The announcement came via the restaurant’s official Instagram account this week, where ownership thanked customers for their patience during the nearly two-year rebuilding process. “The wait will soon be over,” the post read. “We thank our loyal guests for your patience as we completely restore and renovate Rei do Gado after a building fire in 2024. We are thrilled to announce the wait will soon be worth it (as long as everything goes according to plan!). We can't wait to welcome you back.”
The fire that forced the restaurant’s closure broke out on the evening of July 26, 2024, during one of the busiest weekends of the year in downtown San Diego as Comic-Con filled the Gaslamp Quarter with visitors. According to San Diego Fire-Rescue officials, the blaze began in the kitchen of Rei Do Gado at approximately 7:27pm inside the four-story building at 939 Fourth Avenue.
.JPG)
Flames quickly spread through the structure, sending thick black smoke into the sky above downtown and prompting a large emergency response. The building houses residential units above the restaurant, including apartments and short-term rentals, and approximately 50 people staying there were displaced by the fire.
The incident also triggered evacuations in nearby buildings during the height of Comic-Con activity. One nearby venue hosting a Comic-Con activation with roughly 1,200 guests was temporarily cleared as firefighters battled the blaze.
Fire crews were able to bring the fire under control in about an hour, and no civilians or firefighters were reported injured. However, the fire caused significant damage to the building, including the roof and mechanical systems, leaving the restaurant unable to operate. Fire officials said the blaze originated in the restaurant’s kitchen and spread vertically through the structure, eventually reaching the upper floors.
Following the incident, Rei Do Gado owners announced that the restaurant would temporarily close while damage was assessed and repairs were planned. What was initially described as a temporary closure ultimately stretched into a multi-year rebuild as the building underwent extensive restoration work.
When it reopens, the restaurant will return to the same location at 939 Fourth Avenue in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter. The reopening will mark the return of one of downtown San Diego’s longer-running dining destinations.
Founded in 1999, Rei Do Gado helped introduce many San Diegans to the Brazilian churrascaria dining style, where servers circulate through the dining room carving grilled meats tableside while guests help themselves to an expansive salad and hot food bar. For years the restaurant stood as the city’s only Brazilian steakhouse and became a staple for downtown diners, convention visitors, and special-occasion celebrations.
The upcoming reopening is expected to follow the conclusion of a full renovation of the restaurant space and building after the fire damage, though specific details about the redesigned interior or reopening timeline beyond “summer 2026” have not yet been announced. For longtime fans of the Gaslamp Quarter mainstay, the news signals the eventual return of a restaurant that has been part of the downtown dining landscape for more than a quarter century.
Rei Do Gado Brazilian Steakhouse is located at 939 Fourth Avenue in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. For more information, visit reidogado.net.
Originally published on March 5, 2026.
The incident also triggered evacuations in nearby buildings during the height of Comic-Con activity. One nearby venue hosting a Comic-Con activation with roughly 1,200 guests was temporarily cleared as firefighters battled the blaze.
Fire crews were able to bring the fire under control in about an hour, and no civilians or firefighters were reported injured. However, the fire caused significant damage to the building, including the roof and mechanical systems, leaving the restaurant unable to operate. Fire officials said the blaze originated in the restaurant’s kitchen and spread vertically through the structure, eventually reaching the upper floors.
Following the incident, Rei Do Gado owners announced that the restaurant would temporarily close while damage was assessed and repairs were planned. What was initially described as a temporary closure ultimately stretched into a multi-year rebuild as the building underwent extensive restoration work.
When it reopens, the restaurant will return to the same location at 939 Fourth Avenue in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter. The reopening will mark the return of one of downtown San Diego’s longer-running dining destinations.
Founded in 1999, Rei Do Gado helped introduce many San Diegans to the Brazilian churrascaria dining style, where servers circulate through the dining room carving grilled meats tableside while guests help themselves to an expansive salad and hot food bar. For years the restaurant stood as the city’s only Brazilian steakhouse and became a staple for downtown diners, convention visitors, and special-occasion celebrations.
The upcoming reopening is expected to follow the conclusion of a full renovation of the restaurant space and building after the fire damage, though specific details about the redesigned interior or reopening timeline beyond “summer 2026” have not yet been announced. For longtime fans of the Gaslamp Quarter mainstay, the news signals the eventual return of a restaurant that has been part of the downtown dining landscape for more than a quarter century.
Rei Do Gado Brazilian Steakhouse is located at 939 Fourth Avenue in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. For more information, visit reidogado.net.
Originally published on March 5, 2026.
