaghetti and the Lighter Side of the Menu
Brazilian cuisine has a deep relationship with pasta, which surprises a lot of people who expect South American food to be exclusively meat-focused.
The garlic spaghetti at Cafe Beaudelaire is one of the menu’s quieter standouts. One visitor described it as quite flavorful and exactly as it should be, which is the kind of measured, honest praise that actually tells you something useful.
The pasta is described as tasting lighter than what you might expect from a typical American restaurant, with less salt and a cleaner overall flavor profile. That restraint in seasoning is a deliberate choice, and it works.
For anyone at the table who wants something a bit less indulgent than a burger or a loaded sandwich, the pasta offers a genuinely satisfying alternative without feeling like a compromise.
The Iron Vegetarian is another option worth noting for plant-based diners. At least one vegan visitor called it incredible, which suggests the kitchen takes non-meat dishes just as seriously as the rest of the menu.
A menu that works for everyone at the table is something I always appreciate, and Cafe Beaudelaire pulls it off.
Practical Tips for Your First Visit to Cafe Beaudelaire
Before you head out, a few practical things are worth knowing so your visit goes smoothly from the start.
The cafe is closed on Mondays, so plan accordingly.
Tuesday through Friday, the hours run from 11 AM to 10 PM.
Saturday and Sunday hours run from 10 AM to 10 PM, while the kitchen closes at 9 PM. Weekend brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 2 PM and is dine-in only.
Parking can be a genuine challenge given the location directly across from the Iowa State University campus. Going a bit earlier than peak meal times or on a weekday afternoon tends to make the experience smoother.
The restaurant is small, so large groups may face a wait. That said, multiple visitors note that the wait is rarely too long, and the outdoor seating is described as comfortable and well-suited for pleasant weather.
The price point sits at a moderate level, with most items feeling fair for the quality delivered. You can reach the cafe at 515-292-7429 or check out the menu at cafebeaudelaire.com before your visit.