The Best Esfiha in Orem Utah: How Valéria Barbour Built Utah County's Only Brazilian Mini Pizza Destination at Round Bites

Walk into Round Bites on a Tuesday afternoon and you'll catch the exact moment when Valéria Barbour pulls a fresh batch of esfihas from the oven—golden rounds of dough with their edges crisped just right, the beef and cheese fillings still bubbling. The smell hits you first, this mix of baked bread and spiced meat that makes your stomach do a little flip. "Some of the best Brazilian my wife and I have found in Utah! Everything is cooked traditionally and perfect, and the atmosphere is warm and happy," one customer wrote after their visit. And they're not wrong. At 1409 N State Street in Orem, tucked into a corner space that used to be Sweet Avocado, Valéria has created something Utah County didn't know it was missing: the only restaurant in the region dedicated to the art of the esfiha, those Brazilian mini pizzas that have become street food legends across São Paulo.

From Sweet Avocado to Esfiha Obsession: The Evolution of Brazilian Food in Orem

Valéria Barbour opened her first restaurant in Orem back in 2021—Sweet Avocado—offering a wide variety of Brazilian dishes to introduce American diners to the flavors of her homeland. She served everything from coxinhas to pastéis, acai bowls to tapioca crepes, those gluten-free Brazilian pancakes that became a surprise hit with the Utah Valley University crowd down the street. But over time, Valéria noticed something. Customers kept coming back for one thing specifically: the esfihas.

As she watched her customers' excitement for these unique rounds of dough—filled with beef, chicken, bacon, cheese, and even sweet flavors like dulce de leche—Valéria realized it was time for a new direction. So in 2024, she made a bold move. She hired a marketing team, reimagined the entire concept, and Round Bites was born. The name itself tells you everything: round like the esfihas themselves, bites because they're meant to be shared, grabbed, savored in a few perfect mouthfuls.

What makes this shift so fascinating is that esfihas aren't originally Brazilian at all. They're Lebanese, brought to Brazil by Middle Eastern immigrants in the late 1800s and early 1900s, particularly to São Paulo where Valéria's culinary roots run deep. Over generations, Brazilians adapted the traditional sfiha—usually made with lamb and pine nuts—into something uniquely their own. They made the dough a little softer, the fillings more varied, and turned them into the ultimate street food. Today in Brazil, esfiha chains are everywhere. Habib's, the country's largest esfiha chain, is the second-biggest fast food operation in all of Brazil. That's how beloved these things are.

And now, in a strip mall on State Street in Orem, Valéria is bringing that same tradition to Utah.

The Round Bites Experience: Authentic Esfiha Orem Utah Can't Get Enough Of

Here's what you need to understand about eating at Round Bites: these aren't frozen, reheated, or sitting-under-a-heat-lamp kind of foods. "They have THE BEST esfiha in Utah! We were delighted!" one regular customer declared, and another customer from Brazil confirmed: "I am from Brazil and their esfihas that look like mini pizzas are the best I ever tried in America. They remind me from home."

When you walk into Round Bites—which is open Monday through Saturday from 11:30 am to 8 pm—you're watching Valéria and her team prepare these esfihas fresh throughout the day. The dough is made from scratch, rolled into perfect rounds, then filled and baked on the spot. Each esfiha is about four inches across, somewhere between a large cookie and a personal pizza in size, with a golden crust that's crispy on the edges but soft enough to fold.

The classic beef esfiha is where most people start, and for good reason. Ground beef cooked with onions, tomatoes, and just the right blend of spices—cumin, a touch of cinnamon, fresh parsley—creates this savory filling that's both familiar and completely different from anything else in Utah County. The cheese esfiha is another crowd favorite, loaded with melted Brazilian cheese that gets stretchy and golden in the oven.

But here's where Round Bites gets really interesting: the sweet esfihas. "Tried one of each Esfihas (classic, special and sweet). Loved every single one!" wrote one customer. The dulce de leche version is basically dessert in esfiha form—that thick, caramelized milk spread that's a Brazilian staple, wrapped in the same soft dough and baked until it's gooey and perfect. There's also a chocolate esfiha, and a guava one that locals are starting to request specifically.

Beyond esfihas, Round Bites serves other Brazilian street food staples. The coxinhas—those teardrop-shaped chicken croquettes—get consistent praise: "The coxinhas and the passion fruit mousse are amazing!" Coxinhas are one of Brazil's most popular snacks: shredded chicken mixed with cream cheese (often the Brazilian Catupiry cheese if you can find it), wrapped in dough, breaded, and fried until golden. They're comfort food in its purest form.

The pastéis are here too—those crispy, half-moon pastries filled with either meat or cheese, fried until they shatter when you bite into them. And don't sleep on the drinks. The pineapple mint juice gets specific mentions in reviews, and there's Guaraná, that distinctly Brazilian soda that tastes like a cross between apple and berry with a caffeine kick that's gentler than coffee.

"We got the 12 count special and everything we had was fantastic! Can't wait to come back and try more of the menu!" That's the experience people are having—ordering a variety pack, trying different flavors, and realizing that yes, Brazilian mini pizzas deserve to be a regular part of your rotation.

