OUR PURPOSE
Baiana’s purpose is to honor our ancestral roots in Northeastern Brazil and share the spirit, history, and bold flavors of Bahian cuisine in a way that feels welcoming and is accessible to all.
Our story
In 1994, our family immigrated from Brazil to Seattle, carrying the belief that food could build community. In 1999, Graça and Antonio Ribeiro opened Seattle’s first Brazilian restaurant, Tempero do Brasil. For almost two decades, Tempero do Brasil became a home away from home for so many. When we closed its doors in November 2019, it marked the end of a chapter - but not the end of the story.
Baiana is the next chapter.
Created by Emme Ribeiro Collins, Baiana began as a pop-up in 2023 and grew into its flagship home at Pike Place Market in 2026. With this opening, Graça and Antonio joined the journey once again, bringing the family’s restaurant story full circle and carrying forward the legacy.
Our mission is to expand what people think Brazilian cuisine is. Our food has a special focus on the northeastern Brazil — especially Bahia, where our family is from. Bahian food carries the influence of West African, Indigenous, and Portuguese traditions.
At Baiana, food is more than a meal. It is history, migration, resilience, and joy. The story of a culture that has traveled far but never lost its flavor.
We are proud to continue our family’s journey in sharing Bahian food with Seattle, honoring where we come from, and inviting everyone to experience the spirit of Bahia.