Why Orem Needed This: Brazilian Food Culture Meets Utah Valley

There's something poetic about Round Bites landing on State Street in Orem. Utah Valley University is less than a mile south, which means there's a constant flow of students looking for quick, affordable meals that aren't burgers or pizza. (Well, technically esfihas ARE pizza, but you know what I mean.) The area has a growing Brazilian community, and for them, Round Bites is a taste of home. "The 'Brazilian esfirra' is amazing. There are many options and I loved the pepperoni and cheese. The environment was chose with great quality and beautiful," one reviewer noted.

But what Valéria has done so well is make this food accessible to everyone. You don't need to know what an esfiha is to enjoy one. The "Brazilian mini pizza" description works perfectly—it gives people a reference point while staying true to what these actually are. And because Round Bites offers both savory and sweet options, from traditional meat fillings to dessert versions, there's an entry point for anyone.

The fast-casual model works beautifully here. This isn't a sit-down, order-a-full-meal kind of place. You come in, you order a few esfihas (or a dozen if you're feeding a crew), maybe grab a coxinha and a Guaraná, and you're in and out. Perfect for a quick lunch between classes at UVU. Perfect for grabbing dinner on your way home. Perfect for catering an office party or a family gathering.

Round Bites also offers catering services, which makes sense—esfihas are ideal party food. They're handheld, they're not messy, and you can order a variety so everyone tries different flavors. Call (801) 691-0451 for catering inquiries, and Valéria's team will work with you to create the right mix for your event.

The Bigger Picture: What Round Bites Means for Utah's Food Scene

Here's what strikes me about Valéria's journey: she could have kept running Sweet Avocado, serving a broad menu of Brazilian dishes, trying to be everything to everyone. Instead, she made the gutsy decision to narrow her focus, to become the esfiha specialist. "Round Bites represents more than just a name change. It's a journey of dedication, reinvention, and overcoming challenges. With unwavering determination, Valéria turned her passion for cooking into an accessible and irresistible culinary experience."

That kind of focus is rare in the restaurant world, especially for immigrant-owned businesses that often feel pressure to appeal to the broadest possible audience. But Valéria bet that Utah County was ready for something specific, something authentic, something they couldn't get anywhere else. And she was right.

Right now, Round Bites is the only dedicated esfiha restaurant in all of Utah County. That's not an exaggeration—there's no other place doing this at this level. Sure, you can find Brazilian churrasco at places like Tucanos, and there are other Brazilian restaurants scattered around the state. But for esfihas specifically? For that street food tradition that millions of Brazilians grow up eating? Round Bites is it.

This matters because food tells immigrant stories. Every esfiha that comes out of Valéria's oven carries with it the history of Lebanese immigrants arriving in São Paulo over a century ago, the evolution of that recipe in Brazilian hands, and now its newest chapter here in Utah. When customers write reviews saying the food reminds them of home, or when Americans try their first esfiha and immediately order three more, that's cultural exchange happening in real time, one golden round of dough at a time.

Planning Your Visit to Round Bites

Location: 1409 N State Street, Orem, UT 84057
(About a 5-minute drive south of Orem Center Street, easily accessible from I-15)

Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 11:30 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday: Closed

What to Order:

• First-timers: Get the 12-count special to try a variety of flavors—mix savory and sweet
• Beef esfiha: The classic, and for good reason
• Cheese esfiha: Melty, golden, perfect
• Dulce de leche esfiha: A dessert that'll change your life
• Coxinha: At least one—these chicken croquettes are legendary
• Pineapple mint juice: Refreshing and unique
• Guaraná: The taste of Brazil in a can

Good to Know:

• They offer dine-in, takeout, and delivery through DoorDash and other platforms
• Online ordering available at orderroundbites.com
• Catering available for events (call 801-691-0451)
• Parking available in the shopping center lot
• Order online for pickup if you're in a rush

Instagram: @roundbitesofficial
Phone: (385) 392-4428

The Bottom Line

In a state known for its burger joints and taco shops, Valéria Barbour is doing something completely different at Round Bites. She's bringing the authentic flavors of Brazilian street food to Orem, Utah, one handcrafted esfiha at a time. And she's doing it so well that customers—both Brazilian and American—are becoming regulars, spreading the word, and making these Brazilian mini pizzas a new Utah County tradition.

"Everything is cooked traditionally and perfect, and the atmosphere is warm and happy! What more could you ask?" That customer nailed it. Round Bites isn't trying to be fancy or trendy. It's just Valéria, making the food she loves, with fresh ingredients and genuine care, in a warm space where everyone's welcome.

If you haven't tried esfiha in Orem Utah yet, your week has a gap in it you didn't know existed. Go to Round Bites. Order the sampler. Thank me later.

Because sometimes the best food stories aren't about Michelin stars or James Beard awards. Sometimes they're about a Brazilian immigrant who decided to focus on one thing and do it brilliantly. Sometimes they're about golden rounds of dough, fresh from the oven, that taste like home to some people and like discovery to others.

And sometimes, if you're lucky, those stories happen right in your own neighborhood, on State Street in Orem, six days a week, from 11:30 to 8.